[MainstreetTowns] FW: Oklahoma Conference on Tourism is May 15-16; Registration Now Online!

Wed Mar 22 11:07:53 CDT 2017

Quality assurance points opportunity.

From: Oklahoma Travel Industry Association [mailto:helpdesk at okrestaurants.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 8:39 AM
To: Melyn Johnson <Director at MainStreetGuymon.com<mailto:Director at MainStreetGuymon.com>>
Subject: Oklahoma Conference on Tourism is May 15-16; Registration Now Online!

[http://www.viethconsulting.com/message/48577845/1019144013/header_OTIA.jpg]

[cid:bi1]<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33818529&mm=22256178143>Registration is now online for the 2017 Oklahoma Conference on Tourism<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33818529&mm=22256178143>, an annual educational event that helps Oklahoma's tourism industry work together to grow our attractions and communities and is held in conjunction with the RedBud Awards Gala. This year’s event will take place on May 15 and 16 in Oklahoma City!

Like last year, the daytime educational sessions will take place at the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University, and we’ll end at the Oklahoma History Center for the ever-popular RedBud Awards Gala, celebrating the outstanding marketing efforts of Oklahoma tourism attractions, destination marketing organizations, and journalists.
Here’s a rundown of the SCHEDULE:
Monday, May 15

12:00 - 5:00pm

Exhibitor move-in / set rooms / AV check
Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University

4:00pm

OTIA Board of Directors and Annual Meeting (Open to all members)
Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University

5:30pm

Transportation departs from Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center to Welcome Reception

6:00 - 8:00pm

Welcome Reception
Location TBA

Tuesday, May 16 - DAYTIME
Meinders School of Business @ Oklahoma City University
2501 N Blackwelder Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Attire: Business casual/logo-wear

8:00am

Registration, Exhibit Review, and Continental Breakfast

8:30am

Welcome by Lt. Governor Todd Lamb<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33819751&mm=22256178143> and Opening Keynote Presentation: It Takes A Village
presented by Steve Chandler<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33820973&mm=22256178143>, Owner/Brand Strategist, Chandlerthinks

Strong destinations are not created by a new flashy logo. No one ever decides to visit a place because of its tagline. Real destinations are created by a great experience that is delivered by hotels, restaurants, retail, businesses, infrastructure, and virtually everyone in the community. It’s not delivered by DMO marketing. Steve will discuss the notion of place branding and what it takes to really make it work. Simply put, it takes a village. Bring a note pad and prepare to have some fun. Steve is a nut and packs a punch. Seriously, he’s crazy.

10:00am

Break & Exhibit Review

10:30am

Concurrent Workshops

• Common Sense Branding
presented by Steve Chandler<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33820973&mm=22256178143>, Owner & Brand Strategist, Chandlerthinks
In an effort to attract more visitors, families, and businesses, communities across America are trying to create their own destination of distinction. But place branding does not follow the same rules as traditional companies. How can we create and promote a strong identity for our destination? Steve will share a fundamental approach to branding a destination in today’s cluttered commercial and political environment. He calls his approach ‘Common Sense Branding’ and it empowers everyone in a community to get involved. In fact, building a brand any other way is just nonsense.

• Attracting International Visitors in 2017 - How Brand USA is Marketing Oklahoma and the rest of the United States to the World
presented by Mike Fullerton<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33822195&mm=22256178143>, Brand USA/The Destination Marketing Organization for the USA/Washington DC
Michael Fullerton, Director of Public Affairs, Brand USA will give an update on Brand USA’s new website, consumer marketing campaign and ways in which you can participate in these efforts and bring more International visitors to all of Oklahoma.

• Digital Advertising Best Practices and How to Measure the Success of a Digital Campaign
presented by Lee Warnock<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33823417&mm=22256178143>, ORANGE142
This presentation focuses on the different ways to measure the success of a digital advertising campaign including paid search, social advertising, banners, video ads, and more. You'll also learn how to measure conversions, track time on pages, and best utilize Google Analytics to measure engagement and success rates with advertising campaigns.

• Strategies For Creating Unique Packages for Tourists
presented by Stacy Tomas<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33824639&mm=22256178143>, Oklahoma State University
Tourists are increasingly seeking out unique, experiential and authentic opportunities when they travel.  This session will cover some strategies for creating new and unique packages for tourists while highlighting opportunities to capitalize on emerging trends in travel.  Additionally, this session will also share some fun and interesting examples from across the country.

11:30am

Break & Exhibit Review

12:00pm

General Session

Luncheon Keynote: Inside the Beltway - Updates from Our Nation's Capital
presented by Michael Jacobson<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33825861&mm=22256178143>, Director, Industry Relations and Political Engagement, U.S. Travel Association/Destination Capitol Hill
With the 115th Congress now in session and a new President residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it’s important to know where important legislation stands. This session will focus on critical issues that impact the industry, including updates on the executive order on immigration, the visa waiver program and improving our nation’s aviation system. Learn how you can get involved to keep the Oklahoma travel industry strong and growing.

2:00pm

Break & Exhibit Review

2:30pm

Concurrent Workshops

• Tales from the Trail
presented by Patti Beth Anderson<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33827083&mm=22256178143>, Good to Go!
If you have ever wondered why doesn't the bus stop here? or how can you make your not-so destination place more of an attraction?, come be a part of this interactive edu-tainment workshop that will give you some great ideas to take down the road.

• Social Media for B2B and Sales - LinkedIn and Beyond
presented by Sheila Scarborough<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33828305&mm=22256178143>, Tourism Currents Magazine
Yes, OK, LinkedIn is a logical place to start for B2B networking, but don't stop there. Blogs, Twitter hashtags, Facebook, Instagram...there are many places to connect with meeting/event planners and tour operators to build relationships and develop sales leads via social media. Sure, you can keep cold-calling and sending emails into the void, but there's a better way. Let's talk about it!

• Making the Best Use of Social Media, Paid Search, SEO and Non-Paid (free) Solutions to Reach Customers
presented by Lee Warnock<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33823417&mm=22256178143>, ORANGE142
Before spending money on a paid media campaign, be sure that your “free” channels are running at full capacity. Learn the basics of search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, website blog content, and social media content development to build out your destination’s web presence. Paid search can be one of the most affordable and effective paid efforts and should be a part of most marketing plans. Look at the importance of keyword research and competitor analysis to discover how your target audience is researching destinations online and how to capture them.

3:30pm

Break & Exhibit Review

4:00pm

Closing Keynote Presentation: Discover Ways to Benefit From the Services and Products Offered Through the OTRD
presented by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department (OTRD)
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department promotes Oklahoma attractions to more than 8 million people a year, statewide and abroad.  Learn about all of the latest trends, research, and partnership opportunities available to industry members.

Tuesday, May 16 - EVENING
Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Attire: Business professional

5:30pm

Transportation departs from Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center to Oklahoma History Center for Redbud Awards Gala

6:00 - 7:00pm

Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction
A silent auction will be held during the RedBud Awards Gala. Proceeds will benefit tourism education programs. Auction item donations can be confirmed via the online registration form or by downloading this form<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33829527&mm=22256178143>.

7:00 - 9:00pm

[http://memberleap.com/~otia/photos/redbudlogo.gif]Dinner and Presentation of RedBud Awards
Lt. Governor Todd Lamb and Jenifer Reynolds will once again co-emcee the awards, recognizing outstanding marketing efforts by leading organizations from across the state.

9:15pm

Transportation back to Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center

Here’s how the PRICING works:

Full Registration (includes Monday evening welcome reception, Tuesday seminars, all meals, breaks, and RedBud Awards Gala)

  *   Members - $265
  *   Non-members - $295
Additional RedBud Awards Gala tickets are also available for purchase. Tickets are priced individually. Reserved seating will be confirmed on tables of 8.

  *   Members - $125/ticket
  *   Non-members - $150/ticket

Want to REGISTER?
Click the button now! Note that all online registration will close on May 11. After that date, you'll have to call us.

[cid:bi2]<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33830749&mm=22256178143>

Need OVERNIGHT HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS?
We have a limited block of rooms reserved:

Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center
741 N. Phillips Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
(405) 239-3900 or online<http://www.viethconsulting.com/ct.php?lid=33831971&mm=22256178143>

Rate: $123/night, single/double
Cut-off: May 1, 2017
You must identify yourself with the Oklahoma Conference on Tourism room block.

We look forward to seeing you in Oklahoma City in May!

If you no longer wish to receive these messages, please click here to unsubscribe<http://www.viethconsulting.com/members/unsubscribe1.php?orgcode=OTIA&msg=48577845&oe=Director@MainStreetGuymon.com>

Message sent by Oklahoma Travel Industry Association < helpdesk at okrestaurants.com<mailto:helpdesk at okrestaurants.com> >
Oklahoma Travel Industry Association | 3800 N. Portland Ave | Oklahoma City, OK 73112

[cid:image002.png at 01D2A2FC.8C5A4470]<http://www.viethconsulting.com>

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