The Red Emerald Resilience Training Program

About the Program

The pandemic has affected so many aspects of the state’s tourism industry, many of which businesses are still learning how to adapt to. To build a more resilient tourism industry, the Utah Office of Tourism and the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism have launched the Red Emerald Resilience Training Program. The program shares success stories, best practices, and lessons learned so that the state's tourism industry can thrive in a post-pandemic world.

Program Schedule

Session Topic Dates Registration Link
Communication for Resilience
1 Developing an Effective and Responsive Online Presence
This session focuses on ways businesses can develop their digital assets and best practices for effective communication online (i.e., sharing the right content in the right place at the right time). Participants will learn how they can more effectively reach their intended audiences with information that is current and authentic.
March 2, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
2 How to Educate New-to-Nature Tourists About Responsible Recreation
This session focuses on ways businesses and other organizations can instill a sense of stewardship in new recreationists who may not know all the ins and outs of appropriate outdoor recreation behavior. The session will cover a variety of topics ranging from trail etiquette to waste disposal with a special focus on the ways businesses can partner with land managers to ensure locals and tourists can have high quality outdoor recreation experiences.
April 6, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
3 How to Prepare for the Return of More International Guests and Visitors
With travel restrictions loosening, international tourists are beginning to come back to Utah. In this session, we share trends on international travel patterns to the state and take a deep dive into ways businesses can prepare for the return of guests from around the globe.
May 3, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
Resources for Resilience
4 How to Find Funding Resources to Alleviate any Negative Impacts Caused by COVID-19
In this session, we will share resources for how to identify, and apply for, funding to mitigate any negative consequences that your business or organization might have suffered during the pandemic. The session highlights state and federal programs that businesses can tap into during times of crisis.
June 7, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
5 Tools and Resources to Understand Tourism in Your Community
This session will showcase tools and resources available from state programs and private consulting services that businesses, organizations, municipalities, and county offices can plug into to better understand and build strategies around local tourism and spending patterns. 

July 6, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
6 Primer on the Utah Office of Tourism, its Programs, and the Resources the Office Provides
This session provides a broad overview of the Utah Office of Tourism and the types of programs and resources it provides to help grow a thriving tourism industry throughout the state. From grant-disbursement programs to marketing resources to data on domestic and international travel behaviors, the Office offers a wealth of programs that public and tourism-related organizations can take advantage of. Learn more about current and upcoming destination development opportunities and how the Office works with its partners, organizations, and communities statewide.
August 2, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
Planning for Resilience
7 Strategies for Providing Affordable Housing for Tourism Industry Employees
Many tourism businesses around the state struggle to attract and retain employees because local housing is either in short supply, is too expensive, or is too far away. In this session, we will discuss creative ways that business owners have worked collaboratively with local municipalities and counties to provide an adequate supply of housing for workers in the tourism industry.
September 6, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
8 Creating Pathways for High School and College Students to Work in the Tourism Industry
Planning for a resilient tourism economy must include strategies to get (and keep) young people employed in the industry. In this session, we showcase programs designed to plug high school and college students into local tourism jobs and detail how businesses can become involved with these programs.
October 4, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources
9 How to Effectively Partner with Local and Regional Governments on Issues that Impact the Tourism Industry
By facilitating the flow of information and resources, partnerships are a critical way to increase resilience in Utah’s tourism industry. In this session, we highlight ways that local businesses have worked collaboratively with municipalities, counties, and land management agencies to build strong networks of communication and mutual trust.
November 8, 2022
12:00-1:00pm
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Takeaways & Resources

 

Program Design Team

Dr. Jordan W. Smith

Director, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Email: jordan.smith@usu.edu

Jordan Smith

Jordan's work provides land managers, elected officials, private industry, and the general public with a scientifically grounded understanding of how to best manage outdoor recreation resources throughout Utah and the Intermountain West.

Lisa Stoner

Assistant Director of Outreach and Education, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

Email: lisa.stoner@usu.edu

Lisa Stoner

As Assistant Director of Outreach and Education for the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Lisa coordinates and leads outreach and education programs focused on educating the public about the importance of outdoor recreation resources.

Dr. Danya Rumore

Director, Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (University of Utah)

Email: danya.rumore@law.utah.edu

Danya Rumore

Danya is a facilitator, collaborative process designer, and conflict resolution professional with a particular passion for understanding and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing western amenity-rich rural regions like that surrounding her hometown, Sandpoint, Idaho.

Jake Powell

Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

Email: jake.powell@usu.edu

Jake Powell

Jake is a native of Utah and spent his childhood exploring the backroads of the Intermountain West. These experiences formed a deep love for the landscapes, the communities, and people of the west. His work aims to bring design and planning solutions to Utah’s communities.