Destination Stewardship Council

About the Destination Stewardship Council (DSC)

The Teton County Destination Stewardship Council (DSC) serves as the interim coordinating body to the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board (JHTTB) for the implementation of the Sustainable Destination Management Plan (SDMP). The DSC is composed of individuals and organizations that are critical to the fulfillment of the SDMP’s strategic initiatives. The core DSC members currently include Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Town Council, Teton County Commissioners, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, JH AIR, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, and two members of the public at large.

The DSC is stewarding the eight goals laid out in the SDMP. The areas of focus include education and community engagement, visitor flow management, workforce recruitment and retention, community housing, transportation and mobility, climate action, marketing and reporting, and governance.

Implementation progress is communicated via the SDMP Progress Tracker.

How can I get involved?

The DSC meetings are open for public observation. Meetings are typically held in the Ordway Auditorium of the Teton County Library on the fourth Thursday of the month from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Since this is an independent working group and not a formal meeting, the DSC will not be taking public comment. Formal public comment is accepted at JHTTB monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 3:00 pm at the Town Hall – Council Chambers. For further information, please join our e-newsletter (below), or direct your specific inquiry to destination@tetoncountywy.gov.

DSC Working Groups

The DSC network helps maintain momentum and fosters shared responsibility for SDMP implementation. DSC working groups include DSC core team members and additional community stakeholders. The working groups enhance collaborative action to address SDMP goals, priority actions, and initiatives.

In addition to the DSC-led working groups, the Destination Management Coordinator participates on existing community working groups, including the Housing Collective (led by the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole), the Teton Transportation Coalition (organized by Teton Village Association), Teton Climate Action Partnership (facilitated by LegacyWorks Group), and Systems of Conservation (facilitated by LegacyWorks Group).

Destination Stewardship Council: Transit Working Group

The DSC has formed a working group on transit and transportation. The group currently consists of representatives from the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, Jackson Town Council, START Bus, Teton Village Association (TVA), Teton County Regional Transportation Planning Administrator, Yellowstone Teton Clean Cities, JAC airport, and the Chamber of Commerce. The goal of this working group is to coordinate and enhance communication among entities involved with regional transportation planning, education, and marketing. The Transit Working Group is addressing the following SDMP items:

• SDMP Stewardship Goal 5: Transportation and Mobility
  Advocate for and support transit and mobility solutions
• SDMP Stewardship Goal 6: Climate Action
  Reduce climate risks and enhance destination resilience

Destination Stewardship Council: Visitor Management, Marketing, and Education Working Group

The DSC has formed a working group on visitor management, marketing, and education. The group currently consists of representatives from the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, JAC airport, Friends of the Bridger-Teton, Grand Teton Association, Riverwind Foundation, Wyoming Office of Tourism, Orijin Media, DRMG marketing consultants, Teton Village Association, Snake River Fund, Town of Jackson, and the Chamber of Commerce. The goal of this working group is to coordinate and enhance communication among entities involved with visitor management, marketing, and education. The group is working to identify common themes, amplify current work being done, and identify areas for future collaboration among myriad stakeholders in the region. The Visitor Management, Education, and Marketing working group is addressing the following SDMP items:

• SDMP Stewardship Goal 1: Education and Communications
  Create a common understanding of shared responsibility among residents, businesses, and visitors.
• SDMP Stewardship Goal 2: Visitor Flow Management
  Align the needs and aspirations of residents, businesses, and visitors across all lands.

Destination Stewardship Council: Workforce Working Group

In spring 2024, the DSC convened 20 regional stakeholders to address Jackson Hole workforce challenges. The group split into three subgroups to further discuss specific issues:  resources & outreach, workforce pipeline development, and workforce retention & appreciation. The Workforce Working Group is addressing the following SDMP items:

• SDMP Stewardship Goal 3: Workforce Recruitment and Retention
  Increase the stability of the tourism workforce

The working group inspired members to produce the following deliverables:

• • A new worker resources page on the Chamber’s website
  • A “Jackson Hole Workforce Connection” Facebook group with resources and events dedicated to the workforce
  • A combination “Welcome to JH”/frontline worker training event that resulted in a recorded worker training video