Building Bold Brands | Alex West Steinman, The Coven

Building a brand goes beyond design and copy; it requires heart, passion, and a steadfast commitment to a deep, enduring purpose. In today's discerning world, authenticity is the key to success, and brands must genuinely "walk the talk" to make a lasting impact. Join Coven co-founder Alex West Steinman, one of the pioneers in building a courageous, internationally recognized brand from the ground up, as she shares their inspiring journey from award-winning advertising agencies to entrepreneurship.

Aaron Bosanko

Brand Masters: A Panel Featuring Two Iconic Minnesota Businesses | David Benowitz, Craft & Crew and Aaron Bosanko, Odyssey Resorts

Great brands put a lot of work into their marketing strategy and execution, and it pays off. Craft & Crew Hospitality and Odyssey Resorts will offer insights into their marketing programs in a conversation with Abbey Pieper, Madden’s on Gull Lake’s Chief Marketing Officer. Hear about their approaches and what they have learned along the way.

AI and the Future of Marketing | Tim Brunelle

The use of artificial intelligence is exploding with possibilities and pitfalls across the marketing spectrum. In addition to being an adjunct professor for the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Tim Brunelle works with companies to leverage their creativity and AI-generative tools. In this session, Tim will provide specific examples of AI applications for marketing deliverables and provide a framework for marketing teams to assess and leverage AI moving forward.

Today’s Hospitality Consumer | Nicole Lalum, Explore Minnesota Tourism

Who is the hospitality consumer of today? Hospitality expectations have been transformed.

Learn what’s changed about how modern consumers are making decisions and who is making them. Discover what new target markets have emerged and how generational differences are changing the landscape of hospitality and tourism. Explore Minnesota will provide a deep dive into their recent market research efforts to inform how you might look at your target segments.

Building a Social Media Strategy | Shelby Stahl, Beloved Social

With so many options and an ever-flowing stream of content to leverage, are you challenged to keep your social media focused on your key goals? Shelby Stahl of Beloved Social will outline how to define your social media goals, leverage staff capacity to maintain your social’s daily management and create content.

Working with Social Influencers   | Shelby Stahl, Beloved Social

You’ve nailed your own social media strategy – or you’re on the way to doing so – but how do you leverage others to broadcast your brand? Engaging social media influencers is a highly valuable tool that truly has no replacement. Learn how to build and execute an influencer marketing strategy from Shelby Stahl of Beloved Social, who is both an influencer and a strategist who helps businesses expand their visibility across social media platforms and create authentic content.

Defining (or Redefining) Your Target Market | Rob Rankin and Holli Maines, CCF

The hospitality marketplace changes with each generation. Given that, and the monumental disruptions caused by the pandemic and social movements, it’s a good time to reevaluate your target market. Apply what you heard in the morning session to what you know about your current target market, with the help of experts in market segment development, to explore new possibilities for your business while remaining true to your core customers.

Trygve Olsen

Boosting On-Premise Marketing | Trygve Olsen, BizzyWeb

Guests are coming to your establishment, no problem.  Then what? How do you grow the experience (without being too pushy) while guests are with you, all the while enticing your guests to happily come back? Learn about how to use smart insights and the right technologies to drive more business while your guests are on-premise.

Megan Kellin

Justin A. Graddy

Tone Up: Getting Words and Images Right for Your Brand | Megan Kellin, The Lake and Company and Justin A. Graddy, Buffalo Media Group

Megan Kellin of The Lake and Company and Justin A. Graddy of Buffalo Media Group, two Minnesota businesses serving the hospitality industry, will team up for a look at defining your brand’s tone and how to use it consistently to convey and strengthen your brand.

Getting the Most Out of Your Website | Dave Meyer, BizzyWeb

Your website isn’t just a portal to your business, it’s your virtual headquarters. It serves a lot of purposes, from launching a guest experience to presenting crucial information. Is it meeting the needs of your guests? Are you meeting standards for accessibility and data privacy? Get up-to-date on best practices and put them to use to power your marketing program.

SEO, Analytics and the Switch to GA4 | Dave Meyer, BizzyWeb

Knowing how to target your customers and learn from their online actions will keep you delivering on your brand promise and making the right marketing strategy decisions. This fall’s transition to Google Analytics 4 is changing the game. Are you ready?

Bill Morehouse

Digital Advertising Success | Bill Morehouse, Forum Communications Company

Learn the basics about digital advertising, including what it is, how it works, how it's measured, and best practices for digital advertising success in the Hospitality Industry.

Making Sense of it All | John Arms, J.P. Arms Marketing

Making sense of marketing is NOT easy. Did you know that there are over 7,000 marketing tools you can access? That’s just the digital stuff. There are countless MBAs, courses, and consultants (like me!) available to you. Not to mention your own learned experiences in marketing your business. It’s craziness. You have to have a reliable filter to go forward. That filter is called a plan. Join John Arms as he helps you make sense of the marketing landscape ahead of you so that your decisions are sharp and your steps are carefully thought out.