Program

8:30am – 10:00am
Registration for Experiential Sessions Participants

9:00am – 1:30pm
Experience-the-Destination: Experiential Sessions
Select one -- separate fee applies.

Learn MoreA. Clearly Tahoe Explorer - Private Clear Kayak Charter
Departure Time from Hotel: 8:15 am
Return to Hotel: 1:00 pm
Fee: $140 | Maximum: 30

Learn MoreB. Zephyr Cove Horseback Tour
Departure Time from Hotel: 9:00 am
Return to Hotel: 1:00 pm
Fee: $110 | Maximum: 20

2:30pm – 6:00pm
Registration for Education Summit & Vendor Showcase

6:00pm – 7:00pm
Welcome Reception at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sponsored by Drozian Webworks

Sip, savor and nosh as you enjoy time with industry friends and colleagues. Special thanks to our sustaining sponsor Drozian Webworks!

8:00am – 5:00pm
Registration

8:15am – 9:00am
Hot Buffet Breakfast
Sponsored by Smart Meetings

9:00am – 10:00am
Opening General Session
Sponsored by Noble Studios
Your Introduction AI for Tourism & Hospitality
Presenter: Brian Matson, TwoSix Digital

In this fun and interactive session, we'll cover the basics of AI and machine learning, and explore how these technologies can be applied to enhance your tourism and hospitality marketing efforts. We'll discuss the benefits of using AI for customer segmentation, personalization, and image modeling. We’ll also take a look at how AI is enhancing advertising and promotional campaigns on multiple ad networks.

10:00am – 10:45am
Vendor Showcase & Networking Break
Visit with our valued vendor representatives!

10:45am – 12:00pm
Concurrent Workshops 

Best (& Worst!) Practices in Sports Tourism Marketing
Moderator: Jon Schmieder, Huddle Up Group

As the sports tourism industry continues to grow, attracting sporting events has become a priority for destinations. Join us for this interactive session to hear real life success stories from destination leaders that have had success in this important tourism sector.

Rising the Tide: DMOs as Community Connectors
Presenter: Mo Parikh, Bandwango

DMOs are uniquely positioned to provide products, services, and insights to other community organizations in a way that most other entities are unable to. In this talk, Mo Parikh, CEO @ Bandwango, will discuss why DMOs are well positioned to "Rise the Tide" and unlock other local community organizations' ability to support local businesses while fulfilling their own unique missions.

12:00pm – 1:30pm
Luncheon
Sponsored by 100 Digital Creativity
Best Idea Program Presentations and Awards
Presenters: Representatives from DMOs Receiving Achievement Awards

A favorite component of the Education Summit is the Best Idea Program luncheon. Our award winners will share their creative and imaginative approaches to marketing their destinations and managing their organizations.

1:30pm – 3:30pm
Peer-to-Peer Advice
Sessions open to only DMO delegates

3:30pm – 4:15pm
Vendor Showcase & Networking Break
Have a snack and visit with our valued vendor representatives!

4:15pm – 5:00pm
General Session Presentation
Lake Tahoe's Destination Stewardship Plan in Action
Moderator: Devin Middlebrook, Government Affairs Manager, Tahoe Regional Planning Association (TRPA)
Presenters: Carol Chaplin, CEO & Executive Director, Visit Lake Tahoe;  Tara Hetz, Grants Framework Manager, North Tahoe Community Alliance; Kirstin Guinn, Marketing Director, North Tahoe Community Alliance; Tara Hetz, NTCA Grant Framework Manager, Noth Tahoe Community Alliance; Daniel Cressy, Developed Recreation Program Manager, USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Jarrod Lopiccolo, CEO / Partner, Noble Studios;

Responding to the post-pandemic visitor demand for outdoor recreation destinations and its proximity to nearby major markets, an unprecedented group of Lake Tahoe destination management, land management, and non-profit organizations began the Destination Stewardship Plan process lasting almost two years, and taking into account 3000+ connections with visitors, leadership, and residents through workshops, surveys and one on one conversations. The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan launched in June 2023 with the signing of an agreement to create the first destination stewardship council for the greater Tahoe region. The plan outlines a comprehensive framework and sets in motion action priorities to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism and ensure the sustainability and preservation of an iconic natural treasure and its local community. This panel will discuss the plan from the initial concept to the action plan to ongoing execution to achieve the shared vision of "Taking Care of Tahoe." Recognizing that tourism is the Lake Tahoe Basin's primary industry, that almost 90% of the Basin's land is public, that the Basin receives over 15,000,000 visitors per year with a total population of just over 60,000 residents, and who's fragile environment must be respected and preserved to survive, how does this diverse group of organizations remain cohesive, execute individual, organizational missions, engage visitors in stewardship and protect the quality of residential life? The balance hangs in the balance with the DMO, perhaps the fulcrum.

5:45pm - 8:00pm
Reception
Hosted by Visit Lake Tahoe

7:45am – 1:00pm
Registration

7:45am – 8:30am
Hot Buffet Breakfast

8:30am – 9:30am
General Session Presentation & Annual Business Meeting
How to Build a Culture of Feedback in Your Organization
Presenter: Chad Kearns, Fired Up Culture

Looking for ways to drive your team's culture forward? Destinations around the country and building organizational cultures where feedback isn’t shied away from, it’s actually welcomed. Discover how to build a culture of feedback within your team to earn buy-in, drive engagement, retain your high-performing team members, and lead your destination forward.

9:30am – 10:15am
Vendor Showcase & Networking Break
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about products and services offered by our vendors!

10:15am – 11:30am
Concurrent Workshops

Keeping It R.E.A.L. | Analyzing the Pillars of a Magnetic Destination Brand
Presenter: Thomas Mooney, FourthIdea

A strong brand is a must for Destinations in this day and age. It serves as a beacon drawing visitors by letting them know what you stand for. It's more than just a great logo and tagline. It's both the cornerstone of all your creative initiatives and also the function at the end of them. The issue is that many destinations, big and small, have no direction on how to build a vibrant brand. This session would use FourthIdea's proprietary model (R.E.A.L.) to guide DMOs through the elements that make up a brand that is uniquely theirs.

5 Ways to Use Data to Be a Better Destination Marketer
Presented by Andrew Parkin – Adara

Data doesn't have to be debilitating. Embrace it. Join Andrew Parkin, to cover 5 ways you can use data to help your destination marketing efforts, including leveraging first party data you never knew you had.

11:30am – 12:30pm
Luncheon & Closing General Session
Why Becoming Accessible and Inclusive is Inevitable for Destinations
Presenter: Camilo Navarro, Co-founder and COO, of Wheel the World

What does an accessible destination look like? People with disabilities and their companions face numerous difficulties when planning a trip, which can generate friction and less-than-stellar travel experiences for all. How can (and how should) destinations and hospitality providers speak to the more than 500 million travelers yearly who are ready to travel but don’t have the resources they need to understand how a destination can be accessible to them? This session will provide the latest stats on and needs for travelers with disabilities and help you, as a destination organization, understand what needs to be done to be a resource for travelers with accessibility needs.