The Valentine's Day blizzard that brought more than two feet of snow to Vermont was one for the record books, giving a significant boost to the winter season. Total snow accumulations range from 24 to 48 inches in many areas of the state, with even higher amounts in the mountains.

The storm is a boon to the snowmobiling and ski industries, as well as many other Vermont businesses that depend on winter tourism. Thanks to the storm, Vermont is experiencing a remarkable expansion of powdered terrain for skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

The State of Vermont has been selected as one of 12 finalists for the prestigious 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for its work promoting and supporting downtown revitalization.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in London, which announced the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists on January 24, chose Vermont’s downtowns, and the Vermont Downtown Program, as finalists in the Destination Award category.

This award is given to a destination that comprises a network of tourism businesses and organizations — a country, city, state or region — that has shown dedication and succeeded in maintaining a policy of sustainable management incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects as well as multi-stakeholder engagement.

The other two Destination Award finalists are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Greenbox ecotourism program in Ireland. The judges will be visiting three Vermont downtowns this month and choosing a winner in March.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in its third year under the auspices of WTTC, reward best practices in responsible tourism development across the world. An international committee of experts selected the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists from over 130 applications from more than 40 countries representing travel and tourism on all seven continents. Winners will receive their award during a special ceremony at the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit on May 11, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Governor Jim Douglas led a Vermont delegation to Boston on February 5 for the official launch of the Montreal-Boston Cycling Tour 2007.

The Montreal-Boston Cycling Tour, which will take place August 5-12, is an eight-stage, Tour de France level professional bike race. The tour will begin in Montreal on Sunday, August 5 and proceed through Quebec in four stages. On Thursday, August 9, the Vermont stage will begin at Jay Peak and head south through Montgomery, Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe. The race will continue around Lake Elmore into the Capitol City and conclude at Sugarbush Resort’s Lincoln Peak in the Mad River Valley.

This is the first International Cycling Union (UCI) international bike race in the world with stages in two countries. The race was granted a 2.1 license that enables the organizers to invite teams of Tour de France caliber, including national team selections and the best teams representing Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and others from around the world.

Jean-Marc Fournier, Quebec’s Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports, approved a provincial sponsorship of $2 million in public funding for the event. With the Quebec sponsorship commitment in place, Fournier reinforced the healthful aspects and promotional value of the event. He encouraged all in attendance on February 5 to strongly support the success of the Montreal-Boston Cycling Tour 2007 and to follow his lead of financial support through sponsorship.

Travelers using Interstate 89 will have new places to access free wireless internet service as the Sharon and Guilford information centers are now on-line.

The Sharon and Guilford information centers join the Williston information centers as WiFi information hubs where travelers can surf the web to get information about tourism destinations; road conditions; traffic and routes.

Free wireless internet at these information centers is a step forward for Vermont’s economic development and tourism sectors. Both of these sectors, as well as all Vermonters, stand to benefit from the implementation of Governor Douglas’ E-state initiative.

The ConnectVermont Program is working to install wireless internet service at all of Vermont’s 20 visitor and welcome centers as part of its mission to establish an Advanced Rural Traveler Information Service for motorists and visitors to the state. The funding for the ConnectVermont project has been largely provided by the federal government, including roughly $15 million secured by Senator Patrick Leahy since 2000.

The Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing will host an international business meeting on March 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the National Life Building in Montpelier. The meeting will focus on attracting international visitors to Vermont. For more information or to RSVP, please
e-mail Sue White at susan.white@state.vt.us.

Basin Harbor Club will host “A Taste of Vermont” on March 8, 2007 on Sanibel Island at The Jacaranda Restaurant from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s theme will be “A Taste of Vermont,” featuring Harpoon Brewery beer, American Flatbread pizza, Cabot Cheese, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

* The event will feature giveaways and a vacation package drawing

* $650 participation fee

* Vendor benefits:

Three weeks of public relations in south Florida

Logos in all print ads in local papers

Display/brochure table and banners during event

If you are interested in participating in this promotion, please contact Paul Richey at 802-475-7817 or paul@basinharbor.com

The Sixth Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout the state on March 23-25. Activities during Maple Open House Weekend will include maple sugarhouse tours where visitors can watch maple syrup being made, sample maple products and much more. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce recently selected the Vermont Maple Open House Weekend as one of Vermont’s “Top Ten Winter Events for 2006-07.”

Information about participating maple syrup producers is online at www.vermontmaple.org, the official website of the Vermont Maple Sugarmaker’s Association (VMSMA). Information can also be found in the “2007 Vermont Ski & Maple Guide,” which is available at Vermont Welcome Centers and at Chambers of Commerce, or through the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing at 1-800-837-6668.