08/02/2018

Sports Tourism to be Just One of the Sessions at 2018 OCOT

Speaker Jenn Cartmille Tells Some of What You'll Learn

The Ohio Conference on Travel registration is open, and we’re continuing our interviews with speakers to share a few highlights of what to expect from this year’s Ohio Conference on Travel.

If you haven’t seen the conference website or last week’s interview with Hannah Paramore, go and check them out! Click here to register, make lodging arrangements, and view all our offerings like sessions, the schedule, our sponsors, and more!

This week, we interviewed Jenn Cartmille, Marketing Manager from the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. With more than six years of experience, Cartmille will bring a wealth of knowledge to the stage when she presents in tandem with other professionals in the "Play Ball! Get in the Sports Tourism Game" presentation at this year's Ohio Conference on Travel.

Cartmille states that the sports tourism industry is booming and will continue to boom, which is why the sports tourism presentation at the upcoming Ohio Conference on Travel is so important an relevant.

"Sports tourism alone is an 11 billion dollar industry. Obviously, it is a very highly sought-after industry, and everyone in it is highly engaged," explained Cartmille. "Anyone can relate to sports: whether you're a fan or you participate, there's some sort of connection for the majority of people. It's not going anywhere."

Cartmille also states that sports tourism isn't just big; it also helps to break down barriers and get people involved. Additionally, it can help generate discussion and get people involved in wanted to come to a certain city or Ohio in general. Cartmille states that if someone is rooted in a team or sport, it's an opportunity to  showcase our city or Ohio more prevalently.

"We always engage with teams and local fanbases. As a professional, always take a marketing approach first, adapt to the industry, and speak to the event and the consumer," Cartmille adds about getting involved in sports tourism. "Get buy-ins and partnerships with teams, fans, and fanbases."

Getting involved in sports tourism is also a great opportunity for small entities, now more than ever. Cartmille explains that people see value in collaboration presently. From these collaborations, it's important to understand what works for both partners, your ROI, and how the local tourism economy is impacted.

"Some big things we'll be talking about at conference include storytelling, connecting with potential events, connecting brands to values, breaking down barriers, partnerships, and analytics and how to read and utilize them," said Cartmille about conference. "This is a popular and fun discussion, and you should definitely come!"

Cartmille will present her full presentation alongside Linda Logan, Ben Huffman, and Michael Mulhall, entitled "Play Ball! Get in the Sports Tourism Game", during the Ohio Conference on Travel, Sept. 25-27.

Interested in registering for or learning more about the Ohio Conference on Travel? Visit our website at https://ohioconferenceontravel.com/.