Keep Showing Up: A Summer Note to Coachella Valley Business Owners
Keep Showing Up: A Summer Note to Coachella Valley Business Owners Every successful business owner has seasons where the phone rings less, foot traffic slows, and doubt gets louder than confidence. The businesses that thrive in October, November, and beyond are usually the ones that refused to disappear in July, August, and September. Here are some tips for the summer from your chamber of commerce leadership: Stay visible, even when business is quiet.People can't buy from businesses they don't
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off 2026 Taste of Summer with Record Turnout
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Kicks Off 2026 Taste of Summer with Record Turnout Rancho Mirage, CA — The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce officially launched the 2026 Taste of Summer program with a successful Kick Off Mixer held on Wednesday, July 22, welcoming approximately 180 to 200 attendees from across the Coachella Valley. The event brought together Chamber members, local business owners, nonprofit partners, community leaders, and residents to celebrate the beginning of one of Rancho Mirage's
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Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce to Host VIP Kickoff Mixer Launching Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce to Host VIP Kickoff Mixer Launching Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — July 16, 2026 — The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce will convene business leaders, elected officials, and community partners on Wednesday, July 22, for a VIP Kickoff Mixer marking the launch of Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage. The reception will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Mission Hills Country Club, with an anticipated attendance of 150 to 200 guests. The mixer inaugurates a
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage Opens July 23, Uniting 30 Restaurants and More Than 40 Nonprofits
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage Opens July 23, Uniting 30 Restaurants and More Than 40 Nonprofits RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — July 16, 2026 — Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage begins July 23 and runs through August 16, bringing together approximately 30 participating restaurants and more than 40 local nonprofit organizations in a program designed to strengthen the city's hospitality sector while directing meaningful support to community causes and having FUN along the way. The program's structure is deliberately
Expand Your Palate: Try Somewhere New This Summer
Expand Your Palate: Try Somewhere New This SummerWe all have our go-to restaurants—the reliable favorites we return to again and again. And there's nothing wrong with that. But Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage is the perfect excuse to break out of your routine and discover something new.With thirty participating restaurants offering specials from July 23rd through August 16th, 2026, you've got a whole month to be adventurous. Craving steakhouse fare one night and authentic Mexican the next? Curious about
Play the Passport Game: Turn Summer Dining Into an Adventure
Play the Passport Game: Turn Summer Dining Into an AdventureWant to make this summer unforgettable? Grab your Taste of Summer passport and turn dining out into a community-wide game.Here's how it works: with your $10 wristband and your official Taste of Summer passport, your mission—should you choose to accept it—is to visit as many of the thirty participating restaurants as you can between July 23rd and August 16th, 2026. Think of it as a delicious scavenger hunt across Rancho Mirage.Challenge your family
A Summer Tradition Where Everyone Wins
A Summer Tradition Where Everyone WinsSome events are about entertainment. Some are about charity. Some are about supporting local business. Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage is special because it's about all three at once—and that's what makes it such a beloved community tradition.Running July 23rd through August 16th, 2026, Taste of Summer brings together thirty local restaurants, nearly forty nonprofit organizations, and an entire community of food lovers in a celebration that lifts everyone up. Restaurants
The Best in Local Professional Theatre is excited to announce
The Best in Local Professional Theatre is excited to announceThe 2026/2027 Season of Musicals and Events – Season 8 The signature program you love is back at the amphitheater with presenting partner the City of Rancho Mirage. The Broadway Series features professional actors and a full live orchestra all under the award-winning artistic direction of Ray Limon and Joshua Carr. We are delighted to announce Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS starring Lizzie Schmelling Sosa and Catrina Teruel Oct 23-25, 2026, followed
Katie's Guide to Rancho Mirage: Summer Staycation
Katie's Guide to Rancho MirageSummer Staycation: Fall in Love with Rancho Mirage By Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM President & CEO, Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce There is something magical about summer in Rancho Mirage. While some people think summer is the time to leave the desert, those of us who call this community home know there is another side to the season. Summer gives us a chance to slow down, reconnect, enjoy incredible hospitality, and rediscover the hidden treasures right in our own
Valley's Top Workforce Leaders Headline Rancho Mirage Chamber Panel July 15
RANCHO MIRAGE CHAMBER TO HOST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PANEL WITH VALLEY'S TOP EDUCATION LEADERS WHAT:The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce's Signature Speaker Series — a moderated panel on the Coachella Valley's talent pipeline and workforce development, the top concern facing local employers. WHO:• Sheila Thornton — President & CEO, OneFuture Coachella Valley• Val Martinez Garcia — Superintendent/President, College of the Desert• Oscar Fonseca — Career Readiness Program Coordinator, CSUSB Palm Desert
July 1 - The Quiet New Year
The Quiet New Year July 1st. It isn’t marked by fireworks. There isn’t a countdown. No one gathers in crowded streets wearing funny hats waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Yet it may be one of the most important days of the year. July 1 is the Quiet New Year. It’s the beginning of the second half of the year—a chance to pause, breathe, and ask ourselves a simple question: How are we really doing? Six months ago, many of us made goals. We promised ourselves we’d start
One Wristband, Forty Reasons to Feel Good
One Wristband, Forty Reasons to Feel GoodHere's one of the best-kept secrets of Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage: when you buy your $10 wristband, you're not just unlocking a month of incredible dining deals—you're directly supporting a local nonprofit of your choice.This year, nearly forty local nonprofit organizations are participating in Taste of Summer by selling wristbands as a summer fundraiser. The summer months can be especially challenging for charities, and this event gives them a meaningful way to
Keeping Our Local Restaurants Sizzling All Summer Long
Keeping Our Local Restaurants Sizzling All Summer LongAnyone who calls the Coachella Valley home knows the rhythm of our seasons. When summer arrives and temperatures climb, our streets get quieter, the snowbirds head north, and our beloved local restaurants feel the slowdown. That's exactly why Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage exists—and why your participation matters more than you might realize.From July 23rd through August 16th, 2026, thirty of Rancho Mirage's finest restaurants are rolling out special
Take the Guesswork Out of Networking
Take the Guesswork Out of Networking How to walk into any room and actually enjoy yourself Let's be honest about something. For a lot of us, the word "networking" lands with a little thud. It conjures up a crowded room, a name tag curling at the corner, a warm drink we're holding mostly so our hands have a job, and that low hum of panic: Who do I talk to? What do I say? When can I leave? Here's the good news. Networking isn't a performance, and it's definitely not about working a room like you're
25 Simple Ways to Increase Revenue Without Finding New Customers
25 Simple Ways to Increase Revenue Without Finding New Customers Most businesses don’t need more customers. They need to maximize the relationships, resources, partnerships, and opportunities they already have. As I collect feedback through business walks, surveys, and member meetings and gatherings - I hear you say that you need more customers, which is true. And, maximizing your current customer base is also extremely valuable ... heck, they are already your customers! Here is a list go get you
Workforce Development Starts with Small Business: Practical Hiring Strategies for the Coachella Valley
Workforce Development Starts with Small Business: Practical Hiring Strategies for the Coachella Valley For many small business owners in the Coachella Valley, finding and retaining qualified employees remains one of the biggest challenges to growth. Whether you're operating a restaurant, retail store, construction company, healthcare practice, or professional services firm, workforce development isn't just a government initiative—it's a business strategy. The first step is preparation. Before posting a
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Pawfect Time
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Pawfect Time RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrated the official ribbon cutting for Pawfect Time on Tuesday, May 26, welcoming the business as a valued member of the Chamber and recognizing its contribution to the local business community. The ceremony brought together Chamber ambassadors, local business professionals, community leaders, friends, family, and supporters to commemorate this exciting
A Thread That Holds the Valley Together: Understanding Valley Chambers
A Thread That Holds the Valley Together By Katie Slimko-Tuvell, President & CEO, Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce If you run a business anywhere in the Coachella Valley, you've probably had this moment of friendly confusion: which chamber of commerce is mine? We're lucky to have a remarkable number of them across these nine cities and the communities in between — Palm Springs, the Palm Desert Area, Indian Wells, Thousand Palms, the Greater Coachella Valley, DBA, DVBA that brings several areas under
Signature Speaker Series Highlights Coachella Valley Economic Development Strategies
Signature Speaker Series Highlights Coachella Valley Economic Development Strategies The Chamber recently hosted another successful Signature Speaker Series event, VGPS: CV Economic Development Strategic Plan, bringing together community leaders, business professionals, and regional stakeholders for an informative discussion focused on the future of economic growth across the Coachella Valley. Featured speakers included, Scott White, President & CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Sean Smith,
Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM, Named to Board of Directors of the Western Association of Chamber Executives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM, Named to Board of Directors of the Western Association of Chamber ExecutivesRancho Mirage Chamber President & CEO Joins Regional Leadership Body Serving Chamber Professionals Across the West RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that its President and CEO, Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Western Association of Chamber Executives
What I've Learned About Leadership From Running a Chamber
What I've Learned About Leadership From Running a Chamber By Katie Slimko-Tuvell, President & CEO When people ask me what I do for a living, the short answer is that I run a Chamber of Commerce. The longer answer is that I get to sit at the intersection of every kind of business, every kind of leader, and every kind of dream in the Coachella Valley — and I get a front-row seat to what it really takes to build something that lasts. I've learned more about leadership in this role than I ever expected
Turning Shoulder Season into Local Momentum
Turning the Shoulder Season into Local MomentumBy Katie Slimko-Tuvell, President & CEO, Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce In the Coachella Valley, we’re accustomed to a rhythm built around festivals, sun-soaked weekends, and a swell of visitors during peak season. The energy is unmistakable, the momentum palpable. But the true test—and the true opportunity—comes in the months that follow those peak days when crowds thin and the calendar opens up. Rather than viewing this as a lull, we should see it as a
Securing Online Transactions: What Rancho Mirage Businesses Can't Ignore
Most of your business transactions happen online now — contracts emailed, payments processed remotely, agreements signed without anyone in the same room. That efficiency is a genuine competitive advantage. But every digital touchpoint is also a potential entry point, and the businesses that treat security as an afterthought are the ones who learn that lesson the hard way. Securing your online transactions starts with three basics: authenticating who you're dealing with, protecting the documents and
News Release: 3/31/2026
Rancho Mirage Chamber Launches “Member Event Spotlight” to Celebrate Local Business Achievements Rancho Mirage, CA — March 31, 2026 — The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the launch of its Member Event Spotlight, a new initiative designed to showcase the incredible events hosted by its members across the community. While the Chamber staff may not always be able to attend every event in person, this program ensures that the successes and energy of local businesses are shared and
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Rancho Mirage Chamber to Explore Economic Power of "Sports & Sound" at 2026 Signature Speaker Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOMPresident/CEO Rancho Mirage ChamberKatie@RanchoMirage.org Rancho Mirage Chamber to Explore Economic Power of "Sports & Sound" at 2026 Signature Speaker Series RANCHO MIRAGE, CA – The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce is kicking off its 2026 Signature Speaker Series with an inside look at one of the region's most significant economic drivers. On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Chamber will host Gina Rotolo, Vice President of Marketing and
When Digital Gets Ignored: Why Direct Mail Wins Attention and Results
Direct mail marketing has reemerged as a high-performing channel for businesses that want measurable results in a crowded digital environment. While inboxes overflow and ads compete for fleeting attention, physical mail creates a pause. It lands in someone’s hands. It sits on a desk. It gets remembered.Key Takeaways Direct mail cuts through digital saturation and earns focused attention. Physical mail often generates stronger response rates than many digital-only campaigns. Tangible materials improve
How Small Businesses Can Eliminate Friction in the Sales Process
Rancho Mirage businesses thrive on relationships — and nothing strains a good one faster than friction in the sales process. Whether it’s unclear communication, slow follow-up, or cumbersome paperwork, every unnecessary step pushes potential customers toward hesitation. The good news? Small businesses can design a friction-free sales process without massive investments — just smart observation, better tools, and human-centered workflows.TL;DR Identify the bottlenecks → improve how and when you
Protect Before You Grow: Practical Legal Strategies for Small Business Owners
Why Legal Foresight Is a Competitive Advantage For small businesses, legal protection isn’t just about defense—it’s a proactive system that secures operations, builds stakeholder trust, and strengthens long-term resilience. Every contract, policy, and insurance plan forms part of a business’s “risk shield.” When constructed strategically, this shield doesn’t just prevent costly disputes—it signals reliability to clients, partners, and employees alike. Building a Legal Foundation Through Clear
The Scroll Before the Stroll: How Digital Visibility Drives Real-World Foot Traffic
Your business’s digital presence is no longer optional. It’s the storefront before the storefront — the place people check before they check you out in person. And if you're not there, you're not just invisible. You’re irrelevant. Every search, scroll, and social post is a potential turning point for foot traffic, sales, and long-term customer loyalty. That presence — your business’s signal to the world — shapes perception, decision-making, and reputation before anyone sets foot inside.Build Trust Before
How Small Businesses Can Market Smartly Without Overspending
It’s no secret that marketing budgets can balloon quickly, especially when chasing the latest trends or attempting to mimic big-brand strategies. But for smaller businesses or startups, the challenge isn’t about how much to spend—it’s about how to spend well. With the right focus, even a lean plan can pack a punch. Success lies not in spending more, but in spending with purpose, creativity, and attention to what truly connects. Anchor Everything to a Clear Message A strong message is a compass. Before
