2013 Ohio Conference on Tourism Workbook by Ohio Travel Association

OCTOBER 16-18, 2013 Cincinnati Marriott North

130 East Chestnut Street / Suite 301 / Columbus, Ohio 43215 / 800.896.4682 TEL / 614.572.1937 FAX / ohiotravel.org WEB

Oct. 16, 2013

Dear Ohio Conference on Tourism Participant: On behalf of the Ohio Travel Association Board of Directors, welcome to the 2013 Ohio Conference on Tourism! We’ve selected “Connect” as the theme of this year’s conference. Why? We believe in the power of a united industry. And, in today’s fast-paced environment, it’s becoming even more important that you are connected to information, connected to your professional peers, and connected to buyers. At this year’s Ohio Conference on Tourism, we’ll connect you to research, trends, and issues impacting our $36 billion tourism industry. We’ll connect you to your peers, giving you an opportunity to share ideas, brainstorm, and learn from each other. And, we’ll help connect you to buyers through exploring new ways to think about the traveler buying cycle, the sports market, the heritage and cultural traveler, and more. Our focus on connecting doesn’t end Friday. Throughout this past year, we’ve prioritized making sure we are the industry’s coach, catalyst for change, and connector. Through new training opportunities, new resources on the OTA website, and a new attitude, OTA has demonstrated its commitment to its industry partners. The Ohio Travel Association is proud to represent this incredible industry, and I invite you to become more involved in shaping our industry’s future. Join the Ohio Travel Association. Participate in committee work. Run for a leadership position. Enroll in the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy. Attend our regional member discussions. Don’t sit on the sidelines…be active! You’ll get a whole lot more out of OTA by getting involved! I’d like to thank the Ohio Conference on Tourism Committee for its hard work. Special thanks goes out to the Office of TourismOhio for its partnership once again, enabling us to bring you some of the nation’s top speakers. But most important, I’d like to thank you for allowing me to serve as your president this year. It’s been an honor and special privilege to be part of our dynamic association. Please enjoy the conference, and remember . . . WE ARE OTA!

Lee Tasseff 2012-13 President, Ohio Travel Association President, Mansfield/Richland County Convention & Visitors Bureau

PAUL SHERLOCK AWARD Paul Sherlock served under Governor James Rhodes on the tourism advisory committee. This original committee became the Ohio Travel Council, today known as the Ohio Travel Association. Established in 1975 and named after this pioneer of Ohio tourism, the Paul Sherlock Award honors those who have demonstrated a lifetime of outstanding service to the development and promotion of Ohio tourism.

Past Recipients of the Paul Sherlock Award 1975 Charles Campbell 1976 William Piatt, Sr. 1977 Frank Carrell 1978 Pat Brown 1979 John A. Baltes 1980 Marilane B. Spencer 1981 Dale Finley 1982 Rachel Reddinger 1983 Don Patterson 1984 Robert S. Hart, Jr. 1985 Ned Harden 1986 Lois E. Smith 1987 Corrine “Corky” Gutter 1988 Peter Robinson 1989 Betty Wasick 1990 Sue Ellen Wilson 1991 Darrell Banks 1992 Ted Ryan 1993 R.C. “Dick” Bell

1994 Daniel Hostetler 1995 Walter Thimmes 1996 William “Bill” Hash 1997 David Warther 1998 Joan Van Offeren 1999 Bill Schwartz 2000 John Hildebrandt 2001 Robert “Chip” Hart, III 2002 Patricia Cano 2003 Vicky Tabor Branson 2004 Susan Hamo 2005 Donniella Winchell 2006 Diane Bailey Chesnut 2007 Jonett Haberfield 2008 Kari Kauffman 2009 Diana Thompson 2010 Amir Eylon 2011 Melinda Huntley 2012 Scott Dring

SPECIAL THANKS Please join the Ohio Travel Association in thanking the following committee members who have made the 2013 Ohio Conference on Tourism possible:

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Chair: Mark Hecquet Mary Beth Bauer Amanda Davis Nicole Daniels Sharrona Burns Debbie Stamper Brya Long Dawn Weinhardt Ron Bower Stephanie Sferra Chris Schutte Kim Bauer Violet Rae Webster Mark Holbrook Tammy Helton

OTA PAST PRESIDENTS Founded in 1965 as the Ohio Travel Council, OTA is a trade association comprised of members of the travel and tourism industry in Ohio. OTA’s membership includes all who benefit from a strong tourism economy, such as hotels, restaurants, attractions, destination marketing organizations, industry suppliers, and others.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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1965-66 1967-68 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977-78 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985-86 1987-88 1989-90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Robert S. Hart, Jr. Hart Productions, Inc Roger F. Dreyer Marketers Association, Ohio Petroleum Earl W. Gascoigne Cedar Point Dale E. Moyer Marathon Ohio Co. Ned W. Harden Circleville Pumpkin Show Ted Ryan WHIO-TV George J. Becker, Jr. Sea World of Ohio Richard C. Bell Seneca Caverns James I. Dally Zanesville Area Chamber of Commerce Frank F. Carrell Cleveland CVB John Baltes Sea World of Ohio Marilane B. Spencer Bixler Tours Martha Beard Miami Valley Auto Club Roger Oplinger Sea World of Ohio Lynn Burke Cleveland CVB Lois Smith Cincinnati CVB Lori Zakel Dayton CVB Peter Robinson Benson’s Robert “Chip” Hart III Hart Productions, Inc. Martha Starkey Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival John Kamm Kamm Tour & Travel, Inc. Daniel Hostetler, III Medina County CVB Dee Grossman Tuscarawas County CVB John Renick Manchester Inn Tim Foley Tim Foley Company H. John Hildebrandt Cedar Point Pat Cano Lorain County Visitors Bureau Bill Schwartz Hospitality, Inc. Nicole Evans Porter Bob Evans Farms, Inc. Bill Mamas Sea World Adventure Parks Susan Hamo Akron/Summit County CVB Vicky Tabor Branson Ohio Historical Society Kelly Ashby Zanesville/Muskingum County CVB Jonett Haberfield A Taste of Ohio Sally Dunker Athens County CVB Larry Fletcher Ottawa County Visitors Bureau Melinda Huntley Lake Erie Coastal Ohio/OSU Sea Grant Gregg Mervis Akron/Summit County CVB Scott Dring Dublin CVB Tim Walsh Cedar Point Debbie Robinson Cambridge/Guernsey County CVB Michelle Doyle Toledo Zoo Lee Tasseff Mansfield/Richland County CVB

Sponsors

967% ROAS Collinson Media is a leader among marketing firms in the meetings, travel and tourism industry. We manage marketing vehicles that deliver your message to the best qualified audience, maximizing conversions to visitors with minimal effort on your part. We provide transparant accountability through regular reporting and follow-up. Our best example has given our client a 8.7:1 ROI and 967% ROAS. And we can prove it. We offer integrated media campaigns tailored for your destination Digital

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Meetings magazines and events Collaborate | Rejuvenate | Connect

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about tailoring a marketing solution to reach your target markets groberts@collinsonmedia.com

CONFERENCE PARTNERS The Ohio Conference on Tourism is a collaboration of the Ohio Travel Association and the Office of TourismOhio. Thank you for attending this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference, and we hope you find the experience invigorating, educational and inspiring.

SPONSORS The following organizations and businesses supported the 2013 Ohio Conference on Tourism. Please express your gratitude for their support while at conference. And, when you do business, please consider doing business with these companies. Thank you.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Portsmouth-Scioto County Visitors Bureau

EXHIBITOR BOOTHS Visit all exhibitor booths and be entered in a drawing for $100

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Complete this form by getting every Exhibitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initials, then fill in your name and return this entry form to the registration desk by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17. A $100 drawing will be held during Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breakfast. Remember you must be present to win! Name______________________________________________ Company ______________________________________________________

Schedule

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9/27/13 11:46 AM

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DAY ONE - Wednesday, October 16 Registration 8:30 to 10 a.m. Ohio Travel Association Board Meeting 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Atrium Glendale Walden Ponds

10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bill Schwartz Memorial Golf Outing

1 to 5 p.m.

The New Journey: Creating a Marketing West Chester Campaign that Makes Sense Based on 1 & 2 the Traveler’s Buying Cycle Sheila Mahony, Meredith Travel Marketing Ann Oliver, Time-Warner Media Amy Weirick, Weirick Communications Michael Pacelli, Ripple Effect Sponsored by CTM Media Group Welcome to Ohio Tourism: Orientation for West Chester 1&2 New Industry Members and Conference Attendees

5:30 to 6 p.m.

Noon to 6 p.m.

Silent Auction Viewing and Bidding Sponsored by Time Warner Cable Media

Tri-County

5:30 to 6 p.m.

Welcome Reception Sponsored by Cincinnati Marriott North

Atrium

6 to 9 p.m.

Ohio Tourism Leadership Dinner OTA President Lee Tasseff ‘Year in Review’ Ohio Development Services Agency Director David Goodman Remarks Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy Graduation Paul Sherlock Award Presentation Sponsored by Butler County Visitors Bureau

West Chester 3&4

Tri-County/ Atrium

Silent Auction Final Bidding and Payout

8 to 8:30 a.m.

Meet the Candidates Breakfast Sponsored by Midwest Living Magazine & Meredith Travel Marketing

West Chester 3&4

8:30 to 10 a.m.

Keynote: The Power of Amazing Content C. C. Chapman Sponsored by TourismOhio

West Chester 3&4

10 to 10:20 a.m.

Atrium Visit Sponsor Booths Please visit our sponsor booths and thank them for their support of the industry.

DAY TWO - Thursday, October 17 Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DAY TWO - Thursday, October 17 (Continued) 10:20 to 11:20 a.m.

Breakout Session: West Chester Tourism on the Go: Using Mobile 5&6 Strategies and Social Media to Engage Guests On-site Franci Edgerly, ITI Marketing, Inc. Sponsored by: Cincinnati Museum Center

10:20 to 11:20 a.m.

Breakout Session: Being Relevant and at the Economic West Chester 1&2 Development Table Kevin J. Carver, Clinton County Port Authority and Wilmington Air Park Debbie Stamper, Clinton County CVB Elise Yablonsky, Positively Cleveland

11:20 to 11:40 a.m.

Visit Sponsor Booths

Atrium

11:45a.m. to 1p.m.

RUBY Lunch and Awards Presentation Sponsored by Ripple Effect

West Chester 3&4

1:05 to 1:30p.m.

Ohio Travel Association Annual Meeting

1:35 to 1:55 p.m.

Ice Cream Social Sponsored by AD-RACK

2 to 2:55 p.m.

Breakout Sessions: West Chester Adapting to the New Group Tour 5&6 Market, and the Beat Goes On Diane Sphar, Ohio Travel Treasures Sponsored by Premiere Tourism Marketing

West Chester 3&4 Atrium

Scoring the Goal in Sports Tourism: A Strategic Plan to Compete for New Business Jackie Reau, Game Day Communications 3 to 3:55 p.m.

Breakout Sessions: Roundtable Discussions: Sponsored by Fahlgren Mortine

Industry Opportunities by OTLA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;13

Culinary Tourism: Using Food to Lure Travelers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paige Alost, Athens County CVB

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

Engaging Your Volunteers (Board and Community) Elise Hyder, Ronald McDonald House

West Chester 5

Creating our Future: How to Become a Tourism West Chester Industry Resource for Elected Officials 1&2

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West Chester 1&2

Phil Craig, The Craig Group, Inc. Jacob Evans, The Craig Group, Inc. Matt MacLaren, OH&LA

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DAY TWO - Thursday, October 17 (Continued) General Session: West Chester Partnering with Nontraditional 3&4 Partnerships Jon Granville, Metro Parks of Butler Co. Mark Hecquet, Butler County Visitors Bureau Duffield Milkie, Cedar Fair Kelly Cusack, BGSU Moderator: Tammy Brown, TourismOhio Sponsored by Clinton County CVB

4 to 4:55 p.m.

5 to 5:30

OTA Board Meeting

Tri-County

6:15 p.m.

Load Buses for Evening Event

Atrium

6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Evening Event: The Web Extreme Entertainment Sponsored by Madden Media, Valley Vineyard & Velvet Ice Cream

DAY THREE - Friday, October 18 9 to 11:40 a.m.

OTA Leadership Breakfast Sponsored by Greater Springfield CVB

West Chester 3&4

Cultural and Heritage Tourism Report Laura Mandala, Mandala Research Installation of OTA President Keynote: Meeting Guest Expectations Today and Tomorrow Dr. Lalia Rach, Associate Dean School of Hospitality Leadership, College of Management UW-Stout

Closing Remarks & Prize Drawings

SAVE THE DATE Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

2014 Ohio Conference on Tourism October 15-17, 2014 Springfield, OH

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS DAY ONE: Wednesday, October 16 Media & Marketing Bootcamp: The New Journey: Creating a Marketing Campaign that Makes Sense based on the Traveler’s Buying Cycle Sheila Mahony, Meredith Corporation Amy Weirick, Weirick Communications Ann Oliver, Time-Warner Media Michael Pacelli, Ripple Effect Marketing today is about making sure we communicate with the right customer, at the right time, with the right message, using the right media, on the right device. But how do we integrate all forms of media into a marketing mix that makes sense? Using research conducted by Meredith Corporation and others, Sheila Mahony, Director of Brand Development for Midwest Living and Meredith Travel Marketing, will present information on the changing patterns of a traveler’s buying cycle. Then she will facilitate a conversation with representatives from other marketing mediums – broadcast, public relations, mobile, social media, etc. to engage attendees in developing ideas for creating integrated communications based on which stage a traveler might be in. Welcome to Ohio Tourism: Orientation for New Industry Members and Conference Attendees New to Ohio’s tourism industry? New to the Ohio Conference on Tourism? Here’s your opportunity to learn more about Ohio’s tourism industry and to hear about the opportunities for becoming more informed and involved. Meet other newcomers with similar interests, giving you a heads-up on networking at the conference.

DAY TWO: Thursday, October 17, 2013 Keynote: The Power of Amazing Content C.C. Chapman Like it or not, we now live in a world where anyone can create content and everyone expects it. It is critical that you embrace the role of content in your marketing and advertising mix and do so in a creative and strategic way. Learn from an expert who will share his years of knowledge both working with clients and as a vibrant content producer himself. See how others are doing it well and how you can start tomorrow.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Tourism on the Go: Using Mobile Strategies and Social Media to Engage Guests On-site Franci Edgerly, ITI Marketing, Inc. Mobile marketing is one of the most important trends happening in the online world right now. If your site is not mobile optimized and you do not have an integrated marketing strategy you could not only be losing business but marketshare. Join this session for ideas and recommendations for your digital and mobile marketing toolkit. Responsive design, mobile-web or Apps? We’ll discuss strategies to consider during the different visitor planning stages of dreaming, planning, booking, sharing and experiencing.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS DAY TWO: Thursday, October. 17, 2013 (Continued) Being Relevant and at the Economic Development Table Kevin J. Carver, Clinton County Port Authority & Wilmington Air Park Debbie Stamper, Clinton County CVB Elise Yablonsky, Positively Cleveland Tourism generates $36 billion in direct visitor spending and when our industry purchases goods and services from other businesses to service our guests. These dollars support more than 443,000 jobs, making tourism one of Ohio’s largest employers. How do we better communicate our value to others in our communities? We’ll hear from two communities who have developed strong relationships between tourism and other economic development efforts. Tourism industry professionals and an economic developer will share advice and tips for building these relationships. Adapting to the New Group Tour Market, and the Beat Goes On Diane Sphar, Ohio Travel Treasures Generating $3.65 billion in sales in Ohio, the motorcoach industry is changing. How do you get your share of this important market? How do you keep up with the changes that are happening? How do you set your business or destination apart? We’ll answer these questions and more, as well as talk about strategies to develop strong long-term relationships with group tour buyers. Scoring the Goal in Sports Tourism Jackie Reau, Game Day Communications This interactive presentation by Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day Communications and Board Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation, will provide insight into creating a strategic sports tourism plan based on the facilities in your market: large or small. From a facility audit to an RFP scan, Reau will discuss how to create a competitive bid and book sports events business that make sense for your community. Roundtable Discussions: Fast-paced and free-flowing, these roundtable discussions allow you to learn about some exciting new projects and share ideas.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Opportunities for Ohio Tourism by OTLA ‘13 Hear from recent graduates of the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy as they share their group projects from the past year. Projects include Engaging Front-Line Employees: An Integral Part of the Tourism Industry (a survey of front-line Ohio tourism employees), Camp Ohio (a proposed cooperative program to encourage camping), and GreenOhio (a proposed sustainability program for Ohio’s tourism industry.) Culinary Tourism: Using Food to Lure Travelers Paige Alost, Athens County CVB Explore ways to create visitor experiences around your local foods economy. Learn about Athens’ 30 Mile Meal and its development, a collaborative brand that provides a collective identity to local restaurants, markets, food producers and food events.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS DAY TWO: Thursday, October 17, 2013 (Continued) Roundtable Discussions: (Continued) Fast-paced and free-flowing, these roundtable discussions allow you to learn about some exciting new projects and share ideas. Engaging Your Volunteers (Board and Community) Elise Hyder, Ronald McDonald House Learn tips for keeping your volunteers and board members engaged from an organization that does it best! Elise Hyder from the Cincinnatiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ronald McDonald House will lead discussions and answer your questions on how to attract, retain, motivate, and train volunteers at all levels of your organization. Creating Our Future: How to Become a Tourism Industry Resource for Elected Officials Phil Craig, The Craig Group, LLC Matt MacLaren, OH&LA Jacob Evans, The Craig Group, LLC How does a bill become law in Ohio? What can industry members do when a proposed law change threatens or is an opportunity for your business? Learn how to be a more effective advocate for the industry, and take part in this conversation about current issues. General Session: Partnering with Nontraditional Partnerships Jon Granville, Metro Parks of Butler Co. Duffield Milkie, Cedar Fair Mark Hecquet, Butler County CVB Kelly Cusack, BGSU Moderator: Tamara Brown, TourismOhio Faced with growing demands for our time and more projects than we can often handle, how do we find others in our communities and the state who can help us? Hear from two unique collaborations, and find out how seemingly different organizations with diverse missions converged to deliver exciting new projects and programs. Learn how a county visitors bureau linked arms with a county metropark to build a sports tournament venue, and discover how Cedar Fair partnered with BGSU Firelands to develop front-line leadership training to retain employees and enhance customer service.

DAY THREE: Friday, October 18, 2013

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Cultural and Heritage Tourism Report Laura Mandala, Mandala Research, Inc Visiting a winery. Experiencing a museum. Attending a live music performance. Enjoying a beach, or going to a zoo. All of these activities and more can be classified as cultural and heritage experiences, or experiences that are unique to a destination or attraction. Developed in partnership with the U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism Marketing Council, the 2013 Cultural and Heritage Traveler Survey reveals data about types of activities these travellers are interested in doing, why theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re traveling, and how to reach them. Not only does this report detail what you need to know about this high-value segment of travelers, it uses the benchmark data from the 2009 Cultural and Heritage Study to highlight trends and reveal shifts in travel behaviors and preferences. Learn insights related to devices these travelers use for research, booking and finding information while traveling. Hear about generational differences in cultural travel preferences.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS DAY THREE: Friday, October 18, 2013 (Continued) Closing Keynote: Meeting Guest Expectations Today and Tomorrow Dr. Lalia Rach, Associate Dean School of Hospitality Management UW-Stout If there is one constant in business, it is that guest expectations are constantly changing. Shifts in consumer behaviors and attitudes require different thinking and responses as visitors have less time and patience and are more demanding. Success will be the result of connecting challenge to opportunity in understanding the needs and desires of Millennials, Gen X and Boomers. Dr. Rach will share genuine ideas and uncommon sense with her special brand of humor and insight.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Paige Alost Paige Alost is the executive director of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Just prior to taking this position, she worked as the associate director of undergraduate admissions for Ohio University. One of her most exciting recent projects is the 30-mile Meal Project, a collaboration of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks and 140-plus local food partners. This initiative pushes the envelope on the growing 100-mile meal movement with a home-grown “super –local’ effort to assist visitors and residents find local foods and places to savor the flavors and food experiences of the Athens region. Tamara Brown Brown is the public relations manager for the Office of TourismOhio, the state’s destination marketing organization. She leads the Office’s efforts to generate media coverage and awareness of Ohio as an exciting and vibrant tourism destination in an effort to attract travelers from across the country and beyond. Brown is a 16-year veteran of TourismOhio. She oversees staff and agencies responsible for media relations, consumer publications, social media networking, consumer and industry eNewsletters and more. Tamara is a member of the Ohio Expo Commission and PRSA. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University in journalism/public relations. Kevin J. Carver Carver was employed as the executive director of the Clinton County Port Authority in December 2010. He’s responsible for the management and redevelopment of the Wilmingon Air Park, a 1,900-acre property with nearly three million square feet of building space and two active commercial runways. Prior to assuming his position with the Clinton County Port Authority, Carver was the regional economic development director of West Central Ohio for the Ohio Department of Development. While working in economic development for Montgomery County, Carver created a Performing Arts Fund and developed a nationally-recognized program linking local economic development with tax revenue sharing. A former city manager, he has a master’s degree in public administration from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree from University of Dayton. In 2010, Carver was named Outstanding MPA Alumnus by Wright State University.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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C.C. Chapman Chapman is a writer, professional speaker, photographer and explorer. He is a graduate of Bentley University and loves nothing more than traveling the world and sharing everything he sees and experiences. His work has appeared on the pages of Rolling Stone and the Wall Street Journal. His thoughts and words have appeared on CNN, Fox and countless online properties. Over the years he has worked on and led numerous award winning campaigns for clients such as American Eagle Outfitters, HBO, The Coca-Cola Company and Verizon FiOS. He is the co-author of the best-selling book Content Rules and his newest book Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real World Guide to Success and Happiness was released at the end of 2012 and has begun inspiring people around the globe.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Philip A. Craig Philip A. Craig is president and the driving force behind The Craig Group, Inc. As principal consultant on projects and activities involving public relations, marketing, community relations, political campaigns and lobbying efforts, Craig has managed a multitude of successful political and private interest campaigns, building on a strong, significant reputation in diverse fields of expertise. Throughout his 30-year career in politics he has worked on more than 5,000 local option campaigns, five statewide issues and petition drives and more than 30 high level county wide land use and regulatory issues. He holds a B.S. degree from the Ohio State University and is a member of the Ohio Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives. Mr. Craig is the top executive to 10 trade organizations, including three with national scope. Kelly Cusack As the director of educational outreach at BGSU Firelands, she manages all non-credit programming for the college including customized training for business and industry, professional and continuing education, conferences, and life-long learning. She is also the director of BGSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centers of Excellence. Cusack has served in a variety of corporate and field positions for some of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest long-term care and assistedliving organizations. She has more than 15 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and business leaders on various aspects of sales management, customer service, and organizational effectiveness. With an emphasis on company culture, she has designed, developed, and facilitated numerous training programs throughout the United States. She is a Certified Program Planner and a Certified Facilitator for Development Dimensions International (DDI). Franci Edgerly Edgerly has spent more than thirty years marketing U.S. travel clients in the very competitive international and domestic markets. She has more than a decade of hotel operations knowledge working with many international brands. Her understanding of the competitive and dynamic market has driven Franci to lead her team to be pioneers within the travel marketing industry through application of technology such as Mobile Web, Apps and developing and implementing Mobile Marketing strategies. She has a broad background in both traditional and new media marketing, and business development. As owner of ITI Marketing, Inc, Edgerly brings her clients tremendous resources, learning and value. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Jacob C. Evans As vice president and general counsel for The Craig Group, Evans oversees all of the initiative and referendum campaigns, assists in the grassroots and grasstops management and lobbies on behalf of his clients. Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign experience stems at the township, county levels, state legislative campaigns, and he has a knowledge of both issue and candidate campaign strategy. Evans has working knowledge of the Ohio Legislature, a direct result of time spent as an aide for the Ohio Senate Majority Whip. He has participated in numerous targeted Congressional grasstops campaigns on issues that face a wide array of clients, ranging from small businesses to large national corporations and trade associations. Evans is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Political Science and earned his Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES David Goodman In 2013, David Goodman was appointed director of the Ohio Development Services Agency by Governor John R. Kasich. Goodman previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Commerce from 2011-13 and is a dedicated public servant with a proven record of effective advocacy and leadership. As an Ohio Senator, he served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for Civil Justice, through which important tort and corporate governance reform initiatives were shepherded. Additionally, Goodman served on the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee, the Environment Committee, and the Committee on Health, Human Services and Aging. Born in Bexley, Goodman began his career in public service as an assistant attorney general for the state of Ohio. Goodman is a graduate of Bexley High School, Miami University and the Case Western Reserve University College of Law. Jonathan Granville Granville has been executive director/CEO of MetroParks of Butler County since September 2007. Mr. Granville is a 30-year veteran in the field of parks having held similar positions at three other Ohio metropolitan park districts in Hancock, Coshocton and Erie counties prior to his current role. During his tenure, MetroParks of Butler County has quadrupled its operational revenue and gained more than 600 acres of additional parkland through the application of business principles and the development of strategic alliances with organizations and individuals in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. A former educator, Granville holds a bachelor of science degree in education from Bowling Green State University. Mark Hecquet A native of London, England, Hecquet has spent the last 13 years working in the tourism industry. He currently serves as executive director of the Butler County Visitor Bureau, where he is responsible for economic development through tourism sales and marketing initiatives. Mark has led the organization since its inception in 2006. Previously, Mark was the sports marketing director for the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he created the Sports Marketing department to attract amateur youth events, generating an estimated economic impact of $10 million annually. Mark has a masters degree in Sports Management and bachelors degree in usiness Management from the University of Kentucky. Mark resides in Liberty Township with his wife Beth and two children, Mason and Lauren. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Elise Hyder Hyder joined Ronald McDonald House as director of volunteers in 2011 after serving 15 years in sales and marketing at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She is thrilled to be serving more than 400 engaged volunteers who inspire her every day, and looks forward to maintaining and growing one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most active volunteer programs. After receiving her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in music and psychology with honors from Florida State University, she obtained a masters degree in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she was a Corbett Scholar. Hyder is still an active professional soloist today and can be heard in area recitals, concerts, and houses of worship.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Matt MacLaren As executive director of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association since 2004, MacLaren provides strategic direction, management and oversight for the organization. Prior to his position with OH&LA, MacLaren worked as communications director for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants where he assisted in the production of the Council Concepts Magazine, worked as Executive Director of the Ohio Automatic Merchandising Association, and served as a lobbyist on several taxation issues. A native of Akron, MacLaren is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied political science and business, and he is a graduate of Capital University Law School. He has experience in government affairs, communications, and association management. He is married to Jacqueline Ferris MacLaren and has a daughter, Lucy Elizabeth MacLaren. Sheila Mahony Sheila Mahony joined Midwest Living and Meredith Travel Marketing as director of brand development in 2009 and is responsible for all integrated marketing programs, brand extensions, proprietary research and market strategy. For the past 25 years, she has held media and marketing positions at top advertising agencies and publishing companies. She began her career as a media planner for Toyota Motors Sales at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising and Johnnie Walker at Smith/Greenland Advertising. She has also worked for Grey Advertising, Time Inc. as the marketing director for the launch of Real Simple and Cottage Living. In early 2009, she joined Hearst Publishing and launched their first joint partnership with Scripps Network - Food Network Magazine. Laura Mandala Laura Mandala has been helping the tourism industry unlock, decode and harness the power of travel data and trends for nearly two decades. As the head of Mandala Research, one of the leading travel and tourism research firms in the world, she spends considerable time evaluating important emerging developments that help destinations and travel companies make the right decisions to attract the right travelers. Her career includes tenure at the U.S. Travel Association where she served as vice president of research. Mandala also worked over a span of 15 years as a consultant with Marriott International, where she gained extensive expertise in brand tracking, brand equity, and brand identity research, as well as global product and service preferences, portfolio analysis, loyalty program membership, suite design and decor, and website usability. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Duffield E. Milkie As corporate vice president, general counsel and secretary for Cedar Fair, Milkie is responsible for the oversight and execution of SEC compliance; corporate governance; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; capital structure transactions; corporate litigation; intellectual property licensing; and employment and labor matters. Cedar Fair is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky and is one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world. Its operations are located in 13 of the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. and Toronto, Canada, and serve more than 150 million people. The company’s portfolio of assets includes four of the most highly acclaimed regional parks in North America. Cedar Point, the company’s flagship park, has consistently been voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World”

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Ann Oliver Oliver has nearly 20 years of hands-on marketing communications experience. She has managed global clients at advertising agencies with her background in travel and tourism, consumer products and businessto-business. Her clients have been recognized with many industry awards. As director of client solutions, Oliver leads a team across multiple markets to support the sales organization and help clients realize their goals. She partners with Sales Leadership to determine priorities and crafts strategies that align advertising solutions to objectives. She joined Time Warner Cable Media Sales after a 13-year run at Fahlgren Advertising. She led the accounts for a wide range of brands and travel and tourism organizations including Experience Columbus and TourismOhio. Michael Pacelli Michael Pacelli is manager of interactive services at Ripple Effect Interactive, a Great Lakes Publishing Company. Since 2009, Pacelli has been directing the creative and marketing operations for this company that specializes in online marketing strategies. He was previously director of creative services for MRINetwork, and a consultant for iCrossing where clients included Coke, Chase, Pfizer, CNN, Sears, American Greetings, Visa, and Merrill Lynch. He is also a 2011 graduate of the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy. Dr. Lalia Rach In addition to her role as an educator, Rach has also published extensively, authoring book chapters and numerous articles and is a highly soughtafter speaker. She is a current or former board member of a wide range of corporations and associations, including the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association, the Madison (WI) Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Foundation, the Mohegan Sun Hotel Board of Advisors, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Women Business Travelers Advisory Board, the Educational Institute (American Hotel & Lodging Association), NYC & Co., New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Travel and Tourism Research Association and The Society of Travel and Tourism Educators. She is a member of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives; the Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Educators; the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and Meeting Planners International.

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Jackie Reau Reau co-founded Game Day Communications with former ESPN Anchor Betsy Ross in 2002. She specializes in strategic communications, social media strategies and crisis communications. Previously, Reau served in marketing and media relations roles at the Cincinnati Art Museum and The Christ Hospital. She is an adjunct professor at University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. She serves as the Board Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation and is active with Kentucky Speedway Children’s Charities and Reds Community Fund.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES Diane Sphar Diane Sphar is owner of Ohio Travel Treasures which she created to assist in bringing the motorcoach tour market to Ohio. Ohio Travel Treasures now has more than 125 different tour ideas that unite, excite and ignite the group tour market. Sphar is active in all aspects of the group tour industry and holds membership in all local, state and national organizations. She was honored as a national Tourism Superstar in October 2001 by Group Tour Magazine, and was recipient of the Governors Award for increasing tourism awareness in 1994. Sphar is on several tourism boards as well as the editorial board of Group Tour Magazine. She speaks across the United States and has developed three different training programs geared toward the tourism industry. Debbie Stamper In addition to serving in 2012 as the President of the Ohio Assoc. of Convention & Visitors Bureau, Stamper also served as an Ohio Travel Assoc. board member for a two terms. She is currently the executive director at the Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau in southwest Ohio where she has served for 14 years. Debbie is very involved in service at the regional and local level serving on the boards of numerous tourism and service organizations. Amy Weirick Amy Weirick is president of Weirick Communications, Inc., a full-service strategic marketing and public relations firm that develops and implements effective campaigns for travel-related clients. She has trained more than 3,000 executives in marketing tactics. Prior to starting Weirick Communications, she served as public relations manager for the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism and as news producer and reporter in radio and television newsrooms in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where she won an Emmy Award for Best Newscast. She was awarded the prestigious Blake Whiddon Award by the Society of American Travel Writers for outstanding contributions to travel public relations. Amy is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society of American Travel Writers and the Midwest Travel Writers Association.

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Elise Yablonsky As the destination development program specialist at Positively Cleveland, Yablonsky works to strengthen Cleveland as a destination and enhance visitor experiences in Cleveland. Yablonsky leads the CLE Travelbackers training program, designed to provide visitor-facing staff with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance visitor experiences and is responsible for engaging local residents as ambassadors. Elise previously served as the senior program manager at the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation & Capitol South. She completed her graduate studies at The Ohio State University and holds a bachelors of arts in Political Science from Mercyhurst University. Elise lives in Cleveland with her husband, Michael.

Leadership Academy

OHIO TOURISM LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS OF 2012-13

The Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy is designed to develop future leaders of our industry. OTLA is for tourism professionals who want to take the next step in advancing their careers. This innovative program’s goals are to sharpen leadership skills, increase networks, and gain a greater understanding of the industry at the statewide level. OTLA is specifically for professionals in Ohio’s tourism industry and is enrolling candidates for the 2013-14 class now.

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RON BOWER

AMANDA DAVIS

MARCELINE DYER

SAMANTHA KENNEDY

GREATER LICKING COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

GROVE CITY AREA VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

DUBLIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

TINA KNOTTS

BRYA LONG

JERRI MILLER

AIMEE RUPERT

UNION COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LONG’S RETREAT FAMILY RESORT

SANDUSKY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

TOURISMOHIO

SHANNON THOMAS

DIANE WATSON

OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MARION AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

OTLA ALUMNI Through education, expanded networks and skill development, participants in the program are encouraged to become active tourism industry leaders at the statewide level. Over the course of seven months, the class meets to discuss topical issues facing the industry. Presenters representing different sectors of the industry and state government offer their insight on how travel and tourism impacts their position and their business or organization. Class participants are assigned group projects to determine how to overcome a particular challenge currently facing Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry.

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Class of 2011-12

Class of 2010-11

Class of 2009-10

Class of 2008-09

Kim Bauer Sharrona Burns Susan Campbell Christy Clark Nicole Cotterman Daniels Ross Czarnik Sally Derrick Roger Dudley Valerie Fox Beth Genson Kathy Gray Jerri Knowlton Jan Myers Lindsay Rist

Betsy Brock Joyce Clark Bryant Angela Crist Betsy Decillis Dana Donchess Betty Fornwald Samantha Fryberger Adam Gehman Mark Holbrook Bob Hood Dallas Howard Shasta Mast Xenia Palus Karen Raymore

Jodi Burroughs Ally Bussey Brian Cheek R. Ben Clemons Jenna Dill Michelle Doyle Violet Rae Webster Julieann Burroughs Ben Harris Heather Kessler Doug Klingel Tonja Marshall Michael Pacelli Allison Potter Deanna York

Tyler Adams James Barger Chrissy Blackwell Amy Daubenspeck Sara Djubek Christy Harp Janet Johnson Susan Peters Claudia Plumley Stephanie Sferra Melanie Shickel Wendy Stram Mary Szymkowiak Kyrsten Walton Mark Winchell Beth Wood

Personal Information: Name: ______________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________________________________________ Phone #: _________________________________ Cell #: _____________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________________________________________ Emergency Contact: __________________________________________________________________ Employment Information: Occupation: _________________________________________________________________________ Employer: _______________________________________ Hire Date: __________________________ Address: _____________________________City: _____________________________ Zip: __________ Phone #: _________________________________ Fax #: _____________________________________ Business Email: ______________________________________________________________________ Briefly describe your work responsibilities:

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Education:

Dates

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________

Employer

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ Schools/Colleges Attended

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

Duties

________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Degree

________________________ ________________________ ________________________

Academic Awards/Honors:

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

Community Activities and Board(s) Involvement: Current Affiliations: Organization

_________________________ _________________________

Dates

___________________________ ___________________________

Office Held

________________________ ________________________

Past Affiliations: Organization

_________________________ _________________________

Dates

___________________________ ___________________________

Office Held

________________________ ________________________

Have you graduated from a local leadership program? If so, which one? _________________________ Briefly state personal goals for the next five years: (Use separate sheet if necessary)

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ I am willing to commit my time, talents, and energy to the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy’s Class of 2014. Signing below indicates my dedication to the program and provides proof of my employer’s support if applicable. I also understand that payment is due upon submission of application to the address below. Please make checks payable to the Ohio Travel Association. Credit cards are accepted. Payment will be refunded if applicant is not selected for this year’s class.

_______________________________________ Applicant Signature

Date

_________________________________________

Employer’s Signature

Date

Please return to the Ohio Travel Association, 130 E. Chestnut St., Suite 301, Columbus, OH 43215

Ruby Awards

2013 RUBY AWARDS The annual Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance Awards competition is the Ohio Travel Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of honoring those who have found the most innovative and creative ways to market their destination, attraction or services. OTA recognizes outstanding artistry in the diverse field of travel and tourism marketing and advertising.

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OTA members and travel and tourism entities submitted their best material in 16 categories. Nearly 160 entries were submitted. Four independent marketing professionals volunteered their time to serve as judges. Winners in each category receive the coveted RUBY Award. Runner-ups receive a Citation of Excellence. The Delegate Choice Award is voted on by those attending the Ohio Conference on Tourism and is chosen from the finalists on display at the conference. All awards, including the Delegates Choice Award, will be presented at the RUBY Awards luncheon on Thursday. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emcee is Lori Bonis, news anchor at WKRC-TV 12 Cincinnati.

Thank you, Ripple Effect Interactive, for your support of Ohio tourism through sponsoring the 2013 RUBY Awards

2013 RUBY AWARDS FINALISTS Guide/Planner Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Clinton County Visitors Guide, Clinton County CVB □ Coshocton Visitors Guide, Coshocton County Visitors Bureau □ Delaware County Pick Your Place to Play Visitors Guide, Delaware County CVB □ Zanesville-Muskingum County Official Visitors Guide, ZanesvilleMuskingum County CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Hartman Rock Garden Guide Book + Map, Greater Springfield CVB □ On the Trail to Freedom – Underground Railroad, Visit Lorain County □ S|O Springfield Front Desk Reference Guide, Greater Springfield CVB □ S|O Springfield Visitor Guide, Greater Springfield CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ 2013 Destination Dayton Visitors Guide/Planner, Dayton/ Montgomery County CVB □ 2013 Official Visitors Guide, Canton/Stark County CVB □ 2013-2014 LGBT Visitors Guide, Positively Cleveland □ Capturing Your Ohio History 2013 Calendar, Ohio Historical Society □ Cincinnati USA Official Visitors Guide, Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network □ Warren County 2013 Visitor’s Guide, Warren County CVB Brochure Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Festival Fun in 2013, Clinton County CVB

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Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ 2013 Trumbull County Profile, Trumbull County Tourism Bureau □ Arts and Quilts of Amish Country, Holmes County Tourism Bureau □ Escape2LC Profile Sheet, Greater Licking County CVB □ Lake County Lake Erie East, Lake County Visitors Bureau Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Brochure, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/Ron Foth Advertising □ Historic Sites Regional Brochures, Ohio Historical Society □ Join Here. Journey Everywhere!, Ohio Historical Society □ LES&I Rethink Meetings and Conventions Brochure, Lake Erie Shores & Islands

Newsletter Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Discover Hilliard, Destination Hilliard Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Bureau Biz Newsletter, Dublin, OH CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Fall 2012 Member Newsletter, COSI □ Surroundings, Akron/Summit CVB Annual Report Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ 2012 Annual Report, Clinton County CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ 2012 Greene County CVB Annual Report, Greene County CVB □ 2013: A Year in Review, Gahanna CVB □ Greater Springfield CVB 2013 Annual Report, Greater Springfield CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ 2012 Report to the Community, Cleveland Airport System □ 2012 Warren County Annual Report, Warren County CVB □ Annual Report Fiscal Year 2012, Ohio Historical Society □ FY12 Annual Report, COSI Direct Mail/Free Standing Insert Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Food, Fun & Fashion Week Rack Card, Beachwood CVB □ Tour Operator Campaign, Destination Hilliard Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ National Road Convention District Direct Mailer, Greater Springfield CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Columbus Experiential Tours, Experience Columbus □ Dayton/Montgomery Direct Mail Postcard, Dayton/Montgomery County CVB □ Ohio Historical Society Membership, Ohio Historical Society □ Pro Football Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Getaway Guide, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Print Advertisement Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Best Road Trip Ever!, Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB □ Destination Planning Ad, Beachwood CVB □ There are advantages to being a big fish in a little pond”, Clinton County CVB □ Toledo Zoo Crocodile Sidewalk Graphic, SFC Graphics Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Billboard Campaign, Greene County CVB □ “Coloring outside the lines” sport ad series, Greene County CVB □ “Planning a Family Adventure?” Ad Campaign, Trumbull County Tourism Bureau □ Special Advertising Section, Ohio Magazine, Greene County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ 1950’s: Building the American Dream, Ohio Historical Society □ Butler County Print Advertising, Butler County Visitors Bureau □ Dinosaur Island Print, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/Ron Foth Advertising □ Warren County Print Ad Campaign, Warren County CVB Marketing Campaign Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ 2012-2013 Marketing Campaign, Ohio Has IT! □ “There are advantages to being a big fish”, Clinton County CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Shawshank 20-Year Reunion, Mansfield/Richland County CVB □ Springfield “Impulse” Campaign, Greater Springfield CVB □ Tough Mudder Ohio, Mansfield/ Richland County CVB □ Uphill By Day, Uptown By Night, Athens County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Dinosaur Island Campaign, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/Ron Foth Advertising □ Experience Columbus Leisure Campaign, Experience Columbus □ Join Here. Journey Everywhere!, Ohio Historical Society □ Snowland, Great Wolf Lodge

2013 RUBY AWARDS FINALISTS Radio Advertisement Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Need a Break- Come to the Lake, Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Visit Athens Ohio, Athens County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ 1950’s: Building the American Dream, Ohio Historical Society □ Branded Radio Commercial, Great Wolf Lodge □ Giant Dinosaur Egg Hunt, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/Ron Foth Advertising □ Ohio Village Opening/Civil War Reenactment, Ohio Historical Society Television Advertisement Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB TV Campaign, Cambridge/ Guernsey County VCB □ Soul of Athens, Athens County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Countdown, Great Wolf Lodge □ Dinosaur Island TV, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/Ron Foth Advertising □ Simpler Time 1, Cleveland Airport System □ Simpler Time 2, Cleveland Airport System Promotional Video Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ “It’s All in Clinton County” promotional video, Clinton County CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Geocaching: Impossible, Athens County CVB □ S|O Springfield Promotional Video, Greater Springfield CVB

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Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Butler County Buzz Video Series, Butler County Visitors Bureau □ Family Fun at Great Wolf Lodge, Great Wolf Lodge □ Warren County Promotional Videos, Warren County CVB

Web Site Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ 2013 Web site for Beachwood CVB, Beachwood CVB □ Delaware County Tourism Web site, Delaware County CVB □ VisitCoshocton.com, Coshocton County Visitors Bureau Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB Web site, Cambridge/ Guernsey County VCB □ Escape to Licking County, Greater Licking County CVB □ Irish is an Attitude Web Site, Dublin, OH CVB □ Official Travel Web site for the Hocking Hills, Hocking Hills Tourism Association Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Butler County Seasonal Web site, Butler County Visitors Bureau □ Cosi.org, COSI □ ExperienceColumbus.com, Experience Columbus □ Ohio Historical Society Web site, Ohio Historical Society □ VisitCantonStark.com, Canton/ Stark County CVB Mobile Web Site Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB Mobile Website, Cambridge/ Guernsey County VCB □ Escape to Licking County CVB, Greater Licking County CVB □ Irish is an Attitude Mobile Website, Dublin, OH CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Dayton/Montgomery County Mobile Web site, Dayton/ Montgomery County CVB □ m.greatwolf.com, Great Wolf Lodge E-Newsletter/E-Bulletin Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ Buggy Talk, Holmes County Tourism Bureau □ E-Newsletter, Dublin OH CVB □ LC Happenings, Greater Licking County CVB □ Visit Athens County, Athens County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ CV Buzz Industry Newsletter, Canton/Stark County CVB □ Ohio History E-News, Ohio Historical Society □ Warren County E-Newsletter, Warren County CVB

Blog Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Clinton County Blog, Clinton County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ COSI Blog, COSI □ I Heart Stark Blog, Canton/Stark County CVB □ Stories from the Playground, Warren County CVB □ The Columbus Experience Blog, Experience Columbus Social Media Campaign Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ Clinton County Social Media Campaign, Clinton County CVB Operating Budget $301,000 to $750,000 □ 2013 Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Gahanna CVB □ Escape2LC Social Media, Greater Licking County CVB □ Lake County, OH Geo Tour, Lake County Visitors Bureau □ #Spring Athens, Athens County CVB Operating Budget Above $750,000 □ Akron/Summit CVB – Twitter, Akron/Summit CVB □ Columbus Food Scene, Experience Columbus □ Warren County Pinterest, Warren County CVB □ Wolf Your World, Great Wolf Lodge Mobile Applications Operating Budget $300,000 and Below □ IGotaBike Ohio to Erie Trail Guide, I Design & IGotABike.com Operating Budget $750,000 and above □ Resort Explorer, Great Wolf Lodge

2013 RUBY AWARDS FINALISTS

Vote for your favorite RUBY Award finalist, and they could win the Delegates Choice Award The Delegates Choice Award is presented to a finalist voted upon by the attendees of the 2013 Ohio Conference on Tourism. Entries are displayed in the atrium area throughout the conference. This form must be returned to the OTA registration desk by 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, for your vote to count. Thank you.

Name of Entry: Category:

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MEREDITH TRAVEL MARKETING opens the door to 100 million women in every life stage, across all Meredith properties. As a trusted authority on women, Meredith Travel Marketing will get your travel message directly to this valuable audience. We can target specific consumers and ensure your message becomes part of their travel experience...Join Us and Make Your Connection Today.

Of all domestic travel Meredith women: > Spent $1 out of every $2 > Took 50% of all the vacations

Sources: MRI Spring 2012; Base: Women 18+, SIM—Publisher’s Estimate; Digital—Omniture October-December 2011

Annual Meeting

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Melissa Luebbe at 312.580.2554 | melissa.luebbe@meredith.com Stu Opfer at 630.832.3600 | stu@opfermedia.com Media Kit Website: meredithTM.com | Consumer Website: TravelMeredith.com

2013 OTA ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA Call To Order

Lee Tasseff, President

Confirmation of Quorum

Eric Hansen, Secretary

Secretary’s Report

Eric Hansen, Secretary

Treasurer’s Report

Karen Raymore, Treasurer

President’s Report

Lee Tasseff, President

Executive Director’s Report

Melinda Huntley

Nominations Report

Eric Hansen

Introductions/Speeches of Candidates For Board of Directors / Elections Committee Reports (Provided in Conference Workbook Legislative Marketing Education Heartland Travel Showcase Ohio Conference on Tourism Scholarship/Student Affairs Membership Paul Sherlock Nominations & Elections Public Relations Code of Regulations Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy

Karen Raymore & Eric Hansen Scott Dring & Ross Czarnik Debbie Stamper & Dawn Weinhardt Debbie Robinson Mark Hecquet Mark Holbrook Claudia Plumley & Susan Peters Dan Hostetler Eric Hansen Jodi Burroughs Amy Daubenspeck Melinda Huntley & Debbie Robinson

Announcement of Election Results Open Discussion Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Adjournment

OTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF 2012-13 Officers Lee Tasseff, Mansfield/Richland County CVB * Lute Harmon, Jr., Great Lakes Publishing * Karen Raymore, Hocking Hills Tourism Association * Eric Hansen, U.S. Hotel and Leisure Advisors * Michelle Doyle, Toledo Zoo *

President President-Elect Treasurer Secretary Past-President

Regional Representatives Southeast Jodi Burroughs Hocking Hills Canopy Tours

Northeast Ally Bussey* Canton/Stark County CVB Sharrona Burns Rock and Roll Hall of Fame/ Museum

Kim Bauer* Portsmouth-Scioto County VB

Tiffany Gerber Tuscarawas County CVB

Dixie Wyler Eastern Ohio Tours Southwest Betsy Kang Great Wolf Lodge

Northwest Dawn Weinhardt* Lake Erie Shores & Islands Maris Brenner Kalahari Resort

Mark Hecquet* Butler County VB

Richard Nachazel* Destination Toledo

Christopher Schutte Greater Springfield CVB At-Large Claudia Plumley*

Central Mary Szymkowiak Gahanna CVB

Stephanie Sferra Trumbull County Tourism Bureau

Roger Dudley Experience Columbus

Mark Holbrook Ohio Historical Society ( * ) Executive Board

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OTA Staff Melinda Huntley, Executive Director Janet Johnson, Deputy Director Jeremy Myers, Membership and Communications Manager Beatrice Mitchell, Assistant Meeting Planner Mark Meyer, Bookkeeper

2012 OTA ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES Call to Order President Michelle Doyle called the meeting to order at 1:25 p.m.

Date: Oct. 11, 2012 Location: Embassy Suites Columbus - Dublin

Confirmation of Quorum Confirmation of Quorum was declared by Secretary Karen Raymore. Secretary’s Report Minutes from the previous annual meeting were in the conference packet for review. A correction to the previous year’s minutes regarding the spelling of ballot was introduced. Ally Bussey moved to accept the minutes as corrected, and Dawn Weinhardt seconded the motion. Motion was carried. Treasurer’s Report Treasurer Lute Harmon presented the Treasurer’s Report. Maris Brenner moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented, and Violet Rae Webster seconded. Motion was carried. President’s Report President Michelle Doyle thanked the OTA board and committee members for their service and dedication. She also mentioned that her report was given at the Wednesday night event of the Ohio Conference on Tourism. Executive Director’s Report Executive Director Melinda Huntley remarked about the opportunities and challenges the association faced in 2012, the steps the association took to address them, and the exciting potential for the future.

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Nominations Report Secretary Karen Raymore announced the slate of candidates for the 2012-13 OTA Board of Directors as sent to all members in August. Candidates include the following: Central Region – Roger Dudley and Lisa Underwood; Northwest Region – Alexandra Kontos (absent) and Richard Nachazel; Northeast Region – Amy Daubenspeck and Tiffany Gerber; Southwest Region – Ross Czarnik and Christopher Schutte; Southeast Region – Kim Bauer, Jodi Burrough and Jeri Knowlton; At-Large Representative – Mark Holbrook and Sharrona Burns. Each candidate was given two minutes to speak. Ballots were collected.

OTA ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES Committee Reports President Michelle Doyle reported that all committee reports are provided in written format in the Ohio Conference on Tourism program. Committees and their respective chairs are as follows: Legislative: Karen Raymore & Eric Hansen Marketing: Scott Dring Education: Debbie Stamper & Dawn Weinhardt Heartland Travel Showcase: Michelle Doyle Ohio Conference on Tourism: Mary Szymkowiak Scholarship/Student Affairs: Alex Kontos & Mark Holbrook Membership: Claudia Plumley & Susan Peters Paul Sherlock: Dan Hostetler Nominations and Elections: Karen Raymore Public Relations: Amy Daubenspeck Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy: Melinda Huntley A motion to accept all committee reports carried. Claudia Plumley moved to accept. Debbie Stamper seconded. New Business Election results were announced by President Michelle Doyle. Central Region: Roger Dudley Northwest Region: Richard Nachazel Northeast Region: Tiffany Gerber Southwest Region: Christopher Schutte Southeast Region: Jodi Burrough At-Large Representative: Sharrona Burns Donnie Winchell made a motion to destroy all ballots; Ally Bussey seconded. Motion carried. Open Discussion Adjournment On a motion by Lute Harmon, Jr., the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Karen Raymore OTA Secretary, 2011-12

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Legislative Committee Karen Raymore, Hocking Hills Tourism Association, Co-Chair Eric Hansen, Hotel & Leisure Advisors, LLC, Co-Chair The Legislative Committee was extremely busy in 2013, addressing issues that make Ohio a business-friendly environment for tourism. The Ohio Travel Association helped defeat an expansion of the Ohio sales tax to services, which would have increased your cost of marketing, advertising, accounting, and many other day-to-day services. We helped defeat a statewide admissions tax, which would have increased our travelers’ cost substantially. We also made sure that the tourism industry has a say in new large-scale water diversion requests, by serving on a rules committee that mandates visitors bureau be contacted for feedback before permits are granted. Making sure the Office of TourismOhio has the resources it needs to fulfill its mission of promoting tourism in Ohio, we continuously monitor progress during this time of transition to the new funding model passed in 2012. This performance-based funding model came into effect because of the efforts of the Ohio Tourism Roundtable and our industry members who spoke up about the need for competitive funding. Although this model was ultimately capped at $10 million, this is double of what TourismOhio had in 2012. The new funding begins this month. It’s also important to note that had this model not been capped by legislation, the budget would exceed $24 million. Many of our members recently took part in providing testimony during an Ohio House Legislative Oversight Committee meeting regarding progress on naming the Office of TourismOhio Advisory Board, and we were proud of their consistent testimony on the value of state promotional efforts to their bottom lines. Most of what we do is done in collaboration with other leading tourism industry associations. The OTA Legislative Committee is part of the Ohio Tourism Roundtable, comprised of OTA, Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and the Ohio Restaurant Association. As the only industry association representing all industry interests, the OTA occupies a lead role in the roundtable. Nearly 70 Ohio tourism leaders met with legislators during the Ohio Tourism Legislative Day in March. This event was sponsored by the Ohio Travel Association, the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association. Our committee also improved the ways OTA reaches out to its members to assess opinion on key policy issues. Through the use of new participatory OTA Legislative Alerts, your vote mattered on key issues, such as tax reform for online travel intermediaries and expansion of the sales tax, before action was taken. Working with OTA, several partners adapted this tool to determine opinions of their local partners. Check out the new OTA website – ohiotravel.org – for expanded resources that keep you informed on what’s happening. Key industry issues are archived, and we’ve provided talking points and media links to keep you updated. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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The committee continues to monitor legislation that may impact the tourism industry, but we need your help to be successful. Please make a generous personal contribution to the Ohio Tourism PAC so we can support the campaigns of legislators who are supportive of the tourism industry. Corporate contributions are also needed so that we can conduct the research and prepare the materials needed to communicate. Corporate contributions can be made to the OTA Legislative Action Fund. Contribution forms for both funds are provided in the last final pages of this conference program. Thank you.

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Marketing Committee Scott Dring, Dublin CVB Ross Czarnik, Cincinnati USA CVB The Marketing Committee has advised and supported OTA staff during the development and launch of the new ohiotravel.org, as well as through ongoing event marketing and social media efforts. The launch of the new OTA website and contact database has been used to increase marketing efforts to members and prospective members. The website is able to efficiently send electronic communications and track interactions. Communications have been targeted to maximize these interactions. Social media marketing efforts have included studying the unique challenges of business-to-business social media campaigns as well as Facebook target market advertising guidelines. Prospective OTA members were identified through various channels and targeted for event marketing through paid advertising campaigns. These new campaigns resulted in a net increase in interaction Education Committee Debbie Stamper, Clinton County CVB, Co-Chair Dawn Weinhardt, Lake Erie Shores and Islands, Co-Chair Ohio Travel Association continues its commitment to building a stronger tourism industry through providing quality educational programming. At this year’s Wednesday workshop, a panel of industry experts will present on communicating with the right customer, the right time, with the right message, using the right media on the right device. Sharing their professional experience and insight at Conference this year are C.C. Chapman, Dr. Lalia Rach and Laura Mandala. In addition, there are several other breakout sessions that will empower you to move your business to the next level. Earlier this year, the Columbus Dispatch was host to the Perfect Pitch. More than 40 industry partners attended this workshop. An informative presentation from Falghen Mortine was followed by an opportunity for four story pitches and candidate critiques by editors from Home & Away, Columbus Dispatch, WBNS-TV10 and Clevelandsaplum.com. Fifty-six industry partners gained new skills and knowledge in attracting group travel and in grant writing by attending two Focus on Tourism workshops coordinated by the Ohio Travel Association. The first event was on the Changing Group Tour Market. An informative presentation from Ohio Travel Treasures, was followed by a panel of veteran industry peers - Warther’s Museum, Emerald Hospitality Associates, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Canton/Stark County CVB. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

Learn more about us:

OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

In August, industry partners learned how to develop strong funding proposals and find corporate, foundation and government funding sources. Special thanks to the Columbus Foundation, the Nationwide Insurance Community Foundation, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife funders. The session also included an informative presentation from OTA’s Melinda Huntley. The third Focus on Tourism event will be held Nov. 19 and is being developed in collaboration with the Office of TourismOhio. Developing Effective Print Advertising will take a look at best practices for designing print pieces, particularly advertising, that produce sales. Sharing their talents and knowledge at the workshop will be folks from Madden Media and Ron Foth Advertising. This event is being held just in time for you to submit artwork for the 2014 DiscoverOhio guidebook.

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Heartland Travel Showcase Committee Debbie Robinson, Cambridge/Guernsey County CVB, Chair Tiffany Gerber, Tuscarawas County CVB, Vice Chair Since 1986, the Ohio Travel Association has connected attractions, museums, hotels, destinations and others to group tour operators looking for new tours to sell to their clients. Called Heartland Travel Showcase, this event averages 500 attendees. Toledo was host of the successful 2013 Heartland Travel Showcase with an encore scheduled for March of 2014. At this year’s Heartland, 6,072 appointments were conducted between qualified tour operators looking to book group business and our industry’s suppliers, a new Friday Night Networking Social, sponsored by Ohio Has It!, was held, and an introduction to OTA’s Sales Coach, Yvette Alexander Slate, provided sales tips and training. The Heartland Travel Showcase will continue to evolve and refocus with the changing group tour market. Here are just a few things we’ve incorporated for 2014: •

A new partnership with American Bus Association (ABA) creates even more value-added services for Heartland participants and gives expanded visibility among ABA operators.

•

As a result of this new partnership with ABA, all Heartland attendees will receive discounts for ABA membership and have access to ABA’s monthly webinars. ABA will also conduct a general session at the 2014 Heartland Travel Showcase.

•

New Heartland branding focuses on the unique and sellable group experiences found only in the Heartland of North America.

•

Recognizing that to build relationships between tour operators and suppliers to ultimately clinch a sale, contacts need to be made beyond Heartland Travel Showcase. To give even more opportunities for this to happen, we introduced a quarterly electronic newsletter to connect operators and suppliers yearround. This value-added tool is maximizing the supplier’s exposure as part of the Heartland Experience.

•

Recognizing the ever-changing dynamics of the group tour market, we’re introducing a new 4-hour boot camp for suppliers on Thursday at the 2014 Showcase. This intense session is designed to provide attractions, museums, destinations, and other tourism experience suppliers with the latest information on group tour trends and opportunities.

Following a very successful Focus on Tourism workshop in the spring and the demand for more educational opportunities about the group tour market, we’ve added a group tour session to this year’s conference line-up.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

Learn more about us:

OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

Public Relations Committee Jodi Burroughs, Hocking Hills Canopy Tour The Public Relations Committee has focused on two missions in 2013. First was the development and facilitation of “The Perfect Pitch”. The event was rebranded for 2013 to address the importance of digital media in addition to traditional media. The Columbus Dispatch hosted more than 40 industry partners for a presentation by Falghen Mortine and a panel of editors from Home & Away, Columbus Dispatch, WBNS-TV10 and Clevelandsaplum.com. Additionally the committee assisted and advised OTA staff in an ongoing capacity during the relaunch of the OTA website and with outreach efforts in attracting new members and event registrants.

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Conference on Tourism Committee Mark Hecquet, Butler County VCB, Chair CONNECT with Ohio’s tourism industry at this year’s conference. OTA continues to bring its industry partners top-notch education along with opportunities for learning best practices from your peers. Keynotes by some of the nation’s leading speakers – C.C. Chapman, Dr. Lalia Rach and Laura Mandala – along with multiple breakout sessions were selected to enhance your business. We are committed to equipping you with information, education and training. Be sure to say hello to some new industry supporters at the vendor tables, and don’t forget to welcome our first-time conference attendees. You can stay informed of the conference schedule and activities on your smartphone with our mobile website. Thursday evening, we will be at The Web Extreme Entertainment one of Butler County’s most exciting entertainment center. Get to know your fellow tourism partners during an evening of games, food, music and FUN! The Web offers laser tag, go karts, mini golf, mini bowling as well as one of the largest arcades in the area! Friendly competition is encouraged . . . but not required. Scholarship/Student Affairs Committee Mark Holbrook, Ohio Historical Society, Chair 2013 has been a year of transition and expansion for the scholarship program. In recent years scholarship winners have been unable to maintain their eligibility and receive the financial assistance provided by the scholarship fund. As a means to continue investing in the future of Ohio tourism, the committee has expanded the scholarship program to now include professional development grants within the industry. Student scholarships will still be awarded when eligible candidates apply. The new Ohio Travel Association Mission/Vision Professional Development Scholarship Program will award $250 scholarships for current OTA members. These scholarships can be used for Conference on Tourism, Heartland Travel Showcase, Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy and other Ohio tourism professional development opportunities. The application period for 2014 awards is November 1 – 30, with recipients being announced December 20. Applications will be evaluated by the Scholarship Committee based on need and responses to several questions indicating how the use of the scholarship will contribute to the recipient’s professional development in the industry. The committee will consist of travel, tourism, and hospitality industry professionals from across Ohio. The committee’s decisions are reported to the Executive Director of the Ohio Travel Association. Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

Paul Sherlock Committee Dan Hostetler, Medina County Convention and Visitors Bureau This committee has the incredible task of seeking nominations for Ohio’s most prestigious tourism award, the Paul Sherlock Award. We solicited nominations through many means – Tourism Monitor, emails, and social media. Nominees were presented to the OTA Board of Directors in September, but even these board members do not know who won. As is tradition, the Paul Sherlock Award winner is top-secret, which makes its unveiling Wednesday night even more special. I’d like to thank this year’s committee members for their efforts. They include Joan Van Offeren, Dawn Weinhardt, Kari Kauffman, Scott Dring, and Vicki Tabor Branson.

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Nominations and Election Committee Eric Hansen, Hotel & Leisure Advisors, LLC Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better way to become more engaged in this powerhouse industry than to assume an Ohio Travel Association leadership position. This year, we are thrilled with the industry members who have stepped forward for these roles. Many calls to action were made in the Tourism Monitor, emails, on our website, and using social media, letting our members know of board seats that were available and providing information on how to apply. Thank you to all who responded, and also thank you to the industry members who helped follow-up with potential candidates. In accordance to the OTA Code of Regulations guidelines, full membership was notified of open board seats and provided the slate of candidates. Voting will take place at the OTA Annual meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 1:05 p.m. at the Cincinnati Marriott North. Any OTA member who wishes to become more involved in leadership is encouraged to contact Melinda Huntley, OTA Executive Director, at mhuntley@ohiotravel.org or 614.453.8487. The Ohio Travel Association believes in making sure its new board leaders are prepared and knowledgeable before the first board meeting. For that reason, OTA introduced a board orientation program last year, conducted just prior to the full board strategic visioning session. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board orientation will be held Nov. 6 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Membership Committee Susan Peters, Visit Gahana Convention and Visitors Bureau, Co-Chair Claudia Plumley, Co-Chair In 2013, all measurements of OTA membership indicate growth. Organizational membership has increased 27% since January 2013 and member engagement, as measured by organizational participation in OTA educational programming, events, and meetings, is at a healthy 77%. Throughout the year, the membership committee has worked to communicate the value of OTA membership to exisiting, prospective and returning members. The newly implemented OTA member database enables staff to target each audience and craft event marketing materials specifically targeted to nonmembers. Several prospective members who had not previously engaged with OTA registered for and attended educational programs, such as Focus on Tourism, Perfect Pitch and Market-Making Forums, as a result. The redesign of ohiotravel.org will not only serve as a marketing tool for attracting new members, but will serve as an ongoing resource for the industry. Prior to conference, OTA conducted a survey to gauge member satisfaction with the changes that have been implemented in 2013 and overall satisfaction with the organization. Results will be available during conference.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

Learn more about us:

OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

2013 OTA COMMITTEE REPORTS Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy Melinda Huntley, Ohio Travel Association, OTLA Co-Chair Debbie Robinson, Cambridge/Guernsey County, OTLA Co-Chair Stephanie Sferra, Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, Alumni Co-chair The Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA) began five years ago as a way to engage emerging tourism professionals in the industry and in leadership. This year, we were extremely pleased to partner with the OSU Sea Grant College Program, who provided support and educational expertise. During the Wednesday night celebration of the Ohio Conference on Tourism, we’ll honor 10 members of the Class of 2013 during graduation ceremonies. These graduates attended six educational sessions, January through June, delving into tops such as tourism’s role in economic development, arts and humanities, heritage and historic preservation, and natural resources and outdoor recreation. They spent a day at the statehouse, meeting with key state leaders and learning how to become effective advocates for the tourism industry. Another session, held at TV-10 Columbus focused on media and communications and addressed how best to tell the tourism story. Class members completed ‘homework’ assignments following each session, expressing their opinions and sharing their ideas on what they’d just learned through writing editorials, testimonial speeches, letters to elected officials and memos to their supervisors. Each class member also participated in a group project that they identified through analyzing what they’d learned during sessions. This year, the class projects included the following: • Engaging Frontline Employees: An Integral Part of the Tourism Industry (a survey of front-line Ohio tourism employees), • Camp Ohio (a co-op program to encourage camping), and • GreenOhio (a sustainability program for Ohio’s tourism businesses). For the first time, you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about their ideas and findings by participating in the Ohio Conference on Tourism Roundtable Discussions to be held Thursday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. Applications are now being accepted for the Class of 2014. You can find an application in your Ohio Conference on Tourism program within the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy tab. We encourage you to sponsor one of your community partners for this program. Several of our OTA members have done this recently with great success – not only have they developed a local partner who truly understands the opportunities and challenges of Ohio tourism, but these folks are now engaged in our industry and helping us to create real change through their active participation.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

C E L E B R AT I N G

O YEARS

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Connecting Businesses With Visitors Looking For Fun Things To Do! 1983 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2013

Brochure Distribution | Publications | Digital Touch Screen Advertising Solutions

Elections

Mick Canter Director of Sales & Marketing mcanter@ctmmedia.com | 330.294.5271

CTMMediaGroup.com

2013-14 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES NORTHEAST REGION One Seat To Be Elected

Lori Berhent Regional Director of Sales & Marketing Emerald Hospitality Associates, Inc. With more than 25 years of hotel experience, Lori brings to OTA vast hospitality sales, marketing and revenue management experience. As Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Emerald Hospitality Associates, she is responsible for driving revenue and market share for nine regional hotels. Skills used at this job which will be helpful to OTA and the industry include not only providing strategic direction to teams, but also helping to oversee sales tactics at the ground level. Prior to her partnership with Emerald, Lori cultivated her hospitality knowledge in a variety of leadership roles including Director of Catering & Convention Services and Director of Sales and General Manager with Marriott International as well as Starwood branded properties. She has been recognized by the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau as Sales Pro of the Year. She will bring to OTA new partnerships and connections from the hospitality industry.

Allyson (Ally) Bussey Tourism Marketing Manager Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau Since 2007, Allyson’s been the Tourism Marketing Manager of the Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau. She also spent eight years at Amish Door, Inc., where she served as Marketing Assistant and then Marketing Director. Allyson’s passion for the tourism industry has driven her to serve in many leadership roles in tourism, including being an Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy graduate, Adventures in NE Ohio board member and past president, Heartland Travel Showcase committee and advisory board member and as an OTA executive board member to name a few. Allyson is proud to be one of the founders of Ohio Has IT!, an industry-driven cooperative marketing partnership that serves more 90 members. Ohio Has IT!’s mission is to showcase Ohio as a premier group tour destination. When Ally isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her husband Jason, daughter Avery and being a tourist in her region!

NORTHWEST REGION One Seat To Be Elected

Tony Clark Director of Communications Cedar Point

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Tony’s interest in being an OTA leader stems from his desire to focus our organization on overcoming future challenges for Ohio’s tourism industry and increasing awareness of this industry and all we have to offer. In 2005, Tony joined Cedar Point’s PR team where his responsibilities included maintaining relationships with local media, national publications and park fans. Prior to that, he worked as a radio personality at a top 40 station in Milwaukee. After a brief departure from Cedar Point in 2010 to return home for a TV reporting gig, he ventured back to the park this past March and is now the Director of Communications. He is responsible for promoting the park as a local, national and global entertainment destination via traditional public relations methods and digital communications. He’s an avid amusement park fan, which means working at America’s Roller Coast is his dream job. He’s quick to point out that he does not give out free funnel cakes or elephant ears, even if you say, “Pretty please?”

2013-14 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES CENTRAL REGION

One Seat To Be Elected Chris Kerr Sales Manager Dispatch Media Group Chris Kerr is a long-time member of The Dispatch Media Group. He has served several roles in his 15+ year career, including selling and managing the sales of Marketing and Media Solutions to local, regional and national accounts. He has also been responsible for managing Advertising Sales for DMG affiliates such as ThisWeek Community Newspapers, Columbus Parent Magazine and now, The Columbus Dispatch. He currently leads a team focused on core strategic segments, including the travel segment. This team focuses on the challenges facing each individual segment and develops marketing ideas to help overcome those challenges with a mix of The Dispatch, Dispatch Digital (a full service Digital Agency), myriad weekly and monthly niche publications and magazines, as well as working with affiliates at WBNS 10TV and 97.1 The Fan. Chris is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Marketing and Business Administration, and lives with his wife and three children in Plain City.

SOUTHEAST REGION One Seat To Be Elected Ray McKinniss Farm Manager Bob Evans Farms Since 1995, Ray has been responsible for managing activities and events at the Bob Evans Farm in Rio Grande, but he’s been a part of the Bob Evans team since 1980, including positions as restaurant assistant manager, a test kitchen assistant, and field marketing coordinator. He’s a past president and current member of the Gallia County Convention and Visitors Bureau board and a past president of the Gallia Chamber of Commerce, where he chaired the Gallipolis River Rec Festival three times. He’s completing his term on the Ohio’s Appalachia Country board, and he is the chair of the Ohio Chautauqua in Gallipolis Committee. Ray believes tourism is the best opportunity to expand the economy of southeast Ohio, and he is looking forward to serving the state’s tourism industry, particularly in demonstrating the power of tourism to business and civic leaders. A graduate of the University of Rio Grande, Ray lives in Gallipolis with his wife, Teri.

SOUTHWEST REGION One Seat To Be Elected

Violet Rae Webster Senior Director of Tourism & Group Sales Cincinnati Museum Center

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Violet has spent her 30-year career in travel and tourism sales and marketing management for special events, attractions, and a convention and visitors bureau. Prior to her job at the Cincinnati Museum Center, she was Director of Ticketing and Captain’s Club Sales for Tall Stacks ’99 and Director of Tourism Development for the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau. Having previously served on the OTA board, Violet would like this opportunity to resume working with industry leaders for a strong and more profitable industry. She is proud to have been on the OTA board that developed the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy and to be a 2011 graduate. She feels serving on the board again is a way to give back to the organization that has provided resources and support for her personal and professional development. She is immediate past chair of the Tourism Council of Greater Cincinnati and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Morehead State University.

2013-14 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES AT LARGE

Two Seats To Be Elected Ron Bower Marketing & Sales Manager Greater Licking County Convention & Visitors Bureau After 15 years in retail management, Ron went to Franklin University where he earned a masters degree in marketing and communications in 2007. He decided to change careers in 2011 when he came to Licking County CVB, and he doesn’t plan on leaving tourism anytime soon. In addition to promoting tourism in Licking County, Ron is marketing chair for the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as information chair for the Downtown Newark Association. He’s serving on subcommittees of the Ohio Travel Association and the American Bus Association. A 2013 Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy graduate, Ron says being on the OTA board will allow him to add ideas, serve on committees and be a brand ambassador for all of Ohio tourism. He’s an avid Cleveland Indians fan, and he likes to attend concerts of his favorite 1980s musical acts. He lives in Columbus with his partner of 14 years, Tim; their dog, Baxter; and two cats, Slocombe and Calliope.

Tami Brown General Manager Greater Cleveland Aquarium Tami calls herself less of a traditional “supervisor” and more of a “facilitator” helping her amazing team set priorities based on overall goals. Before joining the aquarium, Tami was Vice President of Marketing for Positively Cleveland where she worked in partnership with Team NEO and the Greater Cleveland Partnership to form the first-ever cohesive brand for a region that incorporated both economic development and tourism. She is a current board member and committee chair of the Center for Community Solutions and GroundWorks Dancetheater, and she is on the Vestry for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She is interested in an OTA board position because she’d like to find a way to involve more organizations from the arts and cultural sector in the tourism industry. As the first Director of Arts and Cultural Tourism at Positively Cleveland, she believes she has the experience needed to help bring arts and cultural stakeholders to the tourism table, and she would like to do this statewide.

Debbie Stamper Executive Director Clinton County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

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Debbie’s mantra has always been to give back to the tourism industry. Having previously served on the Ohio Travel Association board, she would love the opportunity to serve the industry once more. In her 14 years as executive director at Clinton County CVB, she has been very involved locally, regionally and statewide. She was the 2012 president of Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and she currently serves as the co-chair for the Ohio Travel Association Education Committee. She is also treasurer for the Tourism Council of Greater Cincinnati. Locally, Debbie serves on the county economic development committee, Downtown Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation, and many others. Upon the exodus of DHL Worldwide from Wilmington four years ago, she was the driving force in economic development by developing the area as a destination for sporting events and meetings. She is devoted to exploring new tourism initiatives and building support and partnerships to further awareness of tourism’s role in driving an economy.

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@TWC_media TWCMedia.com Silent Auction

SILENT AUCTION Congratulations to Christopher Schutte, Sharrona Burns and the Silent Auction Committee members for making this auction a great event! Proceeds of this event are used by the Ohio Travel Association to develop educational programming throughout the year. Make your marketing budget dollars reach further. More than $36,000 worth of media is included in the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silent auction. There are great weekend packages that include hotel stays, admissions to attractions, sporting events, dining and much more. Do you want to discover a new city? Or, is there a state park youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to visit? Are you looking to break away from the rigors of the office by taking a relaxing getaway at a quaint bed and breakfast? Or, bid on one of several beautiful gift baskets filled with tasty and wonderful treats from throughout Ohio. This is also a great opportunity to purchase a unique gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. Final bidding and payout for Silent Auction items take place following the Paul Sherlock Award Presentation on Wednesday evening. All items must be paid for on Wednesday evening. Payment may be in cash, checks or credit cards. Media items may be invoiced.

Ohio Travel Association and TourismOhio are proud to offer you this opportunity to learn about key industry issues and make valuable career connections.

Learn more about us:

OhioTravel.org DiscoverOhio.com

Thank you, Time-Warner Cable Media, for your support of Ohio tourism through sponsoring the 2013 Conference on Tourism Silent Auction.

Ohio Travel Association Ohio Travel Association 130 E. Chestnut St., Ste. 301 Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614.572.1931 Fax:614.572.1937 Email: info@ohiotravel.org

Charge receipt: Ohio Conference on Tourism Bids Purchase (s) made at Silent Auction

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Total due Name on Card _________________________________________________________________________________________ Company Name _______________________________________________________________________________________ Billing Address ________________________________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________ State __________ Zip Code ______________________ Card Type

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Card # _______________________________________ Exp. date _______ Sec. code _______

I AGREE TO PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT SHOWN ABOVE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT. Signature _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Print name __________________________________________________________________________________________

Attendees

Mary Romano ABA Media 253 Summer St, Floor 3 Boston, MA 02210

Walter M Dozier AdOhio 1335 Dublin Rd., Suite 216-B Columbus, OH 43215

Joyce Clark Bryant AD-RACK 12700 Townepark Way, Ste 201 Louisville, KY 40243

Cliff Falkner AD-RACK 12700 Townepark Way, Ste 201 Louisville, KY 40243

Lori Wellkamp AD-RACK 12700 Townepark Way, Ste 201 Louisville, KY 40243

Chris Chesak Adventure Travel Trade Association 601 Union St, 42nd Floor Seattle, WA 98101

Allyson L Ford Akron/Summit CVB 77 E. Mill St. Akron, OH 44308

Jim Mahon Akron/Summit CVB 77 E. Mill Street Akron, OH 44308

Mark Winchell Ashtabula County CVB 1850 Austinburg Rd. Austinburg, OH 44010

Paige Alost Athens County CVB 667 East State Street Athens, OH 45701

Jenna Dill Athens County CVB 667 East State Street Athens, OH 45701

Jeni Bertke Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 900 Edgewater Dr. Saint Marys, OH 45885

Donna Grube Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 900 Edgewater Dr. Saint Marys, OH 45885

Patty Lampert Beachwood Convention & Visitors Bureau 3201 Enterprise Parkway #145 Beachwood, OH 44122

Sandy Smith Best Western - Port Columbus 1450 Airpointe Dr. Columbus, OH 43219

Betsy A Decillis Betsy A Decillis Consulting, LLC 8431 Rodebaugh Rd Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

Wendy Stram Bowling Green CVB 119 E. Court St. Bowling Green, OH 43402

Kelly Cusack Bowling Green State University 1007 Cedar Point Center Huron, OH 44839

Mark Hecquet Butler County Visitors Bureau 8756 Union Centre Blvd West Chester, OH 45069

Linda Moorman Butler County Visitors Bureau 8756 Union Centre Blvd West Chester, OH 45069

Mick Canter C.T.M. Media Group 11 Largo Drive South Stamford, CT 06907

Abby Gardner C.T.M. Media Group 11 Largo Drive South Stamford, CT 06907

Debbie Robinson Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB 627 Wheeling Ave., Ste. 200 Cambridge, OH 43725

Dixie Lee Wyler Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB 627 Wheeling Ave Cambridge, OH 43725

Allyson Bussey Canton-Stark County CVB 222 Market Ave. North Canton, OH 44702

John Kiste Canton-Stark County CVB 222 Market Ave. North Canton, OH 44702

Laura Perry Canton-Stark County CVB 222 Market Ave. North Canton, OH 44702

Theresa Passwater Careworks Consultants Inc. PO Box 8101 Dublin, OH 43016

Amy Rutledge Carroll County CVB PO Box 505 Carrollton, OH 44615

Duffield Milkie Cedar Fair One Cedar Point Dr. Sandusky, OH 44870

Tony Clark Cedar Point One Cedar Point Dr. Sandusky, OH 44870

Tim Walsh Cedar Point One Cedar Point Dr. Sandusky, OH 44870

Sandi A Arnold Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau 107 N. Main St. Urbana, OH 43078

Chad McAllister Christopher Inn 30 N. Plaza Blvd. Chillicothe, OH 45601

Curt McAllister Christopher Inn 30 N. Plaza Blvd. Chillicothe, OH 45601

Violet Rae Webster Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45203

Randie Adam Cincinnati USA CVB 525 Vine St., Ste. 1500 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Debbie Crowdus Cincinnati USA CVB 525 Vine St., Ste. 1500 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Ross Czarnik Cincinnati USA CVB 525 Vine St., Ste. 1500 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Heather Kessler Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network 50 East Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 810 Covington, KY 41011

Casey Kroger Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 100 Covington, KY 41011

Amber Potter Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network 50 East Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 810 Covington, KY 41011

Todd F. Payne, CTC Cleveland Airport System 5300 Riverside Drive Cleveland, OH 44181

Leigh Blackburn Clinton County CVB 13 N. South St. Wilmington, OH 45177

Debbie Stamper Clinton County CVB 13 N. South St. Wilmington, OH 45177

Kevin J. Carver Clinton County Port Authority and Wilmington Air Park 1113 Airport Rd Wilmington, OH 45177

Giles Roberts Collinson Media 15 Technology Pkwy. S., Suite 250 Norcross, GA 30092

Pete Fingerhut Columbus Zoo and Aquarium/Zoombezi Bay 9990 Riverside Drive, PO Box 400 Powell, OH 43065

Lainie Brillhart Coshocton County CVB 401 Main St. Coshocton, OH 43812

Jan Myers Coshocton County CVB 401 Main St. Coshocton, OH 43812

Chelsea Nupp COSI 333 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215

Colleen Fahey Courtyard by Marriott Springfield 100 S. Fountain Ave. Springfield, OH 45502

Jennifer Grunwald Courtyard by Marriott Springfield 100 S. Fountain Ave. Springfield, OH 45502

Michael Rush

Renu Saggar Crossings Magazine 1455 Normandy Street LaSalle, ON N9J 3N1

Deb Shatzer Delaware County CVB 34 S. Sandusky Street Delaware, OH 43015

Christy J Clark Destination Hilliard 5274 Norwich Street Hilliard, OH 43026

Cathy Miller Destination Toledo CVB 401 Jefferson Avenue Toledo, OH 43604

Richard C Nachazel Destination Toledo CVB 401 Jefferson Avenue Toledo, OH 43604

Chris Kerr Dispatch Media Group 5300 Crosswind Dr Columbus, OH 43228

1218 Camp Creek Rd Waynesville, OH 45068

Sara Blatnik Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau 9 South High St Dublin, OH 43207

Scott Dring Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau 9 South High Street Dublin, OH 43017

Samantha Kennedy Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau 9 South High Street Dublin, OH 43017

Anthony Cordo Experience Columbus 277 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Roger Dudley Experience Columbus 277 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Marceline Dyer Experience Columbus 277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Kari Kauffman Experience Columbus 277 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Sandi M Matgouranis Experience Columbus 277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Amy Tillinghast Experience Columbus 277 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 Columbus, OH 43215

Leslie Holbrook Fahlgren, Inc. 4030 Easton Station, Suite 300 Columbus, OH 43219

Marty McDonald Fahlgren, Inc. 4030 Easton Station, Suite 300 Columbus, OH 43219

Meghann Naveau Fahlgren, Inc. 4030 Easton Station, Suite 300 Columbus, OH 43219

Greg Eyerman Fairfield County VCB 124 W Main St, Ste. 200 Lancaster, OH 43130

Katherine Rice Fremont/Sandusky County CVB 712 North Street Suite 102 Fremont, OH 43420

Laurie A Jadwin Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau 167 Mill Street Gahanna, OH 43054

Susan Peters Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau 167 Mill St Gahanna, OH 43230

Mary Szymkowiak Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau 167 Mill St Gahanna, OH 43230

Jackie Reau Game Day Communications 700 West Pete Rose Way Cincinnati, OH 45203

Lynda Nemeth Geauga County Tourism 14907 N. State St. PO Box 846 Middlefield, OH 44062

Julie Van Winkle Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure 1525 Bethel Rd Ste 100 Columbus, OH 43220

Betsy Kang Great Wolf Lodge 2501 Great Wolf Drive Mason, OH 45040

Terrie Zajo Great Wolf Lodge 2501 Great Wolf Drive Mason, OH 45040

Tami L Brown Greater Cleveland Aquarium 2000 Sycamore Street Cleveland, OH 44113

Ron Bower Greater Licking County CVB 455 Hebron Rd Heath, OH 43056

Dan Moder Greater Licking County CVB 455 Hebron Rd. Heath, OH 43056

Christopher Schutte Greater Springfield CVB 20 South Limestone St., Suite 100 Springfield, OH 45502

Larry Hensel Greene County Convention & Visitors Bureau 1221 Meadow Bridge Dr, Suite A Beavercreek, OH 45385

Allen Stebelton Greene County CVB 1221 Meadow Bridge Dr Suite A beavercreek, OH 45434

Jim Holthaus Group Tour Media 709 Millpond Rd. Lexington, KY 40514

Tracy Broyles Grove City Visitors Bureau 3378 Park St Grove City, OH 43123

Amanda Davis Grove City Visitors Bureau 3378 Park St Grove City, OH 43123

Warren Gard Grove City Visitors Bureau 3378 Park St Grove City, OH 43123

Veronica Barrientos H & A Media Group 10703 J. St., Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68127

Timothy Derr Hearst Magazines 681 Edgecote Lane Lake Forest, IL 60045

Joyce Barrett Heritage Ohio 846 1/2 E. Main Street Columbus, OH 43205

Valerie Fox Hocking Hills Canoe Livery 12789 State Route 664 S Logan, OH 43138

Jodi Burroughs Hocking Hills Canopy Tours 10714 Jackson St Rockbridge, OH 43149

Karen Raymore Hocking Hills Tourism Association 13178 SR 664 S Logan, OH 43138

Shasta Mast Holmes County Tourism Bureau 6 W. Jackson St., Suite A Millersburg, OH 44654

Eric Hansen Hotel & Leisure Advisors 14805 Detroit Avenue, Suite 420 Cleveland, OH 44107

Pamela Miller Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce 11318 Horseshoe Channel Dr. Lakeview, OH 43331

Franci Edgerly ITI Marketing 1611 Union Street Brunswick, GA 31520

Shawn McKeown JackRabbit Systems 466 W. San Francisco Street Sante Fe, NM 87501

C.C. Chapman Keynote Speaker

Lalia Rach Keynote Speaker

Patrick Crow Knox County CVB 107 South Main St. Mount Vernon, OH 43050

Elizabeth Wantz Lake County Visitors Bureau One Victoria Square, Suite 265A Painesville, OH 44077

Larry Fletcher Lake Erie Shores & Islands West PO Box 447, 770 S.E. Catawba Rd. Port Clinton, OH 43452

Rene Franklin Lake Erie Shores and Islands 4424 Milan Road, Suite A Sandusky, OH 44870

Joan Van Offeren Lake Erie Shores and Islands 4424 Milan Road, Suite A Sandusky, OH 44870

Dawn Weinhardt Lake Erie Shores and Islands 4424 Milan Road, Suite A Sandusky, OH 44870

Nicole Cotterman Daniels Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau 100 S Main St Bellefontaine, OH 43311

Brya Long Long's Retreat Family Resort 50 Bell Hollow Rd Latham, OH 45646

Pati Flannery Madden Media 901 N. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302

Linda Macala Mahoning County CVB 21 W. Boardman Street Youngstown, OH 44503

Laura Mandala Mandala Research, Inc 429 N Saint Asaph Alexandria, VA 22314

Lee Tasseff Mansfield/Richland County C.V.B. 124 N. Main St. Mansfield, OH 44902

Shannon Beacham Marietta, Washington County CVB 121 Putnam St. Suite 110 Marietta, OH 45750

Samantha Brandjes Marietta, Washington County CVB 121 Putnam St. Marietta, OH 45750

James D Fairchild, III Marietta, Washington County CVB 121 Putnam St. Marietta, OH 45750

Jeri Knowlton Marietta, Washington County CVB 121 Putnam St. Marietta, OH 45750

Diane Watson Marion Area CVB 1713 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd. Ste.110 Marion, OH 43302

Dan Hostetler Medina County CVB 32 Public Square Medina, OH 44256

Sheila Mahony Meredith Corporation 333 N. Michigan Avenue #1500 Chicago, IL 60601

Sheila Mahony Meredith Travel Marketing 333 N. Michigan Avenue #1500 Chicago, IL 60601

Stu Opfer Meredith Travel Marketing 333 N. Michigan Avenue #1500 Chicago, IL 60601

John Granville Metro Parks of Butler County 2051 Timberman Rd Hamilton, OH 45013

Deann Bechtol Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau 405 SW Public Square Suite 272 Troy, OH 45373

Leiann Stewart Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau 405 SW Public Square Suite 272 Troy, OH 45373

Heather Taylor Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau 405 SW Public Square Suite 272 Troy, OH 45373

Diana Thompson Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau 405 SW Public Square Suite 272 Troy, OH 45373

Melissa Luebbe Midwest Living 333 N. Michigan Avenue #1500 Chicago, IL 60601

Deana J Clark Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau 21 West Main Street McConnelsville, OH 43756

Colleen Grey Nautica Queen 1153 Main Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113

Elden Brown Northwood Map Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 391 Boulder Junction, WI 54512

Mike Brown Northwood Map Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 391 Boulder Junction, WI 54512

Tammy Brown Office of TourismOhio PO Box 1001 Columbus, OH 43216

Eric Herzog Office of TourismOhio PO Box 1001 Columbus, OH 43216

Joe Giessler Office of TourismOhio PO Box 1001 Columbus, OH 43216

David Goodman Office of TourismOhio PO Box 1001 Columbus, OH 43216

Aimee Rupert Office of TourismOhio 4310 E. 5th Ave. Columbus, OH 43219

Lyn Tolan Office of TourismOhio PO Box 1001 Columbus, OH 43216

Jason Fallon Ohio Department of Natural Resources 2045 Morse Road Columbus, OH 43229

Heather Clagett Ohio Division of Wildlife 2045 Morse Road Columbus, OH 43229

Susie A Vance Ohio Division of Wildlife 2045 Morse Road G1 Columbus, OH 43229

Charlie Blosser Ohio Historical Society 800 E. 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43211

Mark Holbrook Ohio Historical Society 800 E. 17th Avenue Columbus, OH 43211

Shannon Thomas Ohio Historical Society 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43211

Matt MacLaren Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association 692 North High Street, Suite 212 Columbus, OH 43215

Patricia Williamsen Ohio Humanities Council 471 E. Broad St., Suite 1620 Columbus, OH 43215

Betsy Brock Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Jessica Greathouse Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Kayleigh Hanlin Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Lute Harmon, Jr. Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Karen Matusoff Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Matt Moore Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Michael Pacelli Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Hannah Simpson Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Marilyn Tanious Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Jim Vickers Ohio Magazine 1422 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Heidi Hetzel-Evans Ohio State Parks 2045 Morse Road, C-3 Columbus, OH 43229

Lindsay Odiam Ohio State Parks 2045 Morse Road, C-3 Columbus, OH 43229

Kathleen Williams Ohio State Parks 2045 Morse Road, C-3 Columbus, OH 43229

Julie Fox Ohio State University Extension 1864 Shyville Rd Piketon, OH 45661

Melinda Huntley Ohio Travel Association 130 East Chestnut St. Ste. 301 Columbus, OH 43215

Janet Johnson Ohio Travel Association 130 East Chestnut St. Ste. 301 Columbus, OH 43215

Beatrice Mitchell Ohio Travel Association 130 East Chestnut St. Ste. 301 Columbus, OH 43215

Jeremy Myers Ohio Travel Association 130 East Chestnut St. Ste. 301 Columbus, OH 43215

Lisa Underwood Ohio Travel Pavilion PO Box 141 Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

Diane Sphar Ohio Travel Treasures 5270 Day Rd Cincinnati, OH 45252

Donniella Winchell Ohio Wine Producers Association 33 Tegam Way Geneva, OH 44041

Frank Satullo OhioTraveler.com & ZoneFree Marketing 6358 Castle Hill Drive, Suite 200 Liberty Township, OH 45044

Jessica Greene Oxford Visitors Bureau 14 W Park Place Suite C Oxford, OH 45056

Buddy Butler Paramore 9 Painters Crossing Williamstown, WV 26187

Haley Gronemeier Park Inn 101 N. Summit Street Toledo, OH 43604

Darrell Banks Past Paul Sherlock Award Recipient

Hatt Hart Special Industry Volunteer

Lois Smith Past Paul Sherlock Award Recipient

Vicky Tabor Branson Past Paul Sherlock Award Recipient

Kim Bauer Portsmouth-Scioto County Visitors Bureau 342 Second Street Portsmouth, OH 45662

April Ingle Positively Cleveland 334 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44114

Marie Scalia Positively Cleveland 334 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114

Elise Yablonsky Positively Cleveland 334 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114

Harry Peck Premiere Tourism Marketing 621 Plainfield Rd Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

Susan Campbell Pro Football Hall of Fame 2121 George Halas Drive Canton, OH 44708

Sharrona Burns Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44114

Justin Hage Ron Foth Advertising 8100 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43235

Tim Kern Ron Foth Advertising 8100 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43235

Kim W Moore Ron Foth Advertising 8100 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43235

Elise Hyder Ronald McDonald House

Melody Young Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau 45 East Main Street Chillicothe, OH 45601

Beth Genson Rossford CVB 119 E. Court St. Bowling Green, OH 43402

Jerri Miller Sandusky County CVB 712 North Street Suite 102 Fremont, OH 43420

Jeanette Smith Sauder Village 22611 St. Rt. 2, PO Box 235 Archbold, OH 43502

Keith Hartbarger SFC Graphics 110 E Woodruff Ave Toledo, OH 43604

Michael Regan SFC Graphics 110 E Woodruff Ave Toledo, OH 43604

Kari Thompson Stonewall Group 154 1/2 Loft, Front Street Marietta, OH 45750

Darnella Rozzelle The Columbus Dispatch 5300 Crosswind Drive Columbus, OH 43228

Kelly Tyner The Group Travel Leader 301 E. High St. Lexington, KY 40507

Ruth Campbell The Web Extreme Entertainment 7172 Cincinnati Dayton Road West Chester, OH 45069

Ann Oliver Time Warner Cable Media 580 N. 4th Street, Ste. 350 Columbus, OH 43215

Michelle Doyle Toledo Zoo PO Box 140130 Toledo, OH 43614

Bryce J Sprosty Travel Advertising Group 1011 Locust Street des Moines, IA 50309

Ian Ross Travel Spike 3300 Highlands Pkwy Smyrna, GA 30082

Erin Kelly Trip Advisor 141 Needham Street Newton, MA 02464

Stephanie L Sferra Trumbull County Tourism Bureau 321 Mahoning Ave. NW Warren, OH 44483

Tiffany Gerber Tuscarawas County CVB 124 East High Ave. New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Dee Grossman Tuscarawas County CVB 124 East High Ave. New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Jacob Masters Tuscarawas County CVB 124 East High Ave. New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Sarah Gabriele U.S. Travel Association 1100 New York Ave, NW Suite 450 Washington, DC 20005

Tina Knotts Union County Chamber of Commerce 227 E. 5th Street Marysville, OH 43040

Barb Bickel Visit Lorain County 8025 Leavitt Rd. Amherst, OH 44001

Heather Fraelich Visit Lorain County 8025 Leavitt Rd. Amherst, OH 44001

Mary Fessler Warren County CVB 5412 Courseview Drive Suite 220 Mason, OH 45040

Daniel Keltner Warren County CVB 5412 Courseview Drive Suite 220 Mason, OH 45040

Bridget Kochersperger Warren County CVB 5412 Courseview Drive Suite 220 Mason, OH 45040

Phillip S Smith Warren County CVB 5412 Courseview Drive Suite 220 Mason, OH 45040

Martha Starkey Wayne County CVB 428 W. Liberty Street Wooster, OH 44691

Amy Weirick Weirick Communications 7792 Olentangy River Rd Columbus, OH 43235

Julie Ann Burroughs Wild Zipline Safari 14000 International Rd Cumberland, OH 43732

Lori Kappes Zanesville/Muskingum CVB 205 N. Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701

An editable version of this release is available at http://www.ohioconferenceontourism.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Oct. 18, 2013 Contact: YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION Jeremy Myers Ohio Travel Association Phone: 800.896.4682 x5

(YOUR COMPANY NAME) REPRESENTED AT STATE TOURISM CONFERENCE WEST CHESTER, Ohio – [NAME OF YOUR DELEGATES ATTENDING AND TITLES of YOUR COMPANY NAME] recently attended the Ohio Conference on Tourism at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester, Ohio. [SHE/HE/THEY] joined approximately 200 other tourism industry members to discuss tourism trends and opportunities, as well as to hear from national experts. The conference, sponsored by the Ohio Travel Association and the Ohio Office of TourismOhio, was held Oct. 16-18. Keynotes at the conference included C.C. Chapman, marketing guru and author, who discussed content strategies; Dr. Lalia Rach, director of the UWStout School of Hospitality Leadership, who updated attendees on tourism trends; and Laura Mandala, managing director at Mandala Research, who introduced recent findings from a cultural and heritage tourism report. The conference agenda also included sessions on sports tourism management, advocacy, mobile strategies, and more. The Ohio Travel Association represents all sectors of Ohio’s $36 billion tourism industry, including hotels, attractions, museums, restaurants, visitors bureaus, retail shops, and other business. For more information on the Ohio Travel Association, visit ohiotravel.org. #

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Stop by Our Booth to Learn More CONTACT: DARNELLA ROZZELLE • 614-461-8804 • drozzelle@dispatch.com CHRIS KERR • 614-461-5044 • ckerr@dispatch.com Source: Media Audit Mar-Apr/Sep-Nov 2012