Thursday, November 3
11am-5pm: CONVENTION REGISTRATION at the Grand Geneva
12noon-2pm: OPENING LUNCHEON AND KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
(Sponsored by Potawatomi Bingo Casino)
The Top Technology Trends Transforming Tourism, Destinations,
Events and Society -- and How to Prepare for Them!
Corbin Ball, Corbin Ball Associates
Technology is transforming the way destination and travel professionals do business – and the major changes are yet to come. International technology expert Ball prepares us for the challenge of understanding the impact of technology on tourism and helps us prepare.
2:15-3:15pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. Department of Tourism Partner Opportunities – Learn from Department of Tourism staff how to leverage your resources through the department’s grant and cooperative advertising programs.
2. Embracing Online Travel Review Sites –Hear from Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel site, and discover how its 7 million members use the site to plan vacations. Also, learn tips on how to manage your brand on the review site.
3. Inside the Brain of a Travel Writer - Find out what attracts travel writers – and in turn, customers -- to your town. You may be surprised by what others find most interesting about you – and discover that you have assets you don’t even promote!
4. The Economics of Tourism – Learn the latest tourism economic trends from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s new economic impact research vendor. Also, find out how the state is now measuring Wisconsin’s tourism’s economic impact.
3:15-3:30pm: NETWORKING BREAK
3:30-4:30pm: REPEAT BREAKOUT SESSIONS 1-4
4:45 -6:45 pm: MARKETPLACE AND RECEPTION - Visit Milwaukee and Grand Geneva Resort & Spa invite you to enjoy food, beverages and a chance to win prizes. Meet and network with reception sponsors Midwest Living Magazine and Tribune Media Group plus other convention sponsors, exhibitors and colleagues.
7-10pm: POST RECEPTION - Following the Marketplace reception, the Lake Geneva CVB invite you to enjoy a Lake Geneva dine-around.
Friday, November 4
8-8:30am: BREAKFAST BUFFET
8:30-9am: TRAILBLAZER AWARDS CEREMONY - Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett gives us insight into the latest happenings at the state agency and helps WACVB and sponsor Wisconsin Trails recognize the best in Wisconsin tourism marketing and partnership efforts.
9:15-10:15am: BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. Branding 2.0 – We have heard a lot about tourism branding over the years. Learn from a branding expert on how to make sure you’re doing it right and from a one destination marketing organization of what it takes to implement a new brand and whether it’s working!
2. Tourism Advocacy – Get the latest tools and ideas on how to advocate for tourism funding and support for your destination.
3. The ‘Visitor-Focused’ Destination - What should you be doing – together, in a destination-wide approach – to build visitor satisfaction, repeat business and an engaged & knowledgeable front-line? Come hear about specialized leisure traveler research and destination success stories that are driving tourism and stakeholder alignment.
4. Facing Facebook – You have a Facebook page but you want to increase your “likes” as well as engagement and interaction on the popular social network. Learn in-depth strategies on how to make your page stand out from the rest and to stay on top of your "social" game. Speaker: Mary Parado & Ashley Batzner, Noise, Inc.
10:25-11:25am: REPEAT BREAKOUT SESSIONS 1-4
11:30-12noon: CONVENTION WRAP UP –See if you won a Marketplace door prize and find out where the 2012 convention will be held, plus enjoy a snack before you hit the road.