Schedule at-a-Glance

The following schedule of events is preliminary and subject to change. Please check back for updates.

Monday, April 28, 2025
1:45pm - 6:30pm	Conference Registration Desk Open
2:00pm - 5:00pm	Burlington Area Familiarization (FAM) Tour
2:30pm - 5:00pm	Regions of Vermont Vendor Set-up
2:30pm - 6:30pm	Sponsor Trade Show Set-up
5:00pm - 6:30pm	Regions of Vermont Networking Mixer
Evening	Dinner On Own Check out the new in-house restaurant, Original Skiff!
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
8:00am - 5:00pm	Conference Registration Desk Open; Sponsor Trade Show Open
8:00am - 9:00am	Breakfast with Sponsors
9:00am - 9:50am	WELCOME & KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Vermont Department of Tourism & Marking Update with Commissioner Pelham Sponsored by Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
9:50am - 10:05am	Transition Break
10:05am - 10:50am	Concurrent Sessions Block 1 Authentic Stewardship: Integrating Sustainability into Destination Marketing How International Visitation Can Work for You Why you should support to Tourism and those that steward it Opportunities for Outdoor Career Pathways
10:50am - 11:05am	Transition Break
11:05am - 12:30pm	Networking Lunch with Sponsors
12:30pm - 1:15pm	Concurrent Sessions Block 2 Marketing Your Agritourism Destination Vermont Tourism Data: Join me on a journey into the matrix! Creative Ways To Harness the Power of Podcasting (Even If You Don’t Have One) Moving Mountains: Engaging the Plus-Size Audience, The $1 Trillion Market You're Missing
1:15pm - 1:30pm	Transition Break
1:30pm - 2:20pm	KEYNOTE ADDRESS AI in Action: Panel Discussion with Hospitality Innovators
2:20pm - 2:35pm	Transition Break
2:35pm - 3:20pm	Concurrent Sessions Block 3 More than ADA Approved: Becoming a Destination for Tourists with Disabilities Smart Marketing Moves: Navigating New Trends with Confidence Navigating Tourism Funding: National Trends and New England's Path to Sustainability Turn Your Guests into Your Marketing Team
3:20pm - 4:30pm	Reception with Sponsors
4:30pm - 5:30pm	Facilitated Conversation: Destination Management Strategic Plan
5:30pm	Sponsor Trade Show Tear-down
Evening	Dinner On Own Check out the new in-house restaurant, Original Skiff!

Keynote Presentations

Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing Update
Tuesday, April 29 | 9:00am - 9:50am
Commissioner Pelham will share the Department of Tourism and Marketing's key initiatives from the past year and strategic goals for the year ahead.

Heather Pelham, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing
Heather Pelham has served in the role of Commissioner for the Department of Tourism and Marketing since 2019, leading the team responsible for promoting Vermont as a global travel and relocation destination, welcoming on average over 13 million visitors each year to the state and supporting an industry that brings in over $3 billion in annual economic impact. Prior to this role Pelham served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Vermont for four years and continues to consult on communications strategy and marketing initiatives across the Vermont state government enterprise. Before joining state government, Pelham was the managing partner of a central Vermont advertising and design firm for 15 years and has over 25 years of experience in creative strategy, brand management and integrated marketing campaigns.

Pre-Conference FAM Tour

Burlington Area Familiarization (FAM) Tour
Monday, April 28 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Capacity is limited; advance RSVP required.
Familiarize yourself with the greater Burlington area! Registrants will meet in the Hotel Champlain lobby to catch the bus (provided by Premier Coach). Bus departs at 2:00pm; please plan to board at 1:45pm. Check back for a list of stops!