Tour operators from around the world are convening in Salt Lake City this week for 30th annual Go West Summit. Hosted by Visit Salt Lake and the Utah tourism industry, the group will meet Jan. 16-19 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
International tour operators and buyers from 21 countries — a group that collectively books hundreds of millions of dollars in travel annually — will be introduced to specialty suppliers offering tourism-related products or services throughout the American West. Prominent in the presentations will be tourism-related aspects of the host city and state.
“This is yet another great opportunity to present all that Salt Lake has to offer to an important group of decision-makers,” said Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “Having these international tour operators experience the urban offerings of Utah’s capital city as well as outdoor recreation offerings in our own backyard will pay dividends for years to come.”
According to figures released following the 2017 Go West Summit, attending tour operators were estimating sending more than 4 million international visitors to the U.S., representing more than $200 million in booked travel. During the 30 years of Go West, the affiliated tour operators have booked nearly $4 billion in travel to the United States, Visit Salt Lake said.
In addition to Visit Salt Lake, local tourism partners Temple Square Hospitality, the Natural History Museum of Utah, Squatters, City Creek Center and This Is The Place Heritage Park and other Visit Salt Lake members are pitching in to ensure attendees have a memorable experience, Beck said. As a primary sponsor of the summit, the Utah Office of Tourism is offering pre- and post-summit familiarization trips throughout the state. Additional sponsors of the Go West Summit include the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau, Discover Moab, Garfield County and Visit St. George.
Visit Salt Lake is a private, nonprofit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a destination well-suited for convention and leisure travel.