Scotts Bluff County Lodging Association

09/30/2026

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – OCTOBER 1. 2026
Contact: Brenda Leisy – Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau – 308.633.1808

Scotts Bluff County Tourism Advisory Committee
Lodging Representative Vacancy
The Scotts Bluff County Tourism Committee is seeking an interested and qualified individual to serve a four-year term on the Tourism Advisory Committee. The individual selected must represent a lodging property, including:
• Hotels or motels
• Campgrounds
• Bed and breakfasts
• Lodges
The Tourism Advisory Committee meets monthly on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:15 p.m., unless a meeting is determined to be unnecessary and is cancelled by the Chairperson. Meetings are held at a local tourism attraction, which will be announced prior to each meeting.

About the Committee
The Tourism Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Scotts Bluff County Board of Commissioners and provides insight and recommendations related to tourism development, marketing, visitor experience and the continued growth of tourism in Scotts Bluff County.
The Committee consists of seven at-large members and one Scotts Bluff County Commissioner liaison. The term for this vacancy will run through December 2030.
Commitment
Applicants should be willing and able to attend regularly scheduled meetings and actively participate as a member of the Committee. We are seeking someone who views this opportunity as a commitment to helping strengthen tourism and improve the visitor experience throughout Scotts Bluff County.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit:
• A cover letter
• A current resume
• A paragraph explaining why you are interested in serving on the Tourism Advisory Committee
Please submit the requested information postmarked no later than November 1, 2026, to be considered for the vacancy.
We encourage lodging partners who are interested in helping shape the future of tourism in Scotts Bluff County to apply.

Remit to:
Brenda Leisy
Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau
1825 10th St.
Gering, NE 69341
Or
[email protected]

Send a message to learn more

07/22/2026

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND!
Nebraska Tourism Commission Meeting
August 5-6 | Scotts Bluff County

The Nebraska Tourism Commission is coming to Scotts Bluff County for their regularly scheduled quarterly meeting, and we invite you to be part of this exciting opportunity!

Meet & Greet – Wednesday, August 5

5:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 Papa Moon Farm

Join us for an informal evening to “Talk Tourism” with members of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. This is your chance to share what is happening in Scotts Bluff County and Western Nebraska, highlight the experiences we offer visitors, and discuss opportunities and challenges impacting our tourism industry.

Beverages will be available for purchase.

Commission Meeting – Thursday, August 6

9:00 a.m.
📍 Legacy of the Plains Museum

Industry leaders and tourism partners are invited to attend the official Nebraska Tourism Commission meeting. This is a great opportunity to learn more about statewide tourism initiatives and connect with leaders from across Nebraska.

We encourage our tourism partners, community leaders, and anyone passionate about the future of tourism in Western Nebraska to attend!

Come share your voice.
Come showcase our region.
Come help tell the story of Scotts Bluff County.

We hope to see you there!

07/17/2026

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Window Decorating Contest to Celebrate

Old West Balloon Fest 2026 – August 10-15, 2026

(GERING, NE) The Old West Balloon Fest Committee and the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau are excited to announce the annual Window Decorating Contest, held in celebration of Old West Balloon Fest 2026.

Old West Balloon Fest is a cherished time for our communities to come together, and this year we are inviting everyone across the county to help create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for visiting pilots from across the country. Businesses, organizations, and non-profits are encouraged to participate and help bring the spirit of flight and community pride to life through creative window displays.

This year, we’re changing things up and opening the doors even wider for creativity with our “Adopt A Pilot” themed contest. Participants are encouraged to “adopt” a visiting pilot and design their window display inspired by their assigned pilot’s name, hometown, aircraft, or personality—turning each display into a unique story that connects our community with those who take to the skies.

Participation in the contest is completely free. After pilot registration closes on July 15, 2026, each participant will be assigned a visiting pilot to “adopt” for their display.

From there, simply choose your favorite hot air ballooning motif and tailor your window design as a creative tribute to your assigned pilot. This is your opportunity to get creative and have fun—consider incorporating elements such as lights, patriotic accents, innovative or recycled materials, bold and bright colors, and even 3-D objects to bring your window to life. Let your imagination take flight.

Your assigned pilot will be notified of your location and may choose to visit your window display for photographs or to receive a special memento you have selected to share as a welcome gift. While this offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with visiting pilots, it is not required in order to participate in the contest.

There will be four juried categories for this year’s contest:
1. Best “Patriotic” Theme
2. Best “Business Spirit”
3. Best “New” Window (for participants who have never entered in the past)
4. Best “Creativity and Use of Objects”
Windows may be decorated at any time after participants receive their assigned pilot name and must be completed by August 6, 2026.

All businesses participating in the Window Decorating Contest are asked to register by emailing [email protected] with the name of the business and business address.
Winners will be notified, and contest results will be announced to media outlets on Monday, August 10, helping to kick off Old West Balloon Fest 2026. Ribbons will be awarded to winners in all four categories and the “High-Flyer Award for best Design” will win a balloon flight (weather permitted)

Depending on the number of participants, one business may be assigned and represent more than one pilot.

The Gering Merchants Association, Scottsbluff Downtown Business District, and the Mitchell and Morrill Business Districts are encouraged to lead the way by engaging their members and promoting participation in the Window Decorating Contest. This community-wide effort will help warmly welcome pilots, crews, visitors, and hot air balloon enthusiasts as they arrive in our communities for August 10–15.

05/21/2026

Did you know you can share your local and tourism events on our website?

Use the links below to help spread the word about your upcoming events:

https://visitscottsbluff.com/submit-an-event/
https://visitscottsbluff.com/community-events/ See less

05/06/2026

Today we celebrated the lodging industry. It’s because of their hard work and dedication that lodging tax is collected and used for tourism purposes. 

05/06/2026

Benefits of the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition:

Regional Collaboration – Members of WNTC have the opportunity to share marketing ideas and develop innovative approaches to promote Western Nebraska, their attractions and businesses by attending bimonthly meetings, held in various communities throughout the region.

Marketing – 90% of WNTC’s budget is earmarked for marketing the regions to visitors. Over 3,200 requests for information were received from this marketing. They were each sent a Destination magazine and the names/addresses were then forwarded on to our members.

Trade Shows – WNTC represents the region at travel industry trade shows in surrounding states. More than 50,000 Destination West Nebraska magazines and maps, which highlight the area attractions are handed out annually.

Internet Visibility – Members of WNTC are featured on, and have a link from WestNebraska.com directly to their own site.

Referrals – Members of WNTC have the unique opportunity to cross-promote attractions and businesses in the region by having access to the visitor leads from advertising efforts.

https://westnebraska.com/about-us/

04/27/2026