The summer travel season is heating up and revenues at hospitality businesses are the strongest they’ve been in more than two years. Two MN tourism professionals offer unique perspectives on growing the tourism economy: Linda Jurek is Executive Director of Visit Cook County in Northeastern Minnesota. Kris VonBerge is Executive Director of Visit Little Falls in Central Minnesota. Both tourism regions are rich with amenities for the traveler. And more opportunities are emerging to drive visitation through events and community collaboration.Visit Cook CountyVisit Little FallsExperience Rochester, MNMinnesota Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (MACVB)

Doug DeGrood has been a fixture in the Minneapolis advertising community for over 30 years. His award-winning work has touched many well-known brands. After he and his business partner sold their ad agency at the height of his career, Doug was diagnosed with cancer. This life-changing news brought a whole new perspective and a new appreciation for life. An avid golfer, Doug published a book titled The Right Side of the Fairway: 18 Golf Inspired Lessons for Healing, Preventing and Living with Cancer. Doug has a business consultancy and teaches advertising to college students. Ever the promoter, his newest venture is a canned cocktail: Doogie McShank's Refreshing Swing Oil, coming to a golf course near you.Doug DeGroodExperience Rochester, MN

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly impacted campus life for college students over the past two years. MyLe Luong, a student at University of Minnesota Rochester and Alex Strelow, a student at Winona State University, both located in Southeast Minnesota, share their experiences of virtual learning, lessons learned during the pandemic, and the importance of being together.University of Minnesota RochesterWinona State UniversityExperience RochesterBlog: A Semester at the Mayo Civic Center - Experience Rochester and Mayo Civic Center's Interns Share their Favorite Memories

In 2019, a new travel site emerged called Shrpa.com. It's an exploration platform connecting content creators with communities with an end goal of making it easier for people to get out and explore. Chris Lukenbill is the co-founder of Shrpa.com. He's a serial entrepreneur from Rochester, Minnesota who found funding success for this new venture at pitch competitions. In 2021, Shrpa got the endorsement of the state tourism office, Explore Minnesota, which has provided underwriting support for communities, now 50 of them, to leverage this platform and highlight the best of their communities for residents and visitors. Shrpa has an aggressive growth strategy, which includes branching out in other states.ShrpaGrowing Destinations PodcastExperience Rochester, MN

In 2014, Ann and Steve Teget left their highly successful jobs in corporate America. Inspired by new adventures, the empty nest Midwesterners began publishing the Postcard Jar travel blog highlighting their many travel adventures. Ann and Steve will admit starting the blog wasn't easy, but they've learned a lot along the way, including how to live healthier, thanks in part to the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. Over the course of two years, they've lost a combined 200 pounds and have adopted an attitude of experimentation, which has made their lives more complete and travel more exciting. They hope their storytelling influences others. As natural learners, they say locals always give the best advice. Postcard Jar blogExperience Rochester, MN

Events are important to communities. From 5K runs to farmers markets and festivals, events provide many benefits. The shock of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the industry. In this episode, two leaders in the events industry share their perspectives: Mary Anderson is President of Anderson Race Management. Her 25-year-old business, based in the Twin Cities, is involved in 200 running events a year throughout the country. Holly Masek is Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Alliance in Rochester, MN. Among her many duties is to program and activate the downtown for the benefit of the businesses, residents and visitors. Both Mary and Holly shifted to virtual events in the early days of the pandemic, and they both agree that nothing beats live, in-person events. Growing Destinations PodcastExperience Rochester, MNAnderson Race ManagementRochester Downtown Alliance

For nearly a decade, John McGivern traveled up and down the state of Wisconsin for a travel program on public television. In 2022, he debuted a brand new travel show on commercial TV. It's called "John McGivern's Main Streets" and features 13 communities from six Midwestern states. After filming in Rochester, MN last summer, John recently came back to the city for a preview party of the Rochester episode. In this podcast, learn more about John's new travel show and his fascinating career.John McGivern's Main StreetsRochester episode of John McGivern's Main StreetsExperience Rochester, MN

He's been described as the Immigrant Pizza King of Rochester, and his pizza business has proven pandemic proof. His name is Pasquale Presa, and he's the namesake owner and operator of Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria in Rochester, Minnesota. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and his ability to pivot quickly, Pasquale's business has flourished and diversified.Pasquale's Neighborhood PizzeriaExperience Rochester, MN

In 2019, Minnesota featured nearly 200 craft breweries. COVID-19 stifled the industry's growth and created challenges, but also opportunities. Dawn Finnie, owner of Little Thistle Brewery, and Annie Henderson, owner of Forager Brewery, are two leaders in the craft beer industry from Rochester, Minnesota. Both are collaborators who successfully pivoted and credit the support of their local community to help them weather the COVID storm. Forager BreweryLittle Thistle BrewingExperience Rochester, MN

The tourism and hospitality industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, but there are signs of a recovery. Two leaders in the tourism industry sit down for a conversation on the impact of the pandemic, the current state of affairs, and why they are bullish on the road ahead. Melvin Tennant is President and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, and Joe Ward is President of Experience Rochester, Minnesota.Experience Rochester's website