Tourism is an important economic driver.
Visitors to a destination bring new dollars into a community that support area hotels, attractions, restaurants, and small businesses. What’s more, as the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics reports, hospitality and tourism is responsible for almost 10% of all employment in Michigan. We see this reflected in Genesee County, where success of the hospitality industry ripples throughout the local economy.
Explore Flint & Genesee – a division of the Flint & Genesee Group and Genesee County’s convention and visitors bureau – is doing crucial work to increase tourism and drive economic impact in our region through strategic marketing, public relations, and sales. In 2023 alone, group business secured by Explore Flint & Genesee resulted in an estimated economic impact of $12 million.
Partnership is key to this success. Explore Flint & Genesee works alongside staple events like The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, Back to the Bricks, Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, HAP CareSource Crim Festival of Races, and the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic. They also secure and support new events for the region, like last year’s Mott Lake Regatta, Wings Over Flint Airshow, Region 3 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the Midwest Open Geocaching Adventure competition.
And as Explore Flint & Genesee works to boost travel to the region, the team is always looking for ways to make the visitor experience more inclusive for all – assessing barriers, researching best practices around accessibility, and seeking opportunities to host new audiences. All while helping our region put its best foot forward for visitors through the Certified Tourism Ambassador program.
At the Flint & Genesee Group, we believe that business, talent, and place moving forward together results in improved economic well-being and quality of life for our community. Through the support of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, Explore Flint & Genesee works alongside other Group divisions to create a place with high-value amenities and services, where talented and skilled people want to be, and where businesses and entrepreneurs want to locate and grow.
I invite you to connect with Explore Flint & Genesee at ExploreFlintandGenesee.org.
Together we can make a positive difference in Genesee County.
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