More than 150 representatives from Wisconsin tourism organizations and businesses will gather at the Radisson Paper Valley in Appleton November 4 & 5 to learn ways to succeed in the “new normal” economy at the 14th annual Wisconsin Fall Tourism Convention.

The convention, hosted by the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (WACVB), kicks off with a keynote address by national tourism expert and Wisconsin resident Bill Geist who will identify the trends behind the many changes facing the tourism industry and offer ideas on how to capitalize on them. Breakout sessions build upon the keynote address by focusing on topics including social media strategies, mobile marketing, niche markets such as sports and agricultural tourism, and much more.

On Friday, November 5th, Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Kelli Trumble will address attendees on how the state agency is addressing the new economy and will join WACVB in presenting the annual Wisconsin Tourism Trailblazers Awards.  One Trailblazer Award will be presented to an individual who has played a prominent role in promoting and advancing Wisconsin’s tourism industry and other awards will be presented to tourism organizations that have executed outstanding marketing and partnership projects in the past year.

Sponsors of the 2009 Wisconsin Fall Tourism Convention are the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, Midwest Living Magazine, Tribune Media Group and Collinson Publishing.  The theme of 2009 convention is “Shopping for Success”, tying into the Fox Cities’ Wisconsin’s Shopping Place brand.  For more information about the convention, visit www.escapetowisconsin.com/fallconvention.