From WDIO-TV - May 3, 2022

It's National Travel and Tourism Week. Visit Grand Rapids is celebrating the Future of Travel, with a weeklong campaign thanking the tourism and hospitality industry. "From my perspective, the future is really bright," shared Megan Christianson, Executive Director of Visit Grand Rapids. "Like other areas, we did see a decrease in hotel/motel group events. But the resorts off the beaten path are seeing an increase."

At Sugar Lake Lodge, they are getting excited for the busy summer season. The owner weighed in. "Last year, everybody wanted to get away from where everybody else was going. So we became a safe haven for people who didn't want to be in big crowds. And now those same people are coming back," Abby Oxborough explained.

They are bringing back some activities again, like yoga, but keeping things focused on the outdoors.

Business booking are going up for retreats and leadership events, as some companies have new employees and haven't had that much face to face time in the past few years.

In the Rainy Lake area, the resorts are 90% booked for the summer. Delaney Roshell, from the International Falls, Rainy Lake, and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau, told us over the phone, "People came as far north as they could. and they discovered it's not just a pass by for Canada. It's a real gem of a community." Two new resorts are opening in June. 

And the Iron Range Tourism bureau is feeling confident that the COVID-related push to the great outdoors will continue.

To see the original post and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website. https://www.wdio.com/news/tourism-and-travel-industry-season/6461733/