SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 4, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — An estimated 22,000 manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and media members will return to Utah this week for the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.
The market, open only to industry professionals, generates more than $20 million in direct participant spending to Salt Lake City and the state of Utah, according to the University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR).
The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2016 is being housed in the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple.
It kicks off on Wednesday with the All Mountain Demo at Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. With a focus on backcountry safety, this event gives retailers, representatives and the media first look at the season’s latest gear, equipment, accessories and technology. Both the demo day event and the show, which is open Thursday to Sunday, are business to business events and closed to the public.
“Salt Lake County and the Salt Palace Convention Center enthusiastically welcome the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market back to Utah,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams.
“In some cases, former visitors to the market have become business owners here. The outdoor recreation industry is a strong and growing part of our local economy and a great ambassador for our outdoor lifestyle.”
“Outdoor recreation is essential to the American economy with over $646 billion in spending on gear, vehicles, trips, travel-related expenses and more,” said Amy Roberts, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) executive director.
“2016 marks the National Park Centennial celebrating 100 years of getting Americans outdoors in iconic parks like Utah’s Arches National Park and Zion National Park that bring in dollars from residents and out-of-state visitors. Recreation in the state of Utah attracts and sustains families and businesses, creates healthy communities and fosters a high quality of life making it critical to manage, protect and invest in the state’s national, state and local parks, waters and trails.””
The outdoor recreation economy is responsible for 6.1 million direct American jobs and $646 billion in direct consumer spending, $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue and $39.7 billion in state/local tax revenue, according to the Outdoor Industry Association Recreation Economy Report.
For more information on the show click here.
