The 2015 Wine Tourism Conference heads to Loudoun County, VA this November 18-20. The Virginia wine industry is buzzing with energy and enthusiasm for the culture of wine and we very much look forward to being in “DC’s Wine Country” this Fall for the annual forum of all things wine + tourism.
We are delighted to announce that the 2015 Agenda is being finalized and well in advance of the conference. We have worked hard to secure relevant program content for the conference and are confirming speakers. Please take a peek at the current schedule of topics covered at this year’s Wine Tourism Conference in Leesburg:
Current WTC Agenda
Note: Please see the Agenda page for the updated agenda
Wednesday, November 18
Optional, pre-conference Workshops
Three sessions in the morning & afternoon to choose from:
8:30-11:30 AM
• Digital Marketing for the Wine Industry
• Tasting Room Management
• Beer Tourism (intended for the local beer industry)
— Can attend the Workshops separately from and/or in addition to the Conference —
1-4 PM
• Customer Relationship Management
• Creating & Growing a Food, Wine, or Beer Tour Operator Business
• Digital Marketing for the Beer Industry (intended for the local beer industry)
Wine Tourism Expo & Opening Night Wine Reception
5-7 PM Meet all conference partners and enjoy wines from across North America and the world
Thursday, November 19
9:15-9:30 AM – Conference Opening & Welcome
9:30-10:15 AM – Welcome to Loudoun County & Virginia
We’ll hear from the experts who put Loudoun County & Virginia on the map as a major wine tourism destination
10:15-11:15 AM – Wine Tourism is Ag Tourism
Hear from experts in the food tourism and ag industries about state policies, current trends and other items affecting ag tourism and how it relates to wine tourism
11:30-12:30 PM – Wine Tourism Research
Learn about the latest research in wine tourism from various regional and national studies
12:30-2:00 PM – Lunch Break
2-3 PM – Breakout Sessions
• Guerilla Marketing: No-Cost Marketing Solutions
• Technology & the Wine Industry: What is Working Now
3:15-4:15 PM – Breakout Sessions
• It Takes a Village: Working Together to Increase Tourism
• Public Relations for the Wine Industry: How to Pitch to the Media
4:15-5:45 PM – Wine Reception
6:00 PM – Dinner
Friday, November 20
9-10 AM – How the Media Sees Your Wine Business
Hear from professional wine and tourism writers about their relationship with wine tourism & how you can engage with them
10-11 AM – Panel of State Tourism Directors
Leaders of three state tourism agencies will discuss, in-depth, their efforts to promote wine tourism
11:15-12:15 PM – Breakout Sessions
• Customer Service: How to Set Your Brand Apart
• Promoting Your Wine Tourism Business Beyond Your Region
12:15-1:45 PM – Lunch
1:45 – 3:15 PM – Three Perspectives on International Wine Tourism
An opportunity to learn from wine tourism practices from outside the U.S.
3:30-4:15 PM – Keynote Speaker
4:15-5 PM – Conference Close/Announcement of 2016 Location
5 PM – Depart for Overnight Post-Conference Excursion
The 2015 Wine Tourism Conference takes place at the Lansdowne Resort in the heart of Virginia Wine Country and in Loudoun Country. Virginia has excelled in recent years at promoting itself both as a wine producer and also as a tourism destination. The combination of the two makes this is a perfect destination for the first-ever East Coast host of the Wine Tourism Conference.
rism industry and are an Elite Sponsor of the 2015 Wine Tourism Conference. We have been working with Visit Loudoun for many months to organize the logistics and help curate content. They are very well organized and super personable and are eager to host a top notch Wine Tourism Conference. We look forward to their insights into wine tourism!