For The Journal
After being held in Durango and Crested Butte the past four years, Pagosa Springs was selected to host the annual Southwest Colorado Tourism Summit on April 13-14.
The summit will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center. To register and review the agenda, visit www.swtourismsummit.com.
The summit will feature speaker Cathy Ritter, new director of Colorado Tourism Office, and include multiple general sessions and 16 breakout sessions.
“The summit provides a once-a-year opportunity to bring together businesses, tourism and hospitality leaders from around Colorado to the southwest corner of the state,” said travel representative Carrie Whitley.
The summit appeals to businesses that rely on tourism, offering educational workshops, expert keynote speakers and professional networking opportunities conveniently located in Southwest Colorado. Breakout sessions are segmented into four tracks: social media, marketing best practices and storytelling, and international and adventure travel and hospitality.
The summit costs $75 if registered by April 5, and includes one breakfast, two lunches, two networking events and a variety of educational sessions.
Chris Adams, director of research and online marketing, will present best practices of successful tourism marketers. This information-packed session distills the latest research, analytics and results from successful tourism marketers.
Another session, Understanding the Adventure Tourist, will be presented by The Adventure Travel Trade Association, exploring physical activity, immersion with the local culture, interaction with the environment, types of adventure travelers, and how to attract the audience.