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Hi, I'm Christine Livingston,
Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working for Indiana Dunes Tourism. Today, I’m honored to serve as the Interim President / CEO, and we are fortunate to have an engaged and talented board of directors, an exceptional team, and many amazing community partners.
As a child, Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes were my playgrounds and, later, my children’s playgrounds. The Dunes are home to me, and I’m passionate about this place.
When the Indiana Dunes became a national park, it put our entire region on the map. The visitor profile changed from beachgoer and day tripper to park enthusiast and long weekend getaway traveler. Additionally, traffic to the parks and the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center increased dramatically. This increase allowed us to focus on creating meaningful connections and dynamic experiences throughout our region for the visitors who want to stay longer and experience more than just the beach—which in turn increases both visitor and local spending in each of our communities.
To accomplish these deeper travel experiences, we are building strong, active partnerships. Currently, we are re-envisioning our organization and how we can work to improve not only visitor experiences but also the quality of life for residents through our partnerships. Here are just a few examples:
- Strengthening ties with the state, county, and other regional partners by collaborating on campaigns and other initiatives.
- Developing a robust Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural experience in partnership with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and the National Park Service.
- Simplifying tourism’s grant program to make it easier for us to support community partners.
- Strengthening our ties to other Porter County entities—Expo Center, Porter County Parks, Memorial Opera House, and the Porter County Museum.
- Developing creative new partnerships with our nearly 600 local businesses to support economic development and maintain a high quality of life for those who call this place home.
In this newsletter, you’ll hear from our entire team about current tourism initiatives. This year, we look forward to increasing our impact through these initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Cheers,
Christine Livingston, CDME
President / CEO (Interim)
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