• Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Sunday, January 29th
Wyoming Office Of Tourism
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM WOT Board MeetingCheyenne Room
Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM WHTC Board MeetingSinclair Room
Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM WHTC Education Foundation MeetingSinclair Room
Reed Foley Singer Songwriter
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Legislative ReceptionGrand Ballroom

Join us in the Grand Ballroom for food, music, and fun!

Entertainment: Reed Foley

Entertainment Sponsored by: BMI

Reed Foley Singer Songwriter

From the mountains of Sparta, North Carolina to the stages of Nashville, Tennessee, singer-songwriter Reed Foley is making a name for himself in country music. As an artist, Reed has opened for Jason Aldean, Tyler Farr & William Michael Morgan. He has just finished his newest project and is releasing new music this year and next. 

No matter the size of the venue, the stage is his second home. He’s played everything from neighborhood bars to the largest NASCAR events. Not only has Reed written all of his own releases, but he also has cuts with his friends John Pate, Grayson Rodgers, and Joe Berk. 

Reed has also been a featured artist at several national association conventions and is the “go-to” artist for several regional charities. He also runs an annual Toys for Tots campaign that has raised over $20,000 for children in need.

Legislative Reception Sponsored by: WHTC and WADA,

  • Monday, January 30th
Wyoming Office of Tourism
Destination Day

Wear your community, attraction or state gear and represent your destination with pride!

7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Registration Desk OpenGrand Ballroom Hallway

Monday the registration desk is open from 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM 

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM General Session – Breakfast: Smart Destinations By Jay Kinghorn, ZarticoGrand Ballroom, Sponsored By: Visit Casper

Breakfast Buffet Starts at 7:30 am
General Session to begin at 8:00 am


Learn what the leading destination organizations of all sizes and budgets do to use the visitor economy for the betterment of their communities. In this presentation, Jay Kinghorn, Chief Innovation Officer of Zartico, shares national trends for 2023 and how Wyoming destinations perform against other Smart Destinations nationwide.

This session is sponsored by:

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom

Steamboat
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM Breakout Session 1: Generational Marketing By Matthew Landkamer, Where About Travel; Hannah Becker, Jeremy Becker, Becker Digital; Shaina Zafar, JUV ConsultingCheyenne Room, Sponsored By: RMI

How to Target Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, & Boomers.
Every generation speaks a different language. Generational marketing is the practice of segmenting and targeting audiences by age group. Learn how each generation differs from the other and how to efficiently market to them. Uncover marketing trends from baby boomers to Generation Z to help you develop a relevant marketing plan.

This session is sponsored by:

RMP Destination Marketing
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM Breakout Session 2: Hospitality Laws That Impact Wyoming Employers By Andrea Lure Ryan, Fisher & Phillips LLPSinclair Room, Sponsored By: Zartico

Join Andria Ryan of Fisher Phillips as she brings us up to speed on the current state of employment litigation trends, agency enforcement efforts and labor and union issues. She will also share her insights around best practices for 3rd party temporary/contract staffing agreements, understanding and preventing 3rd party harassment claims, compliance tips for accommodating employees under the ADA and hot button social and political issues at work.

This session is sponsored by:

Zartico
10:10 AM – 10:20 Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom

Chris Brown
10:20 AM – 10:40 AM Legislative Update By Chris Brown , WHTCGrand Ballroom, Sponsored by: Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board

This session is sponsored by:

10:40 AM – 12:30 AM Industry Trade Show and ProStart CompetitionGrand Ballroom

Industry Trade Show – Grand Ballroom
ProStart Competition – Wyoming Room

Be apart of the states largest industry related trade show, and make sure to visit all this years vendors! Make sure to get your stickers for the passport game as we will be giving away several amazing prizes during the raffle on Tuesday Morning! Sip on some amazing Wyoming Made “Old Faithful” inspired drinks in this years drink competition served up by some of Wyoming’s Finest Distillers.

Little America Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM General Session – Lunch: 8 Traits of a Selfless Leader By Bob Pacanovsky, Chief Hospitality Officer, The Black Tie ExperienceGrand Ballroom, Sponsored By: Wyoming Lottery

Join us in the Grand Ballroom for lunch and our general session.


In this seminar, we will look at the eight traits of being a Selfless Leader that helps us focus on understanding that we are in the people business first, and foremost. Traits like trust, collaboration, and appreciation, which may seem to many as common sense, are not a part of the common practice for some leaders today. With these traits in place, everyone can become a stronger and more selfless leader.

This session is sponsored by:

1:30 PM – 1:40 PM Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom

1:40 PM – 2:40 PM Breakout Session 3: H2B and Other Visa Options for Hospitality Employers By Andrea Lure Ryan, Fisher & Phillips LLPSinclair Room, Sponsored By: Wyoming Lottery

In this session we will review the practical and legal steps and requirements to use the H2B visa program. We will cover the H2B visa requirements, fees and application process as well as the employer’s responsibilities to H2B workers once they come to work. We will also discuss other temporary worker options for hospitality employers, including the TN and J-1 programs.

This session is sponsored by:

Steamboat
1:40 PM – 2:40 PM Breakout Session 4: How the West Was Won By Chelsea Benitez, Destination Analyst; Amy Hume, MilesCheyenne Room, Sponsored By: Madden

Essential research & practical examples on reaching & engaging with Western and Wyoming visitors. This would combine the latest research (including custom analysis of Western Travelers) on traveler segments and their interests, passions, media use, etc from Destination Analysts. Miles Partnership will then illustrate these key research insights with US and global examples of successful creative, content, and campaigns – demonstrating how to use this research to reach and engage with potential travelers, including a range of no-cost or low-cost options.

This session is sponsored by:

Madden Media
2:40 PM – 2:50 PM Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom

Berkeley Young
2:50 PM – 3:50 PM Breakout Session 5: Partnering Outside the Lines By Berkeley Young, Young Strategies; Dominic Bravo, Visit Cheyenne; David Wright, Albany Lodge Sinclair Room, Sponsored By: Miles

Promotional partnerships have been a mainstay of our destination promotion efforts for decades. Sometimes we have to look beyond the obvious and find some unique attributes and/or events within our destinations to create a partnership that will inspire new audiences to visit. This session will share examples of some unique partnerships within Wyoming that lured new visitors, extended the season and broadened the brand.

This session is sponsored by:

Miles Partnership
Steamboat
2:50 PM – 3:50 PM Breakout Session 6: Exceptional Content Without the Exceptional Cost: UGC and simple production tools to boost DMO content. By Emily Sutherland, Crowdriff; Jesse Ryan, New ThoughtCheyenne Room, Sponsored By: Carbon County

What type of content drives engagement on different social channels? What does great User Generated Content (UGC) look like, and how can you access it affordably? What are the best practices for producing high-production-value content on the cheap? In this session, we will unpack which visual assets increase interest and drive engagement across specific brand channels. Whether searching for tools to boost your own production capabilities or seeking to expand your destination’s library of strong user-generated content, this session will equip you with additional insights for success.

This session is sponsored by:

Steamboat
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Gala ReceptionGrand Ballroom Hallway
Steamboat
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Salute to the Industry GalaBrand Ballroom

Each year we celebrate the success of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry with the Salute to the Industry GALA. This year we are making it even more special as we celebrate 20 years of the WHTC Education Foundation and there ProStart Program. Help us celebrate a milestone, dress to impress in your best emerald green formal attire! A fun night is to be had with the silent and live auctions, a celebration of the industry’s top youth from the ProStart Competition, and a night of gathering to celebrate a year of success!

  • Tuesday, January 31st
7:30 AM – 3:00 PM Registration Desk OpenGrand Ballroom Hallway

Tuesday the registration desk is open 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM 

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Trade Show and Strolling BreakfastGrand Ballroom

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom while enjoying a buffet breakfast.

Diane Shober
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM General Session: Wyoming Office of Tourism Evolution of the Brand with Special Update from Yellowstone National Park Supt, Cam Sholly By Diane Shober with special guest Cam ShollyGrand Ballroom, Sponsored By: Visit Cheyenne

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent, Cam Sholly, will provide an update post-floods and an outlook on 2023 and beyond.

Evolution of the Brand: Diane Shober, Executive Director for the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT), will share the results, successes and learnings from the That’s WY campaign. She’ll also share insights, strategies and plans as WOT works to advance its efforts to ensure Wyoming takes center stage through integrated marketing efforts, including partnership, paid advertising, social media and national and international media exposure.

This session is sponsored by:

Visit Cheyenne
10:30 AM – 10:40 AM Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom .

10:40 AM – 11:40 AM General Session: 4 Elements of an Innovator, How to Innovate like a Rap Star By Jonathon Brown, Trend HuntersWyoming Ballroom, Sponsored By: Xanterra Yellowstone

Trend Hunter’s Create the Future framework examines the four elements of an innovator through hip-hop. Using the elements of hip hop – DJ, MC, Breakdancing, and Graffiti – as lenses to find innovation lessons, this keynote collides worlds to open up opportunities in new markets and deliver actionable insight

This session is sponsored by:

11:40 AM – 11:50 AM Break

Take some time to visit all the vendors in the Grand Ballroom

Big Wyo Award Renee Penton Jones Gov Con 2022
11:50 AM – 1:00 PM Big WYO LunchGrand Ballroom, Sponsored By: Little America Hotel and Resort

The Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition is proud to present the annual BIG WYO Award to a private sector individual who has done an outstanding job promoting hospitality and tourism for the State of Wyoming. Join us for a fabulous lunch celebrating the 2023 winner.

Sponsored by:

Little America Hotel & Resort

Legislative Reception Entertainment

Introducing Reed Foley

From the mountains of Sparta, North Carolina to the stages of Nashville, Tennessee, singer-songwriter Reed Foley is making a name for himself in country music. As an artist, Reed has opened for Jason Aldean, Tyler Farr & William Michael Morgan. He has just finished his newest project and is releasing new music this year and next.

No matter the size of the venue, the stage is his second home. He’s played everything from neighborhood bars to the largest NASCAR events. Not only has Reed written all of his own releases, but he also has cuts with his friends John Pate, Grayson Rodgers, and Joe Berk.
Reed has also been a featured artist at several national association conventions and is the “go-to” artist for several regional charities. He also runs an annual Toys for Tots campaign that has raised over $20,000 for children in need.

Introducing Reed Foley