The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) announced the schedule for Pocono Mountains Tourism Day to be held on Thursday, May 15 at The Inn at Pocono Manor in Pocono Manor, from 7:45 am to 4 pm.  

Although the name of this event has changed from Marketing Day to Tourism Day, this will be the fourteenth year for the tourism marketing conference. This year’s theme is “Be Part of the Conversation” and also feature’s the Pocono Mountains Tourism Achievement Awards Luncheon.

Morning presentations will begin at 9 am with “The Future of Travel and Tourism: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination” by Edward Barlow, Jr., president of Creating the Future, Inc.  Barlow will explore the major forces shaping the future and explain the urgency of planning for them in order to be successful in the years to come.  This presentation along with the mid-morning presentations will be sponsored by Conde Nast Bridal Group.

Following the keynote speaker, Executive Director Carl Wilgus will present, “New Directions for the PMVB.” After his introduction, Chad Giddings and Tanya Hoffman from MMG Worldwide will discuss “Building the Pocono Mountains Brand and Attracting Visitors.”

Terry Gallagher, of Lou Hammond & Associates and Rob Thomas of Buffalo Communications will present “Promoting the Pocono Mountains” and how they are working to generate positive publicity for the destination. 

At 12 noon, attendees are invited to the Pocono Mountains Tourism Achievement Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Right Reason Technologies.  Employees in the industry, along with member properties, will be recognized for strides in customer service in several categories.

Afternoon panels of interest will include “Adding the Power of Video to Your Online Program,” “Using Database Driven Marketing” and “From Offline to Online Reservations.”

According to Gail Sterrett, director of marketing for the PMVB, “Pocono Mountains Tourism Day will be an excellent networking opportunity for anyone with interests in the region’s tourism industry.  This year’s Round Table will provide a valuable forum for attendees to articulate their ideas.”

Sponsors for Tourism Day include Miles Media Group for the morning’s registration and continental breakfast, as well as IMPAQT, Inc. for the mid-morning coffee break.  

Fees for Pocono Mountains Marketing Day are $75 for the first person and $70 for each additional person from the same PMVB member property. Non-PMVB member fees are $95 for the first person and $90 for each additional person from the same property.  Registrations postmarked after May 2, or walk-in registrations, will be subject to slightly higher fees.

To request a registration form or more information about Pocono Mountains Tourism Day, contact Adriane Holloway at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau at 570-421-5791 or adriane@poconos.org.

Comprehensive Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at www.800poconos.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667).  The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania.