2016 Travel Industry Conference agenda

> International Guests: What Hotels, Attractions and Events Need to Know
– Stephen Nelson of Rocky Mountain International and Chris Pilley,
Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours
> How UAS Technology Can Benefit Marketers in the
Tourism Industry – Matt Dunlevy, SkySkopes
> If You Build It, Will They Come? – Cynthia Messer, University of
Minnesota Tourism Center
> FAQ with North Dakota Tourism
– Addressing Frequently Asked Questions with staff of North Dakota Tourism
> Developing Your Comprehensive Mobile Strategy
– Adam Weber, Bluebridge
> Three Trends Driving the Future of Travel Marketing and
How to Put Them to Work for Your Business
Conference Hotel
Canad Inns Destination Center
Grand Forks
1000 South 42nd Street
Grand Forks, ND 58201
701-772-8404
Conference rate:
$104 plus tax/night
Room Block # 362297
Return Service Requested
April 11-13, 2016
Alerus Center | Grand Forks, North Dakota
ND Tourism Division
1600 E. Century Ave. Ste. 2
PO Box 2057
Bismarck, ND 58502-2057
– Christy Bykowski, Fahlgren Mortine
N
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The annual conference for tourism marketers, attractions, events
and tourism sector businesses and groups.
PAID
> Celebrating 100 Years of National Parks – Featuring Wendy Ross
April 11-13, 2016
Alerus Center | Grand Forks, North Dakota
> Fully Optimizing Your Web Presence – Jay Salyers, Miles
Grand Forks, ND 58203
PERMIT # 433
> Communicate That! – Roshini Rajkumar, Keynote Speaker
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
Breakout Speakers &
Contributors
For the complete agenda, please visit the website.
Agenda Highlights
Monday, April 11, 2016
> Industry Meetings
> Opening Reception, 6-9PM
North Dakota Museum of Art on the campus of the
University of North Dakota
Transportation departing from the Canad Inns
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Wear Your Logo Day
> 8:30AM - 6:00PM Exhibits open
> Breakfast and lunch provided by sponsors
> General session featuring Roshini Rajkumar:
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
> Morning breakout sessions
● Communication coaching
● Optimizing your web presence
● Celebrating 100 years of national parks
> Industry luncheon featuring Tourism Director Sara Otte
Coleman and George Zimmerman: The Halo Effect of
Tourism Marketing
> Afternoon breakout sessions
● International marketing
● Using drones and unmanned aerial systems
● Tourism business development
> General session featuring Greg Tehven: Creating the
Community you want to be a part of
> General session featuring the candidates running for
Governor of North Dakota
> Networking reception with exhibitors
> Grand Forks Dine Around
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
> 7:45AM - 12PM Exhibits open
> Breakfast and lunch provided by sponsors
> General session featuring Adam Weber:
Technology in the Visitor Journey
> General session featuring the state tourism directors from
Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming
> Breakout sessions
● Building your comprehensive mobile strategy
● The three trends of travel marketing
● Tourism’s FAQ answered
> Luncheon and Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism
Keynote Speakers
Roshini Rajkumar
Roshini is a personal brand strategist and presence engineer.
She hosts News & Views with Roshini Rajkumar on CBS (WCCO)
Radio on Sundays. When she’s not on the air, Roshini is an
executive coach, keynote speaker and event emcee. She draws
on more than thirty years of public speaking, a decade-long career
as a television news reporter, including time with KVLY in Fargo,
and anchor and her status as a licensed attorney to get her clients
ready for high-stakes communication endeavors and powerfully
engineer their personal brands. To see past columns, listen to
radio show podcasts, and for powerful presence tips, go to www.
OwnYourWOW.com
George Zimmerman
George is the chairman of Longwoods International – a research
firm North Dakota Tourism has used since 2002. George was the
Vice President of Travel Michigan from October 2001 until April
2014. Under his leadership, the award-winning Pure Michigan
branding campaign was developed. George has more than two
decades of experience in tourism destination marketing and
research. He is the author of three travel-related books and
routinely guest lectures on tourism marketing at Michigan State
University. http://longwoods-intl.com/
Tourism Directors
Forum
Competition or Collaboration
John Edman
James Hagen
John Edman has been the Director of
Explore Minnesota Tourism since 2000
and has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. John
successfully led the industry and political
leaders to approve a 67% increase in
the tourism budget in 2013, the largest in
Minnesota state history.
James Hagen was appointed South
Dakota’s Secretary of Tourism in 2011
and has worked in South Dakota’s tourism industry since 1995. He has helped
South Dakota achieve records in national
park and visitor center attendance and
statewide visitor spending.
Sara Otte Coleman
Diane Shober
Sara Otte Coleman has been the Director of North Dakota Tourism since 2003.
She has worked to develop research
driven marking programs to grow the
states offerings and visitor base. North
Dakota’s industry now serves more than
24 million annual visitors spending $3.6
billion.
Diane Shober has been the Executive Director of the Wyoming Office of
Tourism since 2003 and prior to that was
with the Chicago CTB for seven years.
Diane’s management has helped Wyoming see a 68% increase in travel-generated spending and 72% increase in
travel-generated tax revenues.
Explore Minnesota
South Dakota Tourism
Greg Tehven
Greg is cofounder and chief executive leader of Emerging Prairie.
He has been a driving force in entrepreneurship and business
development as he has introduced TEDx, 1 Million Cups, Startup
Weekend and more concepts to Fargo. His work has been
highlighted in Forbes, Fortune, and Delta Sky Magazine. Greg’s
enthusiasm and can-do attitude will leave you with ideas and
possibilities for your community.
www.gregfromfargo.com
Adam Weber
As Vice President of Sales and a founder of Bluebridge, the
largest provider of destination apps in the world, Adam leads
all new business growth. Adam’s strengths lie in building
processes that create valuable interactions for potential
customers, beginning with initial interactions and growing into
long-term customer relationships based on trust and solving
customer challenges. Adam formerly held roles at the web
design firm SpinWeb and was a pastor and co-founder of
Commonway Church in Muncie, IN.
http://gobluebridge.com/
North Dakota Tourism
Wyoming Office of Tourism