State of Washington Tourism Conference & Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit
October 7-9, 2024 | Vancouver, WA
The third annual State of Washington Tourism Conference (Oct. 7-8) & Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit (Oct. 9) will be held in Vancouver, Washington, at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.
Connect with colleagues from across the state, learn from industry leaders and experts, recognize industry excellence, attend tours, and more. Breakout sessions will cover everything from SEO changes to off-season product development.
Hear from keynote speaker and renowned futurist Ian Khan as he discusses the intersection of emerging technology and the tourism industry. Khan will share expert insights on the transformative power of AI and provide actionable steps to assess your organization’s readiness for the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to evaluate your current state and plan for a successful tomorrow.
The Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit will be held the day after the main conference at the same venue. The summit convenes thought leaders in tourism, outdoor recreation, and conservation for sessions and discussions on common issues and potential solutions and partnerships. The spirit of the summit is advancing the health and vitality of public lands, natural resources, sensitive and Indigenous communities, and the statewide tourism industry through responsible travel and recreation.
>> View Program
Venue & Lodging
The State of Washington Tourism Conference and Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit will be held at the Hilton Vancouver Washington in downtown Vancouver, a short walk from the waterfront and downtown businesses. A group rate of $192/night before taxes and fees is available for attendees. Deadline to book is Sept. 16.
>> Book at Hilton Vancouver or call 360-993-4500 and mention the State of WA Tourism rate.
A second hotel block is available at the nearby Hotel Indigo on the waterfront. The group rate is $259 before taxes. Please note the $29 destination fee will be waived for bookings made through the below link.
Pricing & Registration
Conference attendees can choose between three ticket options:
- Combined Tourism Conference + Outdoor Travel Summit: $300
- Only State of Washington Tourism Conference (Oct. 7-8): $200
- Only Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit (Oct. 9): $125
Government Rates: Elected officials and government employees are eligible for discounted rates: $100 combined Tourism Conference + Outdoor Travel Summit, $60 Tourism Conference only, $40 Outdoor Travel Summit only.
Special rates are also available for SWT members and partners, as well as students and organizations experiencing financial hardship.
For discount rate codes or questions, please email Michelle Thana at michelle@stateofwatourism.com.
Program Overview
Ahead of the full-day conference, attendees are invited to take part in topical breakout discussions and an opening reception. Click on a time below to see details.
Meetings will be held concurrently.
Get out and experience the destination on an optional pre-conference tour! Tours can be booked as an add-on when registering for the conference.
Oct. 7:
– Coffee Cupping with Kafiex
– Taste of Brewcouver Beer Tour
– Waterfall Wonder & Vineyard Vistas
Oct. 8:
– Haunted Walking Tour
Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations meeting.
Register early and attend topical breakouts.
Network with your peers from around the state. Tentative breakout topics include:
– Destination marketing (marketing budget under $250,000)
– Destination marketing (budget over $250,000)
– Tribes
– Destination development
– Meeting sales and travel trade
Welcome to Vancouver! Reconnect with your peers from around the state and enjoy local food, beverages, and entertainment at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.
The main conference program will be held Oct. 8 and include breakout sessions, networking, industry awards, and an evening reception at El Gaucho on the Vancouver waterfront.
Click on a time below to see details.
Topic: Redefining the Destination Organization
Redefining what it means to be a destination organization in 2024, from industry partnerships to marketing approaches. This opening session will also feature programming updates from SWT leaders and SWT’s annual meeting.
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
– SEO & the Evolving Search Landscape
Room TBD
Organic search is constantly changing thanks to shifts in user behavior and new technologies. From Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) to voice search, SEO expert Dylan Scacchetti will dive into trends, impacts, and strategies to help your destination or business navigate the changing landscape of organic search.
– Creating (And Using) a Visitor Experience Strategy
Room TBD
Family travel and outdoor recreation expert Erin Kirkland will provide tips and tools for tourism professionals intent on making positive additions or changes that welcome, inspire, and encourage returns. Through a comprehensive blueprint of ‘how-to’ approaches and real-life case studies mixed with hands-on learning, this session will offer attendees a comprehensive toolkit for successful adaptation and creation of products and services that can be family-friendly, accessible, and/or tech-appropriate regardless of location, budget, or tour type.
– How AI is Changing the Tourism Landscape
Room TBD
Learn how DMOs are utilizing AI in their marketing strategies through case studies on various AI tools and their impacts on daily workflow. Hear about different AI chatbots available and their benefits, creative campaigns centered around AI, and more.
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
– Charting Your Path: Strategies for Professional Development and Career Success
Room TBD
This panel brings together a cross-section of the best and brightest in destination promotion and management. Destination professionals with a wide range of industry knowledge, skills, and experience will share their stories and advice on professional development and career planning within the tourism sector.
– Video Storytelling Trends & Best Practices
Room TBD
Take your video strategy to the next level. From short-form vertical content for social media channels to branded campaign shoots, a panel of experts will share insights, examples, and best practices for creating engaging, authentic, and memorable videos for your destination or business.
– Travel Trade: How to Distribute Your Product
Room TBD
Learn practical steps to enhance your tourism business through effective distribution strategy and channel management. Channel management has been a rising buzzword in tours and activities, but what exactly is it, and why should tour and activity operators care? This panel discussion will lend insights to the benefits of proactively managing the distribution strategy of your product inventory to maximize revenue, build relationships, and serve your customers.
Undisrupt The Future: Insights, Ideas and Strategies For Travel & Hospitality
Join renowned futurist Ian Khan for a keynote discussing the intersection of emerging technology and the tourism industry. Khan will share expert insights on the transformative power of AI and provide actionable steps to assess your organization’s readiness for the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to evaluate your current state and plan for a successful tomorrow.
As an attendee, you will also have the exclusive opportunity to discover your Future Readiness Score (FRS), a personalized assessment developed by Khan based on over 20 years of industry insights. This unique tool will help you identify areas of strength and potential vulnerabilities, empowering you to make informed decisions about your future strategy.
– Social Media Trends
Room TBD
Social media has become a key player in the travel industry, transforming the way people discover and plan their trips. From tapping into the power of creators and influencers to navigating emerging trends, this panel will offer insights on how to develop strategies that support travel planning while staying relevant in today’s digital landscape.
– Tourism Product Development for the Off-Season
Room TBD
This session will examine several case studies involving industry partnerships and community support for off-season product development. A panel of industry consultants will share their expertise to help destination communities diversify offerings and appeal to niche markets while building economic resilience and sustainability.
– Grants & Funding: How to Manage Your Resources
Room TBD
This session will explore the different grants and funding sources available to organizations and how they can best apply for and manage resources from all these different sources.
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
Topic to come.
Join SWT and industry colleagues for an off-site reception at El Gaucho. Experience Vancouver’s beautiful growing waterfront development along the Columbia River.
The Responsible Outdoor Travel Summit convenes thought leaders in tourism, outdoor recreation, and conservation for sessions and discussions on common issues and potential solutions and partnerships. The spirit of the summit is advancing the health and vitality of public lands, natural resources, sensitive and Indigenous communities, and the statewide tourism industry through responsible travel and recreation.
The third annual summit will be held at the Hilton Vancouver Washington following the main conference program.
Click on a time below to see details.
Get the day started with a buffet breakfast ahead of the summit program.
Welcome remarks by David Blandford and Mike Moe, State of Washington Tourism
Topic: Balancing Public Lands Usage and Conservation
Room TBD
This session will discuss what land managers in Oregon and Washington are doing to encourage safe visitor access to public lands, and how the two states can collaborate for future success.
Moderator: Kieron Wilde – Founder & Destination Specialist for First Nature Tours
Panelists:
– Andrea Martin, Recreation Policy Manager, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources
– Tracy Calizon, Assistant Director, Recreation, WWSR, Heritage, Trails
– Chris Havel, Associate Director, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
Topic: Western States Tourism Policy, Management and Collaboration
Room TBD
Join state tourism office representatives from Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington as they discuss common outdoor tourism and recreation issues and cooperative initiatives at the federal and state levels.
Moderator: David Blandford, State of Washington Tourism
Panelists:
– Kevney Dugan, Vice President, Destination Services, Travel Oregon
– Hillary Lewkowitz, Director of Destination Development & Sustainability, Visit Colorado
– Jeremy Chase, Tourism & Marketing Administrator, Idaho Commerce
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
Topic: Measuring Recreation Usage & Trendspotting, Post Pandemic
Topic: National Parks Visitation Management
Room TBD
Washington’s three national park superintendents will discuss visitor management plans and report on the success of the Mount Rainier’s timed entry pilot program.
Moderator: Cassidy Jones, National Parks Conservation Association
Panelists:
– Greg Dudeon, Superintendent, Mount Rainier National Park
– Sula Jacobs, Superintendent, Olympic National Park
– Don Striker, Superintendent, North Cascades National Park
Enjoy connecting with peers and vendors between sessions.
Topic: Public Policy at the Confluences of Conversation, Recreation & Tourism
Room TBD
Members of the legislative outdoor recreation caucus, tribes, and others will discuss state policies around recreation and tourism.
Moderator: Shiloh Burgess, Governor’s Recreation & Conservation Office
Panelists:
– Rep. Cindy Ryu, Recreation-Tourism Caucus
– Teresa Taylor, Interim Director, Office of Economic Policy, Lummi Nation
Pre- and Post-Conference Tours
SWT and Visit Vancouver are excited to offer a selection of pre- and post-conference tours. Get out and experience the destination with one of these paid conference add-ons.
Note: For full descriptions, prices, and transportation information, click “get tickets” on the registration page. You can then select and pay for your desired tour along with your conference ticket.
Coffee Cupping with Kafiex
Oct. 7, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Join Kafiex Roasters for an introduction to the coffee flavor wheel, learn the principles of cupping with official score sheets, and do an exercise with an aroma kit. The class includes cupping three different coffees.
Taste of Brewcouver
Oct. 7, noon to 2 p.m.
Vancouver’s beer roots run deep. Walk to three different downtown breweries and hear their stories while sampling PNW-inspired beers. Locations subject to change.
Waterfall Wonder & Vineyard Vistas
Oct. 7, noon to 3 p.m.
Step into nature with a 1-mile hike at Lucia Falls, 40 minutes northeast of Vancouver. Follow it up with wine tasting at the historic Pomeroy Farm.
Haunted Walking Tour
Oct. 8, 8-9 p.m.
Curious to hear tales of what haunts the buildings and streets of downtown? Interested in the strange and peculiar side of history? Join the director of the Clark County Historical Museum for an evening walking tour and storytelling experience.
Tourism Industry Awards
Each year, the industry celebrates innovation and excellence with a series of awards announced during the main conference program. Don’t miss the chance to submit outstanding marketing campaigns, destination stewardship work, and nominate your peers for achievement awards.
Deadline to submit awards is Aug. 28. Please click the links below to fill out an award form.
Outstanding Marketing Program Award
Nominated marketing programs, projects, or campaigns must be a component of the organization’s overall marketing program. Successful nominations detail the primary program elements and successful quantitative or qualitative outcomes, including but not limited to a notable increase in user engagement, website visitation, overnight stays, visitor spending, or tax revenue. Submit nominations.
Destination Stewardship Award
Recognizes an individual, business, or nonprofit organization that effectively promotes environmental awareness, institutes regenerative travel, or espouses community values and well-being in the State of Washington. Submit nominations.
Rising Star in Tourism Award
Presented to a new industry professional or volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to the tourism efforts of a business, nonprofit organization, community, or tourism segment. Nominees must have tenures in tourism of less than five years and be currently employed in Washington’s tourism industry. Self-nominations are not accepted. Submit nominations.
Tourism Hall of Leadership Induction
The Tourism Hall of Leadership recognizes individual tourism professionals or volunteers who have made significant, positive, and long-lasting contributions to the industry in Washington. Inductees must be nominated by a member of the tourism industry within the state. Induction may be considered for active industry members, retired members, or be made posthumously. Generally, up to three inductions are considered each year. Submit nominations.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Highlight your company’s offerings in front of tourism professionals from around the State of Washington by sponsoring the conference. Sponsorship opportunities include conference registration and recognition.
Contact Michelle Thana at michelle@stateofwatourism.com to secure your sponsor opportunity or to discuss custom sponsorships.