We are writing to address Brenda Sexton’s article (Our Corner, Dec. 15) regarding attracting tourists to stay and enjoy Enumclaw. What a perfect time to consider this! Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, nonmembership organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mount Rainier. Our consumer website, www.visitrainier.com, offers interactive maps, trip planners, weather and road conditions, places to stay and eat, things to do and much, much more. Visit Rainier is run by community members and entrepreneurial types on our board, including three of us from the Crystal Mountain area, and we would love Enumclaw and its surrounding communities to play a more active role with us.

We would like to take this opportunity to invite folks in tourism-reliant businesses who are interested in attracting more visitor revenue, as well as learning more about our organization and what we do, to our first stakeholder’s summit. It will be held Jan. 19 at Northwest Trek in Eatonville, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free and lunch is provided.

We will be discussing our progress and accomplishments during the past five years, as well as 2011 partnership opportunities and holding breakout roundtable discussions ranging from building lodging packages, to utilizing social networking and media, to e-newsletters and media training.

Space is limited, so e-mail info@visitrainier.com to reserve your place. For more information please visit, www.summit.visitrainier.com.

We hope to see you there.

Dee Patterson, Crystal Mountain Hotels, Visit Rainier board member

Rehne Copeland-Vanek, Crystal Mountain Lodging, Visit Rainier board member

Steven Cadematori, Alta Crystal Resort, Visit Rainier board member