10 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE CONFERENCE

Your Travel South Dakota team works hard to put together two and a half days jam-packed with content for all attendees. We know it can even be a bit overwhelming. To help you make the most of your time and get the most out of the conference, we have put together the following list of suggestions:

1. Read our emails beforehand and the conference booklet during the conference. We provide attendees with lots of useful information to help make your conference experience run as smoothly as possible. 
2. Sign up for the Mentorship Program! Help inspire our industry’s next generation. This is done during the online registration process and participation is based on the number of students who attend.
3. Tune in to our webinar to prepare for Tuesday's Tourism Day at the Capitol. Before you even arrive, learn more about what it is and how to best get involved. 
4. Ask Travel South Dakota team members for assistance. Email us ahead of time or look for us at the conference. We're the ones with red ribbons on our name tags. You can always find a few of us at the registration desk. 
5. Keep in mind this conference is all about increasing your knowledge about marketing, customer service, research, etc.  Be sure to attend all sessions you are able to so you can educate yourself about a variety of topics. Resist the temptation to check your phone too often. It’s important for everyone to be present in sessions! 
6. Divide and conquer!  If you attend the conference with fellow team members, we encourage each of you to attend different breakout sessions to expand your knowledge. Be sure to share what you learned at the breakouts you attended with your team members, both those who attended other sessions and those back home.  
7. The conference is an ideal time to connect with your peers. Take advantage of all networking opportunities to make new friends and connections in the tourism industry. The Forever 605 Lounge is a particularly great place to network. Also, make sure you visit with the dozens of Exhibitors who participate in the conference.  Whether you are looking for new swag for your business, a new printing vendor to produce your brochures, or to learn more about different sectors within our industry, our Exhibitors are there for you. Be sure to take in the Exhibitor Preview on Tuesday (optional) and the Exhibitor Hour on Wednesday. Don’t forget your business cards! 
8. Follow the Pac Man Rule. When standing with a group of people (whether you've just met them or not), leave an extra space for someone to come join the group. This signals to new attendees and other folks that your group is welcoming. Collectively, this practice makes the conference a better experience for all. 
9. Attend Tuesday afternoon's Tourism Day at the Capitol and the Legislative Thank You Reception Tuesday evening to connect with your legislators.  Here and at home, let them know how much you appreciate their service to the state and their support of tourism. 
10. Provide feedback! Make sure to complete the post conference survey.