Travel and tourism experts to converge for Walton Chamber conference
Walton Area Chamber of Commerce President/ CEO Dawn Moliterno today announced plans in partnership with government, other chambers and Florida Freedom newspapers to bring a range of state and national economic development and tourism experts to the region for a three-day regional leadership conference.
Speakers and panelists will be offering actionable advice on how to stimulate economic activity in the Northwest Florida market.
The conference, "Stimulating the Economy with Transportation, NW Florida's Gulf Coast: Cleared for Take-Off," is scheduled for Oct. 15 to 17, at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort.
"With the development of ‘THE Beach' as a regional brand and broad-based effort to secure better, more competitively-priced air service for the region, we've seen a renewed focus on regional economic development and tourism industry issues," said Walton Area Chamber Chair Lori Kelley.
The conference tentatively includes presentations from:
- Dr. John Kasarda, a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Management and director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School; an internationally recognized expert on using airports to drive regional economic development.
- Rick Schneider, vice president of Global Business Development, Travelocity Partner Network; a highly regarded expert on using online travel agencies to drive tourism revenues.
- Michael Pusateri, president and CEO of Vantage Strategy; a Senior Research Scholar at George Washington University; and formerly senior vice president of strategy and COO of the Travel Industry Association of America.
- Professor Darryl Jenkins, author of the Handbook of Airline Economics, and one of the best-known authorities on aviation in Washington, D.C. Jenkins has extensive experience working with local communities to win low-cost air service. He is a regular commentator in the national press.
- Dr. Mark Bonn, associate editor for The Journal of Travel Research, and a tenured full professor in the College of Business, Dedman School of Hospitality, at Florida State University and a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of Marketing. Dr. Bonn specializes in marketing, research and educational programs for the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry.
- Richard B. Jennings, president of Realty Capital International LLC, a global real estate investment banking advisory firm in New York City. Jennings received his MBA from Harvard Business School and holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
In addition, the conference will include presentations from Rep. Ray Sansom, Speaker designate of the Florida House of Representatives, Florida Sen. Don Gaetz, chairman of the Committee on Education (K-12) and Florida Sen. Durell Peaden, M.D., chairman of Health & Human Services Appropriations.
The keynote speaker is John Foley, performance expert and former lead solo with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels.
To reserve your space at the Fall Leadership Conference, contact the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, (850) 267-0683.
Visit www.waltonareachamber.com to register for conference news updates and receive the final conference schedule.
"We have a once in a generation opportunity in Northwest Florida to create a strong foundation to attract high-quality, highwage jobs to our region," said Sansom. "Given the region's rapidly improving infrastructure and the commitment of the Northwest Florida business community, our goal is to develop a strategy to a vibrant, diversified, growing economy that benefits us all. This conference is an important step in setting that strategy."