David

Williams

Associate Managing Director

David Williams graduated from the

University of Utah with an MBA. He
was a product manager for a
company called I-OMEGA. A fter
some time there he was laid off.
Through networking, David got a job
as a research coordinator at the Utah
Office of Tourism. He soon became a
dedicated and loyal employee and
was promoted to his current position
as the associate managing director.

Utah Office of Tourism

Gabby Olsen
Miri Gubler
Foundations of Tourism

Utah Office of
Tourism
A travel guide to the tourism
business industry

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Summary of the Interview

Throughout our interview with David Williams, we discussed multiple aspects for a career in the
business of tourism. We learned about the education/skill requirements and the
advantages/disadvantages to a position in business. We also learned about the target markets of
Utah and how the Utah Office of Tourism funds marketing for these different marketing
segments in Utah.

What We Learned
Utah primary tax revenue comes from the
tourism industry. The Utah Office of Tourism
markets Utah with three different target
markets. One is the winter campaign that
drivers people here for snow sports. When
marketing Utah to a younger audience, the
Utah Office of Tourism features Sierra Quitiquit
and other young prodigies in powder shots.
They also market the Mighty 5 (the 5 national
parks in Utah). The Utah Office of Tourisms
main goal is to market outdoor recreation in
Utah. They are about selling the experience.
The Utah Office of Tourism also supports
environmental sustainability by sponsoring the
Green Bike Program.

Future Career
A career in business with the Utah Office of
Tourism is about selling the experience. You
are not selling a tangible item; you are selling
yourself and the experiences that your state
has to offer. Working under the government in
this industry would provide good benefits for
their employees. This type of career would also
allow you to network with many other tourism
businesses. We learned that the disadvantages
are that working under the government has
strict policies and legal procedures can take
much longer. This interview also showed us
that the tourism industry requires a lot of
computer skills, work experience, and
networking.