Tourism leaders and industry professionals are set to gather in Greater Zion for the 19th annual Utah Tourism Conference, being held from Sept. 26-29 in St. George. Each year, the conference brings together professionals and stakeholders in one of the state’s most valuable industries, tourism, for four days of education, discussion, networking, and destination discovery. The conclusion of the Utah Tourism Conference on Friday, Sept. 29 will be highlighted by the Hall of Fame Breakfast to honor new inductees into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame.
“It’s been 10 years since the Utah Tourism Conference was held in St. George, and so much has changed in the area since that time,” said Brittany McMichael, director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. “It’s a unique opportunity to have these tourism professionals from across the state gathered in one collaborative space, and we look forward to welcoming them to Greater Zion to showcase new developments, our awe-inspiring landscapes, and to learn from each other.”
“In today’s dynamic industry landscape, fostering a connected community of industry professionals is our foremost commitment,” said UTIA executive director Natalie Randall. “This year’s conference content reflects the industry’s ever-evolving nature with topics such as adeptly navigating public relations, the balance of destination marketing and management, international tourism updates, supporting diversification of traditional industry through agritourism, harnessing new technologies such as AI, and more.”
Keynote speakers at this year’s edition of the Utah Tourism Conference include Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, Black Folks Camp Too Founder Earl B. Hunter Jr., Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Chief of Staff Jennifer Robinson, Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce, and Virgin Unite Co-Founder and CEO Jean Oelwang, in addition to a myriad of industry leaders and experts speaking on a number of issues and trends relating to Utah’s remarkable tourism industry.
“Like the overall success of the entire state, the success of Utah’s tourism economy requires tourism leaders to think more strategically than ever,” said Utah Office of Tourism Managing Director Vicki Varela. “We’ve seen a strong recovery since the pandemic, but also a variety of new challenges. Meeting to discuss the future of a sustainable visitor economy will be a point of emphasis during a great week ahead in the Greater Zion region.”
The full schedule of conference content can be found here. Last-minute registration for anyone interested in attending and learning more about Utah’s tourism industry can be done here.