UW-Green Bay explores tourism in event Nov. 5
Green Bay, Wis.— The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is hosting a tourism event on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 for area destinations, attractions, accommodations and other aligned businesses to explore creative ways to attract visitors with experiences that are beyond the average tourist experience.
The event has been organized in partnership with Discover Green Bay.
“Tourism is integral to Wisconsin’s economy,” says Julie Gerczak, vice president of Tourism at Discover Green Bay. “Understanding how to promote your destination in a relevant and resonate way helps create thriving communities that fuel economic development.”
Experiential tourism is a growing trend in the travel industry. Visitors desire to connect with a destination through immersive, hands-on experiences. They want to be enriched. They desire to learn and connect on a deeper level. They seek experiences they can post, share and talk about for years to come.
Interested individuals may register for the morning workshop or afternoon workshop or both. The event is in-person and will take place at UW-Green Bay’s STEM Innovation Center, Board Room 131. The registration deadline is October 25.
Morning Session: Creating Visitor Experiences (7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)
7:45 a.m. – Welcome, Networking & Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Julie Gerczak with Discover Green Bay will offer an overview of experiential tourism, highlighting important examples (eco-tourism, adventure tourism, brewery tours, culinary experiences, and other immersive individual or group experiences). She will also talk about the need to work with your staff and teams to create an elevated, personal experience.
9:30 a.m. – Marcelo Cruz, Dan Roarty, and Isabel Taubel, UW-Green Bay, will introduce desirable design skills and concepts that will contribute to a great visitor experience. How do you make your indoor and outdoor space engaging? What skills are needed? What resources are available?
10:30 a.m. – Bonnie Keyes will share the story of how Mulberry Lane Farm went from fifty guests on one Saturday in October 2005 to days of more than 2,400 visitors fifteen years later. Participants will develop a preliminary business or marketing plan.
11:30 a.m. – Participants will have an opportunity to share their ideas for their destination to a panel and gain feedback.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch and Networking
Afternoon Session: Basic Social Media for Hospitality Venues (1:30-3:30 p.m.)
1:30 p.m. – Tarique Newaz, UW-Green Bay Digital Marketing, will offer an overview of how popular social media platforms are relevant to different groups. How can businesses time social media posts according to customer profile?
1:50 p.m. - Ryan Martin, UW-Green Bay will explain why TikTok is the perfect platform to educate, entertain and inspire. This session will cover various strategies to engage users through creative content to promote your brand to a wide audience.
2:30 p.m. – Tarique Newaz will discuss Facebook and Instagram’s new and existing features.
3:20 p.m. – Ryan Martin will guide participants through action planning for social media posts as well as blogs, podcasts and other ways to interact with your customers.
To learn more about the event, visit https://www.uwgb.edu/continuing-education/career/events/thrive-in-tourism/ or contact Judy Price, Business Development at pricej@uwgb.edu or 920-366-8328.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 79,604 continuing education enrollees each year across all campus locations. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2020, UW-Green Bay was the fastest growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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