UMass Amherst To Host Economic Development Conversation on Tourism with Amherst, Hadley and Northampton

Dec. 29, 2008

Contact:

Martha Patrick Nelson 413/545-2574

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst will host the fourth in a series of public conversations on economic development to discuss tourism in the communities of Amherst, Hadley and Northampton. The event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 3-5:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts Room of the Mullins Center.

The discussion will focus on how officials in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton can maximize their potential for bringing tourism dollars to the local economy.

Among those who will participate are:

• Tony Maroulis, executive director, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
• Suzanne Beck, executive director, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
• Curt Shumway, president, Hampshire Hospitality Group
• Mary Kay Wydra, president, Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau
• John Mullin, Graduate School dean and director of the Center for Economic Development at UMass Amherst
• Rod Warnick, department chair, hospitality and tourism management, UMass Amherst
• Larry Shaffer, Amherst town manager
• David Nixon, Hadley town administrator
• Terry Anderson, Northampton economic development coordinator

The group will look at current visitor data, tourism trends, area assets and resources, and how the three communities fit into the regional tourism landscape.

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