May 21, 2013
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hartford, CT
2013 Workshops
• TripAdvisor: Strategies for maintaining a positive online reputation
• U.S. Travel Association: Hottest trends in travel & leisure
• Regan Communications: Maximizing your public relations outreach
• Boston Web Marketing: What you need to know about Search Engine Optimization
• CT Convention & Sports Bureau: Accelerating CT’s meeting & sports group business
• Digital Marketing Experts: The power of mobile marketing
• Experienced Collaborators: How to build powerful partnerships
• State Office of Tourism: How to leverage Connecticut’s marketing brand
For a listing of 2013 Breakout Sessions and a complete Conference schedule, click here.
Strategies for Maintaining a Positive Online Reputation
Mark Preston, TripAdvisor
Reputation Management is no longer a luxury, it’s a critical marketing tactic essential to maintaining and enhancing your brand integrity. In this session, you’ll learn how to access the 65 million monthly travelers using TripAdvisor. Discussion topics, Q&A and site demonstrations will focus on enhancing your TripAdvisor listing and increasing direct booking traffic, responding to guest reviews and implementing strategies to drive your business objectives.
Connecticut Travel Trends
As economic conditions shift, so does the face of the Connecticut tourist. Who is actually visiting our great state and what do they look like? Based on the USTA’s state research, David Huether, Vice President of Research at the US Travel Association and an economist, will supply insight into the characteristics of the Connecticut tourist.
David Huether, U.S. Travel Association
David Huether is the Senior Vice President for Research at the U.S. Travel Association, where he manages the association’s economic, traveler characteristics and advocacy research programs. Prior to joining U.S. Travel in January 2011, David served as the Chief Economist of the National Association of Manufacturers where he served as the organization’s economic forecaster and a principal spokesman on economic matters important to America’s industrial base. David worked previously as an economist with the Bureau of Economic Analysis at U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Maximizing Your Public Relations Outreach
Regan Communications Group is the largest privately-held public relations and communications firm in New England. With a staff of experienced marketing and communications professionals, storytellers and wordsmiths, the firm has an outstanding record of achievement in media placements, strategic planning, creative thinking, client relations, social media and crisis communications. The firm boasts extensive expertise in traditional as well as social media with important high level connections in media, government and business.
Casey Sherman, Regan Communications
Casey is an award winning journalist and best-selling author who brings two decades of senior level experience in media and public relations. He has appeared as a featured analyst on dozens of network television programs including The Today Show, Dateline NBC, FOX News, The View, The CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC World News Tonight, The History Channel, National Geographic, Discovery and The Travel Channel. As General Manager of Client Services, Casey works with clients to ensure that their business goals are met through strategic and impactful messaging and branding campaigns.
What You Need to Know About Search Engine Optimization
Steve Nash, Boston Web Marketing
Learn about SEO, and how to increase revenue with web marketing. Search Engine Optimization is the culmination of numerous online efforts that together contribute to the overall goal of increased traffic to your brand’s website. Learn how to analyze your brand online, develop business-related keywords, utilize social media and how to remain in sync with Google’s latest algorithm.
Accelerating CT’s Meeting & Sports Group Business
Michael Van Parys, CT Convention & Sports Bureau
Gladys Rivera, Connecticut Clean Energy
Alex Timkin, New England Regional Volleyball
Established one year ago, The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) works in partnership with the state’s businesses, institutions, nonprofit organizations, and surrounding communities to market all of Connecticut. How can you get a piece of the action? Listen as the Bureau’s Director, Michael Van Parys and colleagues, Gladys Rivera from Connecticut Clean Energy and Alex Timkin of New England Regional Volleyball, provide insight on the direction going forward and how your business can get involved.
The Digital Landscape: Uncomplicating the Mobile World
Joseph Thibeault, Iron Horse Web and Media Solutions
David Wasmer, Kinvey, Inc.
2013 is the year of mobile. Don’t be left behind. Join two young, entrepreneurial gurus, Joe Thibeault of Iron Horse Web and Media Solutions and David Wasmer of Kinvey, Inc., as they uncomplicate the mobile world. This session is critical to understanding inbound marketing and the must-have digital solutions you need to grow your business.
Collaborating and Creating Powerful Partnerships
Great ideas are all around us but we don’t don’t know until we ask. Join Andy Wood of the Mystic Aquarium and Sea Research Foundation as he is joined by Catherine Malloy of the Greater Hartford Arts Council and Tracey Shirer of the Connecticut Science Center as they reveal their secrets and successes to great collaboration and creating solid partnerships.
Catherine Malloy. Cathy Malloy is currently CEO of the Greater Hartford Arts Council and a passionate advocate for the arts. She previously served as Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Center for Crisis and Education for ten years, as Chair of the Stamford Arts in Education initiative and as a board member for the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra and the Stamford Center for the Arts.
Tracey Shirer. Tracy is known as an accomplished and results-driven marketing professional with a successful track record of driving revenue through promotional partnerships and effective brand management. Before landing at the CT Science Center, Tracy worked with such powerhouses as Foxwoods Resort Casino and the XL Center and Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Tracy’s career is rich in driving collaboration and developing partnerships.
Andy Wood. A seasoned tourism marketing executive, Andy currently serves as the Vice President of Marketing and PR at the Mystic Aquarium and Sea Research Foundation. As former managing director at the marketing firm Caspari McCormick he drove the development of Mystic.org and has developed a relationship with many of the tourism entities in Connecticut.
How to Leverage Connecticut’s Still Revolutionary Brand
Still Revolutionary is gaining momentum and the Connecticut Office of Tourism is here to share the top 10 ways to get involved —from no cost marketing opportunities including award winning public relations and social media programs like CT Fan Favorite to cooperative advertising options. All that and much more is at the ready. The State’s team will guide you through what’s on the table and how to take advantage of it.
