Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism Coming to Texarkana

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. Registration is open and available online at www.Arkansas.com/governors-conference.

 

The annual gathering of Arkansas’ 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. Other conference topics include:

 

• Your Tax Dollars at Work: Arkansas’s 2015 Tourism Campaign
• Reputation Management in the Age of the Internet
• Retirees—A Hidden Market
• Your National Parks—100 Years of Wonder
• Making Your Special Events Truly Special
• Motorcyclists—A Roaring Market
• Group Travel—Don’t Miss the Bus
• Shots of a Lifetime—And How to Take Them

 

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.

 

For registration questions, contact Erik Holbrooks at 501-682-1088 or email info@arkansas.com.