Utah Tourism Hall of Fame Inductees to be Honored at Logan Conference

SALT LAKE CITY – Three people will be inducted into Utah’s Tourism Hall of Fame during the Utah Tourism Conference in Logan next month.  The annual conference will be held from May 12-14, 2010, at The Riverwoods Conference Center.  Those selected include Raelene Davis, Red Oelerich, and Kathy Hanna-Smith.  The inductees who represent Utah’s tourism and hospitality industries will be honored during a luncheon on May 13.    
 
“The nominees show the diversity of those working and making a difference in the state’s tourism industry,” said Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, an agency of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.  “All three exemplify the Utah Life Elevated® brand.”
 
Raelene Davis has been the director of marketing of the Utah Ski and Snowboard Association, Ski Utah for the past 25 years.  Davis was one of the creators of the Ski Utah Winter Vacation Planner, which is the main cooperative marketing piece for Utah’s winter tourism industry.  When the Internet was born, she was eager to immediately create a Web site.  SkiUtah.com is now receiving over 400,000 page views per month in the winter season.  Davis was instrumental in creating the fourth, fifth and sixth grade ski programs, which gave children numerous opportunities to “learn to ski” and “ski for free.”  Additionally she is credited with convincing the National Ski and Snowboard Association to proclaim January the “official” learn a snow sport month.  This past year, the governor proclaimed January as “Learn a Snow Sport” month.
 
“Raelene has dedicated her life to Ski Utah and promoting The Greatest Snow on Earth®,” added von der Esch.
 
Red Oelerich has been involved in the Utah Tourism industry for over 20 years. In the early 1990s, Oelerich took over the publication of Bicycle Utah.  Since that time, the magazine has grown from a 24-page magazine promoting cycling to an 88-page and larger publication promoting all aspects of warm-weather outdoor recreation in Utah. The magazine has since been renamed the Outdoor Utah Adventure Guide to reflect the diversity and opportunity of recreation possibilities. The magazine has grown from 30,000 in circulation at its inception to over 250,000 today.
 
“Noting the need to maintain an outdoor lifestyle to reflect the magazine, Red rarely takes a ‘vacation,’ said his son Paul Oelerich.  “He is relentless in his pursuit to explore the state, to promote it to all who will listen, and introduce the natural and scenic wonders to new generations of outdoor enthusiasts.”   Oelerich also maintains contact with national manufacturers at the semi-annual Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City, as well as other national media outlets to promote Utah to a national audience.
 
“Red’s DNA is connected to the industry as a vocation and avocation and one who promotes what he experiences and loves,” said von der Esch.
 
Kathy Hanna-Smith has spent over 20 combined years with the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce and the Carbon County Travel Bureau.  Hanna-Smith has served as a board member, past-president, director, and member-at-large with the Chamber.  She is currently the Director of the Carbon County Travel Bureau where she is an active member of the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition and the Utah Travel Regions, as well as past president of the Utah Travel Regions, emphasizing her concern for Utah and its communities.
 
Hanna-Smith is in her second term as a member of the Price City Council.  She also serves as a member of the Utah State Scenic Byway Committee, Zion’s Bank Regional Board, 9-Mile Coalition, Downtown Alive Committee, and Carbon County Fair Board, in addition to numerous local boards and committees.
 
“Kathy is exemplary on the local level and the dedication over the years to the industry as a tourism organization director, public official, and tourism events and program volunteer,” said von der Esch.   
 
Meantime, the 2010 Utah Tourism Advertising and Marketing Contest entries will be online to judge Friday, April 23. Conference registrants will be able to view and judge the entries at the Utah Tourism Conference homepage at www.http://travel.utah.gov/2010UtahTourismConference.htm.  Click on the Advertising/Marketing Contest to view entries.
 
Individual conference registration is $175.  Two or more representatives from the same company can register for $150 per person.  A special rate of $50 is available for students.  For conference information and registration, visit www.utahtourism.org or call UTIC at (801)505-5266 or contact the Utah Office of Tourism at www.travel.utah.gov or (801) 538-1900.   To plan your Utah vacation, visit www.utah.travel or call (800) 200-1160.
 
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Tracie Cayford, (801) 541-3352, cell
traciec@utah.gov