Tourism

For nearly 200 years, the Northern Forest region has attracted visitors seeking adventure, retreat, and renewal among its rugged mountains, clear lakes and rivers, and vast forests. Today, these same assets, along with the region’s rich forest-based culture, continue to draw tourists and support the thousands of businesses that serve them.

Tourism is one of the few economic sectors that has seen consistent job growth in recent years. While the sector has a reputation for providing low-quality jobs, it is expected to continue growing and has shown the potential to diversify economies, generate overall economic growth and expand public services and amenities.

The Center is applying network-based training, product development and branding activities to increase the number of well-paying, high quality tourism jobs in the Northern Forest region.

  • Maine Woods Discovery posts new winter packages - 12/20/12

    Maine Woods Discovery has posted new winter packages that highlight unique experiences offered in northern Maine. The new packages feature cross-country skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling between a variety of lodges, huts and inns.

    Maine Woods Discovery supports network-based tourism packaging and promotion among leading Maine Woods tourism providers who are committed to a shared set of quality standards.
  • Video training benefits tourism workers - 11/23/12

    Welcome ME--an online customer service training video--is helping tourism workers sharpen their customer service skills, an essential element of strengthening the tourism sector so it can offer improved wages, benefits and job stability for employees.

    “If our desk staff earn the Welcome ME certificate and pass an internal test, they’ll get a 50-cent-an-hour raise,” said Rob Miller, manager of the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center. Miller and his staff have participated in several in-person training sessions offered by the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative.

    The Northern Forest Center secured grants from USDA Rural Development and The Betterment Fund to help fund Welcome ME, which was produced by the Center for Tourism Research and Outreach. More than 300 people have completed the program since it launched in spring 2012.
  • Regional Tourism Network Convenes at Summit for the Northern Forest - 08/10/11

    Twenty-five tourism support organizations met during the 2ndSummit for the Northern Forest in May to review progress since the launch of the Northern Forest Tourism Network in 2008, and to develop plans to further advance regional tourism efforts. Action items from the session fall into four categories:  1) training and workforce development, 2) product development, 3) research on markets and the role of tourism in the regional economy, and 4) network coordination.  Visit the NFTN website for additional updates or to review detailed work plans.
  • County Tourism Networks Provide Training to 200 Maine Businesses - 08/10/11

    Since January, 2011, more than 300 people from over 200 Maine Woods businesses have participated in training workshops sponsored by the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative (MWTTI).  Trainings are coordinated by county networks in Washington, Aroostook, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Franklin and Oxford Counties and have addressed topics including: customer service; social media marketing; and regional destination training (Know Your Region).  County networks are currently planning a next round of trainings for the coming fall. Click here for more information about MWTTI and a full list of recent trainings.
  • New Customer Service Training Online - 01/10/11

    Tourism businesses in the Maine Woods have a new way to participate in customer service training. As part of the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative (MWTTI), the Maine Woods Consortium collaborated with the Maine Small Business Development Centers to develop a customer service training that businesses can access for free through the Maine SBDC website.

    Customer Service: Exceeding Customer Expectations focuses on the importance of customer service and provides useful tips for enhancing customer service skills. This new training tool is approximately 30 minutes long and is appropriate for owners, managers, and staff.

    MWTTI is a part of the Maine Woods Consortium’s effort to improve the overall quality of regional tourism products and increase the number of livable wage jobs in the tourism sector. This project was funded by USDA Rural Development and the Betterment Fund.