2025 Agenda Coming Soon…
Tuesday, April 2
Subject to change
All times PDT
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Registration
Exhibit Hall C
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Masterclass 1: Shortform Video Leadership
Join Crowdriff’s immersive masterclass delving into short-form video content’s influence—TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, and more—transforming tourism marketing. Led by industry leaders, gain tailored insights for DMOs, uncover proven tactics to captivate audiences, amplify destinations, and strategically harness the power of short-form videos. Redefine your marketing approach amid the digital landscape, engaging travelers effectively.
Presenters: Emily Tepper, Marketing Content Manager, Galena Country Tourism; Joshua Albrechet, VP of Marketing and Communication, Visit Milwaukee; Lisa Osborne, Social Media Manager, Visit Denver; Michael Magaraci, Social and Digital Content Manager, Discover Long Island
Moderator: Hannah Grant, Director, Demand Generation & Growth, CrowdRiff
Sponsored by CrowdRiff
12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m.
Lunch on Your Own
12:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
First Timers’ Lunch
Semcasting’s First Timer’s Lunch offers new conference attendees a dynamic, interactive session designed to foster meaningful discussions. Attendees will engage in games, connecting and sharing insights on innovative travel marketing targeting practices. Discover strategies for maximizing first-party data and navigating the cookieless future. Join us for an insightful experience!
Sponsored by Semcasting
1:40 p.m.-2 p.m.
Welcome
2:05 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Crafting a Carbon-Neutral Tomorrow: San Luis Obispo’s Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism Practices
Ever wondered what happens when a city and its DMO work hand in hand for a greener future? Come join Molly Cano, Economic Development & Tourism Manager for San Luis Obispo, in a discussion on the dynamic relationship between the City of San Luis Obispo and Visit San Luis Obispo. We’ll explore how their united vision for carbon neutrality in 2035 is coming to life through unique projects like ‘Keys for Trees’ and ‘MidWeekend’. It’s a heartening story of collaboration, innovation, and a shared love for our planet.
Presented by Molly Cano, Economic Development & Tourism Manager, Visit San Luis Obispo; and Jarrod Lopiccolo, CEO, Noble Studios
Sponsored by Noble Studios
2:25 p.m.-2:55 p.m.
Using Data & AI to Build and Measure Your Digital Marketing Plan
Dive into all things data and artificial intelligence (AI) to craft and evaluate your digital marketing blueprint. Gain insights into traveler interests and behaviors, leveraging cutting-edge techniques to understand, target, and engage your audience effectively. Join us to harness the potential of data-driven decisions, discovering what resonates with travelers and optimizing your strategies for impactful results.
Presenters: Justin Bresler, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Denver; Lauren Cleland, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Visit Savannah
Moderator: Leroy Bridges, Vice President of Sales, Adara – A RateGain Company
Sponsored by Adara
3 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Get A Little Out There: How Atlas Obscura and Travel Nevada Leverage Unique Storytelling and Evergreen Content to Raise Awareness and Drive Consideration
For the past 8 years, Atlas Obscura and Travel Nevada have been telling stories about the Weirdest, Wildest West. From Tonopah’s iconic Clown Hotel to the history of Nevada’s Basque community, our content has covered a wide range of topics that make the Silver State truly unique. In this session, we’ll talk about the power of marketing that is a little “out there” and demonstrate (with data!) how we’ve been able to leverage evergreen content to reach new audiences.
Presenters: Ariel Azoff, Executive Director of Tourism & Brand Partnerships, Atlas Obscura; and Caroline Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer, Travel Nevada
Sponsored by Atlas Obscura
3:20 p.m.-3:35 p.m.
Evolve or Die: Stay Relevant with Pertinent Lessons from Non-Endemic Brands
When household name brands fall, what is the root cause? This storytelling-style keynote will provide a unique look at fundamental miscalculations big brands have made and how we can avoid making the same mistake.
Presented by David Angotti, CEO, Staysense
3:40 p.m.-4:20 p.m.
Coping Without Cookies – How to Reach Travelers When Third Party Data (Finally) Crumbles
Are you prepared for a world without cookies? With the imminent end of third-party data reliance and data dynamic shifts, DMOs are now confronted with the challenge of how to connect with their travelers in a meaningful way. Now is the time to start future-proofing your strategies to reach your travelers before the cookies finally crumble. In this panel session, we’ll explore how these DMOs are proactively preparing for the road ahead and what steps you should be taking now to confidently step into the cookieless tomorrow.
Presenters: Tom Loftus, VP of Marketing, Richmond Region Tourism; Tricia Miller, Digital Systems Manager, North Dakota Department of Commerce, Michael Pierce, Chief Digital Officer, Odney, Karinna Sostre, Web Content Manager, Discover Puerto Rico
Moderator: Tucker Oakley, Account Director, Nativo
Sponsored by Nativo
4:25 p.m.-4:55 p.m.
Influencer Marketing Best Practices & Bookable Itineraries
Navigate the complex landscape of influencer marketing with expert guidance on collaborating with influencers and content creators to amplify destination marketing efforts. Discover proven strategies for identifying the right influencers, measuring campaign impact, and mitigating risks to ensure successful partnerships that resonate with target audiences and drive tangible results. Lastly, how do we get influencers’ audiences from watching to booking- we’ll chat about a new feature with proven success with bookable itineraries.
Presenters: Astrid Emmanuelli, CHDM, Social Media Manager, Discover Puerto Rico; Jade Broadus, Vice President Business Development, Steller
Sponsored by Steller
8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Connect’s Gone Country at Ole Red, hosted by Ole Red and the LVCVA
Yeehaw! It’s time to dust off those cowboy and cowgirl hats and strap on your boots because Connect is going country! Join us at Ole Red’s for an offsite event, co-located with our Connect Spring Marketplace.
Wednesday, April 3
8:45 a.m.-9 a.m.
Welcome
9:05 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Navigating Viral Content; Best Practices and Pitfalls
Presenters: Joao Mendes, Social Media Manager, Experience Kissimmee; Brent Bernasconi, Director of Digital Marketing and Social Media, San Diego Tourism Authority
Moderator: Ryan Copacia, Team Lead- Auto, Travel, and Dining, Tiktok
Sponsored by TikTok
9:50 a.m.-10:20 a.m.
Engaging Gen Z and Millennial Travelers: Innovating Across Channels
Presenters: Ina Li, Social Media Coordinator, Visit Milwaukee, and Cameron Caldwell, Digital Marketing Manager, Visit Dallas
Moderator: Sam Goodman, Travel Industry Manager, Growth & Mid-Market Sales, Snap Inc.
Sponsored by Snapchat
10:25 a.m.-10:35 a.m.
Morning Break
Sponsored by AdTheorent
10:35 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
Masterclass 2: Mastering Google Analytics 4: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Uncover the future landscape of travel marketing data. Delve into forward-looking trends, gaining insights into the evolving data landscape and strategies essential for adapting marketing approaches within the dynamic tourism industry.
Presenters: Gray Lawry, Vice President, Strategy & Insights, Miles Partnership and Paul McLeod, Director of Analytics, Simpleview
Sponsored by Miles Partnership
12:10 p.m.-1:10 p.m.
Lunch on Connect Spring Trade Show Floor: Extended Networking with Thousands of Attendees
12:10 p.m.-1:10 p.m.
DMO Roundtable Luncheon: Connect, Share, Innovate
Step into an intimate setting crafted specifically for DMO professionals seeking connection and collaboration. This closed-door gathering provides a unique platform to trade insights, unveil innovative practices, and tackle shared challenges within the DMO domain. Dive into profound discussions, ignite fresh ideas, and cultivate collaborative innovation among industry peers in this dedicated space tailored exclusively for DMOs. PS: Suppliers, this one’s just for DMOs😉.
Sponsored by Orange142
1:15 p.m.-1:55 p.m.
Conversion Metrics for DMOs
The tourism industry has a conversion problem. There are tons of indicators but very few attribution models can give a concrete result of advertising results. Booking widgets with click to book metrics, extrapolated OTA data, broad zip code-based attribution all fall short of answering the question of, ‘you spent X, and other than site traffic and other digital indicators, what did that get us.’ In the e-commerce world, this would be totally unacceptable.
Come hear from Dean Burke, CEO of Travel Tacoma, Christian Folk, Partner and Digital Director at DVA Advertising and Public Relations and Kelly Smith, VP of Advertising at Datafy on why DMOs should expect the same.
Panelists: Dean Burke, CEO, Travel Tacoma; Christian Folk, Partner and Digital Director, DVA Advertising and Public Relations; Kelly Smith, VP of Advertising at Datafy
Moderator: Nika Jalali, VP of Client Experience and Innovation at Datafy
Sponsored by Datafy
2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Partnering for Success; Atlanta’s Recipe for Collaboration and DMO Excellence
From its modest beginnings to its current status as a two-day immersion experience, this event has completely transformed how Atlanta CVB and their agencies collaborate. It’s not just about Atlanta though; this can serve as a model for DMOs everywhere. We’ll uncover how the Atlanta CVB and its partners cultivate connections, dismantle barriers, and ultimately pave the way for mutual success. Plus, we’ll showcase real-life examples like the 50 Fun Things to Do in Atlanta campaign, highlighting the incredible power of partnership and creativity.
Panelists: Amy Wilson, CEO, Winistry; Kaitie Burger, Director of Destination Strategy, Madden Media; and Mae Bodine, VP of Client Strategy and Development, Digital Edge
Moderator: Sheretha Bell, Senior VP of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Atlanta CVB
2:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
Afternoon Break
3 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
The AI Adoption Journey: Impact and Learnings
This session presents DMOs at different stages of AI adoption, discussing their firsthand experiences and outcomes. Gain a practical understanding of AI’s potential and discover strategies for successful AI integration in your destination.
Panelists: Amie Newsome, Social Media & Content Manager, Visit NC Smokies; Maria Gonzales, Content & Community Engagement Manager, Travel Santa Ana; Kara Franker, CEO, Visit Estes Park
Moderator: Bruce Amick, COO & Co-Founder, Intentful
Sponsored by Intentful
3:50 p.m.-4:05 p.m.
Sippin’ Success: A Spirited Journey with Orange 142 and the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Presenters: Charity Toombs, Executive Director, Tennessee Whiskey Trail; Emily Parli, Senior Digital Sales Manager, Orange 142
Sponsored by Orange 142
4:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
Storytelling 101: Crafting Connections: Strategies to Forge Deeper Bonds with Your Travelers
Don’t underestimate the magic of a good story! Dive into why DMOs must nail storytelling, what makes a story hit home for travelers, and why ditching the “destination hero” narrative is key. Learn how to up your storytelling game by putting people, passion, and purpose front and center, with plenty of real-life examples to learn from – the good and the not-so-good. It’s time for DMOs to step up as media mavens and tap into the incredible power of storytelling in our industry!
Presenters: Lara Brockway, Social Media Manager, Visit Albuquerque, Josh Coddington, Director of Communications & PIO, Arizona Office of Tourism; Ashlie Beede, Director of Marketing, Branson CVB
Moderator: Meredith Vaughan, CEO, Vladimir Jones
Sponsored by Vladimir Jones
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Closing Reception- Tao Beach Club White Party
How about we add a touch of elegance and glamour to our closing reception with a White Party at Tao Beach Club? Join us to celebrate in style.
Co-located with our Connect Spring Marketplace
Thursday, April 4
8 a.m.-8:10 a.m.
Welcome & Thank You
8:10 a.m.-8:50 a.m.
Panel: Tailored Marketing for All: Engaging Diverse Audiences
Join us as we explore crucial EDI topics that shape tailored marketing approaches. Discover strategies to foster inclusivity, address cultural nuances, and authentically connect with diverse audiences. Learn how to seamlessly integrate EDI principles into marketing initiatives, ensuring genuine engagement across a spectrum of diverse communities.
Panelists: Danny Guerrero, CEO, The Culturist Group; Mo Parikh, CEO, Bandwango, Kimber Foster, Director of Palm Springs Tourism, Visit Greater Palm Springs
Moderator: Claire Dunlap, CDTP Director of Sales & Marketing, Visit Cayuga
Sponsored by
8:55 a.m.-9:35 a.m.
ETSY Award Recognition
9:40 a.m.-10:40 a.m.
Bright & Shiny New Objects & Products
In this “Shark Tank”-style session, startup companies with creative concepts with marketing promise present innovative ideas for destinations and attractions.
Featuring:
Wheel the World, Yoel Waisberg, Head of Business Development, and and Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnerships Officer
Arrivalist Powered by AirDNA, Bram Gallagher, Economist
Vibemap, Noah Friedman, CEO
Seeker, Jody Vandergriff, Founder and Chief Seeker
Boldest, Xose Feijoo, CEO
10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.
How Discover Puerto Rico Connected with Conscientious Travelers Through CTV Advertising
Presented by David Nguyen, Senior Sales Director, LG Ad Solutions and Leah Chandler, CMO, Discover Puerto Rico
Sponsored by LG Ad Solutions
12 p.m.