TTRA | Building Blocks: Tourism Research Essentials Workshop

June 23, 2026 - June 23, 2026

Building Blocks: Tourism Research Essentials

A Pre-Conference Workshop for Aspiring and Early-Career Researchers

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 – Greenville, South Carolina
Limited to 25 Participants

Location: Hyatt Regency Greenville
Start time: 1:30 PM ET

Registration Fee: $175 (until March 31) / $190 (after March 31)

Start the week with the Building Blocks: Tourism Research Essentials Workshop, an interactive pre-conference session designed to strengthen research skills and translate insights into real-world destination strategy.

The workshop can be added to your conference registration, or you can register for the workshop as a standalone session.

Discover Your Path in Tourism Research

Are you building your path in destination research?

Whether you’re a student exploring a future in tourism industry research, an early-career professional building your foundation, or someone curious about how research shapes destinations and decisions, this interactive workshop is for you.

Building Blocks: Tourism Research Essentials is a highly curated, small-group learning experience and a cornerstone of TTRA’s 2026 career development programming.

Join leading researchers and practitioners as they share real-world insights on how to:

Navigate the early stages of a research career with confidence
Communicate complex findings to non-technical audiences
Collaborate effectively with stakeholders
Make your research matter – turning insights into impact

You’ll also connect directly with peers and mentors through intentional small-group networking and a “Mentorship Mixer,” designed to spark lasting professional relationships.

Participants will leave the workshop recognized as “Research Ready”, equipped with practical strategies, mentorship connections, and resources to confidently grow within destination and tourism research.

Why This Workshop Is Different

Much of the education available in our industry is vendor-led.

This workshop is not.

It is designed by destination researchers, for destination researchers.

It creates a rare space for candid conversation about:

Navigating expectations inside a DMO or state tourism office
Translating data into stories that resonate with decision-makers
Building credibility and influence early in your career
Collaborating across marketing, sales, and executive teams
Using modern tools, including AI and dashboards, responsibly and effectively
Understanding the difference between insights, analysis, and analytics

With attendance capped at just 25 participants, this is not a lecture in a ballroom. It is an interactive, conversation-driven experience.

Meet Your Workshop Leaders

What You Will Experience

Welcome and Interactive Icebreaker

An engaging kickoff that sets the tone for collaboration, openness, and peer connection.

Panel 1: Strategies for Early-Career Impact

Moderated by Jeffrey Eslinger

A 45-minute conversation featuring experienced destination professionals sharing what they wish they had known early in their careers.

Panelists include:

Dede Haggerty, Market Intelligence Specialist, Visit St Pete-Clearwater
Matt Kodis, Research & Business Intelligence Manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Dudley Jackson, Director of Research, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Christine Cramer, Director of Market Analysis & Research, Visit Austin

Topics include:

Navigating role expectations and team dynamics
Building influence early within your organization
Prioritizing your first 90 days
Finding mentors and building relationships in the DMO space
Communicating effectively with academics and practitioners

Mentorship Mixer

Facilitated by Frida Bahja

Structured, rotating small-group conversations with senior researchers and mentors. This session is designed to spark meaningful professional relationships, not just exchanges of business cards.

This is where real connections begin.

Panel 2: Essential Resources for Tourism Research Success

Moderated by Dan Roberts

A practical discussion focused on the tools, datasets, and strategies powering modern destination research and tourism analytics.

Panelists include:

Maria Henson, Sr. Director of Market Research & Insights, Visit Orlando
Josh Gibson, Chief Analytics & Strategy Officer, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Brittany Augustine, Director of Research, Arizona Office of Tourism
John Picou, Director of Business Intelligence, Visit Anaheim

Topics include:

Identifying reliable public datasets at national, state, and local levels
Understanding vendor data sources and how to evaluate them
Avoiding common pitfalls in destination analytics
Communicating insights to non-technical audiences
Staying current in a rapidly evolving tourism research landscape

Built for Emerging Professionals

This workshop is open to:

Early-career or newly transitioned destination researchers
Graduate and undergraduate students exploring tourism research careers
Professionals entering DMO research or tourism analytics roles
Vendors as attendees only

Participants may register for this workshop without registering for the full TTRA Annual International Conference.

A certificate of completion will be provided.

This workshop is not designed as an advanced technical deep dive for senior-level analytics leaders.

Extend the Experience

The workshop concludes just before the Annual International Conference First-Timers Happy Hour, where participants will meet and engage directly with members of the TTRA Board of Directors.

This is more than professional development.
It is entry into a professional community.

Space Is Limited

Attendance is capped at 25 participants to preserve an interactive, high-value experience.

If you are ready to accelerate your tourism research career, join us in Greenville.

Register now to secure one of 25 seats and take your first step toward becoming Research Ready.

Building Blocks: Tourism Research Essentials

A Pre-Conference Workshop for Aspiring and Early-Career Researchers

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 – Greenville, South Carolina
Limited to 25 Participants

Location: Hyatt Regency Greenville
Start time: 1:30 PM ET

Registration Fee: $175 (until March 31) / $190 (after March 31)