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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market brings millions in economic impact to Utah

Posted at 7:04 PM, Aug 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-06 23:25:30-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- Both summer and winter mean a lot of cash for Utah, as for 20 years the Outdoor Retailer Market has been coming to Utah twice a year.

"It's easily the biggest week of the year," said BTG Wine Bar manager Jesse Garrett.

Garrett said he books all year round for Outdoor Retailer clients.

"When summer finishes, you're already planning winter, or essentially [are]," he said. "It means a lot of work, a lot of long days, a lot of busy hours worked by anyone and everyone."

That includes the Outdoor Retailers visiting the state. Kate Lowry is the spokesperson for the Outdoor Retailer Market. She said it brings 29,000 outdoor manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to the Salt Palace Convention Center

"Twenty years in Utah, over that 20 years we've brought $560 million to the state of Utah," Lowry said. "Just this week we bring $25 million in direct spending."

The bi-annual shows are closed to the public, but the people still reap the benefits.

"We're visiting the restaurants, we're staying in the hotels, so absolutely the state of Utah and the city of Salt Lake are really benefiting for us to be here, and we're benefiting as well because you are all so welcoming," Lowry said. "If you came in [Friday] night and didn't have a room it was going to be a struggle. Yes, all the local hotels are booked."

That's good news for restaurants like Garrett's.

"We hope it stay s for a long time!" he said.