Gulf United Metro Business Organization (GUMBO) will host legislators for a Tourism Economic Development Summit at The Lodge at Gulf State Park Oct. 17.

GUMBO is a coalition of local business leaders, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors’ bureaus and tourism/travel organizations committed to the intelligent growth and development of south Baldwin County.

Members of the House and Senate Tourism Committees and Baldwin County

legislative delegation is expected to attend the annual Tourism Economic Development Summit to learn about the statewide impact of tourism in Baldwin County.

This year’s speakers include Lee Sentell, Director of Alabama Tourism Department; Herb Malone, President and CEO of Gulf Shores Orange Beach Tourism; Chris Blankenship, Director of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The morning will begin at the The Lodge at Gulf State Park with a buffet breakfast, a morning of speakers and a tour of Gulf State Park and OWA. The group will have lunch at The Wharf before returning to The Lodge.

During the Gulf Shores City Council work session Aug. 19, the council heard a sponsorship request for the GUMBO event. Mayor Robert Craft took a moment to speak about the past events and the importance to our area.

“When we go to Montgomery there are two groups up there that are usually our best allies and advocates and that would be our legislative delegation but also the tourism committee that is really an important committee within our world and the things we do. Almost everything we go up there for is related to tourism. Having those two groups here together listening to what we are doing and have the opportunity to show them around has been really productive in the past,” Craft said.