News

Join us April 21 for the 2015 WCU Tourism Conference to be held at the Ramsey Center on the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee. Last year over 150 tourism professionals, economic development officials, elected and appointed officials, and Chamber of Commerce officials attended the conference.

Receive your county’s updated Tourism Economic Fact Sheet and attend sessions to learn the secrets of planning successful festivals and events.


Special workshops from experts on community planning festivals and events including:

  • Get your customized “Tourism Economic Fact Sheet” for your county showing jobs and taxes generated by tourism in your county
  • Festivals and Events 101: Essential elements of planning a successful festival or event
  • Secrets to getting financial sponsorships and volunteers for your festival or even
  • Success with food and craft vendors at your festival or event
  • How to market a your festival or event to reflect your area’s authenticity, culture, and history

Who Should Attend

  • Tourism and Economic Development officials
  • City and County Commissioners
  • Elected and appointed officials in WNC
  • Chamber of Commerce representatives in WNC
  • Private sector hospitality and tourism business owners and managers 

Tentative Schedule

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM  Conference registration, coffee, pastry & fruit breakfast

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM  Welcome, overview of conference, recognition of conference sponsors

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM  Dr. Steve Morse, Economist & Director - Get your customized “Tourism Economic Fact Sheet” for your county

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM  Coffee Break / Networking

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM  Festival and Events 101: Essential elements to planning a successful festival or event in your community (Wright Tilley, International Festival and Events Association, and Director, Boone, NC TDA)

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM  3 Breakout sessions (choose one)

  • Session 1: Secrets to getting and keeping financial sponsors and community volunteers for festivals and events (Melissa Porter, Managing Partner, Asheville Event Co.) (45 min)
  • Session 2: Success with food and craft vendors at festivals and events (Dr. Mary Morse) (45 min)
  • Session 3: Choosing a festival or event theme and marketing strategy to reflect your local community’s authenticity and  unique sense of place (Chris Cavanaugh, Magellan Strategy Group, Asheville, NC ) (45 min)

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM  Lunch provided - Wit Tuttle, NC Division of Tourism

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM  Coffee Break / Networking

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM  Repeat of 3 breakout sessions

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM  The top 7 ways to make your festival or event a failure (John Whisenant, Executive Director of Tourism, Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association) (60 min)

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM  Regional WNC Tourism Updates:

  1. Smoky Mountain Host (Betty Huskins) 10 min
  2. Blue Ridge Mountain Host (Pepper Parris) 10 min
  3. High Country Host (Candice Cook) 10 min