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LETTERS / A Special ‘Thank You’ to Our Community in Hosting High Volume Weekends

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and membership of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, I’d like to extend a special “thank you,” to all who assisted our community in serving as a positive host during our recent string of high volume weekends. The economic repercussions of these events will be felt for years to come.

On the heels of the summer tourism season, our community experienced three straight high-impact weeks to begin the month of September. Labor Day travelers were followed by over 200,000 football spectators that attended contests within 60 miles of Downtown Boone over the past two weekends. Based on the variety of license plates and logos that have been visible in the area, many tourists and football enthusiasts have taken the opportunity to dine, shop, and stay in our area during these busy periods.

Times such as these showcase Boone and the High Country at their very best. Visitors have routinely commented over the last several weeks about the genuineness of the hospitality they receive when they enter our boarders. That collective “red carpet experience,” is a direct reflection of the hard work and attention to detail paid by our community of “local ambassadors.”

A cooperative experience on all of our parts leads to high grades of satisfaction from our guests. Fans from Miami marveled at how welcome they felt throughout the past weekend. Virginia Tech and Tennessee fans were reminded of how well the High Country supports major events that fall outside of our immediate area. And not to be forgotten, local residents have turned out in support of home grown events to show that, ultimately, we are our own biggest fans and supporters.

Through the open doors of a global television audience, the High Country portrayed itself, once again, as a destination of choice. This exposure will hopefully lead to increased future bookings, a continued resurgence in second-home property sales, and positive results to the numerous other metrics that help display for us a thriving economy.

Over the last three weeks, many factions of our community have shown how collaboration leads to success. Officials with Appalachian State University, Town of Boone, Watauga County Government, first responders, NCDOT, and other state and local agencies have been hard at work to ensure proper planning for the events occurred and were ultimately communicated to the public.

As we stand on the door step of another busy tourist period, these last few weeks have demonstrated that full cooperation around our community can only enhance our ability to collectively serve our guests. The positive experience each of us provides will help ensure these patrons will want to visit again soon.

Not every game staged on the field can be a victory. But when our community rallies around events, contests, and festivals that benefit us all, we have shown that community teamwork proves to be a winning combination every time.

Thank you again to all that strive daily to make our community the wonderful place we all have come to love and enjoy.

David Jackson

President/CEO

Boone Area Chamber of Commerce