Travel Industry Conference Agenda

Monday, May 15, 2023

Networking and Professional Development Roundtables
Join your peers in discussion of topics relevant to your work and passions. Each session will last one hour, so you can attend two.

• Meetings and Convention Sales
• Outdoor Recreation
• Social Media
• Tourism Development
• Tribal Tourism
• Visitor Centers/Services

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - WEAR YOUR LOGO DAY

Welcome and Opening Keynote

Charged Leadership: Uncover the Power of YOU and North Dakota - Kristen Brown
When it comes to leading your team and yourself with energy and positivity YOU are a superhero! But what happens when work and life stress swoops in to knock you off your path? During this session, you will uncover what makes YOU awesome and unlock the energy elements that magnetize people to you and your ideas. Using the awesome places in North Dakota as a comparison, you will turn on and turn up your energy too. You will discover that what makes North Dakota awesome can also position you as a credible, likable, trustworthy and competent leader driving growth for your team and the people who enjoy your state. You will then discuss ways to use your Energy Centers to boost influence, sales, and relationships across your personal and professional lives.

10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

• Creating Community Events and Attractions – Matt Schanandore, Mandan Progress Organization
  Public events and attractions are a great asset to your community, a way to enhance quality of life, and a way to create opportunities for placemaking. Learn the differences between an event, an attraction, and how building on seasonal offerings may be the next step to activating your community.

• Inspire & Inform: A Modern Approach to Destination Websites - Carrie Tomlinson, Miles Partnership
  Today’s travelers want a balance of inspiration on websites and the crucial information to make a trip happen. This breakout session will tie together the most recent consumer research with examples and tips to make sure your website engages its target audience.

• Working with Media and Influencers – Lauren Becker and Leslie Holbrook, Fahlgren Mortine
  From the ever-changing landscape of traditional media to the explosive growth of social media influencers, Lauren and Leslie will share advice and tips for navigating relationships, harnessing the value of third-party voices and generating impactful results for your public relations program.

Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman will highlight the state’s new campaign and the current State of the Industry. Sara will be joined by members of her team providing a look at the numerous strategies employed to invite visitors and businesses to say HELLO to North Dakota.

• Art Alley 5.5 Walking Tour – Nicole Gagner, Visual Artist (If inclement weather Nicole will lead a session called "Local Collaboration in Public Art")
  Visual artist Nicole Gagner will lead an interactive walk and talk to the art alley and talk about her experience as a mural artist and how that has impacted the art scene of Bismarck- Mandan. Meet at main floor lobby and wear appropriate outdoor clothing. If inclement weather, meet at Renoir-Russel rooms.

• Thriving in the Gray - Lindsey Peterson
  When it comes to our health, many of us are prone to “black and white” thinking. We are all in or all out. This session will help break down “all or nothing” thinking, give you tools to help prioritize the things that make you feel your best, and help you consider a more balanced work/play life.
   

• Sustainability in the Tourism Industry – Nick Beaulieu (Sojern)
  Hear an update on trends in sustainable tourism and how it is important to travelers and residents, as well as how a DMO might use this data to build their marketing strategies.

General Session – Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matters for Travel and Tourism with Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Melissa Cherry
Responsible tourism is about reducing social and economic inequalities and building awareness. Centered on internal and external commitments that are not always perceived as being measurable, join this session to understand concepts and insights on how organizations internally should implement strategies to operationalize DEI within their company culture; and externally on how destinations should look to execute strategies in their local hospitality community.

• Becoming #1 on TripAdvisor - Karen Summers, Expressway Suites, Bismarck

• Take Control of Your Inbox! - Jan Lehman, CTC Productivity

• In-Field Photography - Tanner Cherney, Peak Productions

• Social Media Latest and Greatest - Jamie Tescher, Odney

• Google Tips from a Google Pro - Julie Obrigewitsch, Dickinson CVB

• Small Towns, Big Goals - Danielle Mickelson, Rolla Job Development Authority

• Celebrate You: Branding & Authenticity - Leslie Holbrook, Fahlgren Mortine

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

General Session – Blueprint to the Future: Leading in a New World of Work, Eric Termuende
While the trends, charts, graphs and predictions about the future of work are interesting, the rhetoric around the future of work is often stuck on what it might look like, not how we get there. Instead of wasting time trying to predict what’s next, leaders need to better understand the specific steps we need to take to focus on building incredible teams that thrive in the face of adversity and uncertainty; and have each other’s backs along the way. In this engaging, insight-filled, and actionable presentation, workplace culture and leadership expert Eric Termuende shares his research-backed blueprint for successful leadership in a world that has yet to be created.

General Session – In the Arena with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library with Robert Lauf
Like us, Theodor Roosevelt faced enormous social, technological, and political upheaval in his own time. In such eras of adversity, we must get into the arena. T.R.’s life equips us with a map to become leaders, citizens, and conservationists as we face any challenges that lie ahead. Hear from the President Library’s Director of Programs and Partnerships, Robert Lauf, as he talks about the positive and game-changing future of the T.R. Library in the amazing State of North Dakota.

• The State of the North Dakota Traveler, Carrie Tomlinson, Miles Partnership
  This dive into the North Dakota visitor segment of the State of the American Traveler research will feature an all-star panel, including Leslie Holbrook, VP at Fahlgren Mortine; Laura Mitchell, VP of Marketing at Lawrence & Schiller; and Crystal Bosch, Digital Media Strategist at Odney. This quarterly survey is the longest-running and most comprehensive survey of its type for the destination marketing industry. From generational shifts and technology usage to sustainability and inclusivity, see an outlook on how visitors are making travel decisions.

• Curating Experiences in Your Destination, Erin Griss, Bandwango
  Join us as we delve into the importance of curating engaging experiences that gather first-party data. Discover how unique and diverse passes can drive visitation to local businesses in your destination. We’ll share the effective techniques for creating and marketing experiences to your target audience, and showcase examples of successful passes from nearby destinations.

Governor’s Awards Luncheon Honoring Leaders in Travel and Tourism
You won’t want to miss the revamped presentation of the Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism. Speaking and presenting the 2023 awards are Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, DMAND President Sheri Grossman and Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman.