GWTTRA Symposiums

The 2012 program will take an in-depth look at the role technology plays in marketing tourism to the public. Included will be: New Internet platforms, social media, Lodging advancements and new transportation advancements and many other key elements involved in getting tourists motivated in travelling and moving them from point a to b. Involved will be top tourism academic researchers, travel practitioners, tourism, technology and I.T. leaders.

8:30am: Welcome, State of the new U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, Todd Davidson, CEO Travel Oregon, Chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. (Tentative, pending travel obligations)

9am: Welcome, How Technology has Transformed Travel Portland: Jeff Miller President and CEO Travel Portland

10:15: Knowing your Visitors through Technology. Terry Berggren, VP Ruf Strategic Solutions

11am: Knowledge Management, the Key to Success: Mo Sherifdeen, Director, Integrated Marketing + Publishing, Travel Oregon

1:00pm: How Transforming Technologies will Herald a new Era in Travel: John Hope-Johnstone Chief Strategist for HPR Internet and Social Media Marketing, with permission from Amadeus

1:45pm The Importance of Social Media to the Travelling Consumer: Martin Stoll, CEO Sparkloft Media

2:30pm Technological Advances in Modes of Air Transportation/Airports and their Effects on Tourism: David Parker Brown, AirlineReporter.com

3:00pm Advancing Travel Research through Technology: from Data Collection to Dissemination: Dr. Norma Nickerson, Dr. Christine Oschell and Megan Tanner from the Inst. for Tourism & Recreation Research, U of Montana

6pm: Group walk to local restaurants and bars within easy 5 minute walk (no host)

8:20am-8:40am: How Technology Levels the Playing field for Small Tourism: (A case Study on Farm Stay). Scottie Jones

Academic Presentations: (Academic papers have been subject to peer review and invitations sent to the following presenters. A few RSVPs have not been returned. The following is a draft program:)

8:40am 9am: Technology and Tourism, Josè G. Vargas-Hernàndez, Universidad de Guadalajara, México

9am- 9:20: Impact of Social Media in Creating and Sustaining Organically Created Communities in the Tourism Milieu, Mark Kanning, Middle Tennessee State University, USA

9:40am -10:00: Proposition of Microformats for Semantically Enriching Gastronomy Websites, Wilhelm Loibl, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria

10:00am: 10:40: Geotourism Business Philosophy: Are we there yet? Jake Jorgenson and Norma Nickerson. University of Montana, Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, USA

10:40-11: Understanding the Drivers of Freight Logistics of Hospitality Businesses in Rural Tourist Destinations, Eric Kanyoke. Sustainable Community Development Research Institute, New Zealand

11-11:20: Social Media on Travel and Tourism, Selin Penez, University of New Haven, USA

11:20-11:40: Wine Tourism Marketing: A New Menu of Bloggers; Their Credentials and Recommendations, Byron Marlowe
Southern Oregon University

11:40-Noon: The Role of Latest Technologies in Sustainable Tourism Development, Vinod Sasidharan, San Diego State University

Noon-1:20pm Awards Luncheon

1:20pm-1:40: Using Technology to Support Sustainable Community Based Tourism, Claudia G Green Pace University, USA Sharr Prohaska, New York University, USA

1:40-2pm: A Study of the Impact of Tourism Imperialism on the Sustainable Development of Developing Countries,
Gaunette Sinclair-Maragh, Washington State University, USA

2pm-2:20: Sustainable Water Use Management in Tourism Resorts via Technology, Azilah Kasim, University of British Columbia, Canada, Anthony Wong Frangipani Langkawi Resort and Spa, Langkawi, Malaysia, Gursoy Dogan, Washington State University, Fevzi Okumus, University of Central Florida, USA

2:20pm-2:40: Closing Remarks and Thanks to all presenters

The GWTTRA Symposium will be held at one of Portland's finest boutique hotels, the beautiful "Vintage Plaza Hotel" themed around Oregon's renown wine industry.

Included in your amazing GWTTRA rate of $139 per night is; complimentary Wi-Fi, evening wine reception, a welcome bottle of fine wine in your room and in room spa services. Portland's best shopping and restaurants are only steps away. The award winning "Pazzo Ristorante" is within the hotel grounds, as is a small bistro for lighter fare. King Delux Small

For those flying into Portland you simply take the Max light rail Red Line directly from the airport to Pioneer Square (the heart of downtown), cost $2.40, and your hotel is only two blocks down Broadway.
No need for a car!

There are 3 steps to registering for the conference:
Step 1: fill out the form below which resisters you for the actual conference.
Step 2: Click on the secure "Buy Now" Pal Pal Buttons to pay for the conference (you do not have to be a Pay Pal member to use Pay Pal).
Step 3: Book the hotel directly (Vintage Plaza Hotel) For on-line reservations for Hotel please click here. Enter your GWTTRA Group Code:12200101011

To phone for your hotel reservation please call: 1-800-243-0555 ask for your group name "GWTTRA" The hotel is under contract NOT to offer lower room rates on-line or through OTAs during our visit. To help GWTTRA fulfill their room commitments to the Hotel please book your room at the hotel and within the GWTTRA block.

Transportation: Book your flights directly to the Portland International airport (PDX). Take the MAX light rail from Airport to Pioneer Square and lodging will be within 3 min. Cost $2.40

If you need to be invoiced and pay by check rather than pay by credit card above, please email the number of attendees and pricing particulars to johnhopejohnstone@gmail.com. You will receive an invoice by return email. Thank you

Early Bird Members Registration Button $175 (Good up to 5pm March 30th 2012)

Members Registration Button $200 (After 5pm PT, March 30th 2012)