Maine Tourism Association's 101st Annual Meeting & Toast to Tourism

May 16, 2023

This year the Maine Tourism Association is hosting our 101st Annual Meeting at the Sebasco Harbor Resort in Phippsburg, sponsored by Bay Ferries - The CAT. Join us as we learn about the state of Maine's Lobster Industry and how to build an easy-to-manage content marketing plan aligned with your business goals from marketing experts Ric & Jessica of Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications. There will a great opportunity to network at the Toast to Tourism Cocktail Hour in the afternoon and we will end the evening with a traditional Maine lobster bake and honoring Bob Meyers, this year's recipient of the Hall of Fame Award. We can't wait to see you there!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Registration

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM: Luncheon and Industry Updates from MTA sponsored by Miles Partnership

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Presentation #1: Lobster Industry Panel Discussion with Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative; Curt Brown, Marine Biologist & Lobsterman; and Patrice McCarron, Executive Director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM: Presentation #2: Ric Tyler and Jessica Ward from Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications are teaming up to share their expertise on how to build an easy-to-manage content marketing plan aligned with your business goals.

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM: Toast to Tourism Cocktail Hour sponsored by Maine Affordable Energy Coalition

5:15 PM: Lobster Bake sponsored by TrueOmni

6:30 PM: Hall of Fame Award presented to Bob Meyers, former Executive Director of the Maine Snowmobile Association and honorary board member for the Maine Tourism Association

7:00 PM: Join us for bowling and drinks in Sebasco Harbor Resort's vintage candle pin bowling alley!

AFTERNOON PRESENTATIONS:

Crustaceans & Content

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM:

Maine Lobster Industry Panel Discussion

Lobster Panel Graphic

Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative; Curt Brown, Marine Biologist & Lobsterman at Ready Seafood along with Patrice McCarron, Executive Director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association will be discussing the future of Maine’s Lobster Industry and what businesses across the state can do to help!

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM:

Ric Tyler and Jessica Ward from Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications

Rumor has it that our summer season in Maine will be bustling again this year. Make sure you’re ready to take advantage of the busy season with content marketing tips from the pros!

Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications

Ric Tyler and Jessica Ward from Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications are teaming up to share their expertise on how to build an easy-to-manage content marketing plan aligned with your business goals. AND they’ll walk you through how to level up your skills to quickly, easily, and effectively produce video, audio, and written content that resonates with your potential customers.

This is the year to increase your digital presence and drive more direct bookings and sales for your tourism business with a content plan that continues to work for you all year round. Jessica and Ric will leave you with the know-how to get started right away.

2023 HALL OF FAME AWARD PRESENTED TO BOB MEYERS

Maine Tourism Association’s Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individuals or groups of people who through their leadership, dedication, and professionalism have made significant and sustained contributions to the tourism industry in Maine. Every year one member from the Association is chosen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at MTA’s Annual Meeting.

This year, MTA will be recognizing Bob Meyers as the recipient of the 2023 Hall of Fame Award. Bob Meyers is a long-time, highly valued member of the Maine Tourism Association, and a past chair. He also served at Interim CEO of MTA from December 2019 through March 2020, cleverly retiring from that position one week before the pandemic shutdown. The Board and staff of MTA was not content to let Bob completely retire so he has served as an on-call travel counselor for the Maine State Visitor Information Centers since 2020. He was also elected to be a lifetime Honorary Board Member of MTA.

Bob worked at the Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA) beginning in 1995 and was named as their Executive Director in 1997. He was responsible for the day to day operations of the MSA and represented the Association before state agencies and the Legislature. He is a public member of the Land for Maine’s Future Board and past Vice-Chair of the Landowner-Sportsmen’s Relations Advisory Board.