Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference
Agenda
The 2026 Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference will be held September 28-30, 2026, on Jekyll Island. All sessions will take place at the Jekyll Island Convention Center unless otherwise noted.
The 2026 Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference will be held September 28-30, 2026, on Jekyll Island. All sessions will take place at the Jekyll Island Convention Center unless otherwise noted.
1 – 5 p.m. | Exhibitor Load In
3 – 5 p.m. | Pre-Conference Event – Tees & Tiles: Golf or Mahjong
Sponsored by:
- Jekyll Island Authority
- Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau
Location: Jekyll Island Golf Club – 2nd Floor Clubhouse (322 Captain Wylly Road)
Tee off your conference with an all-new networking experience! Attendees of the golf event will get the chance to see Jekyll Island Golf Club and the newly restored Great Dunes golf course by way of driving range activities with guidance from a professional golfer. Or, spend time with industry friends enjoying the popular game of Mahjong with assistance from “expert” players in the Clubhouse. Refreshments, light bites, and scenic island views provide the perfect setting to connect with colleagues before conference programming begins.
Registration required: You can sign up for these events via your online registration. Each activity is $50, and proceeds support the Georgia Tourism Foundation.
8:30 – 10 a.m. | Pre-Conference Event – Beach 5K & Fun Run/Walk
Sponsored by: Okefenokee Swamp Park
Location: Great Dunes Beach Pavilion, adjacent to the Jekyll Island Convention Center
Start the day with a refreshing 3.1-mile fun run or walk on the beach, led by Explore Georgia team members. Participants will gather at the Great Dunes Beach Pavilion for a brief warm-up before enjoying a scenic route and returning to the starting point. Refuel with a light breakfast, fruit, coffee or hot tea, and infused water for wellness.
Registration required: You can sign up for this event via your online registration. This activity is $50, and proceeds support the Georgia Tourism Foundation.
9 a.m. – Noon | Exhibitor Load In
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Registration Open
Location: Oceanside Registration
1 – 1:10 p.m. | Conference Welcome
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speakers:
- Jay Markwalter, Deputy Commissioner of Tourism, Georgia Department of Economic Development
- Alexa Hawkins, Director of Marketing & Communications, Jekyll Island Authority
1:10 – 2 p.m. | General Session – Unshakeable Resilience: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities and Burnout into Breakthroughs
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speaker: Rory Gardiner, Comedian & TEDx Speaker
In this energizing keynote, comedian and TEDx speaker Rory Gardiner shows leaders and teams how to transform everyday stress into sustainable performance and develop the mindset needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Drawing from his own journey of repeated reinvention, from corporate IT consultant to touring musician, award-winning comedian, and keynote speaker, Rory demonstrates that resilience is no longer just about bouncing back from adversity. It’s about reframing uncertainty as opportunity, staying effective under pressure, and becoming comfortable in the uncomfortable. His relatable approach creates shared moments, engagement, and leaves audiences with tools they can immediately apply both professionally and personally.
Audiences will learn how to reframe change and uncertainty into opportunity, adapt more effectively in times of disruption and transition, perform under pressure without sacrificing well-being, and build the resilient mindset needed to thrive amid change and setbacks.
2 – 2:30 p.m. | Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Exploration
Sponsored by: Carrollton Area CVB
Location: Prefunction / Lobby
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Afternoon Breakout Sessions – choose one:
Hidden in Plain Sight: Transforming Everyday Assets into Must-Do Experiences
Sponsored by: AJC Ads x Access Atlanta Travel
Location: Hall G
Moderator:
- Jackie Choice, AJC Ads x Access Atlanta Travel
Panelists:
- Danielle Ackerman, Director of Marketing & Communications, VisitColumbusGA
- Aaron Buzza, Senior Vice President & COO, Visit Macon
- Jacqueline McKoon, President/CEO, Butts County Chamber of Commerce
Destination Champions: Turning Hospitality Professionals into Community Ambassadors
Location: Hall H
Moderator:
- Ontaria Finch, Visitor Services Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development
Panelists:
- Anya Turpin, Executive Director, Visit Perry
- Caitlin Neal, Marketing Director, Pick Ellijay
- Maurice Odoms, Director of Leisure Sales & Training, Explore Gwinnett
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. | General Session – If You Don’t Show Up, You Don’t Get Chosen: Harnessing AI to Power Your Tourism Messaging
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speakers:
- Craig Lucie, Founder and CEO, Lucie Content
- Aaron Diamant, Senior Vice President, Lucie Content
- Prajwal Mohan Kumar, AI Engineer, Lucie Content
Travelers aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI tools where to go, stay, and play, and if your destination isn’t part of the answer, you’re invisible at the exact moment decisions get made. In this session, the storytellers at Lucie Content share how Georgia’s tourism community can harness AI to complement, not replace, an authentic messaging strategy. Learn how to audit your AI visibility, structure and distribute content AI systems trust, and pair Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) with storytelling that makes people feel something. Because in an AI-driven world, one rule holds: if you don’t show up, you don’t get chosen.
4:45 – 5 p.m. | Closing Remarks
5 – 8 p.m. | A Coastal Social: Dinner & Networking Reception
Sponsored by:
- Jekyll Island Authority
- Cartersville Museum City x Giant Peach Games
Location: Jekyll Island Convention Center – Oceanside Lawn
Celebrate the start of the conference with an evening of networking, refreshments, and hospitality from our gracious hosts and sponsors. Enjoy this “Coastal Social” on the convention center lawn overlooking the seaside, featuring a full dinner with Southern and coastal favorites, bar offerings, and spirited giant lawn games, all set to live upbeat music from local favorites Mason Waters and the Groove Allstars.
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Registration Open
Location: Oceanside Registration
8 – 9 a.m. | Breakfast & General Session – Explore Georgia Partner Opportunities
Speakers:
- Lori Hennesy, Regional Tourism Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development
- Carly Stedman Norosky, Director of Destination Partner Development, Miles Partnership
9 – 10 a.m. | General Session – Culture Can’t Be Outsourced: 6 Storytelling Strategies Every DMO Can Use
Sponsored by: Pick Ellijay
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speaker: Evita Robinson, Founder, Nomadness Travel Tribe
Travelers are looking for stories that feel real, rooted, and unforgettable. In this general session, Emmy Award-winning storyteller and cultural strategist Evita Robinson shares six actionable strategies that destinations of any size can use to uncover, elevate, and market authentic narratives that set them apart. From deepening community connections and amplifying local voices to navigating cultural heritage and historical storytelling with care, attendees will explore how DMOs can build trust and give visitors a deeper understanding of the people, stories, and cultures that shape their destination. Attendees will leave with a practical roadmap for marketing their destination in a way that is authentic, community-informed, culturally respectful, and resonant with today’s travelers.
10 – 10:30 a.m. | Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Exploration
Sponsored by: Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Location: Prefunction / Lobby
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Morning Breakout Sessions – choose one:
When the Story Breaks: Building Your Reactive Communications Plan Before You Need It
Location: Meeting Room 7-9
Speakers:
- Craig Lucie, Founder and CEO, Lucie Content
- Aaron Diamant, Senior Vice President, Lucie Content
- Prajwal Mohan Kumar, AI Engineer, Lucie Content
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch & General Session – Explore Georgia Update
Lunch sponsored by:
- Visit East Point
- Friends of Georgia State Parks
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speaker: Jay Markwalter, Deputy Commissioner of Tourism, Georgia Department of Economic Development
1 – 2 p.m. | Afternoon Breakout Sessions – choose one:
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | General Session – Tripadvisor’s Trendcast: Emerging Travel Trends & Practical Ways to Turn Insights into Visitation
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speaker: Scott Caufield, Senior Principal Client Partner, Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor’s annual Trendcast report identifies 10 global travel trends shaping traveler behavior over the coming three years, drawn from millions of bookings, reviews, and forum conversations. This session breaks down each trend and the data behind them – from “Sweat Jetting,” the surge in active and sports-driven travel, to “Investigative Drinking,” travelers’ growing appetite for hyper-regional spirits and off-the-beaten-path tasting experiences. Attendees will learn how these trends are already playing out on the ground in Georgia and gain practical takeaways to align marketing, product development, and visitor experiences with where traveler demand is headed.
3:15 – 3:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks
3:30 – 5 p.m. | Explore & Enjoy Jekyll Island
Choose your own adventure with these Jekyll Island activities.
5 – 6:30 p.m. | Happy Hour & A Half
Location: Jekyll Island Historic District – Founders Social & Pier Road Shops
Evening | Dinner on Your Own
Enjoy networking, entertaining clients, or exploring our host city’s culinary scene with industry peers. Check out these Jekyll Island and Golden Isles restaurants to make your dinner plans.
7:30 a.m. – Noon | Registration Open
Location: Oceanside Registration
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast & General Session – Georgia Tourism’s Rising Stars Panel Discussion
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Moderator:
- Ashley Woitena, President & CEO, VisitColumbusGA
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | General Session – Joint House & Senate Committee on Economic Development & Tourism
10:30 – 11 a.m. | Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Exploration
11 a.m. – Noon | Morning Breakout Sessions – choose one:
Noon – 1:30 p.m. | Governor’s Luncheon
Sponsored by:
- IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 365 Degree Total Marketing
- VisitColumbusGA
Location: Ballroom ABCD
Speaker: Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp
1:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks
2 – 3 p.m. | Exhibitor Breakdown
2 – 3 p.m. | Georgia Tourism Foundation Board of Directors Meeting
Location: Meeting Room 1-2
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