Tourism partners from across the state will join together at the 41st Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism, to be held March 8-10 at the Arkansas Convention Center in Texarkana. The city serves as host for the first time in the conference’s history. According to organizers over 500 people are expected to attend.
The annual gathering of Arkansas’s tourism industry offers sessions in a variety of topics such as bringing new travelers to the state, refining networking skills, and promoting communities and attractions.
The opening keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Burt Smith, a noted marketing expert who has served as president for both the American Marketing Association and the National Speaker’s Association. Smith’s presentation, “How to Enjoy Borderless Success,” will provide marketing best practices he has gleaned during his more than 20-year career in the industry.
The closing keynote speaker Doug Lansky, an award-winning travel writer and travel trends futurist, will share his experiences as an adventurer and world-travel expert who has written books for both Lonely Planet and Rough Guides.
The Arkansas Tourism Development Foundation’s annual auction will take place Monday night. The money raised from the silent and live auctions funds scholarships for individuals seeking careers in the hospitality and tourism industries.
The theme of this year’s event, “Tourism Without Borders,” emphasizes the need for cooperation and coordination within Arkansas’s tourism industry to bring more guests into the state.
Conference Schedule
Sunday–March 8
11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: REGISTRATION
11:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: ARKANSAS THE NATURAL STATE GIFT SHOP OPEN
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: HOSPITALITY SUITE OPEN
Connections Bar & Grill
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: OPENING RECEPTION & EARLY BIRD PARTY (download flyer here)
Arkansas Convention Center
Shuttle will be provided to all Texarkana, Arkansas hotels
Monday-March 9
7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: REGISTRATION
8:30 a.m.: OPENING CEREMONY & RIBBON-CUTTING
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: GENERAL SESSION-—
“HOW TO ENJOY BORDERLESS SUCCESS”
Featuring: Dr. Burt Smith, Owner, EMI Research Solutions, LLC
10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A. “YOUR 40-MINUTE MARKETING PLAN”
Featuring: Dr. Burt Smith, Owner, EMI Research Solutions, LLC
B. “WE’RE ON YOUR PAYROLL—
YOUR PARKS & TOURISM TEAM”
Featuring: Panel Presentation
C. “MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURISM: WHAT DO MOUNTAIN BIKERS WANT?”
Featuring: Mike Van Abel, President, International Mountain
Bicycling Association
12:00-1:30 p.m.: LUNCHEON—“REPUTATION
MANAGEMENT IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET”
Featuring: Scott Caufield, Destination Marketing Organizations
Midwest Sales Manager, TripAdvisor
1:45 p.m.-2:45 p.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A. “YOUR 40-MINUTE MARKETING PLAN”
Featuring: Dr. Burt Smith, Owner, EMI Research Solutions, LLC
B. “YOUR NATIONAL PARKS: A SECOND CENTURY OF SHARED OPPORTUNITY AND ADVENTURE!”
Featuring: Kevin Cheri, Enimini Ekong, Lisa Conard, Teri Gage Panel Presentation
C. “MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY BICYCLE FRIENDLY”
Featuring: Mike Van Abel, Kalene Griffith, Joe Jacobs, David Wright
2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m.: “TRENDS AND
TAKEAWAYS—ARKANSAS TOURISM IN 2015”
Presented by: The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism,
CJRW and Aristotle marketing team
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: ARKANSAS TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION AUCTION
Featuring: Steve Sims, nationally recognized auctioneer
8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.: HOSPITALITY SUITE OPEN
Tuesday-March 10
7:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: REGISTRATION
7:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: ARKANSAS THE NATURAL STATE GIFT SHOP OPEN
7:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m.: ARKANSAS TOURISM INDUSTRY BREAKFAST—“FOUR SCORE AND TWO YEARS AGO…”
Featuring: Richard W. Davies, Executive Director,
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A. “MAKING YOUR SPECIAL EVENTS TRULY SPECIAL”
Featuring: Trina Mitchell, Bill Dailey, Mary Margaret Satterfield, Terry Stewart Panel Presentation
B. “RETIREES—A HIDDEN MARKET”
Featuring: Dr. Wayne Miller, Jonathan Rhodes, Susan Tonymon, David Twiggs Panel Presentation
C. “SHOTS OF A LIFETIME—AND HOW TO TAKE THEM”
Featuring: Chuck Haralson, Chief Photographer,
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A. “MAKING YOUR SPECIAL EVENTS TRULY SPECIAL”
Featuring: Trina Mitchell, Bill Dailey, Mary Margaret Satterfield, Terry Stewart Panel Presentation
B. “GROUP TRAVEL—DON’T MISS THE BUS!”
Featuring: Liz Bittner, Executive Director, Travel South USA
C. “MOTORCYCLISTS—A ROARING MARKET!”
Featuring: Grady Spann, Franklin McLarty, Dennis Snow, Karen Snow Panel Presentation
12:00-1:30 p.m.: LUNCHEON—
“ARKANSAS—A STATE OF MIND”
Featuring: Rex Nelson, President,
Arkansas’s Independent Colleges & Universities
1:45 p.m.-2:45 p.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A. “HISPANIC TRAVELERS—BUENOS DIAS!”
Featuring: Cinco Media
B. “GROUP TRAVEL—DON’T MISS THE BUS!”
Featuring: Liz Bittner, Executive Director, Travel South USA
C. “MOTORCYCLISTS: A ROARING MARKET!”
Featuring: Grady Spann, Franklin McLarty, Dennis Snow, Karen Snow Panel Presentation
2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.: KEYNOTE ADDRESS—“SAVVY MARKETING FOR SAVVY TRAVELERS”
Featuring: Doug Lansky, award-winning travel writer,
world-travel expert and travel trends futurist
6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m.: HENRY AWARDS RECEPTION
7:15 p.m.: HENRY AWARDS BANQUET & CEREMONY
8:45 p.m.-11:00 p.m.: HOSPITALITY SUITE OPEN
