Agenda

Come early to the conference and enjoy the unique experience of touring the RV/MH Hall of Fame. Attendees will not only be immersed in this interactive and fascinating museum, but also have the opportunity to network with other attendees, enjoy appetizers, drinks and taco bar. Transportation to and from the hotels is provided. Registration is free, but required for planning purposes.

Join us as we welcome two dynamic speakers:

Vince Kadlubek, founder of MeowWolf, is most passionate about co-creating fully-realized alternative realities that bring paradigm-shifting transformation and inspiration to the world.

Matt Heller with Performance Optimist has spent over 20 years working in operations and human resources in the entertainment industry and his passion lies in helping others lead well.

Break sponsored by Simpleview 

Three DMOs will share how they took insights for events, credit card spend, and geolocation data to make the best use of their marketing budgets and ultimately create positive change in their communities. They didn’t just rely on hunches and hopes - they used the near real time data to understand where visitors are coming from, how they are moving throughout their destination, and the overall economic impact of the visitor economy to make data-led decisions.

Moderator: Melissa Luebbe, Chief Engagement Officer of Zartico

Join this discussion that covers innkeepers tax collection, history of Indiana tourism on a statewide level and covers the alphabet soup of the industry.

In this session, you will learn how to earn media coverage in print, digital and social spaces and the importance of the relationship between tourism and media. 

Artists and art exist everywhere. Learn how communities across the state are working alongside their art communities through cultural districts, awarded grants and events that add vibrant experiences for not only the community, but the visitor as well.

Moderator:  Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission

This session will build on the message of creativity and personal expression by encouraging participants to tap into their own version of creativity. We will explore individual strategies for identifying strengths and new ways of approaching situations.

Do you want to know what travelers are thinking and how they are behaving?  What’s the latest trends and on the horizon when it comes to domestic leisure travel?  Amir Eylon, President & C.E.O. of Longwoods International, a thought-leading market research consultancy, returns with his ever-popular updates on American travelers!  This session will offer the latest insights as well as predictions for the future of leisure travel.

Break Sponsored by ADARA 

Digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are an integral part of the marketing landscape in the tourism industry. Hear from content creators at DMOs and attractions across Indiana about everything from content planning to time management and simple tips and tricks that can help you maximize your efforts on these important channels.

Attendees will get the opportunity to hear from meeting planners on what they are looking for, challenges they are facing and ways local tourism entities can work together with them. This session is a partnership with MPI: Indiana Chapter and will feature meeting planners from a non-profit, a large convention and a corporate entity.

Join us as we celebrate the 2023 Indiana Tourism Academy graduates, announce the 2024 Indiana Tourism Academy class and celebrate the winners of the 2023 Indiana Tourism Awards.  Dessert bar and networking will follow the ceremony.  Emcee: Gerry Dick, Indiana INdiana Business 

Come learn from true innovators in our state as they share about how they have worked in their community to foster growth, partnership and collaborations.

The number of digital marketing platforms has not changed much in recent years, but how we use them efficiently and effectively has. By discussing trends in the travel and tourism sector and touching on some important tactics in the fields of content marketing, paid advertising, audience building, analytics, social media platforms, search engine optimization and email marketing, we'll provide you with the insight and knowledge needed to position your organization for future digital marketing success.

Join three local hoteliers as they discuss current successes and challenges in their industry and how the local tourism entities can work alongside them for a stronger visitor experience.  Moderator: Sonya Nash 

Get ready to Explore Evansville March 11-13, 2024, as the Indiana Tourism Conference heads to Southwest Indiana.