MRV Well Represented at Tourism Economy Day

An impressive contingent of Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce members attended the Tourism Economy Day which brought more than 100 tourism and hospitality industry leaders to the Vermont State House to engage with policy makers. The goal of the event was to raise awareness of the collective contributions of this sector to the Vermont economy. The day included a meet and greet with Governor Scott, a session of testimony with the legislature, lunch with our legislators, and a closing reception featuring Vermont specialty food purveyors.

The Vermont visitor economy has a $3 billion annual economic impact and employs 11.5% of the Vermont workforce. The tourism and hospitality industry leaders came together at the State House to engage with legislators and raise awareness of the collective contributions of tourism to the Vermont economy.

The Mad River Valley was well represented at the event with a larger delegation than almost any other community in the state. Attendees included: Eric Friedman, Executive Director of the MRV Chamber, Kim Donahue, co-owner and board member of both the Vermont and MRV Chambers, Peter MacLaren, co-owner of the West Hill House B&B, Lori Montalbano, owner of the Yellow Farm House Inn, Molly Mahar, President of the Vermont Ski Area Association and member of the MRV Chamber, Mimi Buttenheim from Mad River Distiller and MRV Chamber board member, Diane Forrester of Sugarbush, Wendell Anderson, co-owner of the Bundy Gallery and Resort Guides.

Ski Vermont President and MRV Chamber member, Molly Mahar spoke to the importance of Vermont’s outdoor recreation to Vermont tourism and ski areas’ ongoing focus on environmental stewardship and decarbonization efforts. “Outdoor recreation relies on sustaining a healthy and thriving environment and is vital to Vermont’s $1.9 billion outdoor recreation tourism economy,” says Mahar. “Vermont’s ski areas understand the importance of sustainable stewardship for tourism and its economic benefit to their local communities and across the state. For decades they have worked to support and enhance the state’s capacity for outdoor recreation while protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions.