WORKSHOPS

Keynote Speaker

Are you prepared to weather the change forecasted to impact business in 2008? This session will feature a brief but informative and entertaining overview of eight economic, social and industry issues that will influence your success in the coming year.

Click here to view Speaker Biographies.

Session I: 11:00am - 12:30pm

It's All Right Here in your Region – Packaging: An Effective Marketing and Partnership Building Tool

This morning session with be divided into eight facilitated regional packaging roundtables: Maine Beaches, Greater Portland/Casco Bay, Mid-Coast, Maine Lakes & Mountains, Kennebec Valley, The Maine Highlands, Aroostook and DownEast & Acadia. The structure of the session is as follows:

• Overview of the geographic boundaries and features of the region
• Briefing on regional marketing organization and highlights of marketing strategy
• Packaging introduction
• benefits of packaging
• considerations in packaging – liability, booking, collection/disbursement of funds
• marketing opportunities related to packaging/market trends
• Split into working groups based upon areas of interest

End product – A marketable Maine Getaway

Facilitators:

• Mid-Coast – Greg Dugal and Cerina Leeman
• The Maine Highlands – Matthew Polstein and Jennifer Donahue
• Kennebec Valley – Carolann Ouellette
• Aroostook – Dave Spooner
• Maine Beaches – Dick Leeman and Paige Farmer
• Maine Lakes & Mountains – Robin Zinchuk and Dina Jackson
• DownEast & Acadia – Fred Cook and Judy East
• Portland/Casco Bay – Lynn Tillotson
  

Session II: 2:30 - 4:00pm

It's All Right Here in Customer Service – The Little Things that Make a Big Difference: Chicken Soup

This workshop developed around a story of a gentleman, with a bad cold, who checked into a hotel. Upon settling in his room, an unexpected knock on the door was room service with a delicious bowl of hot chicken soup sent from the front desk with get well wishes. The story illustrates an example of how to exceed expectations and gain loyalty. Some of the discussion points: anticipating guests' needs, training & staff empowerment, providing strong role model/guidelines and building memorable experiences.

Presenter: Julie Burnes, Project Manager - Customer Satisfaction, L.L. Bean.

It's All Right Here - Packaging the Maine Woods Experience - Building Partnerships and a Connection to Place

Three nonprofit organizations will discuss their work promoting nature-based tourism in Central and Western Maine , early efforts packaging and simplifying this experience, and making it more accessible to a broad range of outdoor participants. The group will discuss the role local partners can play in these efforts.

Panelists: Dave Herring, Maine Huts & Trails; Laura Hurley & Kevin Breunig, Appalachian Mountain Club; Kate Williams, Northern Forest Canoe Trail

It's All Right Here in Maine – Inter-regional Itineraries

This facilitated workshop is directed at regional marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, non-profit groups and businesses interested in crossing regional boundaries for broader reach into the marketplace. The focus will be the development of thematic and experiential itineraries identifying specific sites and related businesses. Three primary goals of the Inter-regional itinerary workshop are:

1. Identifying components for developing a marketable itinerary

2. Eliminating the roadblocks for introducing them to the marketplace

3. Measurement of success

Facilitator: Curt Cottle, Consultant, South Carolina

It's All Right Here for Business Resources and Development – Where to Turn for Answers and Assistance

The focus of this workshop is on familiarizing tourism businesses with the resources and assistance available from the Office of Business Development at the Department of Economic & Community Development as well as the Small Business Development Centers. These two entities are key sources of information for start-ups, as well as existing and expanding businesses.

Presenters: Jim Nimon, Director, Maine Office of Business Development

Meriby Sweet, Interim Director, Small Business Development Centers

Identifying Your Target Market

The purpose of the session is to understand market segments that will impact your success for years to come. Whether the target market is affluent, single, gay, female or a blend, each is more demanding than ever and has expectations for specialized, unique experiences.  Understanding their needs and expectations will assist you in establishing service approaches that are personal and tailored, offering products that are flexible and varied, and crafting a message that establishes and strengthens the relationship. This workshop challenges traditional thinking and action and provides common sense suggestions to connect to your target market.

Presenter: Dr. Lalia Rach