Outdoor recreation leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR)’s first National Outdoor Recreation Executive Forum. More than 150 industry executives, congressional members, federal agency leaders, outdoor recreation state office members and governors attended the invitation-only event.
Outdoor Hospitality Industry (OHI) members joined in preparation for its impending legislative actions on Capitol Hill next week. The organization’s objectives primarily focus on legislation that would lower taxes and fees levied on small businesses.
OHI President and CEO Paul Bambei and OHI Chief Strategy Officer David Basler attended the executive forum. Throughout the day, they met with Congress members including Sen. John
Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
At the forum, Huckabee Sanders was awarded the first “Outdoor Recreation Leadership” award.
The governor said she was honored to be recognized for the progress Arkansas made on growing its outdoor economy.
“I am proud that work is admired on the national level,” she said, “and look forward to inviting even more Arkansans and visitors into our outdoor spaces and breaking tourism records year after year.”
Huckabee Sanders participated in a roundtable discussion with Hickenlooper and Burgum during the event. Huckabee Sanders’ spokeswoman Alexa Henning said the governor spoke about Arkansas’ Natural State Initiative to unite public, private and nonprofit leaders around growing Arkansas’ tourism industry and improving our natural spaces.
Huckabee Sanders said Arkansas was a year-round outdoor destination with the opportunity to compete in outdoor recreation with states such as Colorado and North Dakota.
OHI will continue Congress member conversations throughout 30 meetings on Capitol Hill next week.
