Arkansas Tourism Rebounding
The Blue Mountain project comes as tourism in Arkansas is vigorously bouncing back from COVID’s disastrous effects and travelers are looking for ever more outdoor activities. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
A&P Taxes Indicate Rebound Strong, Not Complete
The tourism and hospitality industries rebounded strongly in 2021, but local tax collections indicate that a few cities haven’t seen visitors return to pre-pandemic levels. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
State Awards $3.6M in Outdoor Recreation Grants
Projects in 25 counties across the state are receiving funds. read more >
Arkansas Gets $20.5M Grant to Fund Completion of Delta Heritage Trail
The grant is set to trigger a $20 million matching pledge from the Walton Family Foundation, the biggest ever for the state Department of Parks & Tourism. read more >
Katherine Andrews to Lead New Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation
She had been at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission since 2016, serving first as a project manager, then as the director of small business and entrepreneurship development. read more >
Montine McNulty to Retire as CEO of Arkansas Hospitality Association
Montine McNulty, CEO of the Arkansas Hospitality Association since 1996, will retire effective Dec. 31, she said in a statement released Monday. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
Simmons Bank in Negotiations for Naming Rights to Field at War Memorial Stadium
It's the second stadium sponsorship deal the growing bank has announced this month. read more >
by Scott Carroll -
Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann To Retire
Spann started his career with Arkansas State Parks in 1993, as superintendent of Parkin Archeological State Park, and he was named director in 2016. read more >
EVs Await Chargers; Retailers Await EVs
Before gas-station owners invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in charging stations, they need to know there are enough electric cars to make it pay off. But before car buyers pick an electric vehicle, they want to be sure they’ll find enough places to recharge. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Rex Nelson Steps Up to the Plate for Classic Restaurants
Columnist Rex Nelson shares how Arkansas can better promote its culinary heritage and iconic eateries. read more >
78 Companies Receive $100,000-Plus From BIG Program
The Business Interruption Grant program awarded all but 11 cents of its appropriation to 2,136 businesses out of 3,118 applications received during the application period in November. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Arkansas Hospitality Tax Receipts Plunge in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic sent hospitality tax collections in Arkansas plummeting last year, and the blow to some tourism bureaus in the state, which rely on the taxes for revenue, was even worse than those figures show. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
The Costs of a Hateful Image
Senate Bill 3, commonly known as the “hate crimes bill,” boils down to a crucial chance to burnish Arkansas’ image and remove a hurdle to recruiting companies and workers, government officials and business leaders say. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Convention Centers Can’t Wait for Legislative Session
Arkansas’ hospitals and other industries have urgent concerns for the Legislature to address in the regular session that will commence on Jan. 11, but a key piece of the hospitality industry has needs that are more urgent. read more >
by -
State Turns to CJRW For Virus Messaging
A new $650,000 communications campaign for the state’s COVID economic recovery task force is in development at CJRW, the state’s longtime marketing firm for parks and tourism. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Stacy Hurst Stays Well-Versed on Attracting Travelers to Arkansas
Stacy Hurst, the secretary of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, says millennials want authentic and photoworthy tourist experiences. read more >
Ruston Convention Chief Named New Arkansas Tourism Director
Arkansas has a new state tourism director following the quiet retirement of former Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey at the end of last year: Travis Napper, formerly CEO of the Convention & Visitors Bureau in Ruston, Louisiana. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Little Rock Tourism Looks Beyond Loss of ATA World Expo
Tourism chief Gretchen Hall admits that losing the ATA Martial Arts World Expo and its 20,000 attendees was a kick in the head for Little Rock, but the former collegiate athlete is absorbing the blow. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Travis Napper Named Director of Arkansas Tourism
Travis Napper has been named director of Arkansas Tourism, a division of the state Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, department Secretary Stacy Hurst announced Friday. read more >
Arkansas Tourism Wins Award For Website
Arkansas Tourism, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, has received a Gold Adrian Award. read more >
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