For the last three years I’ve been spending a few days each summer in Dahlonega, Georgia – not to enjoy the Georgia wine trail or to pan for gold, but to take part in Southeast Tourism Society’s annual Marketing College and to receive a Tourism Marketing Professional certification.
Held on the campus of the University of North Georgia, this three-year program gives tourism professionals like myself the opportunity to learn techniques from all facets of the tourism industry. From generational marketing strategies to data and research, Marketing College introduces new insights from experts with real-world knowledge and experience. Marketing College has allowed me the chance to gain important insight into trends affecting the tourism industry. During my tenure as marketing manager at Bok Tower Gardens I was able to implement tourism marketing strategies to gain traction in positioning the National Historic Landmark to travelers throughout the Central Florida region. Now, since I joined the CNP team earlier this year, I’ll be able to continue to make a meaningful impact marketing our destination to Florida travelers with our partners at Visit Central Florida.
The journey isn’t over yet though – in order to complete my “Tourism Marketing Professional” certification, I need to complete two projects to demonstrate what I’ve learned over these past three years. Email me at martin@clarknikdelpowell.com or leave a comment below if you’d like me to share what I’ve learned at Marketing College with your organization. I’m also looking for a great volunteer project in order to provide marketing assistance. Let me know if you have any ideas!
