Play It Again, Montana: 30th Montana Governor’s Conference On Tourism And Recreation Billings 4/5-6

2004-04-05 08:00:00
Holiday Inn Grand Montana- Billings

Welcome to the Travel Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation Website. Montana’s Tourism Industry partners gather each year for two days of education, evaluation, exchange and entertainment. The Conference agenda often includes presentations on:

* Montana and Worldwide Travel Trends

* New & Useful Marketing Ideas

* Group Travel Trends

* Montana’s National Attractions

* Montana’s Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Plans and Events

* European market opportunities

* Cultural Tourism

* Thoughts from the Governor

* much more

Within this website, you will find:

* details on the conference agenda

* a registration form you can download

* an archive of some of the recent past Governor’s Conference speakers and their presentations

* conference sponsor and exhibitor registration/reservation forms

* useful information about accommodations, activities, and events happening in and around the host community

* archive and nomination information for the Tourism Person of the Year and Tourism Community of the Year Awards

What happens at the Governor’s Conference?

The conference agenda begins each morning with a featured presentation in a general session. After a morning break where conference attendees visit with the exhibitors in the trade show area, four concurrent 80-minute sessions on varying topics are offered. A luncheon speaker is included with each of the noon meals. The afternoon agenda includes two more groups of 4 concurrent break -out sessions and break time to visit with trade show exhibitors.

Tuesday night features a business-dress banquet with special guest Montana Governor Judy Martz. The Governor will present the Tourism Person and Tourism Community of the Year Awards along with various regional awards. The night concludes with entertainment.

Who attends the Governor’s Conference?

Typically, 400 to 450 people participate in the two-day conference. Montana’s tourism industry involves private sector travel service providers, property owners (hotels, motels, guest ranches, B&Bs, resorts), public and private sector attraction managers and staff, outfitters/guides, federal and state agency land managers, state, regional and community tourism developers, promoters and interested individuals.

The 2004 Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 5-6, at the Billings’ Holiday Inn Grand Montana. The host community is busy planning special activities for conference attendees Monday night and during the weekend prior to the conference. We will be sharing information about the 2004 Conference as the details are developed. We look forward to seeing you there.

http://www.travelmontana.org/conference/

Arrive early and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Billings. A Billings Planning Committee has developed a list of “Specials” for Governor’s Conference attendees. Check out details and contact information on the “Specials” at http://www.billingschamber.com/packages.asp

April 5-6, 2004

Holiday Inn Grand Montana

Billings, MT

All Governor’s Conference Events take place at Billings’ Holiday Inn Grand Montana, 5500 Midland Road, Billings, MT 59101, 406-248-7701,
877-55GRAND, http://www.holiday-inn.com/billings-west

* Big Sky Airlines, Thrifty Car Rental fly/drive package
* Rimrock Mall, Downtown Billings shopping surprises (pre & post conference)
* NILE Bullriders Invitational, Billings’ MetraPark, April 3-4
* Broadway production "Saturday Night Fever" Alberta Bair Theater Saturday, April 3, http://www.albertabairtheater.org
* Spa Sunday – Be Pampered at Billings’ premier day spas
* Eat & Drink Specials Downtown & West End Billings (pre & post conference)
* Visit ZooMontana, Yellowstone Art Museum, Moss Mansion, Western Heritage Center, & Peter Yegen, Jr. Yellowstone County Museum (pre & post conference)

For information on other specials or community information, contact the Billings Convention and Visitors Bureau, 406-252-4016
or 1-800-735-2635.

The conference will use 4 presentation areas at the Grand Montana:

* Montana Convention Center (separate building, east of hotel): Monday & Tuesday morning and luncheon general sessions as well as the bus loading site for Tuesday’s field trips.

* Grand Montana Ballroom (in hotel, NE of Atrium): Exhibit area (Missouri Room), Break-out sessions (Stillwater, Bitterroot, Gallatin Rooms), and Tuesday night’s banquet

* Bighorn Center (in hotel, east of Grand Montana Ballroom): Travel Montana Web Room (Lewis & Clark Room), Break-out sessions (Yellowstone, Bighorn, Poolside Terrace Rooms)

* Atrium (main entrance to hotel, hotel registration desk): Conference registration area, Tuesday night Gala, Break-out session (Aspen Room)

Sunday, April 4, 2004
4 – 7 p.m. Governor’s Conference Registration
Location: Holiday Inn Grand Montana Atrium

5:50 – 6:30 p.m. NTA Delegates Meeting
Location: Aspen Room, Atrium
Host: Marlee Iverson, Travel Montana Group Tour Specialist, Helena, MT

GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES

Monday – April 5, 2004

7 a.m. Governor’s Conference Registration
Location: Atrium
Conference Pen Sponsor: Brown & Bigelow

8:30 a.m.- 9:45 a.m. – General Session
Location: Russell Room, Montana Convention Center

Welcome and Conference Opening
Host: Betsy Baumgart, Montana Promotion Division Administrator, Helena, MT
Sponsor: Yellowstone National Park Lodges / Xanterra

Feature Presentation
“Getting Ilsa Through the Door”
Presenter: Roger Brooks, Destination Development, Inc. Olympia, WA
Transportation Services Provided by Northwest Airlines

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Humphrey Bogart uttered that line about Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman, in the film classic “Casablanca.” Bogart played Rick, the owner of a tourism business called Café Americain. Roger Brooks will build on this theme by helping us answer the question: So with all the towns in all the west, what do you need to do to get visitors into yours? Get updated on the latest travel trends, learn the ten commandments of tourism in the otts (2001-2010) and what you can do to get visitors in your door – here’s looking at you!

9:45 a.m.-10:25 a.m. BREAK in Exhibit Area
Location: Missouri Room, Grand Montana Ballroom
Sponsor: M.A.R.S. Stout, Inc.

10:25 a.m.-11:45 a.m. 5 Concurrent Break Out Sessions

Grand Montana Ballroom

* Montana Tourism Research – Current Visitor Information and How it can be Useful

Location: Stillwater Room
Presenters: Norma Nickerson, Ph.D. and James Wilton, M.S., Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, The University of Montana – Missoula

ITRR Director Norma Nickerson and Jim Wilton, Economic Analyst, will present the latest information on Montana tourism trends along with visitor expenditures and profiles by travel region and select counties. They will also provide a step-by-step process on how to use Montana tourism data for your business and marketing plans.

* Marketing on a Miniscule Budget
Location: Gallatin Room
Presenter: Roger Brooks, Destination Development, Inc., Olympia, WA

This interactive workshop showcases a number of ways to maximize your marketing budget: get and use publicity effectively, use trade in exchange for advertising, create public/private marketing partnerships, and catering to niche groups. We’ll show you how to place ads effectively, what size ad is necessary, rule of frequency, using the internet to your advantage, and signage solutions that work.

* Experience – The Next Generation of Travel Product
Location: Bitterroot Room
Presenter: Joe Veneto, The Opportunity Guy, Quincy, MA
Sponsor: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE

Visitors select destinations, but what they really want are experiences. Whether you are a community attraction, state or national park, outfitter and guide, your key to success with today’s healthier, wealthier, more discerning visitor is the experience you provide. Joe Veneto, The Opportunity Guy, will provide us with the understanding and models to Experience success.

Bighorn Center

* Succeeding in the Convention & Meetings Market – Montana Style
Location: Bighorn Room
Presenter: Bill Geist, Zeitgeist Consulting, Madison, WI
Sponsor: Marketing & Media Services, Inc. (MMSI)
Transportation services provided by Northwest Airlines

How to compete in the meetings and convention market when you’re not a nationally known convention destination? Destination consultant (and former CVB CEO) Bill Geist returns to Montana to help us achieve our Strategic Plan objective of attracting more meetings and conventions to the State. Destination leaders will learn how to effectively compete in compelling niche markets, use your community leaders to generate leads, stand out in a crowded marketplace and much more…regardless of your destination size or budget.

* Discovering & Promoting Community Heritage Resources
Location: Yellowstone Room
Presenters: Ellen Baumler, Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT; Jon Axline, Helena, MT

Historians Ellen Baumler and Jon Axline will help you find Montana’s National Register and Landmark sites, historic bridges and roadways; illuminate promotional and interpretive benefits of these and other heritage resources in your area; and assist in identifying programs to help you discover and better tell your community’s story.

11:55 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Luncheon
Location: Russell Room, Montana Convention Center
Host: Betsy Baumgart, Montana Promotion Division Administrator, Helena, MT
Sponsor: Glacier Park, Inc.
Table Centerpiece Sponsor: The Sapphire Gallery / The Sweet Palace

Feature Presentations:
"Montana Tourism: #2 and Growing"
Presenter: Mike Scholz, Montana InnKeepers Association & Tourism Advisory Council, Big Sky, MT

"As Time Goes By"
Presenter: Doug Monger, Parks Division Administrator, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Helena, MT

1:30 p.m.-2:50 p.m. 6 Concurrent Break Out Sessions

Atrium

* International Market Development Program Workshop
Location: Aspen Room
Presenter: Gary Schluter, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours, Fort Collins, CO
Sponsor: Longwoods International

If you are interested in marketing internationally, but haven’t tried yet or would like to expand your current operations, the Market Development Program Workshop is for you. Through a "Discover The American West" grant administered by the Western States Tourism Policy Council, Gary Schluter will share his international marketing expertise in this training session focused on attracting visitors from Germany, the U.K. and Japan.

Grand Montana Ballroom

* Montana Travel Trends & More

Location: Stillwater Room
Presenter: Norma Nickerson, Ph.D. and James Wilton, M.S., Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research, The University of Montana – Missoula
REPEAT OF MORNING SESSION

* Marketing on a Miniscule Budget
Location: Gallatin Room
Presenter: Roger Brooks, Destination Development, Inc., Olympia, WA
Sponsor: Yellowstone National Park Lodges / Xanterra
REPEAT OF MORNING SESSION

* Experience – The Next Generation of Travel Product
Location: Bitterroot Room
Presenter: Joe Veneto, The Opportunity Guy, Quincy, MA
Sponsor: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE
REPEAT OF MORNING SESSION

Bighorn Center

* Succeeding in the Convention & Meetings Market – Montana Style
Location: Bighorn Room
Presenter: Bill Geist, Zeitgeist Consulting, Madison, WI
Sponsor: Marketing & Media Services, Inc. (MMSI)
REPEAT OF MORNING SESSION

* Discovering & Promoting Community Heritage Resources
Location: Yellowstone Room
Presenters: Ellen Baumler, Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT; Jon Axline, Helena, MT
REPEAT OF MORNING SESSION

2:50 p.m.-3:30 p.m. BREAK in Exhibit Area
Location: Missouri Room, Grand Montana Ballroom
Sponsor: SUNSET MAGAZINE

3:30 p.m.-4:50 p.m. 2 Break Out Sessions & 5 Roundtable Discussion Topics

Break Out Sessions

Bighorn Center

* On The Spot WEB Critiques – Effective Web Design & Function

Location: Poolside Terrace
Presenter: Daniel Lorenzetti, The Web WorkShop, Three Forks, MT (offices also in Austin, TX, New York City, NY)
Sponsor: TYZO.com

Back by popular demand, Daniel Lorenzetti provides web design and function consultation in a public discussion session. As a service of Travel Montana, Daniel has invited Montana’s tourism and recreation partners to send their websites to him for review prior to the conference. He will provide constructive critique to as many as possible in this session and, time permitting, review those volunteered by the audience. Repeated Tuesday, April 6, 10:25-11:55 a.m.

Atrium

* International Tourism Market Development Workshop
Location: Aspen Room
Presenter: Gary Schluter, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours, Fort Collins, CO
Sponsor: Longwoods International
Repeat of Monday, 1:30-2:50 p.m. session

Roundtable Discussion Sesions

Grand Montana Ballroom

* Packaging Weekend Getaways & Shoulder Seasons
Location: Bitterroot Room
Resource Persons: Joe Veneto, The Opportunity Guy; Participants in Glacier Country’s 2003 Fall Packaging Workshops in Missoula and Whitefish
Facilitator: Jeri Mae Rowley, Montana Superhost, Great Falls, MT

* Developing a Montana Birding Trail: Bitterroot Valley Pilot Project & In Your Community
Location: Stillwater Room
Resource Persons: Sue Reel, U.S. Forest Service, Lolo National Forest, Missoula, MT; Deborah Richie Oberbilling, Deborah Richie Communications, Missoula, MT
Facilitator: Carol Crockett, Tourism Development Specialist, Travel Montana, Helena, MT

* Create Publicity FAM Tours That Work!
Location: Gallatin Room
Resource Persons: Roger Brooks, Destination Development, Inc.; Mike Harrelson, Mercury Advertising, Bozeman, MT
Facilitator: Becky Henne, Montana Superhost, Butte, MT

Bighorn Center

* Ag-Tourism Partnerships: What’s Happening (or could happen) In My Area?
Location: Yellowstone Room
Facilitator: Jodi Smith, Statewide Coordinator, Montana Superhost, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, MT

* Incorporating Arts & Culture Into The Tourism Network
Location: Bighorn Room
Resource Persons: Bill Geist, Zeitgeist Consulting, Shari Nault, Billings Cultural Partners, Carolyn Valacich, Great Falls Symphony, Mark Browning, Custer County Art Center, Miles City, and Montana Art Gallery Directors Association
Facilitator: Nancy Walker, Montana Superhost, Billings, MT

4:50 – 6 p.m. No Host Reception in Exhibitors’ Area
Missouri Room, Grand Montana Ballroom

6 p.m. Free Night in Billings – You choose what will make your night most enjoyable.

Special Feature
6 – 7:30 p.m. Montana Tourism Coalition Auction & Taste of Billings
Location: Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 North 27th Street, Billings, MT

The Montana Tourism Coalition, Yellowstone Art Museum and various Billings restaurants and businesses have teamed up to present the coalition’s annual fundraising auction with a special Taste of Billings treat. You have a chance to support the Montana Tourism Coalition and taste great foods from various Billings area restaurants (they’ll even be time to dine at these restaurants when the event ends!) Transportation between the Holiday Inn Grand Montana and downtown Billings is being provided by a number of Billings businesses that have donated their vans and shuttles.

Tuesday – April 6, 2004

8:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m. General Session
Location: Russell Room, Montana Convention Center

Welcome & Session Opening
Host: Betsy Baumgart, Montana Promotion Division Administrator, Helena, MT
Sponsor: Budget Rent a Car

Feature Presentation
It’s Showtime! Montana’s National Spotlight Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Events & Corps of Discovery II
Presenters: Gerard Baker, Superintendent, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Omaha, NE; Peggy Bourne, Coordinator, Explore the Big Sky! Signature Event, Great Falls, MT; Melody Dobson & Robbie Carpenter, Coordinators, Clark on the Yellowstone Signature Event, Billings, MT; Dyani Bingham, Executive Director, Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance, Billings, MT
Special Appearance by Rob Quist & Jack Gladstone

The focus of the national Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration turns to Montana in 2005 & 2006. This session highlights the two national events scheduled to take place here: Explore The Big Sky, June 1-July 4, 2005, Great Falls/Fort Benton and Clark on the Yellowstone, July 22-25, 2006, Pompeys Pillar/Billings. Also showcased in this session is the National Park Service traveling interactive exhibit “Corps of Discovery II” visiting 18 Montana communities between May 2005 & August 2006 and the rich multicultural events that are incorporated into the Bicentennial through the Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance (MTTA).

9:55 a.m.-10:25 a.m. BREAK in Exhibit Area
Location: Missouri Room, Grand Montana Ballroom
Sponsor: AAA Home & Away

10:25 a.m.-11:45 a.m. 5 Concurrent Break Out Sessions

Grand Montana Ballroom

* Montana Trails Showcase: Hands of Harvest: The Craft Heritage Trails of North Central Montana, Beartooth Highway All American Road, and Montana’s Dinosaur Trail
Location: Gallatin Room
Presenters: Cindy Kittredge, Great Falls, MT, Vicky Warp, Missoula, MT, with Hands of Harvest; Glory Mahan, Red Lodge, MT, Nellie Israel, Cooke City, MT, Gene Bryan, Cody, WY, with Beartooth All American Road; Anne Boothe, Malta, MT, with Montana Dinosaur Trail
Sponsor: Montana BLM

Three Montana projects that are using “special designations” to create new Montana destinations will share information about the process they’ve used, and the products they’ve created or are planning to create.

* Putting Montana on Your Table: Where to find Montana-made Foods/Products & How to Incorporate Them Into Your Operation
Location: Bitterroot Room
Presenters: Mandi Heinle, BuyMT.com, Hathaway, MT; Lill Erickson, Corporation for the Northern Rockies, Livingston, MT; Heather Hand, The Savory Olive, Bozeman, MT; Steve Simonson, Big Sky Teas, Thompson Falls, MT
Sponsor: Wendt

To help achieve our objective of putting more Montana foods and products in the hands of Montana’s visitors, this panel of presenters will introduce us to some the suppliers, producers and marketers involved in this area.

* Developing Culturally Appropriate Tourism in Montana’s Indian Country
Location: Stillwater Room
Presenters: Dyani Bingham, Executive Director, Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance, and MTTA Members

Representatives of the Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance will talk about their efforts to develop cultural appropriate tourism on Montana’s 7 reservations and update us on current and ongoing projects.

Bighorn Center

* On The Spot Critiques – Effective Web Design & Function
Location: Poolside Terrace
Presenter: Daniel Lorenzetti, The Web Workshop, Three Forks, MT (offices also in Austin, TX & New York City, NY)
Sponsor: TYZO.com

Back by popular demand, Daniel Lorenzetti provides web design and function consultation in a public discussion session. As a service of Travel Montana, Montana tourism and recreation partners are invited to send Daniel their website for review prior to the conference [email protected] and he will provide constructive critique to as many as possible in this session.

* Access to Montana’s Treasures: Yellowstone National Park Winter Use, Glacier Park’s Going to the Sun Road Improvement Plan, Montana’s River Recreation Plan
Location: Bighorn Room
Presenters: Cheryl Matthews, Public Affairs, Yellowstone National Park, WY; Amy Vanderbilt, Public Affairs, Glacier

National Park, West Glacier, MT; Charlie Sperry, River Recreation Management Specialist, FWP, Helena, MT
In this session agencies will provide the latest information on how Montanans and their visitors will be able to access three important attractions in the state.

11:55 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Luncheon and Exhibitor Giveaways
Location: Russell Room, Montana Convention Center
Host: Betsy Baumgart, Montana Promotion Division Administrator, Helena, MT
Sponsor: Meredith Travel Group
Table Centerpiece Sponsor: The Sapphire Gallery / The Sweet Palace

Feature Presentation
Eastern Montana’s Treasures – Slide show and commentary
Presenter: Photo-journalist Rick Graetz

1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. 3 Concurrent Field Trip Break Out Sessions
Bus loading area: Front Entrance, Montana Convention Center

Organization & Coordination Services for Field Trips provided by Renee Christiansen Montana Fun Adventure Tours, Billings, MT,

* Chief Plenty Coups State Park Field Trip
Host: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Bus Transportation Provided, Limited Seating

Journey to the heart of Crow Country to Chief Plenty Coups State Park in Pryor, Montana, on the Crow Indian Reservation. Come learn about this great leader and about the Apsaalooke people. Brand new interpretive displays are in place at the park including inside Plenty Coups restored log house. Wander the park grounds including the Crow life ways trail, Plenty Coups gravesite and sacred spring. Join park staff and Apsaalooke interpreters for a fun and informative afternoon.

* Pompeys Pillar National Monument/Huntley Project Museum Field Trip
Host: Pompeys Pillar Historical Assocation, Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Agriculture, Coors
Bus Transportation Provided, Limited Seating

This field trip highlights two centuries of activity in the Yellowstone Valley. You’ll tour Montana and the nation’s newest national monument, Pompeys Pillar which features Capt. William Clark’s July 25, 1806, etched signature on its sandstone walls. This will be the site for the July 22-25, 2006, Clark on the Yellowstone Signature Event of the national Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. On the way to the Pillar, you’ll stop by Coors’ modern barley facility and the Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Agriculture’s new visitors center which helps tell the story of early day irrigated farming on the northern plains. Refreshments at Pompeys Pillar.

* Billings – Your City for Arts & Culture Field Trip
Host: Billings Cultural Partners
Shuttle Buses & Billings Trolley Service Transport Between Holiday Inn & Downtown Tour Sites Provided.

This field trip will offer designated stops at Arts and Culture venues along the Billings Trolley Route in Downtown Billings. Groups led by members of the Billings Cultural Partners will visit downtown Billings arts and culture sites including Yellowstone Art Museum (“blockbuster” exhibits by America Icon/Pop Artist Andy Warhol and landscape painter Maynard Dixon), Alberta Bair Theater (an African American Dance performance), Western Heritage Center (American Indian Tribal Histories Project), Moss Mansion (tour), Peter Yegen Jr. Yellowstone County Museum (Lewis & Clark reception), and Montana Avenue’s Venture Theater Project in the historic Northern Pacific Depot (renovation & impromptu performance). Refreshments served at various stops. The buses and trolley will shuttle groups between each of the stops on a regular schedule between 1:30-4:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m.-2:50 p.m. Entertainment Break Out Session
This is Montana – A Photo Journey with Rick Graetz
Location: Bighorn Room

For those not taking the three field trip options, photo-journalist Rick Graetz will share images and stories he’s collected while traveling Montana.

4:30-6 p.m. Free Time

6-7 p.m. No Host Reception
Location: Grand Montana Ballroom

7-9 p.m. Governor’s Conference Banquet Dinner
Location: Grand Montana Ballroom
Host: Ramona Holt, Chair, Tourism Advisory Council
Banquet Sponsor: Mercury Advertising
Banquet Wine Sponsor: Certified Folder Display, Inc.

Keynote Speaker Governor Judy Martz, Helena, MT
This is Governor Judy Martz final presentation as Montana’s Chief Executive Officer at our annual conference. Governor Martz will share her thoughts on Montana and its tourism industry, and she will help us honor the Montana Tourism Person, Community, Partnership & Event of the Year.

9 p.m. "Big City / Big Lights" Entertainment Gala
Location: Atrium
Sponsor: Montana InnKeepers Association

Your Billings hosts offer you desserts and other indulgences from Montana’s “Magic City” in the Holiday Inn Grand Montana Atrium. Enjoy yourself at this fun conclusion to the 30th annual gathering of Montana’s Tourism & Recreation partners.