Visit Cedar City-Brian Head Executive Director Maria Twitchell discusses the Utah Shakespeare Festival in a YouTube video, date unspecified | Photo taken from YouTube video, St George News
VERNAL — A Cedar City woman is one of three people tabbed by the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Tourism Industry Association for induction into the 2022 Utah Tourism Hall of Fame.
Maria Twitchell, executive director, Visit Cedar City-Brian Head, was honored at the Utah Tourism Conference, held at the Uintah Conference Center in Vernal, Utah, Sept. 27-30. The Utah Tourism Hall of Fame recipients are selected based on their history of contributions to the state’s tourism industry through leadership and long-standing contributions to their region or to the entire state, according to a news release.
“This is an award for recognizing leadership in one of Utah’s largest economic sectors,” said Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism.
Twitchell was born in Cedar City and spent most of her childhood summers living at the Duck Creek Ranger Station where her father was a law enforcement officer for the Dixie National Forest, the news release said. Twitchell credits those summers near and around the forest for giving her a lifetime love of the outdoors.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Marketing from Southern Utah University in 1995. Following graduation, she held various marketing positions for the county tourism office and was promoted to executive director of Visit Cedar City Brian Head in 2005. Twitchell also serves on many local and state tourism boards including the Utah Main Street board and is a past president of the Utah Tourism Industry Association.
The other inductees are Mark Wilson, owner of Red Canyon Lodge in Flaming Gorge, and Rick Maw, founder of Utah.com.
Maria Twitchell, executive director of Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau, speaks during the second annual Southern Utah Tourism Summit, Cedar City, Utah, March 28, 2019 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St George News / Cedar City News
“On behalf of the Utah Tourism Industry, it is an honor to celebrate these inductees for their timeless and dedicated passion for the industry,” said Natalie Randall, executive director of UTIA. “Maria, Mark and Rick have been at the forefront of advocating for Utah and its future in the tourism realm. They are all an inspiration for the past, present and future industry leaders in Utah.”
Beginning in 1985, the Hall of Fame recognized 124 recipients who have contributed toward improving the national/international recognition of the positive aspects of vacationing in Utah, improved the understanding of Utah residents regarding the attractions of their state and the economic development benefits of tourism for the state, and facilitated efforts of improving the business climate for tourism-related businesses in Utah, the news release said.
Nominations with strong recommendations from peers and coworkers within the tourism industry identified Twitchell, Wilson and Maw for their dedication to improving their communities, engagement in generating and advocating for funding and community initiatives and helping stimulate tourism and stakeholder business.
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