The Visitor Beat
Welcome to The Visitor Beat, the monthly newsletter of Experience Sioux Falls. Stay up-to-date on what's going on locally in the travel industry, as well as what's trending nationally.
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Promotion for Pheasant Fest & The Summit League Basketball Championships
Experience Sioux Falls sends out a huge thank you to every individual and business that helped to promote and welcome visitors who came to Sioux Falls for National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic and The Summit League Basketball Championships.
These two events brought thousands of visitors to Sioux Falls last month, so thank you for going the extra mile to make things special for those attending each event. See the photos below for a sampling of some of the creative ways hotels got involved.
Grant Programs
Travel South Dakota and Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. each recently announced the opening of its grant programs.
For Travel South Dakota, the Tourism Advertising Promotion (TAP) Grant Program has been developed to assist South Dakota’s tourism industry with additional marketing dollars. The grant is intended to help increase travel/visitation to tourism-related events while enhancing the state’s image. Festival, anniversary events, special events, concerts, rodeos, powwows, etc. in South Dakota are all eligible to apply for the grant.
The TAP Grant program application deadline is April 30, 2024.
For Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., its Downtown Business Relief Grant Program provides $1,000 grants for DTSF members that have been forced to temporarily close for three full business days or more due to flooding, fire, or Acts of God.
South Dakota Spring Customer Service Seminars
Travel South Dakota will be hosting its yearly Spring Customer Service Seminars (formerly known as Spring Hospitality Training) across the state, May 6-9. Back by popular demand, Betsy Allen-Manning will be returning in 2024 after being the featured speaker during last year’s seminars.
Betsy will be in Sioux Falls on Wednesday, May 8, from 8:30am – 10am at the Holiday Inn City Centre (Starlite Room) to share her message about how to improve communication, build better relationships, and deal with difficult people effectively.
This is a free seminar, and no registration is required.
Upcoming Travel Shows
The Experience Sioux Falls sales team will be present at two travel shows over the next few weeks.
Jackie Wentworth will be in Casper, WY in two weeks for International Roundup. This tradeshow style event includes tourism representatives from Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in addition to over 40 international and domestic buyers from more than 10 countries. International Roundup is a chance for the states in this region of the country to promote its destinations to international markets around the world.
In three weeks, Brandon Vant Hul will be in Portland, OR attending Sports ETA (Events & Tourism Association) Symposium. This event gives hundreds of sports events and tourism industry partners the opportunity to connect and find potential fits between a particular sports event and a city that offers everything the event needs.
Falls Park Nominated for Best City Park
Falls Park has been nominated as a Readers’ Choice Award 2024 Best City Park in USA Today 10Best. Falls Park is up against 19 other parks across the country. You can cast your vote for Best City Park once per day. The voting period is open for just a few more days.
Small Business Persons of the Year in South Dakota
Last month, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the owners of Look’s Marketplace, Nick and Greg Heineman, are the Small Business Persons of the Year in South Dakota for their business which operates as a grocery store, restaurant, and brewery.
National Small Business Week begins April 28.
“National Small Business Week is an opportunity each year for SBA and our vast network of economic partners to showcase top performers in the small-business space,” said Jaime Wood, SBA South Dakota district director.
