“Behind the Mitten” is Michigan’s premiere travel radio show and Podcast, and since 2015 it has published more than 500 episodes. It is co-hosted by veteran journalist John Gonzalez and longtime chef & beer expert Amy Sherman. The show has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as Best in Category.

This week's show is all about Michigan Tourism through the eyes of those ready for the future, but centered on the present. We record from last week's Pure Michgan Governor's Conference on Tourism in Grand Rapids.

Season 5, Episode 15:

• Patty Janes, founder of Michigan CARES for Tourism (michigancaresfortourism.com), and Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Grand Valley State University. She shares a little about the CARES program, which brings travel industry professionals together to volunteer on a variety of projects across the state. One project they even completed at the conference: fishing line clean-up kits to help keep boating access sites across Michigan clean and safe.
• Amy Dorey, Hospitality Management Program Director & Associate Professor at Ferris State University, and her student Paris Burton, a senior at Ferris State in the Hospitality Management Program join us to talk about growing the next generation of tourism industry pros. If you or a student you know have an interest in exploring this degree, you don't want to miss Paris, as she has found her calling at Ferris.
• The big guy himself, Mr. Pure Michigan, Dave Lorenz stops by and shares a little about the new campaign. He explains that "if we aren't welcoming to all, we aren't welcoming" and how this is an important focus for the tourism industry in Michigan moving forward. He also shares the most amazing story about a group of fourth graders in Troy who just might be taking over his job one day.
• Finally, Trevor Tkach stops by for an update from beautiful, and beautifully busy, Traverse City. We've loved watching Trevor develop through the years, from his start at the West Michigan Whitecaps to being the director of the National Cherry Festival, to now running the show in Traverse City. He shares a few hidden spots right in town, as well as discusses what the community has been doing to offset some of the issues that have arisen with being such a popular destination.

This show aired April 15-16, 2023.

BTM airs on radio stations across the state, and you can always find us as a podcast on your favorite streaming service.

Affiliates:

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WBRN - 1460 AM and 107.7 FM in Big Rapids

*8 a.m. Saturdays on Kalamazoo Talk Radio 1360 WKMI

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-1320 AM in Lansing

*10 a.m. Saturdays 95.3 WBCK-FM in Battle Creek

*10 a.m. Saturdays on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM in Benton Harbor

*4 p.m. Saturdays on WIOS "The Bay's Best!" - 1480 AM & 106.9 FM in Tawas / East Tawas

*7 a.m. Sundays on the following Black Diamond Broadcasting stations:

-WCFX - CFX Today's Hits (95.3) in Mt. Pleasant
-WGFN - Classic Rock The Bear (98.1 & 95.3) in Traverse City
-WMRX - Sunny 97.7 in Midland
-WUPS - The Classic Hits Station (98.5) in Houghton Lake
-WWMK - 1063 MAC FM in Cheboygan

*Noon Sundays on News, Talk and Sports - 1380-AM WPHM in Port Huron

*1 p.m. Sundays on WSGW-AM (790) and FM (100.5) in Saginaw

*6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM (1300) and FM (106.9) in Grand Rapids

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