Monday, February 13, 2023

8:00 am - 2:00 pm | Golf
Location: Ocean Course or Osprey Point
Anyone wishing to golf may choose one of two courses: Ocean Course or Osprey Point. You must pre-register for either location on our SC Governor's Conference registration page.

 

10:30 am - 12:30 pm | South Carolina Tourism Coalition Meeting
Location: Legends AB at Turtle Point Clubhouse (Turtle Point Clubhouse is a 4 minute drive from the West Beach Conference Center)
Pre-conference meeting for members of the South Carolina Tourism Coalition.

 

10:30 am - 1:30 pm | SC Sports Alliance Meeting
Location: Azalea 1-2 at the West Beach Conference Center
Pre-conference meeting for members of the SC Sports Alliance.This time will include coffee, membership meeting, and a boxed lunch. 

8:30 am - 5:30 pm | Registration Open at West Beach Conference Center

 

*Kiawah shuttles will run from The Sanctuary to West Beach Conference Center from 1:30-2:30 pm. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.

2:00 - 3:15 pm | Welcome & General Session: Cybercrime, Identity Theft and Scams
Frank Abagnale, Renowned Cybercrime and Fraud Prevention Expert, Bestselling Author and Subject of Catch Me If You Can
Location: Carolina Ballroom, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: Miles Partnership
Frank Abagnale takes you behind the scenes to show you how simple strategies can thwart today’s cyber criminals. With vivid examples, Abagnale reveals how identity thieves work, why passwords aren’t keeping you safe, and why safeguarding yourself is particularly important today. Audiences praise his entertaining and informative sessions brimming with practical takeaways for attendees wanting to better protect themselves and their organizations from ever-increasing fraud. Abagnale presents an overview of the topics in a 35-minute PowerPoint presentation with 15-25 minutes of Q&A.

 

3:15 - 3:45 pm | Afternoon Break
Location: Grand Hall, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: Smithsonian Media
Please use this time to visit our sponsors and check out the State Parks Retail Store!

 

3:45 - 4:45 pm | DISCOVER Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1 | Sales & Marketing Roundtable
Location: Carolina Ballroom, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: Spectrum Reach
Want to know the tactics in tourism sales & marketing that are working for other tourism marketers? What about the things that they have seen become failures? We are our own best resources. Bring your questions and discuss with your table the ups and downs that you have seen in your business. Bring your notepad, because you will be going home with some fresh ideas!

Breakout Session 2 | Refreshing Your Content Strategy with Short Form Video
Location: Azalea 3-5, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: ADARA
Our SCPRT team is going to bring you the tips and tricks we have learned about short format videos and user generated content. In this session, you will learn how to elevate your social media game, especially with videos.

Breakout Session 3 | 10 Things to Know From a Meeting Planner
Nan Marchand Beauvois, US Travel
Location: Azalea 1-2, West Beach Conference Center
If you want to know how to better attract meeting planners to your meeting space. Learn from the meeting planner of one of the biggest meetings in the industry and what she looks for in a destination and meeting space.

*Kiawah shuttles will run from West Beach Conference Center to The Sanctuary from 4:30-5:30 pm. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.

 

6:00-9:00 pm | A Lowcountry Evening  
Join us for a lowcountry reception sponsored by Explore Charleston and Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Location: Terrace Rooms at The Sanctuary
Sponsor: Explore Charleston & Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

7:30 am - 5:00 pm | Registration Open

8:00 - 8:30 am | Networking Breakfast
Location: Grand Hall, West Beach Conference Center
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.

 

*Kiawah shuttles will run from The Santuary to West Beach Conference Center from 8:15-9:15. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.

 

8:45 - 10:00 am | General Session | Happier @ Work: The 5 Science Backed Skills that Transform Team Culture and Help Employees Thrive
Nataly Kogan, Happines Expert, Venture Capitalist
Location: Carolina Ballroom
Sponsor: Ampersand
Emotional health and happiness aren’t some touchy feely nice to have ideas. They are your and your organization’s greatest unrealized assets, that will help you thrive and lead a human centered workplace culture where your employees and teams are dramatically more engaged, productive, and innovative. In this practical and inspiring session, Nataly Kogan shares science backed techniques to help you and your employees improve emotional health, increase resilience through challenges and change, and reconnect to a sense of purpose at work and life!

 

10:00 - 10:30 am | Morning Parks Break
Location: Carolina Ballroom, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: University of South Carolina | College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Managment
Join us for a South Carolina State Parks themed break. Make your own trail mix, explore virtual reality, and maybe even make a new creepy crawly friend! Please use this time to visit our sponsors and check out the State Parks Retail Store.

 

10:30 - 11:30 am | DISCOVER Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1 | Travel & Media Trends for 2023: How to Stay Relevant in the Current Landscape
PR Session
Location: Azalea 3-5, West Beach Conference Center 
Sponsor Q1 Media
One thing is for sure — the demand for travel is back. Domestic business travel is adjusting to the hybrid work schedules, and while it was slow to start at the beginning of the year, it is picking up and "expected to reach 81% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022 and 96% in 2023." This will be a quick snapshot of how media and editorial are changing, which directly impacts the tactical ways we do PR in 2023 and beyond.

Breakout Session 2 | Beyond Economic Impact: How to Leverage Sports Events and Tourism to Build Community Value
Dr. Jennifer Stoll, Sports, Events & Tourism Association, Executive Director
Location: Azalea 1-2, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: Hearst Lifestyle Group
Dr. Jennifer Stoll with Sports ETA will provide a detailed overview of the role sports events and tourism plays in destinations, as well as simple ways to demonstrate value to local markets in terms they can understand.

 

11:45 – 1:15 pm | Awards Luncheon & Marketing Update
Duane Parrish, Director of SCPRT
Location: Carolina Ballroom, West Beach Conference Center
The Awards Luncheon is an event that will celebrate top performance in South Carolina’s tourism industry for the year 2022. Recognition will be given to the best tourism attraction or campaign, the best rural tourism effort and the most outstanding hospitality employee of the year. We will also hear a marketing update from our Director, Duane Parrish. 

*Kiawah shuttles will run from West Beach Conference Center to The Sanctuary from 1:00-2:00. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.

 

1:15-5:00 pm | Tuesday Afternoon Explore and Discover
This year's Governor's Conference has several opportunities on Tuesday afternoon to explore the tourism appeal of the Charleston area and discover best practices in the field of Marketing. If you are attending a tour that may require an extra coat, shoes, or warm layers, you may check the clothing in with SCPRT staff at the registration area before sessions begin Tuesday morning.

 

Experience #1 | Charleston Tea Garden and Deep Water Vineyard
Limit 37 attendees
Sponsor: ADARA
Learn all about how tea is made during a visit to the Charleston Tea Garden! Located on picturesque Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Tea Garden is home to Charleston Tea Garden Tea. Take an enjoyable Trolley tour through the tea fields, stop by the greenhouse to learn how tea is grown, and help yourself to all of the iced or hot tea you can drink!
Nestled among the majestic live oaks on Charleston's back porch of Wadmalaw Island, this 48-acre winery and vineyard has something for everyone. Go on a "choose your own adventure" tour, weaving your way through our current wine list by choosing 6 samples to try. At the end, you will receive a complimentary wine glass to remember your time at the vineyard.  
Dress Code: Bring a jacket as the vineyard tasting will be outdoors.

 

Experience #2 | Bulldog Tours - Historic Walking Tour
Limit 45 attendees
Sponsor: SOJERN
Alongside one of our passionate, licensed tour guides, you’ll explore Charleston’s rich history on an engaging, insightful journey through vibrant neighborhoods, historic sites, architecture, art, and the built environment.
Dress Code: Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.

 

Experience #3 | Explore Captain Sams Spit
Limit 45 attendees
Sponsor: Advance Travel Solutions 
Captain Sam's Spit is a pristine 170-acre barrier island spit on the end of Kiawah Island separating it from Seabrook. It is one of only three undeveloped publicly accessible barrier islands spits in the state, and it is used by the public, along with endangered and important wildlife species such as the piping plover, red knots, diamondback terrapins and bottlenose dolphins. This will be a guided walking tour to explore this unique area. Note, we will be walking extensively along the beach. 
Dress code: Please dress warmly as it will be cooler near the water this time of year. Although we are in a subtropical climate, temperatures can vary greatly. Be sure to dress in layers according to the season. We recommend you bring a hat and polarized sunglasses. 

 

Experience #4 | Boat Cruise in Kiawah River
Limit 33 attendees
Sponsor: Causal iQ
Spend the afternoon on a leisurely cruise along the calm Kiawah River enjoying the breathtaking scenery. Come join us as we search inlets, creeks, and marshes for wildlife, such as dolphins, birds, turtles and more. 
Dress code: Please dress warmly as it will be cooler on the water this time of year. Although we are in a subtropical climate, temperatures can vary greatly on the water. Be sure to dress in layers according to the season. We recommend you bring a hat and polarized sunglasses. 

 

6:00 - 9:00 pm | Discover SC Reception and Dinner
Location: Mingo Point, 876 Kiawah Island Pkwy, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Shuttles will pick up at The Sanctuary and West Beach Conference Center at 6:00 and run on a loop to Mingo Point until the party is over. You may begin loading the bus starting at 5:30. Buses will run on a loop from Mingo Point, to West Beach Conference Center at The Sanctuary until the dinner is over at 9pm.

Typically our Tuesday night at GovCon includes a dine-around. This year, however, you can enjoy a full BBQ dinner, oyster roast, s'mores, music and an oyster inscription station! Dress appropriately for the weather as this event will be outside.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

8:00 am - 9:30 am | Registration Open

 

*Kiawah shuttles will run from The Sanctuary to West Beach Conference Center from 8:00-9:00. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.

8:30 - 10 am | Networking Breakfast and SCPRT Project Updates
Location: Carolina Ballroom, West Beach Conference Center
Sponsor: 9Rooftops Marketing
SCPRT has a number of projects in the pipeline. Join us during this breakfast session to hear from Director, Duane Parrish what will be coming to fruition in 2023. Grab breakfast between 8:30-9:00 am, Duane Parrish will begin his presentation at 9:00 am. This will also be the last event of our 2023 SC Governor's Conference. We will be giving away a 2-night stay at St. Phillips Island during this session. You must be present to win!

*Kiawah shuttles will run from West Beach Conference Center to The Sanctuary from 9:30-10:30 am. If you are in a Villa or choose not to take a shuttle in the alotted time, you may call a property shuttle by dialing extension 82900 from a property phone between the hours of 7am and 11pm to travel anywhere within the resort.