Placemaking Communications: Advanced communications techniques in tourism and destination marketing

In the Roanoke and New River Valleys, we are tucked in between tremendous natural amenities and dynamic small metro areas. Our convention and visitors bureaus and our economic development teams have done an excellent job in capitalizing on those natural elements to the betterment of our economy.

What have other places and organizations done to capitalize on their gifts?  We’ll welcome Bob and Julie Gilbert and hear about their extensive experience developing, revitalizing and otherwise assisting brands like Niagara Falls, the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service, and NASA, as well as their work with many other tourism-related businesses.

Bob Gilbert:  Over his legendary 30-plus year career, Bob has worked in an executive marketing function for Best Western International, Disneyland (and the Walt Disney Travel Company) HelmsBriscoe, Choice Hotels and Delaware North Corporation. He has served as a board member for the US Travel Association, the National Tour Association, and the HSMAI Best Practices Committee. In addition, he has served on the official China - USA Year of Tourism in Beijing campaign, as an elected Commissioner for Visit California, and as a delegate to the White House Conference on Tourism.  As an innovative “go to market” strategist and revenue driver, Bob is a prolific author and a sought after international speaker for the travel and tourism industry. His unique style has won over a dozen HSMAI Adrian marketing awards and American Society of Travel Agents "Supplier of the Year" Awards for industry-leading tourism and hospitality promotion. Bob is celebrated for a long line of strategic and industry advancing tourism initiatives. His past performance includes creating “the World’s Largest Hotel Chain” global strategy for Best Western International, re-launching the Kennedy Space Center’s new persona driven website, and developing the first ever travel trade digital publication.

Julie Gilbert: Julie is Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management for Destination Niagara USA where she leads the organization’s marketing, communications, and brand management functions to increase the visibility of Niagara and its assets as a leisure and meetings destination.  With 25 years of tourism marketing experience, Julie joined Destination Niagara USA in 2014 and directed the initiative of repositioning the globally recognized Niagara Falls USA brand. Prior to joining Destination Niagara, Julie served as Director of Sales and Marketing for National Park Reservations, the oldest and largest provider of reservation and information services for national parks and gateway communities. Julie started her career as Executive Director for Charleston CVB in West Virginia, then became Director of Sales and Marketing for the State of West Virginia. Julie then established a full service travel, tourism, and hospitality agency providing strategic marketing, sales, and management services to a wide range of travel-related companies. Julie has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies from the University of Maryland, holds her CTP (Certified Travel Professional) designation from the National Tour Association and is Certified as a Destination Marketing Executive through Destinations International. She serves on the executive board of the Travel and Tourism Research Association and on the Destinations International Foundation Research Advisory Task Force.