Xplor Recreation had an intimate experience at the Washington Recreation & Park Association Annual Conference this year. With the concept of "transforming lives, transforming communities", attendees and exhibitors learned valuable information from a forward-thinking keynote speaker, Kostas Voutsas.

Kostas is recognized for his diverse leadership & management experience; he's traveled all over the world exploring strategies to make cultural diversity work. Our key takeaway - opportunities can be created from regional, cultural and generational differences. We need to be open-minded to different people and customers and we need to learn from their background and experiences to innovate our business. 

Xplor Recreation decided to take this advice into consideration and check out what drives the Tacoma population. What does the city of Tacoma offer from a regional perspective?

Of the many attractions, the most notable was the Point Dufiance Park. It is filled with forrests, beach-front water and breath-taking views that  "offer numerous possibilities for recreation, education and communing with nature." - Metro Parks Tacoma

There was a beautiful japanese-inspired building called the Pagoda. It was built in 1914, but restored by the city of Tacoma. It is now an attraction to 3.1 million people a year. When you walk through the building you can feel the history and japanese culture. You understand what it feels like to be a citizen in the city of Tacoma.

It was great to see how the parks and recreation communities transform lives and communities on a daily-basis and make the world a better place.