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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Dianne Binger of Salt Lake Visitors Bureau

Aired February 09, 2002 - 18:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The Winter Games might help put Salt Lake City on the international map, but there's more to the city than just the Olympics, and here with Salt Lake City's other claim to fame, Dianne Binger. She's with the Salt Lake Visitor's Bureau. Thanks for being with us -- I bet it's cold there. Looks cold, is it?

DIANNE BINGER, SALT LAKE VISITORS BUREAU: A little nippy.

CALLAWAY: A little nippy.

BINGER: Just a little cold.

CALLAWAY: After watching ceremonies and some of the games today, I have to say it makes one want to jump on a plane and come to your fine city. What is there to do if you're not going to the Olympics?

BINGER: Well there's a lot to do. I would recommend any visitor that comes to Salt Lake take a trip to mountains and visit our ski resorts. We have several resorts -- Salt Lake resorts that are not involved in the Olympic venues, and it's a great time to go skiing. Our resorts get over 500 inches of snow a year. That's over 40 feet. Conditions are excellent, and it's a wonderful time. They're not crowded right now because our Olympic visitors are off at the venues, and it's a wonderful time to come.

CALLAWAY: I bet you could get some pretty good deals on those hotels too, especially some of the new ones right after the Olympic Games, right?

BINGER: Absolutely. In fact, after the games is probably one of the best times to come visit. We have plenty of availability and snow is great. And you can see the mountains behind me, the conditions are excellent, and we call it our Olympic afterglow. You could actually come and ski on the same slopes that the athletes are competing on today.

CALLAWAY: And you don't really think of Salt Lake City as being a party town. Have things changed a little bit now that you have the Olympics there? Is there a lot to -- a lot of party places to go to now?

BINGER: There are so many. We have like three areas, three (UNINTELLIGIBLE) areas like now. We've got live bands, live feeds from the various venues, and beer gardens. Washington Square is alive. Beach Boys are playing there now.

CALLAWAY: Wow.

BINGER: Galven Plaza (ph) is the Budweiser tent and you know people are walking the streets and just -- it's a very festive mood.

CALLAWAY: But Dianne, how much of that will change after the Olympics?

BINGER: Well you know downtown has gone through a complete resurgence and renaissance as a result of the games. We have new restaurants, new hotels, new attractions, and you know this is one of the games' legacies that Salt Lake will have.

CALLAWAY: All right, well thank you for being with us. Dianne Binger, she's with Salt Lake City -- in Salt Lake City, Utah where a lot of people will probably be coming even after the Olympics. Thanks for being with us today.

BINGER: Thank you.

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