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2012 Southwest Tourism Summit

April 5 & 6, 2012 - Durango, Colorado 

Click here to registration for the 2012 Southwest Tourism Summit

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR) and the Strater Hotel are proud to host and be a one of the title sponsors of the inaugural Southwest Tourism Summit on April 5 & 6, 2012 in Durango, CO. “The Source” is the theme of the first Southwest Tourism Summit. The sole purpose is to provide businesses and organizations with all the valuable knowledge from numerous seminars, workshops and presentations by tourism-industry professionals from around the state all in one place, at one time.

Never before has an area tourism conference brought together so many leaders of our local, state and regional tourism industry professionals. Highlights of the Summit include presentations by Al White, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office, Tour Colorado, Grand Circle Travel Association, Southwest Colorado Travel Region, Durango Area Tourism Office, Durango Chamber of Commerce, Durango Business Improvement District, Region 9 and many more. Seminar topics include public relations and marketing, heritage tourism, familiarization tours, agritourism and tourism Internet technology. Presentations and educational sessions will be held at the D&SNGRR Museum and the Strater Hotel. See the day-to-day Summit schedule below.

Registration Fees:

Early Bird Registration is $49.00 per attendee. Register before March 27, 2012 and save $50.00. After March 27, registration is $99.00 per attendee. A partner pass is available for the Welcome and Closing Reception. Partner must attend with a registered attendee.

Click here to registration for the 2012 Southwest Tourism Summit

 

Hosting Hotels offering special Conference Rates:

  • Historic Strater Hotel, 699 Main Avenue: Durango, CO; 1-800-247-4431; www.strater.com

                     Group rates of $95 a night for Thursday, April 5th and Friday, April 6th.

                     Group rates of $95 a night for Thursday, April 5th and Friday, April 6th.

                     Durango Mountain Resort is offering a special Summit rate of 30% off at the Lodge at Tamarron.  Lodging packages start at $69.  Simply call 800-525-0892 and mention “Summit” to make your reservation.  The Lodge at Tamarron is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown Durango.

Southwest Tourism Summit Schedule:

Thursday, April 5

12:30 pm                   Registration opens at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot
1:00 - 3:00 pm Durango Area Tourism Power Hour:  Enjoy the Coffee and Dessert "Power-me-up" Bar while listening to our presenters emphasize what our local tourism associations and organizations can do for the summit attendees and how this directly benefits them, the Southwest region and our community.  Attendees will hear from the Durango Area Tourism Office, Durango Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Durango Business Improvement District among others.
3:30 - 6:30 pm Welcome Reception:  Board the train for a short ride to the reception at Sleeping Beauty Ranch located in the Animas Valley. Join us for an intimate setting to meet the Directors of the Colorado Tourism Office, Tour Colorado, Grand Circle and SW CO Travel Associations.
 6:30 pm Train returns to the Durango Depot.  Explore the culinary offerings of Durango.

Friday, April 6

Morning and Lunch presentations at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

9:00 am                     Continental breakfast buffet
9:30 - 11:00 am State and Regional Tourism Power Hour:  Learn about partnership opportunities with Tour Colorado Association, Grand Circle Association, Four Corners Film Commission, Southwest Colorado Travel Region and more.
12 - 1:30 pm Luncheon, featuring Special Guest and Speaker Al White, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office.  Al's presentation, "The Gospel of Tourism delivered by the Reverend Al White," will feature the first showing of Colorado's new ad campaign to a Colorado audience.

 

 

This afternoon, choose 2 one-hour educational worskhops from each of the session's.

2:00 - 3:00 pm - Educational Sessions

  1. Based on the Almost-Best-Selling book - Promoting to International Markets for Dummies.  Presented by Michael Driver, Colorado Tourism Director of International Markets, and Barbara Bowman, Director of Sales with Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau will present.
  2. Appreciation of Colorado's Heritage is a Partnership - Partner Up. Presented by Laura Grey, Heritage and Agritourism Program Manager.
  3. We target and help you take AIM, through print, digital, PR, grants and online advertising - Shhhh...some of it's free!  Presented by the leaders of Colorado Tourism Marketing and Public relations TEAM.
  4. Group Business - It's all about Looking and Booking Ahead. Presented by Carrie Whitley, Sales Manager with D&SNGRR; Sarah McLean, Group Sales Manager with DATO and Emily Spencer, Sales Director with Strater Hotel

3:15 to 4:15 pm - Educational Sessions

  1. The Brainiac Panel - you cannot help but strengthen your PR & Social Media message learning from these pros.  Presented by Anne Klein, PR Specialist with DATO.
  2. Colorado's Agritourism Market Climbing - Climb Aboard. Presented by Ms. Laura Grey, Heritage and Agritourism Program Manager.
  3. 8 Things You Must Do In Online Marketing - Everything Else is a Waste of Time. We've reviewed millions of conversions and found the critical path to conversion.  See what works.  Presented by Internet Honey.
  4. What is the Economic Impact of our Creative Industries? Presented by Laura Lewis, Associate Director of Region 9 Economic Development District and Kelli Hepler with SW Colorado Travel Region.
4:30 - 5:30 pm Closing Networking Reception, "Taste of Durango" at the Strater Hotel

 

A special thanks to our other sponsors and contributors:  


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Durango Area Tourism Office | 802 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 | 970-247-3500