AITC 2018
20th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference
September 17-20, 2018 | Isleta Resort & Casino | Albuquerque, New Mexico
Thank you for joining us at our 20th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC.)
This milestone event themed “20 years of Tribal Tourism Development – Then and Now” was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the stunning, refurbished Isleta Resort and Casino.
Speakers & Sessions
Below are the panels and breakout sessons for our 2018 AITC lineup. Please note, items in red are downloadable versions of the presentations given.
Block 1
Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018
10:30 a.m.-noon
How to Understand and Benefit from Domestic and International Tribal Tourism Research and Data
- Rick Cain, Vice President, Longwoods International USA Inc;
- Julie Heizer, Deputy Director, National Travel and Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce
Global Good Practice Guidelines for the Travel Industry Working with Indigenous Communities
- Seleni Matus, Executive Director, International Institute of Tourism Studies, The George Washington University
- Anna Barrera,Owner, A2B Consulting
- Mario Fulmer, Visitor Program Manager, Alaska Native Voices and AIANTA Board Member, Alaska Region
- Lee Vale, Business Development and Operations Manager, Alaska Native Voices
New Market Development: How to Work with Tour/Receptive Operators and Developing Itineraries and Tour Packaging
- Catherine Prather, Executive Vice President, National Tour Association
- Donovan Hanley, Owner, DETOURS Native America
Block 2
Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018
1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Best Practices for RV Parks and Campgrounds
- Michael Ochs, Director of Governmental Affairs, Recreational Vehicle Association
- Terry Heslin, State Recreation and Transportation Lead, New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management
Create a Managed Tourism Program
- Susan Guyette, Ph.D., Santa Fe Planning & Research
- Theodore (Ted) Jojola, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor, Community and Regional Planning Program, School of Architecture + Planning, University of New Mexico
Tribal Tourism and Public Lands: Opportunities and Resources for Collaboration
- Donald Leadbetter, Tourism Program Manager, National Park Service
- Reed Robinson, Manager, National Park Service Tribal Liaison Officer (Acting)
- Angela West, National Program Lead, Tourism & Community Service, Bureau of Land Management
- Toby Bloom, National Program Manager for Tourism, Travel and Interpretation, U.S. Forest Service
- Kaisa Barthuli, Program Manager, National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Block 3
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018
10:30 a.m.-noon
Building Remote Sustainable Adventure Tourism
- Kristin Lamoureux, Visiting Professor, Hospitality and Tourism, Virginia Tech University
- Jon Panamaroff, CEO, Kodiak Brown Bear Center
- Christina Beckmann, Senior Director, Strategy & Impact, Adventure Travel Trade Association
How to Tell Your Story through Traditional and Non-Traditional Media
- Levi Rickert, Publisher/Editor, Native News Online
- Chris Schroeder, CEO, Real Time Solutions
Understanding the Profile of International Visitation to Indian Country
- Chrystal Denys, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Services, American Embassy, London
- Luisa Salomoni, Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Services, U.S. Consulate, Milan
Block 4
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018
2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Tourism Development as a Tool for Food Sovereignty
- Toni Stanger McLaughlin, JD, Director of Tribal Governance, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, University of Arkansas School of Law
- Colby Duren, Policy Director and Staff Attorney, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, University of Arkansas School of Law
- Charlie G. Sark, Indigenous Tourism Strategist, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Innovative Ways to Attract Visitors and Learn Why and How to Claim Your Webpage on NativeAmerica.Travel
- Sandra Anderson, IT & Web Development Coordinator, AIANTA
- Joseph Robertson, PhD, CEO/Data Scientist, Mato Ohitika Analytics LLC
Tourism 101
- Kristin Lamoureaux, Visiting Professor, Hospitality and Tourism, Virginia Tech University
Block 5
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018
3:45 p.m.-5 p.m.
How to Assess and Manage Risk
- Derek Valdo, Chief Executive Officer, AMERIND Risk
Media is the Mediator Between Tourism & Society: Editorial Content vs. Marketing, Promotions & Advertising
- Bethany Sam, Business Development Manager, Sierra Nevada Media Group/First Nations
- Brenna Moore, PR & Communications Manager, Visit Albuquerque
Transportation and Tourism – Access is Everything
- Robert Frazier, Highway Engineer, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Block 6
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018
8:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m..
How to Participate in the Shared Tourism Economy through Airbnb
- Kristin Lamoureux, Visiting Professor, Hospitality and Tourism, Virginia Tech University
- Anima Lavoy, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Airbnb, Inc.
Learn the Benefits of Working with Receptive Tour Operators
- Paige Williams Shepherd, Director of Corporate Development and Tourism, Chickasaw Nation
- Donovan Hanley, Owner, DETOURS Native America
Laying the Legal Foundation Part 1 – Understanding Contracts on a Sovereign Nation to Sovereign Nation Platform
- Jeffrey J. Mayer, Partner, Litigation, Akerman Law
Block 7
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Laying the Legal Foundation Part 2, Intellectual/Cultural Property Protections
- Melody McCoy, Esq., Esq., Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
Tourism & Economic Development Planning -Case Studies
- Rick MacLeod Farley, Development Economist, Farley & Associates
- Floyd Tortalita, Executive Director, Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority
- Ashley Bland, Director, Travois Design
Tourism Planning: Tribal Tourism Funding Opportunities Panel
- Courtney Spearman, Design Specialist/Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts
- Kimberly Romine, Deputy Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans
- Carolyn McClelan, Assistant Director, Programs, Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of the American Indian
- Trisha Korbas, EDR for NM and West TX, Economic Development Administration
- Elizabeth Tran, Office of Digital Humanities
A Warm Thank You to Our Partners
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Native American Agriculture Fund
Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
NativeAmerica.Travel
Education & Training
Technical assistance and training is the heartbeat of our work at AIANTA. We provide general and tailored technical assistance, training and education in a variety of ways.
International Outreach
AIANTA plays a critical role in supporting the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to bring more visitors to the United States, especially in our participation at trade shows internationally and domestically, to promote tourism in Indian Country.
Membership
Through AIANTA membership, tribes, the tourism industry and other partners form a dynamic network of shared experiences, resources and support.