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New campaign aims to draw tourists to South Lake Tahoe

Sierra Safely campaign focuses on tourism while being COVID-19 safe

New campaign aims to draw tourists to South Lake Tahoe

Sierra Safely campaign focuses on tourism while being COVID-19 safe

CHANGE ANYTIME SOON AFTER TURNING AWAY TOURISTS IN THE SPRING BEING OVERWHELMED WITH VISITORS IN THE SUMMER NOW SOUTH LAKE TAHOE IS OFFICIALLY ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR WINTER TRAVEL. WE ARE FOCUSING ON OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND AND HOW SAFE THEY ARE. WE’RE FOCUSING. AND THE FACT THAT WE’RE OPEN AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE AND WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROTOCOLS SOUTH TAHOE. AND CARSON VALLEY VISITORS AUTHORITIES ARE USING CARES ACT FUNDS FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY TO LAUNCH THE SIERRA SAFELY CAMPAIGN INVITING VISITORS TO COME AND ENJOY WINTER ACTIVITIES, BUT TO DO IT SAFELY AFTER LAST WINTER WAS CUT SHORT BY PANDEMIC CLOSURES SKI RESORTS A THERE READY TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME EVERY YEAR. THIS IS ALWAYS KIND OF EXCITING IS WHEN SKIERS AND RIDERS. GETTING THAT EDGE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GET OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER. I THINK EVERYONE’S REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT’S FUN MANY OF THE BIG SKI RESORTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING SNOW. HOPING TO GET TOURISTS BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN WITHIN THE MONTH WHILE TAHOE BUSINESSES. GET READY TO WELCOME THOSE WINTER VISITORS BACK. THERE ARE STILL SOME COVID CONCERNS POSITIVE CASES HAVE RISEN SLIGHTLY LATELY INCLUDING ONE AT A LOCAL SCHOOL AND WHILE IT’S REALLY EASY TO SOCIAL DISTANCE HERE IN THE SUMMER TIME IN THE WINTER. IT’S BELOW FREEZING. THAT’S A DIFFERENT STORY. YES. I HAVE TO SEE AFTER THE SUN DROPS. IT DOES GET PRETTY COLD OUT HERE RESTAURANTS LIKE FIRE AND ICE HAVE EXPANDED PATIO SEATING AND A ROLLING OUT THE HEAT LAMPS ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT SNOWY DAYS WILL STILL MEAN OUTDOOR DINING AND THAT JUST MEANS A LITTLE MORE WORK FOR THE WAITSTAFF. WE DO A TEAM EFFORT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A BIG SNOWSTORM AND ALL THESE TABLES AND CHAIRS ARE ALL COVERED IN SNOW. WE MAYBE COME IN A LITTLE BIT EARLY. EVERYBODY GETS A SHOVEL AND WE KIND OF JUST DIG IN HOPING THE TOURISTS. UP FOR THEIR USUAL TAHOE FUN WITH A BIT OF EXTRA CHILI OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN S
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New campaign aims to draw tourists to South Lake Tahoe

Sierra Safely campaign focuses on tourism while being COVID-19 safe

"Travel Safely, Adventure Greatly," that's the tagline of a new campaign, called Sierra Safely, aimed at bringing tourists to South Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Nevada, this winter while focusing on public health safety.Tahoe has been deeply affected by tourism this year due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and the resulting public health restrictions. The region was closed to tourists in the spring, then overwhelmed with visitors in the summer. Now, businesses aren’t quite sure what to expect for the coming winter, but they say they’re optimistic. “To be honest with you, I don’t know what to expect,” said Adam Alicea who manages the restaurant Fire & Ice. “We’re hoping for the best. We’re going to prepare for a busy season, and we’re going to do our best to keep everybody safe while having fun at the same time”That’s the focus of the Sierra Safely campaign, which is a collaboration between the South Lake Tahoe and Carson City visitors authorities, is funded by Douglas County CARES Act money. “Our goal is to create some messaging that welcomes visitors back to the destination in a safe and responsible way," South Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority CEO Carol Chaplain said. Businesses are on board with welcoming the winter tourists, even though it will certainly require changes to how they operate. Ski resorts are particularly anxious to reopen after the pandemic forced an early end to the ski season in March. As a result, many resorts, including Heavenly, are implementing new procedures with chair lifts and lodges. “The focus this year is to stay open and stay open for the entire season, and that is why we put in those safety measures the physical distancing, the face coverings, the reservation system," Heavenly Ski Resort spokesperson Russell Carlton said. At the same time, many restaurants have purchased additional heat lamps, expanded patio seating and are planning for more outdoor dining, even on those snowy winter days. “Obviously after the sun drops, it does get pretty cold out here," Alicea said. "But with our heat lamps and all that stuff we’re going to put out here, hopefully, it’s going to be a little bit easier for people to be out.” Although he’s fortunate to have a heated patio and walkways, Alicea is preparing his staff to add snow duty to their day. “We do a team effort, you know, if we get a big snowstorm and all these tables and chairs are covered in snow, we all come in a little early and get shovels and just dig in, make the place as comfortable and cozy as we can!” he said.

"Travel Safely, Adventure Greatly," that's the tagline of a new campaign, called Sierra Safely, aimed at bringing tourists to South Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Nevada, this winter while focusing on public health safety.

Tahoe has been deeply affected by tourism this year due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and the resulting public health restrictions. The region was closed to tourists in the spring, then overwhelmed with visitors in the summer.

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Now, businesses aren’t quite sure what to expect for the coming winter, but they say they’re optimistic.

“To be honest with you, I don’t know what to expect,” said Adam Alicea who manages the restaurant Fire & Ice. “We’re hoping for the best. We’re going to prepare for a busy season, and we’re going to do our best to keep everybody safe while having fun at the same time”

That’s the focus of the Sierra Safely campaign, which is a collaboration between the South Lake Tahoe and Carson City visitors authorities, is funded by Douglas County CARES Act money.

“Our goal is to create some messaging that welcomes visitors back to the destination in a safe and responsible way," South Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority CEO Carol Chaplain said.

Businesses are on board with welcoming the winter tourists, even though it will certainly require changes to how they operate. Ski resorts are particularly anxious to reopen after the pandemic forced an early end to the ski season in March. As a result, many resorts, including Heavenly, are implementing new procedures with chair lifts and lodges.

“The focus this year is to stay open and stay open for the entire season, and that is why we put in those safety measures the physical distancing, the face coverings, the reservation system," Heavenly Ski Resort spokesperson Russell Carlton said.

At the same time, many restaurants have purchased additional heat lamps, expanded patio seating and are planning for more outdoor dining, even on those snowy winter days.

“Obviously after the sun drops, it does get pretty cold out here," Alicea said. "But with our heat lamps and all that stuff we’re going to put out here, hopefully, it’s going to be a little bit easier for people to be out.”

Although he’s fortunate to have a heated patio and walkways, Alicea is preparing his staff to add snow duty to their day.

“We do a team effort, you know, if we get a big snowstorm and all these tables and chairs are covered in snow, we all come in a little early and get shovels and just dig in, make the place as comfortable and cozy as we can!” he said.