Monday, February 12, 2024 

8:30 am - 5:30 pm | Registration Open at The Westin Conference Center
Location: The Westin Conference Center
Sponsor: Heritage Classic Foundation

10:00 am - 1:00 pm | SC Sports Alliance Meeting
Location: Danner East, The Westin
Pre-conference meeting for members of the SC Sports Alliance. This time will include breakfast, membership meeting, and a boxed lunch.

10:30 am - 12:30 pm | South Carolina Tourism Coalition Meeting
Location: Danner West, The Westin
Pre-conference meeting for members of the South Carolina Tourism Coalition.

11:30am – 1:00 pm | International Marketing Meeting
Location: Mitchelville Room (directly off the main lobby of The Westin)
This meeting is for invited guests only. If you have questions about this meeting, please contact bburnett@scprt.com.

2:00 - 3:15 pm | Welcome & SCPRT Update
Duane Parrish, Director of SCPRT
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Sponsor: 9Rooftops Marketing
Join us for an update on SCPRT from our director, Duane Parrish.  

3:15 - 3:45 pm | Afternoon Paws & Parks Break
Location: The Westin Pre-function Area
Sponsor: Atmosphere
During this break we are celebrating our SC State Parks that now allow for your dogs to join you in your cabin. Please use this time to visit our sponsors and check out the State Parks Retail Store!

3:45 – 4:45 pm | General Session | You Belong In The Room
Tim Nichols, Keynote Speaker and Singer/Songwriter
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Sponsor: Dotdash Meredith Travel
Whatever room you’re in, you deserve to be there. In this keynote, you’ll learn why embracing that simple truth can make all the difference.
Over his four-decade career as one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters, Tim Nichols has learned a crucial component must be in place before the creative process even begins: no matter where you are, no matter who you’re there with, you need to believe that you belong in the room.
In this moving, eye-opening, and often hilarious keynote, Tim unveils his philosophy of what it takes for any team, anywhere, to transform their ideas and manifest their vision. You’ll discover what award-winning songwriters know about creativity, collaboration, and teamwork — and you’ll come away with a proven method for incorporating those lessons into your work and life.

6:00-8:00 pm | SCPRT Reception & Dine-Around  
Location: Grand Ocean Terrace, The Westin
Join us for hors d’oeuvres and entertainment before you head out to your dinner plans around Hilton Head Island. After the drop-in reception, you have an open night to enjoy dinner on the island.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

8:30 am - 5:00 pm | Registration Open
Location: The Westin Conference Center

9:00 - 9:30 am | Networking Breakfast
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Begin your day with a light breakfast and networking with colleagues.  This is also a good time to stop by the sponsor booths to see how their services can help you meet your marketing needs. 

9:30am – 10:45 am | General Session | AI Unleashed: Disrupting the Economy and Shaping the Future
Andrew Busch, Artificial Intelligence & Technology Futurist; Economist
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Sponsor: Spectrum Reach
Embark on a fascinating journey uncovering the potential of AI to redefine the global landscape, and learning how to adapt and thrive in this new era of unprecedented change.
Andrew Busch is known for his ability to simplify complex topics, uncover hidden trends, and spark lively discussions. With his signature blend of enthusiasm, wit, and insight, he’s about to shed light on the most significant technological advancement of our time – Artificial Intelligence.

10:45 – 11:15 am | Morning Break
Location: The Westin Pre-Function Area
Sponsor: Our State
Please use this time to visit our sponsors and check out the State Parks Retail Store!

11:15am – 12:15 pm | DISCOVER Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1 | Tourism Exchange
Nate Huff, Tourism Exchange USA; Liz Bittner, Travel South USA
Location: Mitchelville Room (directly off the main lobby of The Westin) 
Attracting international visitors has never been more competitive and the global product development and distribution landscape continues to rapidly evolve. That’s why Discover South Carolina is partnering with Travel South and Brand USA to bring South Carolina’s unique travel experiences to the world through Tourism Exchange USA. The Tourism Exchange is a connectivity platform that digitizes and democratizes the product development and distribution landscape, allowing attractions, experiences, and accommodations of all sizes to connect their live product inventory to global OTAs and tour operators. Already in use in Australia, Japan, and the UK, Tourism Exchange USA will create an opportunity for South Carolina’s businesses and destinations to expand their product reach to new customers around the globe, driving visitation and economic impact. Get a preview of the Exchange and how you can benefit.

Breakout Session 2 | Growing with Grants: An Insightful Look into Effectively Utilizing SCPRT’s Grant Opportunities
Justin Hancock, SCPRT; Mark Sexton, City of Rock Hill; Amanda Werts, City of Rock Hill
Location: Danner East, The Westin
SCPRT provides a variety of grant opportunities to assist with tourism marketing and development. Individually, each of these grant programs can provide financial support for specific tourism projects. Collectively, these programs can be used to help a destination reach its highest tourism potential. In this session, Justin Hancock will provide a brief overview of SCPRT’s grant opportunities and then host a fireside chat with Mark Sexton and Amanda Werts about their experiences working with SCPRT’s grants and how these programs have benefitted the City of Rock Hill.

Breakout Session 3 | Little Things Mean a Lot: Excellence in Customer Service
Iwana Ridgill
Location: Danner West, The Westin
This program focuses on the skills needed to provide excellent service to the external and internal customers that employees interact with in the workplace.  Emphasis is placed on how important the details of service are in projecting a positive image for the organization and the employee. 
Participants will gain information to better enable them to:
-Communicate using positive words, tone and body language
-Meet the practical and personal needs of every customer
-Be aware of the factors that customers use to rate an organization
-Follow the 3 rules that help in delivering excellent service
-Project professionalism in the workplace
-Recognize the importance of attitude in customer service

Breakout Session 4 | Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Esther Wagner, PalmettoPride
Location: Elliot/Drayton, The Westin
Our physical surroundings provide psychological cues informing us whether a space is safe for our intended activity. We subconsciously learn to recognize and avoid unsafe areas, leaving them open to inappropriate and criminal activity. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies ensure that environmental signals discourage undesirable behavior while inviting appropriate and intended activity.
The proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in quality of life. Municipalities throughout the world are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention and safety in mind.
Specially trained law enforcement officers, city or county planners, architects and developers are working together to ensure the proper design of structures, schools and neighborhoods.

12:25 – 1:45 pm | Awards Luncheon
Location: The Westin Ballroom
The Awards Luncheon is an event that will celebrate top performance in South Carolina’s tourism industry for the year 2023. Recognition will be given to the best tourism attraction or campaign, the Director's Award and other special acknowledgements. 

1:45 – 2:45 pm | DISCOVER Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1 | Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Esther Wagner, PalmettoPride
Location: Elliot/Drayton, The Westin
Our physical surroundings provide psychological cues informing us whether a space is safe for our intended activity. We subconsciously learn to recognize and avoid unsafe areas, leaving them open to inappropriate and criminal activity. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies ensure that environmental signals discourage undesirable behavior while inviting appropriate and intended activity.
The proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in quality of life. Municipalities throughout the world are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention and safety in mind.
Specially trained law enforcement officers, city or county planners, architects and developers are working together to ensure the proper design of structures, schools and neighborhoods 

Breakout Session 2 | Little Things Mean a Lot: Excellence in Customer Service
Iwana Ridgill
Location: Danner West, The Westin
This program focuses on the skills needed to provide excellent service to the external and internal customers that employees interact with in the workplace.  Emphasis is placed on how important the details of service are in projecting a positive image for the organization and the employee. 
Participants will gain information to better enable them to:
-Communicate using positive words, tone and body language
-Meet the practical and personal needs of every customer
-Be aware of the factors that customers use to rate an organization
-Follow the 3 rules that help in delivering excellent service
-Project professionalism in the workplace
-Recognize the importance of attitude in customer service

Breakout Session 3 | American Revolution 250^th: Cultural Tourism is Economic Development – How partners can use SC250 Celebration to amplify local tourism
Molly Fortune, Executive Director of SC 250
Location: Danner East, The Westin
This session will describe the opportunity this anniversary presents for communities to showcase and enhance their American Revolution in SC story thus driving cultural tourism across the state. Molly Fortune, Executive Director for SC250, will discuss grant opportunities, tourism partners, and county and statewide connections to be made during these anniversary years. 

2:45 – 3:15 pm | Afternoon Break
Location: The Westin Pre-Function Area
Sponsor: Accuweather
Please use this time to visit our sponsors and check out the State Parks Retail Store!

3:15 – 4:30 pm | General Session | What's Next for Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park?
Ahmad Ward, Executive Director
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Sponsor: Miles Partnership
Development of the Park representing the "first town of self-governing, formerly enslaved people in the United States has been years in the making. Now, with construction of permanent structures starting this year HMFP Executive Director, Ahmad Ward will highlight the future plans of this cultural attraction built on the foundations of "Freedom, Democracy, Citizenship and Opportunity.  

6:00 - 9:00 pm | Host City Reception
Location: Quarterdeck | Sea Pines Resort
Shuttles will pick up beginning at 5:15 pm at doors outside the hotel ballroom (not the hotel lobby doors).*
While the party at Quarterdeck does not start until 6pm, you may begin shuttling to the event at 5:15 pm to enjoy a cocktail outside at The Liberty Oak while you listen to entertainment. You may also browse the nearby shops and watch the sunset from the pier. Be sure to wear your conference name badge to this event.
*(We recommend you take the shuttle to the Host City Reception as there is an entry fee into Sea Pines Resort. If you take the shuttle, you will not be charged the entry fee.)
Dress Code: If you are arriving early to the party to enjoy the outdoor activities, be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

8:30 am - 9:30 am | Registration Open

9:00 – 9:30 am | Networking Breakfast
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Begin your day with a light breakfast and networking with colleagues.  This is also a good time to stop by the sponsors’ booths to see how their services can help you meet your marketing needs. We will be giving away a two-night stay at The Inn & Club at Harbour Town. You must be present to win!

9:30-10:45 am | General Session & Giveaway | The Fixer
Anthony Melchiorri, Host and Co-Executive Producer of Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible; Founder of Argeo Hospitality
Location: The Westin Ballroom
Whether hosting ''Hotel Impossible"' or running his own company, Argeo Hospitality and consulting on hotel projects for private owners and investors, Melchiorri has an unmatched ability to break down problems and find solutions that generate profits. He has the ability to create a plan, market and promote a company, and turn its staff into a well-oiled machine.

Anthony's experience working with clients over the years has enabled him to identify problems common to both fledgling as well as established companies, and has given him the insight to help solve them.
He teaches you how to develop effective company policies, train your staff, and manage your employees. Learning how to recognize sources of trouble before they have a chance to become crippling issues is vital to building a firm foundation for your company so that it can reach its full potential.

11:30 am - until | Golf
Location: Atlantic Dunes
Anyone wishing to play golf at this time must pre-register on our SC Governor's Conference registration page.