Visit Smokies Regional Tourism Conference

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – Cherokee, North Carolina

7:30 AM

Exhibitor Set-Up

8:30 AM

Registration & Morning Networking

9:00 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:15 AM

Keynote Session I

North Carolina’s Railroads & Local Economies

Topics Include:

• Supporting State Rail Development Corridors & Programs

  Regional Tourism and Passenger Train Development Impacts

  Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

  State Passenger Trains & Proposed Future Corridors

  Freight Rail & Economic Development Initiatives

  Blue Ridge Southern Railroad Freight

  Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Scenic & Special Event Excursions

Speakers

• Jason Orthner — Director, N.C. Rail Division

  Neil Perry — Rail Planning Manager

  Nick Dula — Freight Rail & Economic Development Program Manager

10:00 AM

Networking Break & Exhibitor Visits
Silent Auction Opens

10:30 AM

Regional Networking Roundtables

11:15 AM

Featured Session

N.C. Smokies: Leveraging Regional Mobility & Geographic Assets for Economic Development

Speakers
Local, Regional, and State Leaders, Tourism Authorities, and Business Owners

11:45 AM

Lunch & Networking

12:45 PM

Keynote Session II

Where the Tourism Flows

Dr. Daniel J. Findley, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Director, Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE)
North Carolina State University

1:30 PM

Networking Break & Exhibitor Visits
Silent Auction Closes & Winners Announced

2:00 PM

Panel Session

Keepers of the Mountains

3:00 PM

State Tourism Update

Scott Peacock
Visit North Carolina

3:30 PM

Best of the Southern Smokies Awards & Membership Meeting

Closing Celebration