Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Presents Business Luncheon

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee is pleased to host a free luncheon at the Ranch Inn Hotel & Conference Center on Thursday, October 11 from 12:00-1:00pm.

The luncheon will be a casual gathering for local businesses to learn about valley efforts to create business, opportunities to capitalize on those efforts, and share information about winter season initiatives.

Featured Speakers

• Stephen Price, Chair, Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Joint Powers Board: Winter Marketing Efforts
• Maureen Murphy, Director of Special Events, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce: Winter Events
• Joe Madera, Jackson Hole Homewood Suites by Hilton: Destination Marketing Efforts
• Anna Olson, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: What's New at the Mountain
• Representative from JHAIR: Flights Winter 2012-13
• Stephan Abrams, Business Development Committee: Winter Initiatives to Increase Dividends + Connecting Business with Customers

This meeting is designed to focus and inform of the opportunities being created this coming winter season to create and capture business. Thank you to The Mercantile Grill & Ranch Inn for sponsoring this event. For more information, please contact Rick Howe, Director of Visitor Services, 307.733.3316x114 or rick@jacksonholechamber.com. RSVP to Rick by 4:00pm on Wednesday, October 10.

Business-to-Business: Connect Directly with Customers at BOB

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce will present Business Over Breakfast on Thursday, October 4 from 7:30-9:00am at the Jackson Campus of Teton Science Schools, 700 Coyote Canyon Road off Highway 22. 

Business Over Breakfast is a monthly meeting for the business community. In addition to a special program, the event includes breakfast and time for networking and announcements.  

The featured speaker for the October meeting will be Louis I. Hochheiser, MD, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. John's Medical Center. As the Chief Medical Leader for a Fortune 100 healthcare insurance and services company, Dr. Hochheiser currently oversees the work of a large team of physicians and clinical policy staff located throughout the country. Prior to his current position, Dr. Hochheiser was chair of the Departments of Family Medicine at Brown University and at the University of Vermont. He has also provided advice and expert counsel nationally to organizations across the health care spectrum, including hospitals and agencies focused on mental health, wellness and prevention.

RSVP by noon on Tuesday, October 2 to Katie Wolitarsky, Events Coordinator, events@jacksonholechamber.com or 307.733.3316x109. Breakfast costs $16 for Chamber Members and $25 for future Members.

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new business-to-business marketing opportunity for our Members to reach customers and clients while helping to support one of the Chamber's most popular programs.

Sponsor Business Over Breakfast! For just $250.00 your business will be highlighted in ads, emails, and at the popular monthly event! Sponsors will be invited to present a three-minute infomercial at the beginning of the meeting.

For more information, please contact Andy Heffron, Membership Manager, 307.733.3316x101 or  andy@jacksonholechamber.com. 

Make Your Phones and Cash Registers Ring!

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce will host a customer service seminar on Tuesday, October 2 at the Ranch Inn, 45 East Pearl Avenue, featuring David K. Aaker, the nationally-recognized speaker known for getting results .

There will be two sessions. The morning session will be held from 9:00-11:00am and the afternoon session will be held from 1:00-3:00pm. 

The seminar will include clear, specific examples of customer service, Communication tools that work, the ethics of customer service, and ideas that invite customers to return. The results are intended to make two things ring: phones and cash registers.  

Audience participation will offer additional ideas and amplify the value that each employee in every business is part of a team. Registration is $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for future Members. RSVP to Katie Wolitarsky, Events Coordinator, 307.733.3316.109 or  events@jacksonholechamber.com. Identify which session you would like to attend -- morning or afternoon.  

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board and Ranch Inn for supporting this program. For more information, please contact Rick Howe, Director of Visitor Services, rick@jacksonholechamber.com or 307.733.3316x114.

Jackson Hole - Destination Wellness

Jackson Hole - Destination Wellness, an initiative to promote health and wellness of the mind, body, spirit, and earth, will be held September 22-30.

 Click here for a complete schedule of events, including the Community Fall Festival set for Saturday, the 2nd Annual Jackson Hole Marathon set for Sunday, the Michael Pollan event set for next Saturday, and more! 

Jackson Hole and the greater Teton area offer a rich diversity of events, programs, facilities, services, and products. Jackson Hole, with its focus on health, wellness, and recreation; incredible expertise in a variety of arts and disciplines; and awe-inspiring mountain scenery and wildlife; is ideal as your destination for wellness!  Click here for the list of 2012 Jackson Hole Destination Wellness Discounts and Deals. 

Jackson Hole Visitor Update

Jackson, WY -- The Horsethief Canyon Fire continues to burn in backcountry forest areas south east of Jackson.  At this time there is no impact to business, events or experiences that the beautiful fall season provides guests in Jackson Hole.  

Through Sunday, Jackson Hole is hosting thousands of art lovers during the continuation of the 28^th Annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. No events have been impacted thus far.  Precautionary closures have affected some backcountry hiking trails around the Snow King and Cache Creek areas, but none of the beautiful hiking trails in our national parks have been affected.  Due to the unpredictable nature of fire, some local, East Jackson areas are on heightened alert.  

Jim Waldrop, Chairman of the Board of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce commented, “Emergency services are working hard to contain the fire and to date no structures of any nature have been impacted.  The experienced hospitality staffs throughout Jackson Hole continue to provide the kind of experience and service our visitors are seeking and more importantly the safety of our guests will not be compromised.”

At this time the fires are not affecting our major tourism hubs including downtown Jackson, Teton Village, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole Airport.  There is no need to change travel plans, if in the unlikely event this changes, communications to this end will follow.  It is an incredible time to visit Jackson Hole with elk migration, fall colors and wonderful events.  For a list of events and information please visit jacksonholechamber.com/today/. 

For the latest information about the Horsethief Canyon Fire please call 307.739.5577, email horsethiefcanyonfire@gmail.com, or visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3241/. For visitor information, please call the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, 307.733.3316.

Dreamers Don't Sleep by Amy Ringholz

Amy Ringholz is the 28th Annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival Featured artist. Get a behind-the-scenes view of her creation, "Dreamer's Don't Sleep." The painting will be auctioned ad the QuickDraw on Saturday, September 15.

The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is widely recognized as one of the premier cultural events in the Rocky Mountain West. Thousands of art enthusiasts are drawn each year to experience the diverse artwork and breathtaking natural surroundings that make Jackson Hole a leading cultural center. The 2012 Festival will take place through September 16. Experience the world-class installments of contemporary, culinary, landscape, Native American, wildlife, and Western, arts. Visitors will appreciate the works of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists along with an exceptional array of music, cowboy poetry and cuisine. More than fifty events round out our eleven-day festival. Check out the complete schedule online at http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/fall_arts_festival/.

Travel & Tourism Board Treasurer Golightly Resigns

After recently being appointed to lead the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Golightly will step-down from his role as treasurer of the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Joint Powers Board. JH Chamber of Commerce Board Members and Golightly felt the relationship between the Travel & Tourism Board and the Chamber of Commerce could potentially create a conflict of interest in future voting matters.

"The lodging tax is an excellent resource for our community to create a stronger economy in the shoulder and winter seasons while supporting increased visitor services year round."  Golightly said.  “It was an honor to serve on the board. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to the board's continued success and the benefit it will bring to our community." Golightly was a respected member of the T&T Board and along with his six board peers, helped establish the strategic plan and operating budget for their portion of the 2% lodging tax. The Joint Powers Board funds the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce for visitor services, event management and tourism trade shows, costs previously supported by the Town of Jackson and Teton County.

In the Chamber's long-term view, lodging tax proceeds are about providing Jackson Hole the best chance to build a stronger economy in shoulder and winter seasons. Arguably as important, they help fund amenities local residents increasingly enjoy and have become reliant on for their quality of life in Jackson Hole, like Pathways and START Bus.  Visitors create stresses on these amenities; lodging tax funds repair and expand them so residents can continue to enjoy them throughout the year.

Proceeds generated from the lodging tax are distributed by state statute through the JHT&TJPB.  In addition to the 60% of funding allocated to the lodging tax board for destination promotion; 30% is allocated to the Town and County for services designed to offset visitor impacts; and, 10% is allocated to the Town and County general funds.

Resignation is effective September 14, 2012 prior to Golightly’s start date at the Chamber of September 17, 2012.  Golightly will be available to ensure a smooth transition with the person designated by the elected officials to take his seat.

"The mission of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce is to champion the interests of local businesses, enhance their prosperity, and strengthen the economic climate of Teton County."

For more information, please contact Jim Waldrop, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Board of Directors 307.732.3920 or jwaldrop@worthotel.com.