September 9, 2025 - September 11, 2025
September 9-11, 2025
Olympia, Washington – The Great Wolf Lodge
WHERE RESEARCH MEETS STRATEGY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DESTINATIONS
⏰ Registration closes this Friday, August 29!
TTRA Member Rate: $600
TTRA Academic Rate: $450
About the Event
The Greater Western Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (GWTTRA) is teaming up with One West Tourism Alliance for a collaborative, innovative joint chapter conference in Olympia, WA. Join us at the Great Wolf Lodge to connect with destination leaders, researchers, academics, and tourism professionals from across the western region and beyond.
Who Should Attend?
- Decision makers and team leaders in travel and tourism
- Research and destination insights professionals
- Newcomers to research, analytics, or destination insights
- Anyone eager to strengthen their skills, expand industry knowledge, and connect with tourism research experts
Whether you’re a seasoned executive, academic, or early-career professional, this summit offers something for you!
Sponsors:
Thank You to Our GWTTRA Conference Sponsors!
We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors for their steadfast support of the Greater Western TTRA + One West Annual Destination Summit. Their partnership helps advance travel and tourism research, fosters industry collaboration, and makes meaningful professional connections possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant community for all.
Key Themes & Topics
- Workforce Solutions for Today’s Destinations
- Visitor Readiness, Regeneration, and Stewardship
- Telling Our Story: Next-Level Marketing Strategy
- Data to Action: Metrics that Matter
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Destination Planning
GWTTRA Session Highlights:
- Measuring ROI in tourism and destination marketing
- Resident sentiment—case studies on objectives, methodology, and real-world application
- Economic and image impacts of natural and man-made disruptions, plus recovery strategies
- Trends in short-term rental and cruise industries, and impact on hotel market share
- Biometric research and next-gen analytics
- Embracing research and content marketing
- Telling the economic impact story
The schedule includes expert panels, interactive workshops, and networking sessions designed to foster meaningful collaboration.
Featured Keynote Speakers
- Amir Eylon (Longwoods International): Overview of Resident Sentiment Research
- Tommy Martinez (TripAdvisor): New Generation of Travelers—Unlocking the Insights of Gen Z & Millennials
Schedule
View the Full Event Schedule
Download the complete 2025 Annual Destination Summit schedule as a PDF to plan your sessions and networking opportunities.
Why Attend?
For All Attendees:
- Gain actionable insights into the latest trends, technologies, and research findings
- Explore new destinations, markets, and traveler behaviors
- Understand the challenges and opportunities facing today’s tourism sector
- Build your professional network with industry leaders, academics, and peers
For Entry-Level Professionals, Young Researchers, and Students:
- Learn from experts in transportation planning, research, and analytics
- Expand your network with seasoned professionals and potential mentors
- Discover new career paths and opportunities
- Present your research and receive valuable feedback
- Participate in hands-on workshops and training sessions
Academic Research Showcase — Call for Papers
Share your research at the region’s premier event for tourism academics and destination leaders!
Research Topics:
All topics related to travel, tourism, and hospitality are welcome—including both applied and theoretical work. We especially encourage submissions that foster engagement between tourism researchers and practitioners.
Who Should Submit:
Academics, students, and researchers at all levels are invited to participate. Scholarships are available to help reduce registration costs.
Presentation Format:
Share your work in a lively, interactive coffee-break setting designed for genuine conversation and broad exposure. Formal presentations can be arranged if required by your university.
Submission Details:
- Submissions may be new, in progress, or previously presented/published
- Two documents: title page (with author info) and main document (up to 600 words, anonymized)
- Rolling acceptance; submit by August 8, 2025, for full consideration
Important: You must be registered and attend the conference for your paper to be included.
Submissions can be submitted via email Dr. Matthew Stone at [email protected]
Include GWTTRA paper in your subject line
Sponsorship Opportunities
Showcase your brand at the 2025 GWTTRA & One West Conference, September 9–11 in Olympia, WA. Connect with tourism leaders, researchers, and industry innovators from across the Western US. Sponsorship packages include prominent recognition, speaking or video features, and valuable networking access. Choose from Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Academic options.
Ready to make an impact?
Contact Wendy Kheel ([email protected]) or Cindy Lee ([email protected]) to learn more and secure your spot. Check out sponsorship options here: 2025 GWTTRA Sponsorship Opportunities PDF
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound is conveniently located between Seattle, Portland and the state’s capital, Olympia. There are a variety of activities in the local area to appeal to everyone – a day of shopping at The Centralia Outlets, hiking at Capitol State Forest, 14 miles of biking trails from Yelm-Tenino, Farmer’s Market in Olympia, local wineries and craft breweries throughout Thurston County, and Chehalis Tribal-owned Heritage Distilling at Talking Cedar located just minutes from the lodge. There’s much to explore in this area, you will wish you had longer to stay!
Note: Hotel is closed to the public during our event. Our group will have the hotel space, but the waterpark will be closed.
ABOUT ONE WEST
One West Tourism Alliance, formerly DMA West, has a membership of over 150 western region DMOs and industry partners. One West supports DMOs by providing cutting-edge educational programs, valuable research, and a platform for networking and support.
Under the leadership of Melyssa Reeves, an industry professional with over 20 years of experience including CEO of Visit Vacaville, the One West board continues to recognize the value of a collaboration with GWTTRA and the mutual benefits a joint conference brings.