All conference programming will be held at the
Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center.
All times are Central Daylight Time.
Wednesday, March 23
1:00 PM -- 1:15 PM Welcome

Wednesday, 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Tennessee Tourism's Leadership Team Updates and Answers
In this unique reverse panel presentation, the leadership team of the the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development will share updates and answer your questions on the current state of tourism in the state, research, marketing, rural tourism, welcome centers, and the department's many programs and activities.




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
6:00 PM -- 6:30 PM Reception

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, March 24
6:00 AM -- 8:00 AM Complimentary Breakfast Provided at Host Hotels

Thursday, 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Finding the Right Fit
Hosting amateur sports events can have a tremendous economic impact on destinations. But how do you identify and attract the right events for your community. In this session, an outstanding panel of experts will discuss finding events that are the right fit for your community and how to work with your local existing tournament organizers and parks and recreation departments to find and host events that will get you the most return on investment. Sponsored by PlayTennessee



Sean Flahtery Frank Lett Parker Medley
Playeasy Visit Kingsport Visit Knoxville Sports Commission

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

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Joseph Dobbs Will Crockett
Advance Travel & Tourism Advance Travel & Tourism
11:30 AM Conference Concludes
