Page 29 - 2020 AITC Program

1–1:55 p.m. Breakout Session 13
Coming January 2021!

Session 13a: Casino & Culture
Travis Owens, Director, Cultural Tourism and Community Relations,
Cherokee Nation Businesses
Laura Stensgar, CEO, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort

During the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal gaming establishments reported a collective loss
of nearly 300,000 jobs and a total economic hit of $4.4 billion, leaving tribal communities
struggling to adapt to those losses. As casinos begin to re-open to the public, they are facing a
new normal that includes face masks, temperature taking and monitored entryways. But they
also have an opportunity to redefine how they are marketing to visitors. In this session, Travis
Owens, who oversees cultural tourism development and community relations for Cherokee
Nation Business and Laura Stensgar, CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort discuss their
tribes’ commitment to incorporating culture and heritage throughout the tourism experience. Claim Your Free Listing Now
Inspiration, Ideas and Itineraries Who can join? All federally and state-recognized
Discover Native America, one unforgettable experience at a time. tribes and Native Hawaiians American Indian,
Session 13b: How to Rebound Digital Marketing After COVID-19 Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-owned,
AIANTA’s premier destination website—NativeAmerica.travel—connects
travelers to the distinctive American Indian, Alaska Native and Native tourism-related business
Peter Ross, Co-Founder, 829 Studios Hawaiian destinations in the United States and is the leading travel • Lodging, restaurants, attractions
resource for visitors seeking authentic, indigenous tourism experiences. • Museums, cultural centers, galleries
Many businesses have been negatively impacted by the global pandemic COVID-19. But how • Cultural performances, annual festivals
can these businesses fight back? In this session, we will go over consumer behavior, trends and other events
in e-commerce (specifically to food retailers), and how branding can affect search visibility. • Outdoor adventure, historical sites
Utilizing keywords in your ad’s content messaging, in SEO and SEM, can increase the chance • Adventure tours with indigenous guides
for consumers to find your business and eventually, convert. • And so much more . . .

Session Takeaways: To join now, visit www.nativeamerica.travel/guests/news or contact gchehak@aianta.org for more information.
• How consumers will interact with digital marketing in a post-COVID-19 world
• E-commerce data trends
• Best practices to implement in SEO/SEM to maintain a presence onlinee
Coming January 2021!

2–3 p.m. Closing Keynote

The Heart Speaks--The Meaning of Aloha

Hi’ilani Shibata, Lead Cultural Trainer, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Although similar values exist in all cultures, the Spirit of Aloha is a term that has become
synonymous with the Hawai’ian culture. These values have been transferred through ancestral
knowledge and are further brought to life by each individual’s unique cultural and heritage
experiences.

The first in AIANTA’s new The Heart Speaks series, The Meaning of Aloha will feature Hi’ilani
Shibata, AIANTA Board Member for the Pacific Region and Lead Cultural Trainer for the Native
Hawaiian Hospitality Association, who will demonstrate how every tribal tourism individual
can uplift their culture and bring a little aloha into their own programming through authentic
sharing with visitors.
3 p.m. Closing Ceremonies

As AIANTA concludes its first virtual AITC, join us for a post-conference wrap up, including
Native performances and a door prize giveaway.

More information at www.aianta.org/cultural-heritage-certificate

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