2016 Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference
Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa –
November 1-3 | Lexington, Kentucky
CONFERENCE SESSIONS
Creating a Culture of Service
Darienne Mobley, Darienne, Inc.
Rich, memorable experiences keep visitors coming back, telling others about their adventures and even staying longer in our communities and hotels. But what actually creates these rich experiences? Darienne says it’s YOU. Through entertaining stories from her own 30-year career in tourism, including as tourism director for both Louisiana and Mississippi, Darienne will explore how memorable experiences are created by combining the “right” information with a high level of authentic customer service.
Emerging Travel Trends and What They Mean for Kentucky Tourism
Jason Clampet, Skift Co-Founder and Head of Content
Skift (skift.com) has emerged as an essential daily go to source of travel news, insights and research. Jason Clampet brings the Skift expertise to Kentucky’s travel industry and will discuss emerging traveler and industry trends and the implications they have for the Commonwealth and for our industry. He will also offer his thoughts on how we can best capitalize on or overcome the trends.
Film Production - Kentucky Tourism’s Best New Opportunity
Anthony Holt. Comeback Kids Founder and Producer
Stephanie McMillan, Springfield Tourism Commission
Stephanie Whonsetler, Freelance Production Manager and Location Scout
Mary Quinn Ramer, VisitLex (Moderator)
Enhanced Kentucky film incentives are working. The interest in our state by movie and television producers is at an all time high. Along with heightened activity come major opportunities for all segments of the travel industry, as well as many lessons to be learned. Our panel of experts that includes film-experienced CVBs, a location scout and a movie producer, will discuss both the opportunities and the realities presented by the film industry.
Hot Resources: Influencers and Instagram
Phillip Fryman, Southern Fatty.com and Southern Fatty Photography
Learn how to engage and make best use of influencers, one of the fastest
growing sources of travel marketing. But wait! There's more! You will also receive
best practices tips and tricks for Instagram, also a travel-marketing powerhouse.
Noted Nashville social influencer Phillip Fryman, the food and travel
blogger/photographer behind Southern Fatty, will present both sets of information
in this interactive session.
Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism Update
Kristen Branscum, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism
One of the most popular sessions at every annual conference is when Kentucky’s Tourism Commissioner provides KDTT’s annual update. Join Kristen for the first update of her tenure as Commissioner. She will discuss 2016 developments, and plans and priorities for 2017 and beyond.
Multi-Generational Travel – Are You Adapting?
Barbara Wold, Barbara Wold International
Tap into one of the fastest growing trends in travel – bringing everyone along for the ride. From grandparents to grandkids, families today aretraveling together. Forget leaving the kids at home or telling your parents you'll see them next Thanksgiving. Today, more extended families are taking trips together. In fact, travel agents report that 35% of clients take multi-generational trips once a year. This session will explain what’s behind this growing trend of families traveling together and how best to market to and serve them.
The Science and Art of Niche Marketing
Darienne Mobley, Darienne, Inc.
Everyone talks about niche marketing – but what does that really mean? How do you determine your particular authentic niche? How do you figure out who your target audience is for your niche? This session will give you the nuts and bolts of how to create and implement a niche marketing program. Hear how Darienne helped create the largest statewide public/private partnership in Louisiana with the Louisiana Culinary Trails Program. You will hear the behind the scenes stories of how Louisiana put together a seven year successful marketing initiative.
The Tourists to Change It All – Meet the Millennials!
Barbara Wold, Barbara Wold International
Millennials are changing travel for the better by searching for real experiences. They want to see the world and discover what is in their ownbackyard. Understand them and get to know them. Millennial travel habits and online activity is changing the face of travel, tourism and hospitality.Baby boomer marketing doesn't work on millennials. They require a totally different conversation. This session will offer information on how to step up our millennial game. They are ready for Kentucky and we need to be ready for them.
Unleashing Kentucky’s International Market Potential
Kathy Formosa, ATI - American Tours International
Cheryl Hannemann, Marriott
Keith Wright, Sweet Magnolia Tours
Margaret Romine, Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism (Moderator)
Kentucky has what international visitors want – the real America. We hear that all the time. So, if we have it and they want it, what has to happen to connect those “its” and to see significant growth in international visitation to Kentucky? A panel of industry experts will unveil the secret ingredient: hotels, attractions and CVBs working with international receptive tour operators andexactly how that essential process works.
Your "Why" and the Road to Engagement
Justin Patton, Executive Leadership Coach, Bodylitics
Your purpose – and we all have one –is not what you do. It is why you do what you do. This session is all about discovering your purpose, your "why," and understanding how that purpose drives engagement in your professional and personal life. Justin Patton returns to KTIA by popular demand after receiving glowing reviews from his appearance at the Spring Travel Forum.