Touring 21 — Tourism professionals coming to town

Weston County will host the Wyoming Office of Tourism and its consulting partner, Young Strategies, on Monday, Oct. 20, for a tour and workshop aimed at strengthening local tourism, enhancing visitor experiences and making the most of local resources through the state’s WY Best and Destination Development programs, according to an email from Brittany Trandahl, the president of the Weston County Travel Commission.

“Weston County is one of only two counties in Wyoming that have not yet participated in the state-led initiative,” she said. 

The team will spend the morning seeing the county as visitors do, with stops at attractions, lodging and amenities across Newcastle, Upton and surrounding areas. The schedule calls for an 8–11 a.m. driving tour, an 11:30 a.m. boxed lunch with Weston County Travel Commission board members, and a workshop from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Upton Town Hall to review observations, identify standouts and discuss strategies for a countywide tourism plan.

“The goal of the WY Best program is to provide strategic planning support to help each Wyoming county better position itself for tourism growth,” Trandahl said. 

Focus areas include branding, marketing and visitor readiness; leveraging lodging tax funds; and developing long-term plans to boost local tourism and economic impact.

Community members are invited to suggest tour stops — including attractions, lodging, businesses and sites that reflect the heart of Weston County — and to share information or materials for the visiting team. 

“This is a great opportunity to showcase our communities and shape the direction of Weston County’s tourism future,” Trandahl said, encouraging people to send her an email with ideas or questions so the itinerary can be finalized. 

Her email is: trandahlb@gmail.com