Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference

Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference
Think
Big in
BeMidji
February 2-3, 2016 | Sanford Center, Bemidji, MN
Every year, Explore Minnesota looks
forward to connecting with our
industry partners at the annual tourism
conference. The 2016 conference is
no exception. We have an exciting
lineup of great speakers, engaging
breakout sessions and networking
opportunities designed to inspire and
equip you with the tools and tactics to
promote and market Minnesota as a
premier travel destination.
The 2016 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference is organized around four key
themes: marketing, technology, creative and strategy. General and breakout
sessions will touch on emerging trends like social media and travel sharing, as well
as tried-and-true tactics like co-ops and media relations. Celebrate your peers’
achievements at the “Excellence in Tourism” Awards Banquet, and mingle with the
exhibitors in the Travel Marketplace. If you get to town early, be sure to attend the
preconference event hosted by Visit Bemidji.
The Minnesota tourism landscape has never been more exciting—or more rapidly
changing. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay on top of the trends, and return
to work with fresh ideas and new ways to market your #OnlyinMN destination.
Pack your plaid shirt and meet us in Bemidji to talk the BIG business of tourism in
Minnesota this February.
See you soon,
John Edman
Monday, Feb. 1, 2016
2:30 p.m.
Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (MACVB) educational session, everyone welcome!
5:30 p.m.
Visit Bemidji evening event at Bemidji Bowl – additional cost to attend
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016
9:30 a.m.
Get to Know Explore Minnesota Tourism - EMT Staff
11:30 a.m.
Lunch and Opening Session - Explore Minnesota Tourism Report, John Edman, Director, Explore Minnesota;
Chris Thompson BrandUSA and Christine Fruechte, Colle+McVoy
1:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions I
•
Explore Your Minnesota Story: A Guide to Media Relations
•
On Your Website, Content is King
•
Maximize Your Ad Budget With EMT’s Co-Opportunities Program
•
Enhancing the Visitor Experience
2:45 p.m.
Break – Travel Marketplace opens
Schedule
3:30 p.m.
Keynote/General Session speaker
Traveler Behavior and Upcoming Trends - Peter Yesawich, MMGY Global
4:30 p.m.End of sessions
5 p.m.
Opening Reception in the Travel Marketplace
6 p.m.
Excellence in Tourism Awards Banquet
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016
7 a.m.Breakfast
8 a.m.
Opening Session
Celebrating our Parks – Christina Hausman, Voyageurs National Park & Erika Rivers, Minnesota DNR Parks & Trails
8:30 a.m.The Evolution of Social Media: From Glossy Gimmicks to Killer Content - Jason Rubenstein, Expedia Media Solutions
9:30 a.m.
Break – Travel Marketplace
10 a.m.
Speed Sessions on Marketing Strategies & Tactics in General Session room TBD
11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions II
•
Top Ten Trends in Sports Marketing
•
How to Become a Tourism Social Media Rockstar
•
Standing Tall |An Update on Minnesota’s Image Versus our Competition
•
Brandelized: How Destinations Have Gotten Branding Wrong
12:45 p.m.
Luncheon – Stop Denying It: You Love Change, Bill Geist, DMOProz
2:30 p.m.
Conference ends
Traveler Behavior and Upcoming Trends
Keynote Speaker | Tuesday, February 2, 2016 | 3:30 p.m.
General Session
Peter Yesawich, Vice Chairman, MMGY Global
Peter is regarded as one of the most respected and insightful sources on the habits and
preferences of American travelers. He is a frequent commentator on travel trends in
publications such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Business Week, and has been featured on CNN,
CNBC, MSNBC, BBC World and National Public Radio. Peter leads all of MMGY’s efforts
in consumer insights.
Celebrating our Parks
Opening Session Speakers | Wednesday, February 3, 2016 | 8 a.m
Christina Hausman, Voyageurs National Park Association
Christina has been Executive Director of the Voyageurs National Park Association
(VNPA) since July, 2013. She engages advocates, philanthropists, volunteers and the
next generation of stewards on behalf of Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park. Christina
has over eight years experience working in development and communications in the
nonprofit industry and has previously worked for The Nature Conservancy and the
Hennepin Health Foundation.
Erika Rivers, Minnesota DNR Parks & Trails
As DNR Parks and Trails Division director, Erika oversees a $103 million annual budget
and a staff of 1,200 full and part-time employees. State parks and trails host more than 9
million visitors each year. The division manages 75 state parks and recreation areas, 62
state forest campgrounds and thousands of miles of state trails. Erika began her career
with DNR in 2004 and started working closely with the Parks and Trails Division in 2010,
when she managed the development of the master plan for Lake Vermilion State Park.
Erika became director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails
Division in 2014.
General Session
The Evolution of Social Media: From
Glossy Gimmicks to Killer Content
Keynote Speaker | Tuesday, February 2, 2016 | 8:30 a.m.
Jason Rubenstein, Director, Expedia Media Solutions
With more than 10 years of marketing and advertising experience across entertainment,
financial services and travel industries, Jason serves as the Director of U.S. Agency
Relations at Expedia Media Solutions, where he leads Expedia’s U.S. agency relations
team across all industry verticals. Prior to joining Expedia Media Solutions, Jason
worked at Amazon Media Group, Xbox Advertising, Bing.com and Garrigan Lyman
Group. Jason started his career with the Seattle Sonics.
Stop denying it: You love change
Keynote Speaker | Wednesday, February 3, 2016 | 12:45 p.m
Bill Geist, Chief Instigator, DMOproz
Bill Geist is the Chief Instigator at DMOproz (aka Zeitgeist Consulting), a firm specializing
in strategic planning, governance, marketing and legislative issues for convention and
visitor bureaus, tourism-focused chambers of commerce, economic development
organizations and communities. He has provided consulting services to over 180
Destination Marketing Organizations since 1995. Prior to forming his consulting firm, Bill
served as the President/CEO of the Greater Madison (WI) Convention & Visitors Bureau.
During his tenure, he succeeded in doubling the Bureau’s sales and marketing budget
and oversaw the launch of one of the Top 25 Marathons in the nation.
AmericInn Bemidji
1200 Paul Bunyan Drive NW, Bemidji 56601
(218) 751-3000
www.americinn.com, fill in the Where Are You Headed section: City, dates
$99.90 + tax, single or double; includes breakfast
Enter 2016 EXPL in the Travel Agent Click Here cell.
Click on Search - this will populate the Bemidji property and BOOK Now option.
Click on Book Now and it will populate to show the 2016 Explore MN block of rooms.
Best Western Bemidji Inn
2420 Paul Bunyan Drive NW, Bemidji, 56601
(218) 751-0390
www.book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/groupSearch.do?groupId=2T6CE1V1
$89.00 + tax, single or double; includes breakfast
Country Inn & Suites
927 Lake Shore Drive NE, Bemidji 56601
(218) 441-4800
www.countryinns.com/2016exploremn
$ 119.00 + tax single Lakeview King; $139.00 + tax single 1 BR King;
$109.00 + tax double; $119.00 double Lakeview; includes breakfast
Lodging
Doubletree by Hilton Bemidji
115 Lakeshore Drive, Bemidji 56601
(218) 441-4400
www.doubletree3.hilton.com
$119.00 + tax single or double
• Enter your travel dates
•Click “add special rate codes”
•Type “EMN” in the Group Code box
•Click “Check Availability” (Example)
Holiday Inn Express
2422 Ridgeway Ave NW Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 751-2487
www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/bemidji/bjiex/hoteldetail
$103.95 plus tax; single or double; includes breakfast
Super 8
1815 Paul Bunyan Drive NW, Bemidji 56601
218 751-8481
www.bemidjisuper8hotel.com
$75-89 plus tax; single or double; includes breakfast
No online option