Business summit on Aug. 20 has panels on local needs, managing tourism
“This is really about listening to each other and bringing your opinions, bringing all your experiences to the table to highlight and discuss,” said Cassie Oliver, executive director of the Moab Chamber of Commerce.
She’s looking forward to the Grand Summit, Moab’s annual business and economic conference. This year’s event takes place on Tuesday, August 20 with panels and discussions at the Red Cliffs Lodge; tickets are available online at www.grandsummitmoab.com.
Panelists this year include U.S. Representative John Curtis and Utah Director of Tourism Natalie Randall, among other state-level and local leaders.
Moab attracts millions of tourists each year, functioning as a gateway community to Southeast Utah. Still, Oliver highlighted the importance of holding events like the Grand Summit for a rural community like Moab.
“It’s really easy for us to get forgotten,” Oliver noted. “When we can do something annually that really showcases the businesses in our community… that actually has a bigger impact than it would in a larger city because we know everyone. Our community is tightly knit.”
This year’s summit will feature two distinct tracks: one catering to tourism-driven businesses and another focusing on businesses not directly tied to tourism. This dual approach reflects Moab’s diverse economic landscape.
“It’s really important for us as a community to understand the travellers that are coming to our area and new ways to attract and manage tourists,” Oliver explained, “but if we don’t have the services that help our community, then the people in the community don’t stick around.”
Tourism-focused sessions include an update on Grand County’s “Trails to Tomorrow” program and a presentation on current trends in off-highway vehicle use from Chase Pili, Department of Outdoor Recreation OHV manager. OHV use in Moab has been controversial in recent years, with multiple attempts at regulating street-legal vehicle use in the city and county.
“The things that we’re talking about, while they are business focused, are also really important for the community,” Oliver said.
Another crucial community issue will be discussed on the non-tourism focused track: Moab’s housing crisis. Panelists John Knight from Balanced Rock Power, Moab City Community Development Director Michael Black, Moab Area Community Land Trust Executive Director Kaitlin Myers, and local realtor Rachel Moody will discuss progress and challenges in addressing affordable housing in the city.
For Oliver, one of the most exciting aspects of the summit is its collaborative nature, both in the group that prepared the summit this year and in the participants that they hope to attract. She hopes that both local business leaders and everyday residents recognize that the summit offers a platform to voice their concerns.
“Our community really likes to be heard,” Oliver observed. By providing opportunities for open dialogue and shared learning, the summit aims to empower residents and foster a sense of collective ownership over Moab’s future.
“Decisions are made by people that show up,” Oliver put it.
