The THOR Institute has been out and about this spring at statewide conferences to build relationships and develop ideas for new programming in the future. It’s been so great to connect with our local and regional communities and we look forward to more opportunities going forward! We have been thrilled to participate in the NENA 2024 Spring Conference and The Governor’s Conference on Tourism in April 2024.
The THOR Institute was happy to support the NENA 2024 Spring Conference as a Gold Sponsor in early April at The Regency Hotel & Spa in Portland. Despite a surprising Nor’Easter, tourism and hospitality educators, students, and industry partners came together from across the Northeastern United States and Canada to share their knowledge and experience while exploring possibilities for the future. The THOR Institute shared a keynote presentation during the opening reception and highlighted the great work being done by students, including THOR Student Fellow, Amanda Rock, from the University of Maine. Amanda put her creativity to work by designing and presenting posters about the unique characteristics of tourism regions across Maine to give visitors a better sense of the diverse geography that shapes our communities. THOR students also participated in discussion panels about their vision for the future of the tourism industry and shared some great insights.
The THOR Institute was also excited to support The Governor’s Conference on Tourism on April 25, 2024, as a sponsor and with an exhibition booth, which provided us with a wealth of information and opportunities to connect in more ways than one! It was great to connect with industry partners to discuss possibilities for collaboration as we work toward developing innovative programming for students as the future leaders of the industry. It was a pleasure to learn more about the emphasis on sustainability and stewardship in the Maine Office of Tourism 2024 Annual Plan, as well, in connection with multicultural travel marketing in a presentation from Danny Guerrero, CEO of The Culturist Group.
Congratulations to all of the recipients of the Maine Tourism Awards at The Governor’s Conference! We love seeing all of the great work being done across the state (and beyond) to steward the land, water, and communities that we know and love into the future. We look forward to exploring the possibility of collaborating with current and future community partners, near and far. We hope to see you at the next event!