Alabama-Mississippi Rural Tourism Conference Oct. 27-29

Recognizing that tourism is a vital part of a community’s economic development, the Alabama-Mississippi Rural Tourism Conference is a collaborative effort focused on assisting smaller communities in bolstering tourism.

“Revealing Your Best Kept Secrets,” is the theme for the Oct. 27 through 29 conference in Columbus, Miss.

“Dynamic speakers will present innovative ideas and relevant information that attendees will find useful in facing the unique challenges of promoting rural tourism with limited budgets,” said Tom Chesnutt, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System tourism specialist. “Alabama and Mississippi alternately host this annual conference; however, anyone associated with or interested in the rural tourism industry is invited to attend.”

General session speakers include Robert St. John, a nationally known restaurateur, chef, food/humor columnist and author, on Oct. 28 and Mary Jean Packer, president of Ghostwriters Communications, Inc. on Oct. 29. She will talk about national heritage areas.

The keynote speaker for Oct. 27 is Allen W. Mathis III. Mathis has spent the last 33 years in private development and promotion of Alabama’s DeSoto Caverns Park near Childersburg.

Keynote speakers on Oct. 28 include Mike Cashion with the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association and Robert Hendrix, president of Alabama Tourism Partnership and Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau. They will lead a discussion on working with your legislators.

Conference breakout sessions will feature Neil Ravenna, executive chef and manager of Miss Melissa’s Café, talking about culinary tourism; Bricklee Miller, director of Mississippi Horse Park, talking about agri-tourism marketing; Tommy Polk, a tourism entrepreneur, telling a rural tourism success story; Robert Ratliff, executive director of Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, discussing my space, your space; Jan Miller, regional Mississippi Main Street arts coordinator, talking about festival ideas and marketing; and Diana O’Toole, hometown Mississippi retirement coordinator, discussing retirement development.

Conference registration is $95 per person before Oct. 10 and $150 after that date. For more information or to get a registration form, visit almstourism.com.

Posted by dreynold at September 29, 2008 11:02 AM | TrackBack