Mark Ezell                       Brian Wagner               Melanie Beauchamp            Pete Rosenboro                                Commissioner                Assistant Commissioner            Assistant Commissioner       Assistant Commissioner                                                                                 Marketing                      Rural Tourism & Outreach            Welcome Centers             

Wednesday, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Building Content That Sells (On A Budget!)

We are sent (and send!) information all the time – it’s just not always relevant or valuable (can you say spam?) That’s what makes content marketing so intriguing: content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain our target audiences.  This session will focus on developing engaging and original branded content that will allow your destination to best tell the story of your brand.
Sponsored by Designsensory

               Mary Blair                  Andrea Overstreet
               Designsensory                          Designsensory

Wednesday, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
A Tale of Your City:
Tips, Tricks & Tools for Your Best Digital and Social Storytelling

So you've learned how to develop great content that will engage potential visitors to your destination.  But what are the best ways to get that content to your audience? What are the platforms that are best suited for your goals and what are some effective ways to make best use of those platforms?  This session will provide you with great ideas on how to get the greatest benefit from your digital and social marketing efforts.  Sponsored by Journal Communications

               Amanda Ellis                       Jessy Yancey  
        Journal Communications          Journal Communications       

Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Dinner & Educational Session
How to Set Your Destination Up For Success on the Smallest of Budgets

We all wish that we had unlimited budgets for our program of work for tourism development and marketing.  The reality, of course, is that we don't.  So we have to learn ways to maximize the funds we do have to make sure they're being utilized in the most effective way and yield a positive ROI in terms of reach and visitation.

               Kristin Luna                     DMA Events, Inc.      

Thursday, 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Capitalizing On The Great Outdoors

Tennessee has a great abundance of natural beauty and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities -- and no matter the size or location, every destination in the state has its share of these tourism assets.  This panel session will focus on a variety of unique and creative ways to utilize these natural resources to bring visitors into your community. 

               Blaina Best                    Travis McLeese                    Kasey Muench               Melissa Woody
        Monroe County Tourism           Paris - Henry County                 Paris - Henry County      Cleveland - Bradley County 
                                                            Chamber of Commerce           Chamber of Commerce        Chamber of Commerce

Thursday, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Better Strategy Starts with Better Data:
How to Become a Data Informed Organization

Data is great, but do you know what it all really means? Improve your marketing strategy with the right sets of information. We’ll take a deep dive into different types of data you can use to better your understanding of your audience and success of your campaign. With real world examples from southeast DMOs, Attractions, and Lodging partners, we’ll teach you how to impress your stakeholders and improve your marketing efforts with tangible and insightful data. Be ready to share your data sets in this interactive session with our experts.  Sponsored by Advance Travel

              Joseph Dobbs                   Will Crockett
     Advance Travel & Tourism      Advance Travel & Tourism