Visit Tulsa Opens New Visitors Center at Shops at Mother Road Market
May 4, 2022
Contacts:
Lauren Rogers
Marketing Manager, Tulsa Regional Tourism
laurenrogers@visittulsa.com
C: 918.810.6585
Visit Tulsa Re-Opens Official Visitor Center:
The ‘Warm & Informed Welcome’ is Back and on the Mother Road
Tulsa, OK (May 4, 2022) - Fresh off a recent re-launch of visittulsa.com and releasing an all-new seasonal print and digital official visitor guide program, Visit Tulsa of Tulsa Regional Tourism is heating things up for hospitality as it re-opens its official visitor center inside Gambill’s Coffee, located at the Shops at Mother Road Market.
While visitors flock to Tulsa this May for a myriad of reasons including large events like the PGA Championship, the Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN or the Breeder’s International, the unveiling of new global attention-grabbing attraction like the Bob Dylan Center or just to enjoy classics like Tulsa Mayfest, there is one certainty; visitors will be wondering what to do during their allotted stay.
"There definitely is something to be said about giving a warm welcome. We figured a fresh cup of Gambill’s Coffee on us is a nice start,” said Ashleigh Bachert, Interim SVP of Tulsa Regional Tourism. “The moment someone enters, visitor center staff will be happy to answer questions, offer tips and share great attraction insights. If they need to refuel before their adventuring, there happens to be an incredible food hall within walking distance.”
When travelers enter the newly renovated space, they’ll gain access to print and digital visitor assets including the season’s official visitor guide and attraction info and meet TRT team members alongside cross-trained Gambill’s Coffee staff, each excited to provide local insight. Guests can then recharge with a complimentary cup of coffee and USB charging stations while they orient themselves and add new stops to their itinerary.
“As a Tulsa business owner, I was honored at the opportunity to help usher in a new era of Tulsa hospitality by hosting Visit Tulsa’s Visitor Center,” said Hunter Stone Gambill, Owner of Gambill’s Coffee, Gambill’s Pastaria & Grocery and Oklahoma Distilling Company. “Experience is everything, and this offers a chill atmosphere for people to drop in, relax and get some tips from friendly locals. Some of the best decisions are made over a cup of coffee!”
As the Tulsa region prepares for a near citywide hotel sell-out in May 2022, touchpoints like the Visit Tulsa’s Visitor Center will be essential in bolstering the overall experience for newcomers. Uninformed visitors will be able to ask questions and take away tailored suggestions for their trip–along with their complimentary beverage at this new long-term asset in Tulsa tourism.
“The revitalization of Tulsa’s portion of Route 66 is transforming the way people experience Tulsa,” said Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “We are anticipating record tourism highs in Tulsa this summer, and the new visitor center along Route 66 will be an important asset in promoting the great experiences we have to offer.”
“The City of Tulsa is prepared and thrilled to greet the multitude of visitors heading our way this year,” Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum said. “Our great city is about to be in the spotlight in front of an enormous global audience. Key activations like the visitor center will ensure these visitors see everything that Tulsa has to offer, aiming above and beyond their original reason for coming. I’m thrilled to see such a focus on hospitality and have no doubt that our attractions, restaurants, hotels and city partners will back it up.”
The Shops at Mother Road recently unveiled “Curations by Gilcrease” pop-up retail and gallery space which opened April 2. The shop features a mix of recognizable items that the museum store is known for, including Native American-made jewelry, weavings and reproductions from the Gilcrease collection as well as a space dedicated to “Community Engagement Gallery” with featured works from Oklahoma artists on a rotating basis and interactive art activities. This offers a very unique walking distance experience for visitors as food, retail, arts & culture and information combine for a powerful and lasting impression of Tulsa.
“Mother Road Market is thrilled to be the choice for Visit Tulsa’s new visitors center,” said Brian Paschal, Managing Director of Lobeck Taylor Operating Foundation for Mother Road Market. “When Mother Road Market opened three years ago, we wanted to create a space for Tulsans and travelers to enjoy local food and retail. The hope was that Mother Road Market would be the start of revitalizing this stretch of Route 66. As we near the completion of a year-long, $7 million infrastructure and beautification plan in the Tulsa Market District and open Tulsa’s new visitor center, the realization of our dream has come to fruition.”
Interested in reading or sharing the latest season (Spring 2022) of Visit Tulsa’s Official Visitor Guide? Click here for more information.
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About Tulsa Regional Tourism
Tulsa Regional Tourism is northeast Oklahoma’s premier accredited destination marketing organization. Housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, it includes Visit Tulsa for leisure travel, Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau for meetings & conventions, Tulsa Sports Commission for amateur & pro sports and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (FMAC) for creative industries and an accredited film commission. Tulsa Regional Tourism leads the community’s bidding for and hosting of signature events like the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Big 12 Wrestling Championship, USA BMX Grand Nationals, the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. Nationals and more. Learn more at visittulsa.com.
About Gambill’s Coffee
Young, newly married, and wanting an adventure, Hunter and Anna Gambill moved to Guatemala where they would spend their mornings sipping coffee on their balcony and days studying Spanish at a chocolatería. They wanted to bring these experiences home to Tulsa. They roast coffee and cacao just a half mile from the shop to offer a mix of Spanish and Latin American espresso bar service and Central American style hot chocolate. In addition to a selection of unique, boutique wines, Gambill’s Coffee also showcases food and beverage offerings from their sister endeavors such as sandwiches, sweet confections, gelato, and Italian-inspired beer (Gambill’s Pastaria & Grocery), cider and Mexican-inspired beer (Gambill’s Mexican Brewpub & Ciderhouse), and spirits and cocktails (Oklahoma Distilling Company).
About Shops At Mother Road Market
On historic Route 66, in the heart of the Tulsa Market District, Shops at Mother Road Market was created to help lower barriers for retail entrepreneurs by providing access to affordable brick-and-mortar retail locations, marketing and communications support. Retail concepts within the Shops also benefit from their location on the campus of Oklahoma’s first and only nonprofit food hall, Mother Road Market, which attracts nearly 300,000 visitors per year. Merchants include Eleanor’s Bookshop, Gambill’s Coffee & Cacao, Mythic City and Curations by Gilcrease. For more information about the Shops at Mother Road Market, please visit motherroadmarket.com/shops.
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