26th Annual Leadership Summit
Visit Anchorage Hosts Group
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| DMA West Board President Wes Rhea (Visit Stockton) and Leadership Summit Host Julie Saupe from Visit Anchorage at the 26th annual Leadership Summit. |
With one CEO on the job for just two weeks and other CEOs with more than 25 years of experience, both newly minted and veteran DMO leaders gathered in Alaska for DMA West’s 26th annual Leadership Summit (formerly CEO Forum).
The open forum session discussions included topics such as community relations/advocacy, stakeholder engagement, product development for the betterment of the community, financial policies and procedures, the right team with the right budget and ROI and measurements. A sampling of other topics included marketing, strategic and business planning; technology trends; leisure marketing; meetings, events and sports marketing; visitor services and centers and working with outside agencies. The Budget Roundtables were also part of the program.
The Marketing Idea Exchange is a valuable fixture at this program. Participants shared one marketing idea that has worked for them. The ideas were varied—commercials, sweepstakes programs, specialty trails, transportation options, citywide branding, destination videos, festivals, elected leader involvement in marketing, projects at visitor centers, mobile visitor center and visitor kiosks, information/visual packets for travel agents, community partner projects and more.
A trio of outside speakers were also part of the program. At the opening session on Thursday, Neal Fried, economist with the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, shared his insights, with a dose of humor, about Anchorage’s 100-year history and tourism’s role in shaping the region.
Four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser shared stories and images of spirit, courage, stamina (and luck!) as he described life on the Iditarod Trail. In 30 Iditarods, Buser has won the event four times, in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2002. And, yes, he brought a few dogs and puppies from his family’s Happy Trails Kennels. Buser is also the author of “Dog Man--Chronicles of an Iditarod Champion,” which was released March 2015. Gary Scott and Abby Cooper from Thompson & Co. Public Relations presented a media refresher course and talked about developing crisis communication plans and putting them into action when needed.
Thanks to the Planning Committee members (Julie Saupe, Debbie Braun, Anne Jenkins and Bonnie Quill) for their work in developing the program, with special thanks to host CEO Julie Saupe and Visit Anchorage. In addition, thanks to the peer facilitators who guided discussion and captured session comments— Kim Bennett, Debbie Braun, Sandy Evans Hall, Anne Jenkins, Bill Malone, Anand Patel, Bonnie Quill, Wes Rhea, Julie Saupe, Sara Toliver, Jennifer Wesselhoff and Kari Westlund.
Thanks to Leadership Summit Signature Sponsors—Madden Media, TripAdvisor and Visit Anchorage.
Some of the comments shared by Leadership Summit delegates about this year’s event included:
I always leave with great ideas and the sense that I’m part of an extraordinary industry.
I really like the sharing model.
I liked the diversity of topics from the outside presenters.
The fact that other CEOs share so openly is of great value to me.
CEOs are searching for ways to stay fresh and keep their organizations nimble. If you did not attend this year, plan to attend the 2016 Leadership Summit, July 14-16, in Marana, Arizona, with Discover Marana as the program host.