Webinar: Marketing Ohio to Attract Visitors, Residents, & Workers
Wednesday, November 20th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join Ohio Chamber of Commerce Director of Travel & Tourism Policy Matt MacLaren to learn how your organization can help promote Ohio and your community to visitors, residents, and workers.
About Our Presenter
Matt MacLaren is the Director of Travel and Tourism Policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce where he works to support, protect, and promote Ohio’s tourism industry. MacLaren is proud to be a part of the government affairs team for the Ohio Chamber which works on behalf of its over 8,000 members to make Ohio the best place in which to do business anywhere in the world.
MacLaren has spent over 20 years promoting the Ohio tourism industry. Prior to joining the Ohio Chamber in 2023, MacLaren served as Ohio Tourism Director under Governor Kasich and Governor DeWine. During his six years as Tourism Director, Ohio’s tourism industry grew to a record $53 billion industry.
Earlier in his career, MacLaren worked for the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association (OHLA). As Senior Vice President of the AHLA he helped triple the number of association members. As CEO of the OHLA he led the association to national awards for success in government affairs and for membership growth.
MacLaren is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. Together with his wife Lesley they are raising their four daughters in central Ohio.
Webinar: Tourism in Ohio: What’s Happening and Where are the Opportunities
Wednesday, September 13th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Get an update on travel trends within the state and among our potential visitors. We’ll spend extra time talking about cultural and heritage tourism, including its importance, what these types of travelers are seeking and how to get their attention. Closing out the webinar, we’ll talk briefly about two opportunities for Ohio communities – America 250 Ohio being celebrated in 2026 and the potential of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks inscription to the World Heritage List in September.
About our presenter:
Melinda Huntley is the executive director of the Ohio Travel Association (OTA), a nonprofit organization that provides support for museums, attractions, visitor bureaus, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses wanting to attract travelers. OTA advocates for smart policies that increase travel in Ohio, produces the state tourism conference, keeps the industry informed on market trends and news, and provides professional development. It also produces Heartland Travel Showcase, a 14-state regional meeting place for buying and selling group tours. With career experience in public relations at Cedar Point, running a CVB along Lake Erie and helping communities develop heritage and outdoor experiences through OSU’s Ohio Sea Grant College Program, she has a unique understanding of opportunities for businesses and communities of any size. She is a Commissioner for America 250 Ohio which will be celebrated in 2026 and serves on multiple national and statewide task forces and boards, including those focused on World Heritage designation, trail development, and educating our youth.
Epic Experiences
Wednesday, November 17th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Ohio Travel Association has done its research on elevating experiences to a transformative level and is launching an Epic Group Experiences designation program for businesses throughout the Midwest. Learn more about this program to attract groups to your downtown.
Presenter
Melinda Huntley is the executive director of the Ohio Travel Association (OTA), a nonprofit organization that provides support for museums, attractions, visitor bureaus, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses wanting to attract travelers. OTA advocates for smart policies that increase travel in Ohio and helps businesses. With career experience in public relations at Cedar Point, running a CVB along Lake Erie and helping communities develop heritage and outdoor experiences, she has a unique understanding of opportunities for businesses and communities of any size.
Demystifying Influencer Marketing: Identifying, Activating, & Growing Effective Partnerships Webinar
Wednesday, January 27 – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
This session will focus on training organizations to work with influencers: how they can be effective, how they can benefit destinations, as well as discussing techniques for researching effective partnerships, connecting with influencers near you, and creating and maintaining successful relationships with them.
The Ohio Tourism Office will also share how their Co-op advertising program can provide financial support.
Speakers
Elizabeth Dekker uses her background in the arts to promote exploring our world in creative ways. Her experience in small business management has created the foundation of her classes on business development and experiential marketing. She is currently using her skills to promote the city of Worthington as its tourism director, as well as teaching businesses classes through her company The Right Hands.
Nicholas Dekker is a food/travel writer based in Columbus, writing his award-winning blog Breakfast With Nick since 2007. Nick also freelances for Experience Columbus, TourismOhio, Ohio Magazine, Columbus Monthly, and many other travel publications across the state. For his day job he works on the marketing team of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
Paola Santiago Del Castillo works at TourismOhio and the Ohio. Find It Here. brand., as social media coordinator and handles everything from day-to-day posting to influencer campaigns and social video content! She graduated from Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism, and after working in broadcast news, magazine journalism, and non-profit communications she finally found her niche in social media management. Her passion lies in supporting small, minority-owned businesses, finding hidden gems while traveling, and eating well!
TourismOhio Marketing Opportunities Webinar
Wednesday, July 8th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Speaker