Drawing hundreds of destination leaders, tourism professionals and industry players to Atlantic City December 1-2, the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association had a lot to share
The New Jersey Tourism Industry Association (NJTIA) represents all sectors of New Jersey's multibillion dollar tourism industry statewide. The organization's annual NJ Conference on Tourism was back in person to safely and successfully bring together industry professionals, tourism and hospitality students, community and government leadership, emerging talent for two days of networking, keynotes, panels and entertainment at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. The event was co chaired by Judy Ross, CDME of Elizabeth DMO and Alex Heimann of Tempest.
Presentations featured top-of-mind issues from Tourism Statistics, new tourism markets, Digital Tourism Trends, Esports, Cannabis and Tourism with a prestigious slate of speakers including Secretary of State Tahesha Way. The organization installed new officer's including President Lori Pepenella, CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, First Vice President Ben Rose of Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement Authority, Third Vice President Heather Colache of Meet AC, Treasurer Joann Delvescio of NJ Campground Owners Association, Board Chairman Adam Perle of NJ ArtPride and Secretary Michael Snyder of Visit South Jersey. During the Celebrate Tourism Lunch in the Hollywood Ballroom, NJTIA launched the Tourism Industry Professional Certificate, a hybrid program in partnership with Stockton University's Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism. This program will advance the industry and workforce opportunities with flexible and skill based training. The gathering was also the site for the presentation of the esteemed Excellence in Tourism and the Senator Jim Whelan Award.
The New Jersey Tourism Industry Association (NJTIA) is a 501 c 6 non-profit trade organization would like to thank the generous sponsors the 2021 NJ Conference on Tourism State of NJ Division of Travel and Tourism, NJ PBS, NJ Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Meet AC, Miles Partnership, Forge Apollo, Art Pride NJ Foundation, Greater Wildwoods Improvement & Development Authority, Ocean County Business Development & Tourism, Six Flags Great Adventure, Stockton University, Tempest, Aloysis Butler & Clark, Greater Newark CVB, Hudson County Cultural & Heritage Affairs Tourism Dept, NJ Advance Media, Orange 142, Simpleview, Spark Creative Group, AAA World, County Of Passaic Dept. of Cultureal & Historic Affairs, CTM, Dana Communications, Lou Hammond Group, Meadowlands Live CVB, NJ Chamber of Commerce, NJ Historic Trust/Journey Through Jersey, Monmouth County Tourism, Cape May County Dept of Tourism, Elizabeth DMO, Epsilon, NJ Campground Owners Association, Orsted, Somerset County Tourism, Suasion Communications Group, Visit South Jersey, Fuse Ideas and Jersey City Economic Development Corp. Please visit the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association website at https://www.njtia.org/ or call (609) 396-2020 for more information or to register for the Conference.