Global Week Schedule

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Media Pre-FAMs

Alabama, Arkansas, Atlanta/Savannah, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration Open

Omni Hotel – 2nd Floor Foyer

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Media Registration

NuLu

Media Lounge sponsored by LRC –PR & Media Relations for Destinations

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Travel South USA Board Meeting

Commonwealth 7

State Staff Welcome to Join – 10:15am

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Global Innovation Challenge Lunch

Old Louisville

1:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Global Innovation Challenge

Commonwealth 7

States Only. See event link for schedule details.

4:45 PM – 5:30 PM

State Collaboration – “Horse Trading Time”

Commonwealth 7

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Opening Reception

Rathskeller @ Seelbach hotel

Sponsored by Kentucky Tourism & Louisville Tourism
Venue within walking distance

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration Open

Omni Hotel – 2nd Floor Foyer

Registration / Information Desk Open for Global Summit Suppliers
Global Innovation Lounge & Parade Ring Marketplace

7:30 am – 9:00 am

Welcome to Kentucky Breakfast – The Morning Line for the South

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

The Odds are Strong Welcome by Commissioner Mike Mangeot, Kentucky Tourism & Cleo Battle, President & CEO, Louisville Tourism
Hosted by Kentucky Tourism

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Press City Tours

Louisville

Hosted by Louisville Tourism

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Master Class 1 – Modernize Your Marketing With the Four I’s

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

Keynote: John Gardner, President & CEO, Luckie & Co

9:35 am – 10:15 am

Master Class 2 – Get More Bang for Your Media Buck

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

Moderator: Mathu Premaruban, Ruban Communications
Panelists: Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor, The Independent, Discovery Channel, Varsha Singh, Editorial Director, India Outbound Magazine, and Jean-Michel de Alberti, Editor in Chief, Desirs de Voyage

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Global Innovation Lounge & Parade Ring Marketplace Break

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

11:00 AM – 12:10 PM

Workshops 1-3

Commonwealth 7/8

See event link for schedule details.

11:00 AM – 12:10 PM

Tourism Exchange State Round Tables

Cherokee

11:00 am – 11:20 am: Alabama & Arkansas
11:25 am – 11:45 pm: Kentucky & Louisiana
11:50 pm – 12:10 pm: Mississippi & Missouri

12:15 PM – 2:00 PM

Master Class Keynote & Lunch

Commonwealth 1-4

Lunch function including Brand USA Programs presentation and Master Class 3.

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM

Meeting The Moment: Upcoming Opportunities with Brand USA

Commonwealth 1-4

Presented by Skylar Clark, Senior Director of Partner Strategy at Brand USA.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Master Class 3 – Brand USA Innovation & AI Future Forward

Commonwealth 1-4

Speakers:
Janette Roush, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Chief AI Officer, Brand USA
Esra Calvert, Data + Insights + Strategy, Esra Calvert Consulting

2:15 PM – 3:25 PM

Workshops 4-6

Commonwealth 7/8

See event link for schedule details.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

Tourism Exchange State Round Tables

Cherokee

2:15 pm – 2:35 pm: North Carolina & South Carolina
2:40 pm – 3:00 pm: Tennessee & West Virginia

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Master Class 4 – Distribution & Sales Partners

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

Moderator: Jennifer Ackerson, President, Alon Tourism Solutions
Elliot Calloway, Bonotel Exclusive Travel
Julie Katz, TourMappers North America
Karin Omojola, Vice President, Product, AmericanTours International

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Travel South FY25/26 Strategic Framework

Commonwealth Ballroom 1-4

Presented by: Liz Bittner, President & CEO, Travel South USA

6:30 PM

Free Night for All Delegates

Lousiville

7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Media Marketplace Breakfast – Food for Thought

Commonwealth 1-4

Culinary tourism has shifted from a niche trend to a burgeoning market expected to hit $80 billion in the U.S. alone by 2030. Food and drink are the fastest way to connect to a destination, its history and culture, and its local community.

Breakfast Buffet opens at 7:30am. Program beings at 8:00am

9:40 AM – 12:15 PM

Media Marketplace Session #1

Commonwealth 5-8

Break Sponsor by Alabama Tourism

12:15 PM – 1:45 PM

Winner Circle Awards Ceremony & Tennessee Sounds Perfect Luncheon

Commonwealth 1-4

Ambassador Awards presented by Miles Partnership
Lunch program & entertainment hosted by Tennessee Tourism

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Media Marketplace Appointment Session #2

Commonwealth 5-8

Break Sponsored by Louisiana Office of Tourism

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Closing Reception

Copper and Kings

Hosted by Kentucky Tourism & Louisville Tourism

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Departures