Minnesota Tourism Conference Celebrates $16.0 Billion Industry
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Feb. 24, 2020) — The annual Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference, starting today at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria, will bring together hundreds of Minnesota tourism industry representatives to learn about the state’s continued growth as a global travel destination, Explore Minnesota’s strategic direction and the latest trends in tourism marketing. Conference highlights include: remarks from Explore Minnesota director John Edman; an unveiling of the state’s all-new travel and tourism website (exploreminnesota.com); keynote speeches on tourism economy, diversity and accessibility, digital marketing trends and more for an industry that generates $16.0 billion in sales and welcomes 73 million domestic and international visitors annually to Minnesota.
A roster of accomplished speakers, engaging breakout sessions and networking opportunities will teach attendees how to effectively market Minnesota as a unique and sought-after travel destination. Additional conference session topics include: traveler trends, digital and social media best practices, content creation tips, and new research about Minnesota travelers. The conference also features an awards banquet to honor and recognize tourism industry professionals and businesses for their contributions to the state.
“The Minnesota tourism industry continues to grow, and our many stakeholders help us position the state as a premier travel destination,” said Explore Minnesota director John Edman. “The annual tourism conference is an opportunity for our industry to celebrate our successes and return to work with fresh tactics to market Minnesota travel experiences.”
Approximately 250 attendees from around the state will attend this year’s conference, including representatives of convention and visitors bureaus and other tourism promotion organizations; hotels, resorts and campgrounds; and a variety of attractions, such as museums, parks, zoos, malls and historic sites. For more details about the Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference, visit exploreminnesota.com/conference.
Explore Minnesota Unveils New State Tourism Website
Explore Minnesota just launched a new-and-improved website (exploreminnesota.com) to offer visitors an immersive and inspiring look into what awaits them on a Minnesota vacation. High-impact visuals, videos, original travel content and advanced search capabilities make it easier than ever for travelers to discover activities, events, places to eat, drink and stay overnight across Minnesota.
The new exploreminnesota.com website was built with the latest technology and tourism marketing expertise, with an accessible and mobile-first design that makes planning a trip to Minnesota fun and easy. Developed and designed by Miles Partnership, a strategic marketing company that focuses exclusively on travel and tourism, the new website blends the functionality and best practices of today’s best travel websites with design touches that showcase the uniqueness of Minnesota as a destination.
About Explore Minnesota
As the state’s tourism promotion office, Explore Minnesota pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. Tourism is a $16.0 billion industry in Minnesota, and a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry employs nearly 273,000 workers, representing 11 percent of Minnesota’s private sector employment. Leisure and hospitality also generates $1.0 billion of the state’s sales tax revenues. Minnesota welcomes more than 73 million domestic and international travelers annually.
Find Your True North at exploreminnesota.com, and share it with @exploreminn on Twitter, or @exploreminnesota on Instagram and Facebook, using #OnlyinMN.
