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Tourism Skillshop

The Tourism Skillshop webinar series is one of many programs from State of Washington Tourism (SWT). Launched in April 2022, the Skillshop is a key component of industry advocacy and education for tourism stakeholders in Washington.

Each webinar highlights a specific issue or skill for tourism professionals to discuss with industry experts. SWT hosts these live webinars on the third or fourth Thursday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m.

These webinars are moderated by SWT’s Matthew Ozuna and are free and open to all tourism stakeholders. All skillshops are recorded and shared with registrants, as well as made available to view on the SWT YouTube channel.

Upcoming Webinars

Thursday, April 16: Tourism Research Methods | Register Here

Join SWT for a tourism Skillshop on Thursday, April 16, at 10 a.m., discussing tourism research methods. Research and data are critical for tourism-related businesses and nonprofits to understand visitor behavior and market conditions, stay competitive, and engage with stakeholders. Webinar attendees will hear from Steve Halasz, founder and CEO of Blue Room Research, and learn the steps involved in planning a research project and working with vendors, including costs, timelines, deliverables, and insights. SWT’s Michelle McKenzie will share data currently available and potential future offerings upon receiving sustainable funding. 

Attendees will also learn about data quality and integrity, as well as ways to conduct research on their own and share it with stakeholders. The research process doesn’t have to be daunting, and SWT can help destination communities identify research questions and techniques (e.g., surveys, interviews, and focus groups) early on.

Tourism Skillshops are free to attend. All webinars are recorded and shared with registrants and posted to SWT’s YouTube channel. For questions, please email Matthew Ozuna. Sign up for SWT’s Industry Update newsletter and follow SWT on LinkedIn to register for upcoming Skillshops. 

Past Webinars

Past webinar topics have covered everything from planning for agritourism in rural communities to dark sky tourism, as well as:

Browse All Recordings on SWT’s YouTube channel.

An example of a Skillshop can be viewed below.