Mary Bess is the Director of Marketing & Special Projects for Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris and Yellowstone Safari Company, bringing over 20 years of experience in adventure tourism. She is passionate about connecting travelers with the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism.
Certifications
- Professional Certificate: Sustainable Tourism Destination Management | The George Washington University
- B.A. German | University of Maine
- B.S. Education | Utah State University
- Paul Harris Fellow I | Rotary International
- Paul Harris Fellow II | Rotary International
- Rotarian of the Month | February 2011
- Rotarian of the Month | June 2014
- Rotarian of the Month | May 2022
More Adventures
Mary's Favorite Safari Tours
Bio
Mary brings over 20 years of experience in adventure tourism, with a lifelong passion for the outdoors and sustainable travel. Growing up on the East Coast, she spent much of her childhood exploring the natural landscapes of Maine, Massachusetts, and Prince Edward Island. Her love for mountains and adventure took her abroad to Switzerland as a high school exchange student, and university student, where she developed an enduring passion for travel, languages, and tourism.
Mary’s connection to the region began at age 10 when she first visited family living in Jackson, WY. Inspired by their stories of skiing powder and running rivers, she returned in college for a summer job with a rafting company—an experience that led to a 15-year career managing the business. While overseeing river operations, she completed her second college degree and briefly taught elementary school before shifting her focus entirely to the tourism industry. In 2018, she joined Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, where she now leads marketing and special projects. In 2020, Yellowstone Safari Company joined the family of safari businesses and Mary assumed a parallel role that now includes all of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
A dedicated leader in the local tourism industry, Mary serves as Board Chair of the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Joint Powers Board, and contributes to responsible tourism initiatives through the Destination Stewardship Council and the Sustainability Sub-committee. She is an active member of the Jackson Hole Rotary Club and is a two time Paul Harris Fellow. She also sits on the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce’s destination marketing committee and is a member of the Yellowstone Country Resilience Committee. Her past leadership roles include serving as Vice President of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and Co-Chair of the Snake River Fund.
When she’s not shaping marketing strategies or advancing responsible tourism, you’ll find Mary running rivers, traveling the world, or spending time in nature with friends and family.