St. Clair residents are invited to a reveal party of sorts when secret shoppers from the First Impressions: Tourism Assessment (FIT) program unveil their initial reactions as first-time tourists to the community.
The entire city – from business owners, community leaders and residents – are invited to the unveiling from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Pine Shores Golf Course clubhouse.
St. Clair officials applied through the Michigan State Extension office of St. Clair County to take part in the FIT program. The secret shoppers were tasked to report on the city’s strengths and weaknesses. This process is similar to hiring a consultant for a tourism study that could have cost the city more than $10,000, St. Clair Director of Recreation Trice Hawkins told The Voice.
The shoppers inconspicuously visited St. Clair sometime between late spring and early summer, Hawkins said told The Voice, and they came with checklists to visit and offer their impressions.
The results and impressions have not been revealed to anyone yet – not even city officials, Hawkins told The Voice.
Once the city receives the report, FIT will provide the city with $2,000 to help correct weaknesses or build on the city’s strengths found by the secret shoppers.
Those planning to attend the unveiling should register online at events.anr.msu.edu/FIT2019CRFSC. The event is free, but space is limited. Refreshments will be served.
Pine Shores Golf Course is at 515 Fred Moore Highway, St. Clair.
Alerts Sign-up