Pulse of Tourism: Giving Thanks

“Fall is in the Air” by Jeff Boutin.

It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of November, with 2023 almost in the rear-view mirror and snow in the air. 

Thanksgiving is a time to be with family, friends and neighbors, celebrating the good that we experience every single day and to give thanks for what we have. We are so fortunate to live in this special part of the world when there are so many global challenges that we see everyday.

I would like to take this time to give thanks to so many who have helped our county and organization throughout this past year. 

Thank you to the Destination Door County (DDC) team who have worked hard creating and executing several new programs that support our continued evolution in becoming a more inclusive and community-shared values organization, highlighting community alignment, sustainability and values-based marketing – pillars that will remain in our 2024 Strategic Plan.

Thank you to our DDC Board of Directors and our Door County Tourism Zone Commissioners for working together and supporting our work in tourism promotion and tourism development.

Thank you to our Community Business Associations who work tirelessly for the benefit of their local business members and municipalities. The events, activities and festivals they produce with such passion support and foster community pride and bring everyone together – which cultivates diversity of people, talent and interests, and generates a positive economic impact.

Thank you to our Door County Community Foundation for helping facilitate our Community Investment Fund and our State Parks Challenge Fund. To be able to give back to our community while supporting the visitor economy is a source of pride for all of us. To date we have provided nearly $830,000 for various projects through our Community Investment Fund. These funded projects are consistent with Wisconsin lodging statutes in that they must be significantly used by transient tourists and reasonably likely to generate paid, overnight stays. A project must also demonstrate how it will meaningfully improve the quality of life for full-time residents. We carry out this work with full transparency.

DDC also invested $500,000 to help protect and enhance our beloved five state parks. Since we’re stronger together, we’re challenging our community and visitors to raise an additional $50,000 in donations for each park through a special state parks challenge grant initiative. When all goals are met, this will boost the total investment in our state parks to $750,000! We are committed to preserving and protecting what makes our peninsula and surrounding islands special for future generations of locals and visitors alike. Donate today at DoorCountyStateParks.org. 

Thank you to our partners and the businesses and organizations we work with throughout Door County. You all have been so encouraging, and we are grateful for that every single day. Thank you for supporting our locals and visitors as well as providing additional visibility for our county. Economic sustainability is important as it provides the funds for additional tourism-development opportunities.

Thank you to our hospitality workers who help create special Door County memories for our visitors by working hard at providing them with the best experiences.

Thank you to the Peninsula Pulse for the opportunity you provide DDC in writing this article every month. It has allowed us to explain the various elements of the visitor economy and how it contributes to Door County’s economic foundation. We are looking forward to the future and our continued partnership.

Door County is a special place because of you. Enjoy your Thanksgiving season and I hope to see you out and about at the events taking place throughout Door County! 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions to help us continue growing in a positive direction.