More than dounts

Hamilton, OH - The donuts are less about the sugary snacks, more about the connections they engender.

Travel Butler County President and CEO Tracy Kocher told the January 7 Celebrating Self audience at the Fitton Center that people come from all over the world come to experience the Butler County Donut Trail.

The very first people to complete the trail - a brother and sister duo, one from Columbus, Ohio, the other from Indiana, finished the trail the second day it existed - simply found a convenient spot in the middle where they could meet for a day. The trail became their vehicle for spending time together. During the Q&A portion of the program, audience members mentioned girls' weekends, bachelorette parties and grandparents doing the trail with grandchildren over the course of a summer.

Kocher's Destination Butler County presentation went beyond mere donuts, however, and talked about how her team's work helps create a $1.5 billion economic impact through tourism in the county. (That enormous figure represents $728 in tax savings annually for county residents.)

Perhaps surprising to some, Kocher said Miami University is the single largest driver of tourism in the county. Between moving students in and out, sporting events, graduations and other on-campus activities, a lot of people build trips around the school.

Similarly, she the biggest area contributing to tourism in the area is Columbus, Ohio, citing its easy accessibility and diversity of things to do on a day or weekend excursion.

Take a look at a brief video from the luncheon below. Please consider joining Wednesday, February 4, for the next Celebrating Self luncheon when Jimmy Longbottom of Longbottom Bird Rescue discusses rehabilitating domestic waterfowl. Tickets are on sale now and available online right here, by phone at 513-863-8873, ext. 110 or in person at the Fitton Center box office.