Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism

Register soon to join 1,000 of Michigan’s tourism and economic development professionals for the year’s best educational and networking opportunities!

The 2014 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be held March 9-11, 2014 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Mich. Join 1,000 of Michigan’s tourism and economic development professionals for the year’s best educational and networking opportunities! The theme of this year’s conference is culinary tourism. Keynote speakers include adventure traveler and travel expert Doug Lansky and Brand USA President/CEO Christopher Thompson. As always, Michigan State University professors Sarah Nicholls and Dan McCole will be providing the annual Michigan tourism year-in-review and forecast, while Travel Michigan VP George Zimmermann will be sharing plans for the Pure Michigan campaign for 2014 and beyond.

The conference will conclude with a three-hour session on the 2012-2017 Michigan Tourism Strategic Plan, with reports from the Co-Chairs of each of the eight goal-implementation committees. A variety of the Monday afternoon breakout sessions will directly address elements of the plan, including “Welcoming the World,” a panel on international expectations and etiquette; “Marketing to China and Canada” and “Marketing to the UK and Germany;” “Plug into Michigan’s Recreational Trails;” and, a panel on the Certified Tourism Ambassador program.

In addition to networking and breakout sessions, participants arriving Sunday, March 9, 2014 have the option of joining tours that will highlight some of the culinary uniqueness offered at wineries or breweries in the region. Registration is required ahead of time for tours.

The 2014 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism is presented by the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association, Travel Michigan, and Michigan State University. To register for the conference, visit the conference registration page.

For more information about the 2012-2017 Michigan Tourism Strategic Plan, please contact MSU faculty member Dr. Sarah Nicholls at nicho210@msu.edu. Michigan State University Extension also has experts in tourism working throughout Michigan that can assist communities and counties in tourism development

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