As the trails across Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort begin to turn white, the Park City Chamber/Bureau will celebrate the coming winter season at their Tourism Fall Forum next week.
On Nov. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, the 2025 Tourism Fall Forum will bring together resort leaders, business owners and residents for a new version of the longstanding local tradition.
“It’s our kickoff to winter, two sides of the same coin. On one hand, it’s where we talk data, economics and marketing strategy. On the other, it’s a chance to celebrate who we are as a mountain community and why we love doing what we do,” said Scott House, director of partner services at the Chamber/Bureau.
The annual forum is a way to share the state of the local tourism economy and preview the outlook for the coming season, House said. Over time, it has evolved to address feedback and the changing needs of Park City’s tourism community, shifting away from a data- and presentation-driven format toward a more interactive program that encourages participation and highlights the people and culture that define the town each winter.
“In its current form, this year is completely different than the last three,” he said. “We affectionately call it our mullet event: business up front, party in the back.”
In place of the traditional resort panel and presentations, the Chamber/Bureau will introduce a new multimedia format and opportunities for audience participation, aiming to provide a more comprehensive look at the upcoming winter season.
New this year is a short film called “On the Mountain, Across the Valley and In the Town” that shows Park City life, part of the chamber’s My Town Video Series.
“It’s still about sharing updates,” House said, “but in a new way that celebrates the people behind them.”
The video will highlight stories from ski area employees, lift operators, snowmakers and hospitality staff who work behind the scenes to make the winter season possible, House said.
“It’s not going to be the same handful of executive names,” House said. “You’re going to hear from the boots-on-the-ground folks who live and breathe this every day. It’s less about charts and more about what gets people excited for winter.”
Each section of the video will showcase not only the resorts and ski industry but also local arts and cultural organizations.
“We’re really broadening it this year,” House said. “Park City is so much more than just a ski town. You’ll see people from the arts community, restaurants, lodging and beyond.”
The formal portion of the forum still includes plenty of insight and economic updates, starting with a welcome from Park City Chamber/Bureau president and CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff and remarks from Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism, who will present the state’s new campaign, “You Might Be From Utah If.”
President and CEO of Ski Utah Nathan Rafferty will offer a statewide view of resort trends and the upcoming season. Then, researcher Steve Halasz will break down summer and fall tourism data including lodging, sales, airport traffic and national travel trends and offer a look ahead to winter using spend data and other economic indicators.
“Halasz is incredible at making complex data relatable,” House said. “He translates what’s happening in the economy into terms that actually mean something for local business owners.”
Following Halasz’s presentation, the new short film will premiere, followed by Wesselhoff’s 2025 winter marketing update outlining the Chamber/Bureau’s campaign strategy and creative direction for the season ahead.
“People really look forward to Jenn’s update every year,” House said. “They want to know What’s our story this season? What markets are we reaching? What’s our voice?”
Hosting the event at Stein Eriksen Lodge places the forum in one of Park City’s most prominent settings for alpine tradition and hospitality, House said. Named for Olympic champion and ski legend Stein Eriksen, the lodge reflects the long history of skiing and resort culture that has defined Park City’s growth as a destination.
“For a lot of people, this is their one opportunity all year to experience Stein’s,” House said. “Stein’s is ingrained in the ski history fabric, and so to host the event there, it just grounds you in Park City and really says that winter is coming.”
The $80 ticket includes lunch, programming, valet service and access to the networking reception, and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/56wtzfsn. House emphasized it’s open to everyone — not just chamber employees and business owners.
“Maybe you just moved here. Maybe you work in Salt Lake but ski in Park City. Maybe you’re just curious about what’s happening this season. Everyone is welcome. That’s part of what makes it so special,” he said.
The relaxed format and open invitation hope to build the event into more of a community gathering, a place where the shared anticipation of winter brings people together and signals that the ski season is just around the corner.
“This event always leaves people smiling,” House said. “It’s about connection, optimism and remembering why we live and work here in the first place. Regardless of what’s happening in town or at the resorts, it’s this incredible reminder that we’re all part of something bigger. We’re a community that’s fun-loving, supportive, confident and passionate about what we do.”
