Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1498462
S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 / W O R K F O R M E 37 site visits to some of Maine's most celebrated hotels and res- taurants, allowing students to learn directly from the people who run those establishments. On a recent Tuesday in April, one of LaSalle's classes visited Inn by the Sea, a luxury seaside resort with 62 rooms that sits on 5 acres overlooking Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth. The inn is known for its com- mitment to sustainability and environmental conservation. It has eliminated single-use plastic products from the property and applied two years ago to connect to a nearby solar farm for all its electricity. (It's still waiting in a queue with other businesses for the needed utility connections.) In 2020, the inn was recog- nized as one of the "Best Ho- tels in Maine" by U.S. News & World Report, and it also has been named a "Green Leader" by TripAdvisor for its commitment to sustainability. Its award- winning Sea Glass restaurant serves fresh local seafood and farm-to-table cuisine. The class tour was led by Rauni Kew, PR and green pro- gram manager at Inn by the Sea. Kew talked to the students about how the inn involves guests in its sustainability efforts and encourages them to participate in environmentally conscious practices during their stay. LaSalle says graduates of the two-year SMCC programs go on to work at hotels, restaurants, events centers, campgrounds, wedding planners and cruise ships, among others. She says businesses seek out her gradu- ates for their management, lead- ership and people skills. H o s p i t a l i t y / R e t a i l C O N T I N U E D O N F O L LO W I N G PAG E » P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Maureen LaSalle, chair of SMCC's hospitality management and culinary arts programs. MAINE TOURISM IN 2022 Maine's total visitor numbers fell by 1.5% in 2022 from the previous year, with tourism spending down in some categories. Maine hosted 15.3 million visitors in 2022, down slightly from 15.6 million visitors in 2021. Still, visitors tended to stay longer in 2022, pushing direct tourism expenditures up 10.1% and the total economic impact to Maine up 9.7%. Tourists spent nearly $8.6 billion in Maine in 2022, supporting 151,000 jobs and contributing nearly $5.6 billion in earnings to Maine households. S O U R C E : Maine Office of Tourism I read Mainebiz to keep updated on business development news in L/A and Androscoggin County. The Building Business column is great for a wide variety of commercial real estate and development happenings in the area. — Michael Dostie Owner of J. Dostie Jewelers and President of the Downtown Lewiston Association Inform. Engage. Connect. Access Maine's source for business news WWW.MAINEBIZ.BIZ