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More than 300 industry professionals are making the journey to Vermont this week to attend the 2018 Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference, one of the nation’s smartest and (we think) most necessary industry gatherings…because beer tourism is a big deal.
Just as America’s wine regions have become huge travel draws, craft beer and craft breweries have increasingly become their own travel destinations. This evolution has spawned a whole new entertainment hybrid with its own economics base…something that’s become known as craft beer tourism.
Ommegang’s Doug Campbell
But craft beer tourism, at its best, doesn’t take place in a vacuum. It’s a combination of assets (beer being just one of them) that can make certain regions craft beer meccas.
And that’s what the Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference is all about…and why it’s so valuable.
Hosted in beautiful Burlington, Vermont, this week’s three-day gathering (March 6th-8th) is drawing together hundreds of brewing, tourism, tour operator and vacation professionals to explore the many issues surrounding craft beer tourism…and ways to make it an even better experience.
Wednesday’s Keynote Speaker is Doug Campbell, President of Brewery Ommegang. And given his 13+ years in the biz, and the fact that the Cooperstown, New York-based farmstead brewery has become a leading craft beer destination, it’s going to be fascinating to get his thoughts on things…
Brewers Association’s Julia Herz
Plus the Brewers Association’s Julia Herz will be in from Boulder to give a Welcome Address. Her work helping Travelocity launch a new beer tourism index in 2016 was one of that year’s most important industry initiatives and she’s always fun and insightful.
2018’s panel discussions and seminars (all helmed by industry experts) are far-ranging and exhaustive.
Everything from “Database Management” to “Social Media Marketing” will be addressed…as well as interesting departures like “Craft Beer for Non-Craft Beer Drinkers” and “Legal Cannabis as a Brand Innovation Game Changer.”
Add to that three nights of serious craft beer enjoyment with tourism and brewing pros (and even a possible ski-trip outing), and this year’s Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference promises to be a great time.
