Vail's Stewardship Roadmap

Over the last year, the Town of Vail created Vail's Stewardship Roadmap, with the goals of:

  • Managing the growth of our tourism economy,
  • Protecting our way of life and the natural environment that we all love, and
  • Maintaining a world-class experience for our visitors and residents.

Why Is This a Priority?

There’s no doubt that we’ve reached a critical juncture for our town. Amid a global pandemic, when many destinations across the globe were seeing significant drops in visitation levels, Vail continues to see record-breaking numbers of visitors. This surge in visitation is putting pressure on natural resources and infrastructure, amplifying issues related to workforce and housing, and placing our residents and visitors at odds with one another.

What Is Destination Stewardship?

“Destination stewardship” is a strategic approach to tourism management that focuses on environmental, social and economic sustainability. We know that tourism is an important economic engine for our community. But we also know that tourism in a place as unique as Vail must be done in a way that preserves all that makes our community such a special place to live, work and visit.

How Will It Be Achieved?

The Destination Stewardship Plan will be developed through a community-driven process. Hundreds of regional stakeholders will be actively included in the process through a variety of engagements including interviews, town hall meetings, surveys, and focus groups.

Thanks For Your Involvement

Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap rests on a rich foundation of community engagement. More than 3,000 opinions were shared by locals. These included 2,580 who responded to surveys and nearly 500 who showed up to share their views in person.

  • 1,465 Answered tourism-related questions in the biennial Vail Community Survey.
  • 986 Responded to a Vail resident survey.
  • 132 Took the downvalley resident survey.
  • 12 Focus groups on different tourism-related topics included about 180 locals. One was conducted in Spanish.
  • 8 Public Engagement Sessions drew about 250 attendees. Six were in person at the Donovan Pavilion and two were on Zoom.
  • 30 Or more took part in one-on-one in-depth interviews.
  • 6 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partners, plus Mayor Kim Langmaid, shared high-level oversight. They included the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Holy Cross Energy, the USDA Forest Service, the Vail Recreation District, Vail Resorts, and Walking Mountain Science Center.
  • 1 Daylong visioning session brought together more than 25 community members to create a planning framework.


The Destination Stewardship Plan will be created in collaboration with:



Over the last year, the Town of Vail created Vail's Stewardship Roadmap, with the goals of:

  • Managing the growth of our tourism economy,
  • Protecting our way of life and the natural environment that we all love, and
  • Maintaining a world-class experience for our visitors and residents.

Why Is This a Priority?

There’s no doubt that we’ve reached a critical juncture for our town. Amid a global pandemic, when many destinations across the globe were seeing significant drops in visitation levels, Vail continues to see record-breaking numbers of visitors. This surge in visitation is putting pressure on natural resources and infrastructure, amplifying issues related to workforce and housing, and placing our residents and visitors at odds with one another.

What Is Destination Stewardship?

“Destination stewardship” is a strategic approach to tourism management that focuses on environmental, social and economic sustainability. We know that tourism is an important economic engine for our community. But we also know that tourism in a place as unique as Vail must be done in a way that preserves all that makes our community such a special place to live, work and visit.

How Will It Be Achieved?

The Destination Stewardship Plan will be developed through a community-driven process. Hundreds of regional stakeholders will be actively included in the process through a variety of engagements including interviews, town hall meetings, surveys, and focus groups.

Thanks For Your Involvement

Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap rests on a rich foundation of community engagement. More than 3,000 opinions were shared by locals. These included 2,580 who responded to surveys and nearly 500 who showed up to share their views in person.

  • 1,465 Answered tourism-related questions in the biennial Vail Community Survey.
  • 986 Responded to a Vail resident survey.
  • 132 Took the downvalley resident survey.
  • 12 Focus groups on different tourism-related topics included about 180 locals. One was conducted in Spanish.
  • 8 Public Engagement Sessions drew about 250 attendees. Six were in person at the Donovan Pavilion and two were on Zoom.
  • 30 Or more took part in one-on-one in-depth interviews.
  • 6 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partners, plus Mayor Kim Langmaid, shared high-level oversight. They included the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Holy Cross Energy, the USDA Forest Service, the Vail Recreation District, Vail Resorts, and Walking Mountain Science Center.
  • 1 Daylong visioning session brought together more than 25 community members to create a planning framework.


The Destination Stewardship Plan will be created in collaboration with:



  • Town Council Unifies Around Vail's Stewardship Roadmap

    The 10-year plan aims to strengthen the community, foster a more resilient visitor economy, and steward the natural environment

    In a unanimous vote, the Vail Town Council adopted Vail's Stewardship Roadmap by resolution Tuesday evening, completing a 17-month planning process driven by extensive community engagement. More than 3,000 opinions were shared in engagement sessions and surveys.

    The 10-year plan spells out a new "community-positive" focus for the town on the heels of celebrations to mark its founding as a ski resort 60 years ago. While recognizing that tourism is the town's lifeblood, the Roadmap states that a strong tourism economy also requires a strong community and that the purpose of tourism is to support the town's remarkable way of life.

    The new Roadmap is designed to complement other Vail plans and lay the groundwork for a broader community visioning plan in the future. The 47-page document spells out an ambitious vision for Vail to be "the world's premier sustainable mountain resort community, renowned for its quality of life, inspiring experiences for all, and stewardship of nature."

    Generating intensive community support throughout the planning process was an action to "Make Vail More Livable," which spells out a goal of doubling the supply of deed-restricted homes by 2033 to address a housing crisis that threatens every almost aspect of community life. The plan calls for expanding the supply of homes for residents and workers from 1,050 to 2,100 through collaboration and strategies generating ongoing funding for more housing. The town already is acting on this resolve with the soon-to-open Residences at Main Vail and an innovative public-private partnership to redevelop Timber Ridge.

    The plan's 40 strategies also include initiatives to analyze Vail's carrying capacity to manage demands, foster local entrepreneurship, explore new venues to support year-round cultural and community experiences, broaden local access to the world-class experience, and consider founding an iconic thought leadership event to advance mountain tourism sustainability.

    The Roadmap offers a new definition of "community," aimed at fostering unity in a place where nearly 5,000 full-time residents welcome 2.5 million visitors a year and about 60 percent of homes are occupied by seasonal residents. The definition extends to anyone "who cares about Vail," whether a full- or part-time resident, a worker or a visitor. Even the town's wildlife is included.

    To create the plan, Vail selected a first-time consortium of three leading tourism organizations. Better Destinations of Denver and MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver shared overall project leadership. The Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism, led work to analyze the town's sustainability practices and recommend future actions to advance stewardship.

    Next steps are focused on the implementation plan for each of the five actions, and the 40 resulting strategies. Town departments will be focused on resourcing the strategies that are identified for 2024 and building appropriate tactics into their operating plans. The actions and strategies will also be built into a dashboard that will be available to the public later this year.

    The town's lead for the project was Mia Vlaar, Director of Economic Development, with support from Kristen Bertuglia, Director of Sustainability. Also playing a key role in the planning process were the town's six key community partners: the U.S. Forest Service, Vail Resorts, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Vail Recreation District, Holy Cross Energy, and Walking Mountains Science Center of Avon.

  • Town Council to Consider Adoption of Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap

    The Vail Town Council will consider adoption of Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap at its regular evening meeting on April 18. The item is listed as 6.1 on the meeting agenda, which begins at 6 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 75. S. Frontage Rd. in Vail.

    Public comment will be accepted in person or virtually by registering at www.vailgov.com/town-council, or in advance of the meeting by emailing publicinput.vailtowncouncil@vailgov.com. A live stream of the meeting will be available at www.highfivemedia.org/live-five and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TownofVail.

    Based on extensive engagement with the Vail community, town council input and high-level town priorities, Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap focuses specifically on steps the town can take over the next 10 years to ensure that Vail’s tourism economy continues to thrive. The roadmap also introduces the concept of "Community-Positive Tourism,” which recognizes that for tourism to thrive, the community and its natural environment must thrive too.

    Next steps will include work by Town of Vail department heads to determine the time and resources needed for each of the actions and strategies to be executed over the next 10 years. Once the implementation timeline and corresponding budgets are determined, they will be brought back to the council for consideration. Additionally, Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap is intended to complement other Vail plans aimed at enhancing the community and to lay the groundwork for a broader, long-term community visioning plan.

    Background on the year-plus process and supporting documentation are available at www.engagevail.com/stewardship.

  • Vail Town Council to Review Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap

    The Vail Town Council will review the final draft of Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap at its regular afternoon meeting on March 7. The item is listed as 1.1 on the afternoon meeting agenda, which begins at 1 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 75. S. Frontage Rd. in Vail.

    A live stream of the meeting will be available at www.highfivemedia.org/live-five and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TownofVail.

    Based on town council input, newly identified town priorities, and extensive engagement with the Vail community, Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap has been refined to focus specifically on steps the town can take over the next 10 years to ensure that Vail’s tourism economy continues to thrive. The Roadmap also introduces a new concept: "Community-Positive Tourism,” which recognizes that for tourism to thrive, the community must thrive, too.

    Additionally, Vail’s Stewardship Roadmap is intended to complement other Vail plans aimed at enhancing the community and to lay the groundwork for a broader, long-term community visioning plan. Council will be asked to provide feedback on the policy implications of the Roadmap.

    Background on the process to-date and supporting documentation are available at www.engagevail.com/stewardship.

  • Key Takeaways Identified in Vail’s Destination Stewardship Planning Process; Action Recommendations to be Presented during Public Workshops in October

    Vail’s year-long process to create a Destination Stewardship Plan that will be used to balance community priorities and the environment while supporting a thriving visitor economy, is entering its final stages after completing an information-gathering phase involving more than 1,100 stakeholders that will be used as the plan’s foundation.

    An update on the Steward Vail planning process was presented to the Vail Town Council this week by the project’s lead consultant, Cathy Ritter of Better Destinations based in Denver. Using findings from the team’s comprehensive research, which has involved surveys, focus groups, interviews and other community outreach sessions, the action plan is currently being drafted. The consulting team also includes leading strategic planning firm MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving the impacts of tourism.

    A Steward Vail Vision as well as proposed plan pillars and strategic initiatives will be shared with the community during final public engagement sessions Oct. 19 and 20. To register for the upcoming sessions or to learn more about Steward Vail, visit www.engagevail.com/stewardship.

    The Steward Vail plan will build upon insights documented in a situational analysis. Key findings include:

    • Resident Housing Crisis –It will be critically important to address a housing crisis that threatens to strangle the health of its tourism economy. The cost and short supply of housing impacts every aspect of life in the Vail Valley.
    • Regional Collaboration – Residents throughout Vail and Eagle County share similar concerns regarding housing, parking pressures, crowding, damage to trails and loss of a sense of community. This commonality of interests points to the potential for regional collaboration to address concerns that are at the top of the list for everyone in Eagle County.
    • Parking Pressures – Shared concerns point to a need to re-envision Vail's parking strategy. A key question for Vail to address is whether it wishes to use parking access as a means of managing its capacity for visitors.
    • Community Connections – A persistent theme was a longing for a Vail where people feel more connected -- both to the community and with each other. All recognize how challenging this is for a town built as a resort and whose permanent population of less than 5,000 is far outnumbered by its 2.5 million yearly visitors.
    • Next Generation Development – Opportunity abounds for young entrepreneurs in Vail, but it is hard for a new business owner to get a foothold. Making things easier for fledging entrepreneurs could help build the town’s next generation of leaders, introduce more diversity into food and retail offerings, send more tourist dollars to local pockets, and give locals more places to enjoy.
    • Marketing Refinements – By promoting Vail as a charming, upscale destination that also is welcoming, inclusive and focused on sustainability, Vail could improve its competitive standing, carve out a unique position for travelers and satisfy locals.
    • Consumer Awareness – Although Vail is recognized among the world’s most sustainable destinations, consumers are not aware. Vail has a chance to gain awareness and recognition about its considerable accomplishments to build a stronger reputation among visitors who make traveling sustainability a priority.
    • Guest Service Focus – Providing a high level of customer service is paramount to Vail’s future success.
    • Natural Environment Threats – Vail’s appeal is founded on its extraordinary natural resources, especially its premier ski mountain. Climate change, overuse of trails, threats to water quality and stress on wildlife habitat all threaten the Vail experience.

    In her update to Town Council, Ritter noted the draft plan will be organized with strategies and tactics based on five planning pillars discussed in a recent visioning session:

    • Do Better Together – Embrace local and regional collaboration and both public and private partnerships.
    • Enhance World-Class Experiences – Elevate the Vail experience for all while managing use of key assets.
    • Reinvigorate Vail’s Spirit– Restore and rebuild a sense of community.
    • Steward Vail as a Global Model – Position Vail locally and internationally as a leading environmental steward.
    • Embrace Values-Based Marketing – Realign Vail marketing to reflect shared community values.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while managing the growth of Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    Following the public workshops in October, the draft plan will be presented to the Planning and Environmental Commission in November with consideration of the plan’s adoption by the Town Council in December.

    For additional details about Steward Vail, visit www.engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Mia Vlaar, economic development director, at 970-479-2452 or email mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Steward Vail Surveys and Final Series of Public Engagement Sessions

    Vail and Eagle County community members are encouraged to take part in one of the short online surveys that is being used to help prioritize community preferences on sustainable tourism. Both surveys will be open until August 5.

    The 20-question Vail Resident Sentiment survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N9P9QJC and probes community sentiment about the role and impact of tourism in Vail and ways to create more positive benefits from tourism. The survey is available for participation by full and part-time residents of Vail.

    The Steward Vail planning team now is offering Eagle County residents who live beyond Vail a chance to take part in the project's resident sentiment survey. The Eagle County Resident Sentiment survey can be taken here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9TCX79R. This survey was posted in response to requests from many Eagle County residents, especially those who work in Vail or take part in its offerings. This survey asks the same questions that are being posed to Vail residents. To take the survey, click "No" to the first question.

    Results of both surveys will be shared on engagevail.com/stewardship during August.

    The Steward Vail surveys build upon a series of community workshops and discussions that took place in April, June and July during the first phase of a year-long planning process to develop a first-ever Destination Stewardship Plan for Vail.

    Save the date or register now for the final series of Steward Vail public engagement sessions that will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 20. Participants will have a chance to weigh in on all components of the draft Steward Vail plan, including proposed vision and mission statements. Attendees also will be asked to share thoughts about the plan's goals and objectives and take part in an exercise to consider proposed action steps. Register for one of these session at engagevail.com/stewardship.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while building Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver; MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver; and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism. For additional details about Steward Vail, visit engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Mia Vlaar at 970-479-2454 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Learn the Latest Findings from the Steward Vail Plan, Share Your Insights at a July 18 Virtual Public Workshop

    Vail community members can hear what's been learned so far from the work to create Vail’s first-ever Destination Stewardship Plan at a virtual public workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, July 18. Registration is open at engagevail.com/stewardship.

    Participants in the virtual session will hear the latest findings and will be asked to help prioritize top challenges and opportunities identified through the planning process.

    The 90-minute session also will include:

    • New research into the way visitors view Vail.
    • Early results of a Resident Sentiment Study building upon the findings of Vail's recent community survey. All Vail residents are encouraged to share their voice in the survey at engagevail.com/stewardship.
    • Insight into how the Travel Foundation's ongoing Sustainability Analysis, supported by Green Destinations, will guide Vail's future sustainability initiatives and priorities.

    Anyone with a stake in Vail’s future, including full- and part-time residents, business stakeholders, employees, nonprofits, governmental bodies, public land managers and others are encouraged to take part in the planning process. To date, more than 1,100 community members have taken part in the Steward Vail outreach.

    All are invited to sign up for in-person workshops on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 20, when participants will have a chance to share thoughts on the plan's draft recommendations for the plan. Registration for those sessions is now open as well.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while managing the growth of Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver; MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver; and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism.

    For additional details about Steward Vail, visit engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Vlaar at 970-479-2454 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Vail Community Invited to Next Phase of Steward Vail Workshops June 28 & 29

    The Vail Community is invited to join the next phase of Steward Vail public engagement sessions later this month to learn how the first-ever Destination Stewardship Plan is progressing and to provide feedback on key elements identified in community engagement sessions and through resident and guest surveys.

    In-person roundtable sessions have been scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28 and repeated from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. Both sessions will take place at Donovan Pavilion. A third session will take place virtually from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, July 18. For registration information, visit www.engagevail.com/stewardship.

    Those attending the latest round of sessions will have the following opportunities:

    • Hear findings of a brand perception and consumer segmentation study fielded last month by Strategic Marketing and Research Insights.
    • See early results of a Resident Sentiment Study building upon the findings of Vail's recent community survey. All Vail residents are encouraged to share their voice in the planning process at https://www.engagevail.com/stewardship.
    • Learn how the Travel Foundation's ongoing Sustainability Analysis, supported by Green Destinations, will guide Vail's future sustainability initiatives and identify priorities.
    • Take part in identifying key elements of the plan's vision and mission statements.

    Anyone with a stake in Vail’s future, including full- and part-time residents, business stakeholders, employees, nonprofits, governmental bodies, public land managers and others are encouraged to take part in the planning process.

    Following the feedback sessions, workshops on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and Thursday, Oct. 20 will give participants a chance to share thoughts on draft recommendations for the plan.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while building Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver; MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver; and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism. For additional details about Steward Vail, visit engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Vlaar at 970-479-2454 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Take the Survey Now: Vail Resident Sentiment Survey to Collect Community Preferences on Sustainable Tourism

    Vail community members are encouraged to take part in a short online survey that is being used to help prioritize community preferences on sustainable tourism.

    The Steward Vail survey builds upon a series of community workshops and discussions that took place in April during the first phase of a year-long planning process to develop a first-ever Destination Stewardship Plan for Vail.

    The 20-question survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N9P9QJC and probes community sentiment about the role and impact of tourism in Vail and ways to create more positive benefits from tourism. The survey is available for participation by full and part-time residents of Vail throughout the month of June.

    Preliminary results from the Steward Vail survey and other planning updates will be presented during public roundtable sessions in June. The sessions will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, and repeated from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. Both engagement sessions will be held at Donovan Pavilion and light snacks will be provided. For registration information, visit www.engagevail.com/stewardship.

    Following the June workshops, the final series of public engagement sessions will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 20, to offer participants a chance to share thoughts on the plan's draft recommendations.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while building Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver; MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver; and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism. For additional details about Steward Vail, visit engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Mia Vlaar at 970-479-2454 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Vail to Host June 6 Virtual Community Workshop to Gather More Input for Destination Stewardship Plan

    The Vail community is invited to join an upcoming online public engagement session to share input into Vail’s Destination Stewardship Plan. The session -- set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 6 -- will round out in-person workshops that occurred on April 27 and April 28. It has been scheduled to accommodate community members who were not able to attend the in-person sessions.

    To learn more about the Steward Vail plan and review takeaways from the April sessions, visit EngageVail.com/Stewardship. Register here for the June 6 session no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, June 5.

    Steward Vail project manager Mia Vlaar, the town’s economic development director, says the series of workshops is structured to gather ideas on major elements of the plan, including four major themes:

    • Workforce & Housing
      • What are ways to address challenges for workers and employers?
    • The Vail Economy
      • What are the opportunities and challenges for Vail's tourist-centric economy?
    • Environment & Sustainability
      • What are your priorities for managing the environmental impacts of tourism and recreation?
    • Quality of Life/Quality of Experience
      • What else needs to happen to improve Vail's quality of life and the quality of the guest experience?

    Anyone who has a stake in Vail’s future, including full- and part-time residents, business stakeholders, employees, nonprofits, governmental bodies, public land managers and others are encouraged to take part in the planning process.

    Another two rounds of public workshops are planned. Public engagement sessions on Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29 will provide an opportunity to share feedback to initial findings. Workshops on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and Thursday, Oct. 20 will give participants a chance to share thoughts on the plan's draft recommendations.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while building Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver; MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver; and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism. For additional details about Steward Vail, visit EngageVail.com/stewardship or contact Vlaar at 970-479-2454 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

  • Vail Invites Community Members to Share Priorities during April Visioning Sessions that will Launch Destination Stewardship Plan

    The first in a series of community visioning workshops will take place later this month, kicking off a year-long planning process to create a Destination Stewardship Plan for Vail. The ‘Steward Vail’ roundtable discussions will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, and repeated from 12 to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 28. Both sessions will be held at Donovan Pavilion, and light snacks will be provided.

    Full- and part-time residents, business stakeholders, employees, nonprofits, governmental bodies, public land managers and others who care about Vail’s future are encouraged to attend. Reservations are now being taken at engagevail.com/stewardship as space is limited. Attendees are asked to register no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 25.

    Steward Vail project manager Mia Vlaar, the town’s economic development director, says the April workshops will gather feedback and secure ideas for increasing benefits and minimizing impacts of tourism to optimize the value of Vail's top economic driver. For instance, discussion topics will include ways Vail could attract visitors who value sustainability and are inclined to protect community resources including the natural environment and built infrastructure. "We really want to hear from everyone who cares about Vail," said Vlaar. "These sessions provide a unique opportunity to join with a variety of members of the Vail community to explore what's important and bring it to the fore to inform the development of the plan."

    The April sessions will be followed by two additional rounds of workshops. Discussions on Tuesday, June 28, and Wednesday, June 29, will center on sharing feedback to initial findings. Workshops on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 20, will give participants a chance to share thoughts on the plan's draft recommendations.

    The goal of Steward Vail is to create a 10-year vision and management plan that will advance Vail’s sustainability goals in step with local priorities while building Vail’s tourism economy. Specifically, the town is seeking ways to attract visitors who will support and respect the destination, while encouraging more equitable access to all that Vail offers.

    The plan is being facilitated by a consultant team representing three leading tourism organizations - Better Destinations, based in Denver, MMGY NextFactor of Vancouver, and the Travel Foundation, an international NGO focused on improving impacts of tourism. For additional details about Steward Vail, visit engagevail.com/stewardship or contact Vlaar at 970-479-2452 or mvlaar@vailgov.com.

Page last updated: 22 Jun 2023, 04:47 PM