2010 Cultural & Heritage Tourism Seminar

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 – Corpus Christi, Texas

8:15 AM – 8:45 AM               Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:45 AM – 9:20 AM               Roundtable Discussions

Don’t miss these roundtable discussions led by industry experts and specifically designed to share ideas and experiences with other attendees.  Sit at one table or float from one table discussion to the next.

9:25 AM – 9:35 AM               Welcome and Overview

9:40 AM – 10:40 AM             "Who Is The Cultural Traveler?"

Keynote Speaker:  Sheila Armstrong, Executive Director of the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM           "Building Partnerships to Achieve a Shared Vision”

                                                Our communities are as strong as we collectively make them. Learn who your community partners are and how share resources and talent to build a shared vision for your tourism program.

                                                Speakers:  Stephanie O’Banion, President, Belton Area Chamber of Commerce;

                                                Elizabeth Regner, Executive Director, Lubbock Arts Alliance; and

                                                Rick Stryker, Director, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

12:00 PM – 12:45 AM           Lunch

                                                Keynote Speaker: Mary Bomar, Former National Park Service Director

12:50 PM – 2:20 PM              "Blogging & Social Networking”

                                                Speaker: Chay Rees Runnels with the Stephen F. Austin State Univ.-Human Sciences Dept.

2:20 PM – 2:30 PM                Communications Break

2:35 PM – 3:35 PM                "Heritage Tourism Product Development: How to be Effective in the Local Political Arena"

The goal of the session is to evaluate the issues and challenges of heritage tourism development within the context of local politics today. It is important to understand and to utilize the many different motivations and perspectives found in Texas communities. The session will explore the question of how heritage tourism product development can be made to be an effective force in the local community."
Speaker: Doug Harman, Tourism Consultant

3:35 PM – 4:00 PM                Open Mic Q&A