Conference Schedule - Detailed

Wednesday, April 21

9:00 am - Business Resilience!
A series of sessions addressing strategies and tactics enabling your business to thrive, not just survive, in the months and years ahead.

9:15 am - Morning Welcome by Conference Committee Chairs
Dana Krueger, Director of Fun, DanaEvents
Kelly Curtin, Executive Vice President, NYC & Company

9:20 am - Opening Remarks
Ross Levi, Executive Director & Vice President of NYS Division of Tourism at Empire State Development

9:25 am - Keynote
Fred Dixon, President & CEO, NYC & company

9: 40 am ~ 1:00 pm - Small Business Resilience Sessions
Briskly paced presentations focused on strategies and tactics to self-resource and self-help your way to successful recovery!

Why You Need Paid Social & How to 'Do It Yourself'
Presented by East Shore Marketing

Tic-Tok 101: Leverage TikTok to Power a Comeback in 2021!
Presented by Matt Babiarz, Mower

Using Data to Drive Creativity and Spark Imagination
Presented by Madden Media

How A Newsroom Can Work For You
Presented by Paul Fahy & Leanne Ricchiuti, Overit

How to Navigate the Changing World of PR
Presented by I Love NY with FINN & Partners

Brand Yourself For Greater Personal & Professional Success
Presented by Dan Paradiso, The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Water Park

Regather at 4:00 pm for 20 Triumphs & Good Cheer! – Virtual Happy Hour
Presented by Break The Ice Media

Thursday, April 22

9:00 am - Keynote
Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destination International
Whether your destination is a region, community, attraction or small business, you have to address each day's priorities with an eye on the horizon – how are you shaping your future TODAY?

Panel Discussion: Destination Strategy Panel

Host - John Percy, President & CEO, Niagara Falls USA

Panelists:

• Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International
• Valerie Knoblauch, President & CEO, Finger Lakes Visitor Connection
• Melaine Rottkamp, CDME, President & CEO, Dutchess Tourism
• Hillarie Logan-Dechene, Deputy Director, The Wild Center

10:45 am - Panel Discussion: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & YOU
Host - Nicole Mahoney, CEO, Break The Ice Media
Panelists:

• Susan Eisma, Global HR Director, Merlin Entertainment
• Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League
• Kelly Garofalo-Wilkins, Senior Manager, Tourism Projects, Division of Tourism - I LOVE NY

11:45 am - New York State Location Intelligence Dashboard
30 counties, 8 regions, 500 points of interest.
Presented by ROVE Marketing
In this workshop we will speak with leaders of data driven destinations and tourism organizations to learn how they are using their data to manage their business. From high level data strategies to daily use cases, this session will inspire you do more with your data and learn how other organizations are hitting home runs with data to grow visitation and revenues.

Friday, April 23

9:00 am - Morning Welcome Kelly Ann Curtin, Executive Vice President, NYC & Company

9:15 am - Keynote
Christopher L. Thompson, President & CEO, Brand USA
Welcome Back: The Return of International Travel International travel is changed and it will continue to change and evolve. How is BrandUSA charting the course to successfully restoring international travel and how are NYS destinations gearing up to lead the industry?

Follow up Panel Discussion:

Host - Nate Huff, Miles Partnership

• Chris Guidone, WWW/Big Picture Tourism – International Receptive Market
• Nancy Mammana, Chief Marketing Officer, NYC & Company
• Julie Gilbert, CDME CTP, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Destination Niagara USA

10:45 am - I Love New York
Ross D. Levi,Executive Director & Vice President of the NYS Division of Tourism at Empire State Development