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Today: Current:76	Thursday: 90/72	Friday: 94/75
Complete Forecast for  Jul 24 2008

Front desk and support staff from Tyler area hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, hospitals and local businesses are invited Thursday to the Tyler Hotel and Motel Association’s second Local Attractions Expo at Harvey Convention Center, the association announced.

The event, aimed at familiarizing those who work on the front lines of the hospitality industry with local attractions, will run from noon- 5 p.m. Knowledge gained at the expo will help front desk and support staff in advising visitors about area attractions.

Attendees can visit tabletop exhibits from businesses and organizations. From the symphony orchestra to Double Dave’s Pizzaworks, there will be a lot to learn from more than 30 exhibitors, according to association information.

“Tyler Hotel and Motel Association members decided there was a real need for our staff members to learn more about all the opportunities for visitors right here in the area,” said Shari Rickman, event organizer and director of sales and marketing for Bellwood Lake Resort. “These are the employees most often asked by someone new to the area, ‘What is there to do around here,’ or ‘Where’s the best place to eat?’ There are wonderful long-established and some brand new businesses that visitors will now learn about because our staff members will have met them at this event.”

In addition to learning about the tourism and entertainment opportunities, attendees will have the chance to win many door prizes and special gifts.

Susan Travis from the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau will present an overhead presentation on Tyler’s local attractions.

Local businesses and organizations exhibiting include Kiepersol Estates, Caldwell Zoo, The Potpourri House, Double Dave’s Pizzaworks, Broadway Square Mall, Applebee’s, Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari, Tyler Civic Theatre Center, Andy’s Frozen Custard, FYIEastTexas.com and Elite Concierge.

Also, the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Tyler Museum of Art, CiCi’s Pizza, Hudnall Planetarium, Discovery Science Place, Brookshire’s Wildlife Museum, Cotton Belt Depot Museum, Four Winds Renaissance Faire, Goodman Museum/Rose Garden Center, Wamani Native American Store and Purebody Nutrition.