By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Growing numbers of ATV tourists riding Mercer County’s branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail are fueling a growing need for entrepreneurs ready to meet their needs with quality businesses.
The Pocahontas Trail, Mercer County’s branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail, opened in May 2012. Businesses offering lodging and other services started appearing to serve the newcomers. Since that time, the demands of ATV tourists have changed, according to Jamie Null, executive director of the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).
“First of all, when folks decide to start a business that caters to ATV riders, they need to realize it is not just a small business, but a tourism and hospitality role in West Virginia,” Null said. “In our field, expectations are higher because the visitors set the needs, and those needs can change over time. As a part of the tourism industry, customer service, safety, attention to details and a knowledge of the tourism industry is very important and needed in our area.”
More families are arriving to ride the ATV trail, so lodging and businesses should be ready to accommodate them…
