Explore Sisters opens visitor center

Explore Sisters, the Destination Management Organization (DMO) for Sisters, has opened a reimagined Visitor Information Center in the downtown district. Located at 291 E. Main Ave. next to Fir Street Park, the center provides visitors with information about the local area through printed materials, digital resources, business highlights, and inspirational content. Explore Sisters anticipates the Visitor Information Center will operate seasonally May through October.

The entrance to the center on Main Avenue entices passersby to step into a space where they are greeted by an immersive 180-degree view of the Deschutes National Forest and Three Sisters Mountains. Inspirational images of local businesses, activities, events, and landscapes rotate on a large display, and a variety of brochures, rack cards, maps, and guides are available to takeaway to help guests further navigate the Sisters destination experience. A portion of the center is dedicated to a rotating exhibit highlighting a local business, organization, experience, or stewardship message, which will change throughout the year. Business listings for dining, retail, and lodging, along with resources for outdoor recreation, can be accessed through digital means by way of QR Codes.

While Explore Sisters made sure the center was operational for the high demand travel season, it is still a work in progress, according to Executive Director Scott Humpert. Future plans include additional resources within the center such as new printed materials and an electronic kiosk, and 24/7 on demand information including a new wayfinding map outside the center that will be available outside of operational hours.

The Visitor Information Center was designed to function as an unstaffed resource for local information. Explore Sisters currently has one staff member who is responsible for the entirety of the organization's operation including the new center.

"Given our current resources and capacity, the new Visitor Information Center is a hardworking and efficient way to provide our guests with a high-quality experience and deliver a variety of resources for the greater Sisters area," explained Humpert. "The center provides the tourism ecosystem with an opportunity to further partner with other organizations in our community and connect guests with local artisans, makers, and producers."

The Visitor Information Center was made possible in part through a partnership with Sisters Makers. Sisters Makers is a new non-profit with a mission to support artists, makers, growers, and innovators with facilities, education, and advocacy. Sisters Makers was awarded a rental contract from the City of Sisters for the facility at 291 E. Main Ave. earlier this year and partnered with Explore Sisters to deliver visitor information and the Sisters Farmers Market to expand market capacity and experience, both which help support and create connections with local

makers.

For more information about Explore Sisters or the Visitor Information Center, contact Scott Humpert at scotth@exploresisters.com.