Fall Meeting 2010

Conversations:
Moving Travel and Tourism Discussions Forward

Sept. 8 - 10, 2010
Greenville, South Carolina
Hyatt Regency Greenville

There’s no doubt travel and tourism is a connected industry inside a connected society. On any given day, you prove that many times over with e-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn, blog postings and tweets.

Despite the abundance of high-tech connectivity, there’s something missing – the low-tech connection that comes only from conversation. You know what we mean. Speaker-to-audience, friend-to-friend, face-to-face conversation. It’s real, it’s useful and it’s valuable.

That’s why the theme of the STS fall meeting in Greenville, S.C., is “Conversations: Moving Travel and Tourism Discussions Forward.”

It is said that conversation is an art. If that’s true, then the Fall Meeting is an art studio. It provides a time and place to practice your conversational skills. Talk shop with professional peers, cultivate a mentor relationship, learn from experts, visit with old friends and make new ones.

There certainly is no lack on topics. The last couple of years – even the last couple of months – provide a long list. Would you benefit from solid conversations about dealing with the continuing challenging economy? How about niche marketing, consumer research or media placement? Or how about group sales, employee communication or membership retention?

Let’s learn something from each other. See you in Greenville Sept. 8-10 so we can talk all about it.

Registration form | Sponsorship opportunities
Silent Auction form | Fall meeting brochure

Sponsors:

Hoffman Media | Madden Media | Hyatt Regency Greenville | South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism | Journal Communications | Florida Space Coast | Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau | TIG Global | Weider History Group | Meredith Travel Marketing | CVB of Marion County | Spartanburg CVB | Cracker Barrel | Reader's Digest

Program Sessions

Conversations: State Travel Directors Speak Out – Several state travel directors from across the United States come together in this round-table discussion where they discuss trends they foresee, challenges they face and opportunities to engage the local CVB. Have a one-one-one talk with this varied panel and discuss situations you encounter. Alisa Bailey, president and CEO, Virginia Tourism Corporation; Chad Prosser (r), director, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism; Chris Thompson, president and CEO, VISIT FLORIDA.

Sam Wyche – What better way to kick off the football season than to hear from a southern football legend? Sam Wyche spent many years coaching in the NFL, pontificating behind the broadcasting booth and now, bringing his knowledge of the sport to a local level. Get to know the man behind his legendary status and learn his views on sports tourism.

Dr. Richard Kelley – This chairman of Outrigger Enterprises knows a thing or two about the importance of travel and tourism. Dr. Kelley (r) delves into the power of travel, demonstrating that it is one of the best ways to bring prosperity and job opportunities to an area.

Sesquicentennial of the Civil War – The Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War is fast approaching and presents a distinctive opportunity to capture the imagination of current and potential visitors to historical sites throughout the southeast. In preparation for this event learn how your destination can prepare for the 150th commemoration of the War Between The States. Panel includes Mitch Bowman, executive director, Civil War Trails; Dean Reeder, national tourism director, National Park Service; Helen Hill, executive director, Charleston Area CVB; Don Wollenhaupt, chief of interpretation and education, National Park Service.

Non-Profit & Cultural Marketing Initiative - Non-profit and cultural organizations often work in a vacuum, coping with slim budgets and fragmented media buying that lacks effectiveness. In this hour, we’ll explore opportunities for non-profits to join hands for cooperative marketing that leads of more strategic use of media dollars. The result is high-value exposure in key markets, especially drive markets. Led by Linda Brandt, CEO, creative director, brandt ronat + co.

Peering into the Future... The Outlook for 2011 - With over 20 years of travel and tourism marketing experience, Judy Randall (r), president and CEO of Randall Travel Marketing will give attendees a sneak preview of what to expect in 2011. Learn what the trends are for the coming year and what the projected outlook is for the travel and tourism industry in the southeast.

A Meeting of the Minds on Multicultural Marketing: An inclusive look at niche marketing - Rodney J. Reynolds (l), founder, publisher and CEO, American Legacy Magazine and Juan Quevedo (r), Images USA; and Ricki Fairley-Brown, chief marketing officer, partner, Images USA

Proposed Agenda

Tuesday, Sept. 7

11:00 a.m. STS Executive Committee meeting - Room: Boardroom
2:00 p.m. STS Advisory Council meeting - Room: Boardroom
3:00 p.m. STS Board of Directors meeting – | Break sponsored by CVB of Marion County | Room: Redbud Suite
6:00 p.m. STS Board of Directors dinner – Room: Lobby

Wednesday, Sept. 8

7:45 a.m. Golf at Verdae Greens Golf Club (indicate on registration form if you plan to participate) $60 includes lunch
8:00 a.m. Work Morning with STS – Join STS in a voluntourism project to assist Greenville tourism (indicate on registration form if you plan to participate) | Lunch sponsored by Spartanburg CVB | Meet in lobby
10:00 a.m. Greenville Arts Tour (indicate on registration form if you plan to participate) $25 includes lunch | Meet in lobby
Noon: Registration opens | Conference Bags sponsored by Hoffman Media | Name badges sponsored by Reader's Digest
Noon: Sit back and relax a spell in the Cracker Barrel rocking chair lounge | Registration area
1:30 p.m. New Member Orientation | Sponsored by Madden Media
3:00 p.m. Opening Session: Conversations: State Travel Directors Speak Out | Sponsored by Journal Communications
6:00 p.m. Reception & Silent Auction
Dinner: Explore the varied eateries Greenville has to offer. This is a chance to break away with your friends and find a new favorite restaurant.

Thursday, Sept. 9

8:00 a.m. Continental breakfast in trade show area
9:00 a.m. General Session: Sam Wyche | Sponsored by South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism
10:15 a.m. Break | Sponsored by TIG Global
10:45 a.m. General Session: Sesquicentennial of the Civil War | Sponsored by Weider History Group
12:00 p.m. Lunch with Dr. Richard Kelley, Outrigger Enterprises "Tourism is Everybody's Business" | Sponsored by Hyatt Regency Greenville
1:45 p.m. General Session: A Meeting of the Minds on Multicultural Marketing: An inclusive look at niche marketing
3:00 p.m. Break | Sponsored by Meredith Travel Marketing
3:30 p.m. General Session: Non-Profit & Cultural Marketing Initiative - Linda Brandt | Sponsored by Florida Space Coast
6:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner and Shining Example Awards (black tie optional)

Friday, Sept. 10

8:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
9:00 a.m. General Session: Peering into the Future... The Outlook for 2011 - Judy Randall
10:00 a.m. Adjourn
10:15 a.m. Clemson Conversation - Chat with Clemson tourism students (all invited)