April 15, 2026 - April 15, 2026
Webinar Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online
Beyond Reporting, The Power of Everyday Stakeholder Engagement in Destination Success
Presented by South East Chapter of TTRA
Tourism research does not end with the report. The most successful destinations are built on continuous, intentional engagement with a growing and increasingly complex stakeholder universe.
In this panel discussion, destination research practitioners and academic tourism researchers explore what it actually takes to make stakeholder engagement work, from the time investment required to build lasting relationships, to the challenge of translating data into messages that resonate across very different audiences.
Panelists will share real-world perspectives on the friction points practitioners and researchers navigate every day, offering insights that help bridge the gap between theory and practice.
This session is designed for destination leaders, researchers, consultants, academics, and anyone interested in strengthening the strategic impact of tourism research.
Webinar Presenters:
Moderator
Joseph St. Germain
Downs and St. Germain Research
Joseph St. Germain, Ph.D., is President and Partner at Downs & St. Germain Research, a full-service market research firm based in Tallahassee, Florida, specializing in travel and tourism. He leads the design and delivery of research programs that support destination marketing organizations, government agencies, and industry partners with actionable insights on visitor behavior, resident sentiment, and economic impact.
Speakers
Dan Roberts
Virginia Tourism Corporation
Dan Roberts is Vice President of Research and Strategy at the Virginia Tourism Corporation, where he leads the organization’s research, analytics, and strategic planning efforts. In this role, he oversees tourism data programs, evaluates marketing effectiveness, and provides insights that guide decision making across Virginia’s tourism economy.
Alan Fyall
University of Central Florida
Dr. Alan Fyall is Professor of Tourism Marketing at the University of Central Florida and a globally recognized scholar in destination management and marketing. His work focuses on collaboration, governance, and strategic destination development, with an emphasis on bridging academic research and industry practice.
Jalayer Khalilzadeh
East Carolina University
Dr. Jalayer Khalilzadeh is an Associate Professor at East Carolina University specializing in hospitality and tourism analytics. His research focuses on consumer behavior, advanced quantitative methods, and data-driven decision making in tourism and hospitality contexts.
Jonathan Smith
VisitGreenvilleSC
Jonathan Smith is Director of Research at VisitGreenvilleSC, where he leads the organization’s research and analytics efforts to inform destination strategy and decision making. In this role, he oversees the development and application of data-driven insights related to visitor behavior, market trends, and tourism performance.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online