The Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) is holding a Tourism Summit at the 11/30 Visitors Center on September 26, 8 AM to Noon. It will recap FCVB’s first year in the new visitors center, look ahead to 2020, and provide tourism partners an opportunity to share highlights of their organization or business. The goal is to share and learn and expand the footprint of tourism in Franklin County.

Keynote speaker Mickey Schaefer will present Driving Tourism Through Quality Experience. The presentation will help summit participants to understand strategies to make visitors experiences better. A good visitor experience is the way to bring more visitors, return visitors, and increase spending throughout the county. Schaefer is the founder of The EXPERIENCE Institute, a companion of the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program, and is an inductee into the Events Industry Council’s Hall of Fame.

Tourism brings $350 million in visitors spending to Franklin County’s economy and generates nearly $1 million in room tax that supports heritage, culture, agricultural and recreational vitality. To frame tourism’s importance and integrated value in both an economic and quality of life perspective, a panel discussion will follow the keynote. Panelists include Mike Ross of Franklin County Area Development Corporation, Katie Hess of South Mountain Partnership, Matthew Ross of Southcentral PA Works, Janet Pollard of Franklin County Visitors Bureau, and Mickey Schaefer.

The public, non-profits, and tourism-related or tourism-supporting businesses are welcome. There is no charge to register. Contact FCVB at 717.552.2977 or visit Eventbrite to register.