Spring Summit
SPRING TOURISM SUMMIT
STARKVILLE, MS
March 31 – April 2, 2026
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HOST →
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Agenda
Tuesday, March 31:
12:00 – 3:00
MTA Board Meeting & Advisory Meeting
The Mill Conference Center
2:00 – 4:00
Excellence in Tourism Leadership Program Session
*Only for attendees who are enrolled in the program
McDaniel at The Mill
5:30 pm
Tourism Mississippi PAC Fundraiser
The Rooftop Club at Dudy Noble Field
*Ticketed Event
Wednesday, April 1:
8:00 – 4:00 pm
Conference Registration
The Mill Foyer
8:30 – 9:00 am
Grab-n-Go Breakfast
Ballroom SU
Sponsored by Pearl River Resort
9:00 am -10:00 am
Opening Session: Combatting Burnout
Beth Inglish
Ballroom M
Sponsored by Miles Partnership
10:00 am -10:30 am
Bloody Mary Break
Shorty’s at The Mill
Sponsored by Maris, West & Baker
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Breakout Sessions
I: Small Paw. Big Foot Print.
Dr. Rachel Carter, MSU Extension
Sherrye Smythe: Leland Downtown
Alden Thornhill: The Starkville Derby
Robin Whitfield: Lee Tartt Nature Preserve & Swamp
Ballroom M
II: AI in Tourism: Best Practices for Policy, Digital Presence, and Responsible Use
Dr. Kollin Napier, MGCCC
302
III: TBD
Ben Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow
303
11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Luncheon featuring Robert Clay & Josh Snead, SEC Shorts
Ballroom SU
Sponsored by TBD
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Media Speed Dating
Ballroom SU
OR
Breakout Session: Immersive Experience
Ulysess S. Grant Presidential Library
Breakout Session: Immersive Experience
MAFES Tour
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Reception
The Gridiron Club at Davis Wade Stadium
Sponsored by Visit Starkville
7:00 pm
Dine Around Starkville
Thursday, April 2:
8:30-9:00 am
Grab-n-Go Breakfast
Ballroom SU
Sponsored by TBD
9:00-10:00
Visit Mississippi Presentation
Rochelle Hicks, Visit Mississippi
Ballroom M
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Closing Session: Belonging by Design: How Awareness Becomes Access
Leslie Walker, Leslie Walker Consulting
Ballroom M
Sponsored by The Ramey Agency
11:00 am – 11:30 am
MTA Annual Meeting
Ballroom M
Host
Where to Stay
Courtyard Marriott
$179/night
Block is FULL.
Registration
Click here to register.
Early Bird Registration Pricing:
Early Bird Registration $225
Early Bird Additional Registration: $150
*Ends February 27, 2026
Registration After Early Bird Deadline:
Registration: $275
Additional Registration: $200
Sponsorship Opportunities
For sponsorship opportunities, click here or email Jennie Guido at jguido@mstourism.com.
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