Helena, MT) – The Montana Office of Tourism (MTOT) is bringing its tourism and brand workshop, Coming Together to Expand Montana’s Tourism Story, to the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula on Friday, January 31. This free workshop is an outreach effort to assist businesses in western Montana to bolster their ability to attract and retain visitors to their area, learn about how to leverage social media sites and to share best practices.
“Tourism is one of Montana’s leading industries and a key economic driver for the state,” said Jeri Duran, Administrator of the Montana Office of Tourism. “This workshop will help businesses acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to help draw these travelers to their specific businesses and the greater community of Missoula.”
The workshop will include an overview of MTOT’s efforts to support and promote tourism both statewide and in western Montana, brainstorming sessions to discuss how the area can draw more visitors annually, a presentation on the Department of Commerce’s Montana Main Street Program, and an overview of MTOT’s digital assets, including websites, mobile sites, apps, and social media channels. Additionally, a recap of the MTOT “road trip” of the area undertaken prior to the workshop will be shared. A social media team, comprised of MTOT staff and individuals from western Montana, will have just spent several days traveling in the region, gathering information about attractions, activities and restaurants to highlight on Montana’s Facebook (http://facebook.com/visitmontana) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/visitmontana).
The workshop will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, January 31. There is no cost to attend, however interested parties are encouraged to register in advance for the workshop. Please register at http://j.mp/missoulaworkshop or call Julie Walker at the Montana Office of Tourism at (406) 841-2887.
Session Details:
9:00 am - Noon: Marketing Montana & MTOT Branding
Noon - 1:00 pm: Lunch courtesy of MTOT
1:00 pm. - 1:45 pm: Montana Main Street Program
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm: Social Media Tips
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm: Navigating VisitMT.com/GetLostMT.com
MTOT will also be holding random drawings at the workshop – for every 20 attendees, MTOT will sponsor one complimentary registration to the 2014 Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation (including lodging). One person will also be selected to receive an iPad Mini to help utilize tools and tips presented at the workshop (must be present to win).
For more information regarding the Tourism and Brand workshop, contact the Montana Office of Tourism at (406) 841-2894