Governor’s Conference

OXFORD CONFERENCE CENTER

OXFORD, MS

OCTOBER 6 – 8, 2026

ITINERARY →

EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION →

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION →

ACCOMMODATIONS →

SILENT AUCTION →

AWARDS →

SPONSORS →

Agenda

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

1:00 – 5:00 pm

Exhibitor Set-Up & Registration & Silent Auction Item Drop Off
Oxford Conference Center

2:30 – 5:00 pm

Excellence in Tourism Leadership Program Session
Oxford Conference Center
TBD
* Session only for those already enrolled in the ETLP program *

6:00 – 7:00 pm

New Member and First-Timer Attendee Reception
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Opening Reception
TBD
Sponsored by Visit Oxford

9:00 – until

After Hours Social
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Registration & Exhibits Open
Oxford Conference Center

8:00 – 8:30 am
Breakfast
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

8:30 – 10:00 am
Opening Session: TBD
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

10:00 – 10:45 am
Bloody Mary Break / Media Visits
TBD
Sponsored by Maris, West & Baker

10:45 – 11:45 am
General Session: TBD
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

12:00 – 1:15 pm
Luncheon: ETLP Graduation
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

1:30 – 2:30 pm
Breakout Session I
TBD

1:30 – 2:30 pm
Breakout Session II
TBD

1:30 – 2:30 pm
Breakout Session III: Media Training
TBD

2:30 – 3:00 pm
Break / Media Visits
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

(3:00 – 5:00 pm: Media Breakdown)

3:00 – 4:30 pm
Immersive Breakout Session I: TBD
TBD

3:00 – 4:30 pm
Immersive Breakout Session II: TBD
TBD

5:00 – 6:30 pm
2027 Host Sponsor Reception
TBD
Sponsored by Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

7:00 pm
Dine Around Oxford

Thursday, October 8, 2026

8:30 – 9:00 am
Breakfast
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

9:00 – 10:00 am
General Session: Visit Mississippi Update
TBD

10:00 – 10:30 am
Break / Closing of Silent Auction
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

10:30 – 11:30 am
Closing Session: TBD
TBD

11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Awards Luncheon
TBD
Sponsored by TBD

* Schedule is subject to changes.

Exhibitor Registration

Exhibitor registration for the 2026 Governor’s Conference on Tourism is NOT OPEN. If you signed up at the beginning of the 2026 year as a Media
Partner, please contact Jennie Guido to confirm your number of attendees included, if you need to add more attendees and receipt of payment.

Registration fee is $1,000 and ends August 31, 2026. This fee includes booth space with skirted table, identification signage, & conference registration for 1 company representative. For guaranteed booth space and inclusion on all collateral you must register by August 31, 2026.

***A note on registering for Governor’s Conference***
You must use your email address associated with your organization’s membership and log into MC Trade using that email to receive the member rate. If you click a link from an email or from our website to register, you will see a register button. Click that and you will see a form with a login button on the top right. Click that and enter your login email, then register. If you are not a member, you can skip this step. If you do not have a password for your email login, you will need to select forgot your password and create one.

Reach out to Jennie Guido for assistance if you have any problems logging in.
If you have any issues and think your invoice is incorrect, please reach out before submitting payment!

Attendee Registration

Registration is NOT OPEN!

Early Bird Registration Pricing:

$475 for non members / $450 for members

Additional Attendees: $275 for non members / $250 for members

Registration After Early Bird Deadline (August 21):

$600 for non members / $500 for members

Additional Attendees: $350 for non members / $300 for members

Reach out to Jennie Guido for assistance if you have any problems logging in.
If you have any issues and think your invoice is incorrect, please reach out before submitting payment!
If you have questions regarding the conference, contact Danielle Morgan by email or phone.

Accommodations

Stay Tuned!

Silent Auction

The Governor’s Conference on Tourism is a wonderful event and donating to the silent auction is a fun way to showcase and promote our communities while helping MTA raise money for educational programming. The proceeds from the silent auction give MTA the ability to offer scholarships to STS Marketing College as well as other programs throughout the year.
In the past, we have found that packages, trips and Mississippi-made products are our bestsellers! We encourage you to think of things that are unique to your area or community.

POPULAR AUCTION ITEMS FROM PAST EVENTS:
·Getaway Packages
· Destination-themed gifts
· Advertising opportunities
· Tickets and packages to attractions
· Technology / electronic gadgets
· Consulting and creative services

If you are donating a gift certificate, please include redemption instructions as well as a voucher for display at the auction. Please note that MTA reserves the right to package items together.

To submit items for the silent auction, fill out the form here.

Awards

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Award Nominations are CLOSED!

Eligibility: Any individual or organization meeting the specific awards criteria may be nominated. Projects and promotions must have been completed between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, except for the Governmental Tourism Leadership Award, Member of the Year and The Tourism Achievement Award. These awards may include projects and achievement that span a long period of time over a person’s career and their support of Mississippi tourism.

Who May Submit Nominations: Members or employees of the following organizations: Bed & Breakfast Association of MS, MS Convention & Visitors Bureaus, MS Chambers of Commerce, MS Hotel & Lodging Association, MS Hospitality & Restaurant Association, MS Gaming & Hospitality Association, MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, MS Development Authority Division of Tourism, MS Main Street Association, MS Tourism Association, MS Welcome Centers, Museums/Attractions and Fairs/Festivals.

Judging Criteria: Entries are judged by a panel of industry peers. Decisions by the judges are final. Failure to follow the entry format will result in disqualification.

Entry Format: Please provide a two-page or less written overview of the following information.
·Title of award nomination, include category if applicable
·Name of organization or person nominated
·Overview of the nominee’s accomplishments and how they relate to the advancement of tourism in Mississippi and the award criteria
·Description of programs initiated or implemented after June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026.
·Special recognition or awards received.
·Other factors making the nominee a valuable asset to the Mississippi tourism industry.
·A brief summary (100-150 words) of the submission is required to be used in the video presentation during the ceremony.
·Supporting materials to support the nomination such as newspaper articles, brochures, photographs, videos, press releases, audio, etc. in the following formats (doc, dock, jpg, .pdf, zip, mp3, mp4, wav, ppt, mpg, ai, wmv). Please add all items to a Dropbox link and share that link in the form.

Entry Deadline & Submissions: All entries, supporting materials and payment must be received by Friday, July 17, 2026, at 5 p.m. Payment must be made online with credit card at the time of submission.

Notification: Only the person submitting the nomination will be notified prior to the awards ceremony.

Presentation: The recipient will be honored on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during the Mississippi Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

For more information contact Danielle Morgan by email or phone.

AWARD CATEGORIES

TERRY WATKINS MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Presented to an outstanding volunteer member who goes above and beyond for the betterment of the organization.

DMO OF THE YEAR – $3,000,000 AND OVER

Honors a DMO with a budget of $3,000,000 and over, which is recognized for outstanding efforts in destination marketing and management through strategies and initiatives that generate visitation and contribute to the overall success of their destination. Entries should also demonstrate they are supportive of tourism endeavors, not only promoting their own area but also other partners and the industry as a whole.

DMO OF THE YEAR – $1,000,000 TO $2.99 MILLION

Honors a DMO with a budget of $1,000,000 to $2.99 Million, which is recognized for outstanding efforts in destination marketing and management through strategies and initiatives that generate visitation and contribute to the overall success of their destination. Entries should also demonstrate they are supportive of tourism endeavors, not only promoting their own area but also other partners and the industry as a whole.

DMO OF THE YEAR – $500,000 TO $999,000

Honors a DMO with a budget of $500,000 to $999,000, which is recognized for outstanding efforts in destination marketing and management through strategies and initiatives that generate visitation and contribute to the overall success of their destination. Entries should also demonstrate they are supportive of tourism endeavors, not only promoting their own area but also other partners and the industry as a whole.

DMO OF THE YEAR – $0 TO $499,000

DMO with a budget of $0 to $499,000, which is recognized for outstanding efforts in destination marketing and management through strategies and initiatives that generate visitation and contribute to the overall success of their destination. Entries should also demonstrate they are supportive of tourism endeavors, not only promoting their own area but also other partners and the industry as a whole.

TOURISM PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

Honors a specific promotional campaign that is innovative and successful in attracting visitors to a destination, attraction, hotel, venue or event.

TOURISM INVESTMENT AWARD

Honors a specific promotional campaign that is innovative and successful in attracting visitors to a destination, attraction, hotel, venue or event.

TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to a tourism entity that has significantly increased visitation and helped shape the future of their destination. The entity should exhibit how their work has enhanced the travel and tourism experience through their strategic vision and commitment to their community. Entries should demonstrate a comprehensive plan with long term goals and results showing how these significant achievements were accomplished.

BEST SALES STRATEGY OR CAMPAIGN

Honors a strong campaign or strategy used to grow sales for a destination, attraction, hotel, convention center or other tourism entity via traditional or digital methods. Results should include a clear statement of goals and results. Examples would include but are not limited to: sales-focused mailers, promotional items, familiarization tours and other sales strategies.

BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGY OR CAMPAIGN

Awarded to a strong public relations campaign or strategy. Projects may include, but are not limited to, development projects, advocacy campaigns, welcome center projects, socially/environmentally responsible efforts, experiential, etc. Campaigns may be directed at niche markets or a general travel audience. Campaigns may also relate to special events, crisis management programs or overall tourism promotion. Results should be communicated with relevant and meaningful metrics. Results should include: impressions, results, pickup and social media reach (if applicable).

BEST ADVOCACY OR GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN

Entries should show how your entity has demonstrated its value to stakeholders and lawmakers. Entries may include, but are not limited to: presentations to stakeholders, lawmakers, advertisements, collateral, video messaging, etc.

GOVERNMENTAL TOURISM LEADERSHIP AWARD

Awarded to a government entity that supports tourism and works well with tourism partners by lending support and helping grow tourism. Examples of government entities include, but are not limited to, state legislators, local government officials such as mayors, alderman/supervisors, city and county clerks, etc.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

This is awarded to a person that gives freely of their personal time to help attract visitors to their community. They are willing to work on either an individual project or multiple projects tirelessly with the desire of helping their city grow through tourism.

TOURISM PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR

This recognizes effective partnerships among entities within the tourism industry. Examples would include partnerships successfully impacting any of the following: marketing, advocacy, education and development. Entries should include but are not limited to: how the partnership was conceived and created, how you worked well together to achieve common goals, the impact of the partnership and future plans for further collaboration. Please include statements from both partners outlining how this partnership impacted all involved partners in a positive way.

LODGING OF THE YEAR

Presented to a lodging source in the state that not only attracts visitors but also exhibits an above-average commitment to the visitor experience and overall engagement in the tourism industry.

VENUE OF THE YEAR

Presented to a venue in the state that offers an outstanding location for various types of events. Entries should also exhibit an above-average commitment to the visitor experience and overall engagement in the tourism industry.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Presented to an eatery in the state that not only showcases Southern cuisine but also creates a dining experience that patrons will want to pass on to fellow travelers.

ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Presented to an attraction that is new or unique in attracting visitors to its city. It shows results in bringing in tourists and visitors.

LARGE FESTIVAL/EVENT OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a unique festival or event that is well attended, attracts a large variety of visitors and is well publicized. This category is for events with over 5,000 in attendance

SMALL FESTIVAL/EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Small Festival/Event of the Year (Attendance of 5,000 and below)
Awarded to a unique festival or event that is well attended, attracts a large variety of visitors and is well publicized. This category is for events with 5,000 and fewer in attendance.

BEST OVERALL TRADITIONAL MEDIA

Awarded to any member using traditional media (broadcast, radio, newspaper, magazine, print advertising campaign, etc) to promote a destination, attraction, property, event or campaign. This could also include earned media that compliments your media campaign.

BEST OVERALL DIGITAL MEDIA

Awarded to any member using digital media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, website, digital advertising campaign, podcast, etc) to promote a destination, attraction, property, event or campaign. Applicant should include documentation showing reach, growth and results during the award period.

TOM VANHYNING RESEARCH-IN-ACTION AWARD

Awarded to a member who is investing in research in order to make data-driven decisions to grow tourism in the state. It is named in honor of beloved, former state economist Tom VanHyning, who served Mississippi tourism for decades and taught us the importance and value of good research.