Cincinnati Welcomes
PACE Forum 2025

February 18-20, 2025

PACE Forum 2025 Logo

Welcome to the Cincy region where culture reigns! Whether it's your first trip to Cincy or you've been here before, we're excited to host you. We're positive you'll find an unmatched cultural experience.

It's a region full of extraordinarily diverse, and deep cultural assets—the more vibrant, passionate, and unique the better. In Cincy, cultures collide, creating experiences that are wildly different, yet easily accessible, around every corner and over every hill. When it all comes together, you get an irresistible collection of ideas, experiences, and peoples.
That's who we are. That's what we elevate, prioritize, and immortalize.

That's Cincy Culture.
Culture Reigns in Cincy.

A Special Thank You to the Conference Sponsors:

Choose your favorite restaurant option here and participate in the dine-around downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, February 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Space at each restaurant is limited and slots are first come, first serve.

Map to all restaurants can be found here

Restaurant Menus

Dine around meet-up locations

Make your selection already? Here's where you can meet your dining companions before departing.

Via Vite – 1^st Floor Library (meet and leave by 6:20 p.m.)
Eagle OTR - 2nd floor by elevators (meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.)
Che – 1^st Floor couches in the middle of the lobby (meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.)
Nada – 1^st Floor couches near front windows (meet and leave by 6:20 p.m.)
Nicholson’s Pub – 1^st Floor outside of Red Roost Tavern (Meet and leave by 6:20 p.m.)
The Filson – 1^st Floor bottom of escalator (Meet and leave by 6:15 p.m.)
Taste of Belgium The Banks – 2^nd Floor near escalator (Meet and leave by 6:15 p.m.)
Moerlein Lager House – 3^rd Floor near escalator (Meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.)
Crown Cantina – 3^rd Floor outside of Regency Ballroom B/C (Meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.)
Kanji OTR – 3^rd Floor foyer space (Meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.; we will be taking the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar)
Alcove by Madtree – 3^rd Floor near registration (Meet and leave by 6:10 p.m.)

Forum Schedule

Click the tabs below to explore the 2025 PACE Forum's schedule day-by-day!

*break has beverages
**break has snacks and beverages

Tuesday, February 18

Attire: wear a jersey from your destination!

Registration
Opens at 9:30 a.m.
Regency South Foyer
Grab your name badge and build your swag bag featuring items from several destinations in attendance at 2025 PACE Forum!

Lunch
12:30 - 2 p.m.
Regency A

Program starts at 1:00 p.m.
Introduction, welcome, and remarks from your conference co-chairs and Visit Cincy.

Break
2:00 - 2:15 p.m.

Round the Room
2:15 - 3:45 p.m.
Regency A
Facilitated by Bryan Kubel of Visit Milwaukee and Greg LaDuca of Visit Rochester, your 2025 conference co-chairs, this session will introduce each attendee to one another by sharing their name, title, destination, and answering the question “What is one thing you hope to get out of the 2025 PACE Forum?

Break
3:45 - 4:00 p.m. (PACE Forum first time attendees)
3:45 - 4:30 p.m. (all others)

Newcomers Reception
4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Sungarden
First time attendees of the PACE Forum are invited to attend the welcome reception 30 minutes early to learn more about the history of the conference, tips and tricks for making the most of PACE, and an opportunity to meet other first time attendees before the reception officially begins.

Opening Reception, sponsored by Simpleview
4:30 - 6:00 p.m., with remarks at 5:00 p.m.
Sungarden
Join us for a lively reception featuring Cincinnati-themed appetizers and a hosted bar.

Dinner on Own - Dine around Cincinnati
6:30 p.m.
Experience some of the Queen City’s best restaurants all while making new industry connections. Sign up for the dine-around here!

Wednesday, February 19

Breakfast
8 - 9 a.m., with remarks at 8:30 a.m.
Regency A
Recap of the previous day and highlighting the day ahead.

Session #1 - Partnership Innovations
9 - 10 a.m.
Regency A
Presenters: Jordan Engerman, VP - Partnerships at Choose Chicago; Julie Freund, Director - Partnership Sales & Workforce Development at Visit Anaheim; MC Genova, Associate Vice President - Partnership at Visit Denver
Overview: Several trailblazing organizations will share their insights on workforce development, highlighting innovative strategies to cultivate talent and drive growth. The panel will also present other innovative initiatives, offering a glimpse into their forward-thinking approaches and success stories.

Networking Break #1*
10 - 10:30 a.m.
Regency North Foyer
These breaks are an opportunity to connect with other attendees by answering different questions throughout the conference!
What would you be working on if you weren't at PACE? What does your day to day look like? Where do you spend most of your time? What are you looking forward to completing in 2025?

Breakout #1: Point/Counterpoint - Membership Models
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Regency EFG
Presenters: Bryan Kubel, Senior Partnership Manager at Visit Milwaukee; Mia Goodwin, Partnership Manager at Chattanooga Tourism Company, Judy Cullen (moderator)
Overview: Join us for a debate-style breakout session as we explore paid membership versus complimentary partnership models. Panelists will discuss the pros and cons of both and how each approach has impacted their DMO's stakeholder engagement, financial sustainability, and community collaboration. This is a great session for those who are trying to determine the best model for their DMO.

Breakout #2: Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Regency BC
Presenters: Heather Andrews, AVP, Community Engagement at Discover The Palm Beaches; Brian Hilemon, Sr. Director of Marketing Partnerships at San Diego Tourism Authority; Elena Oyer, Partnership Manager at Visit Rochester; Scott Streeter, VP, Global Partnerships and Strategic Alliance at San Francisco Travel
Overview: How do you define sponsorship and advertising opportunities? Are these opportunities just for members or are you finding partnerships in your community that are helping your DMO? Are these partnerships also helping to educate the community on what you do? Hear from DMO's with some examples of these opportunities, gaining additional funding and new members.

Lunch Keynote - Beyond the Blueprint: Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism Growth, Presented by Simpleview
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Regency A
Keynote presentation by Simpleview.

Session #2: AI
1 - 2 p.m.
Regency A
Presenters: Maureen Martin, VP of Partnerships & Community Engagement at Destination Madison; Kristen McGovern, VP of Member Programs & Services at NYC Tourism + Conventions; Emily Shorrock, Sr. Director of Industry Partner Relations at Experience Kissimmee
Overview: Generated by ChatGPT. Discover the potential of AI in destination marketing. During this general session, we'll dive into the opportunities and challenges AI presents, from enhancing visitor experiences to ethical considerations, equipping you with insights to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

Networking Break #2*
2 - 2:30 p.m.
Regency North Foyer
Nuts and bolts, what are you using AI for? What tools do you use? Benefits and/or challenges?

Breakout #3: DMO Funding & Revenue Sources
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Regency BC
Presenters: Haleluya Demeke, Partnerships Manager, Partnerships & Alliances at Destination DC and Roubina Surenian, VP of Partner Development & Engagement at Meet Boston
Overview: Join this session to uncover creative strategies that drive growth and open new possibilities for tourism development. Discover why Destination Marketing Organizations should explore funding beyond bed taxes and tourism improvement districts in order to diversify revenue sources and boost flexibility, sustainability, and resiliency - enabling DMO's to thrive in a dynamic tourism landscape.

Breakout #4: How Do You Deliver Value to Your Stakeholders? Presented by Simpleview
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Regency EFG
Presenters: Chris George, Solutions Consultant at Simpleview; David Peacock, Senior Advisor at Simpleview; Lia Wik, Account Executive at Destination Travel Network
Overview: Join us for an eye-opening breakout session where we’ll explore the power of the tools that are already in your DMO toolkit, designed to deliver tangible value to your stakeholders. This session will not only uncover the strategies that are already at your disposal but also challenge you to identify and break through the hidden barriers that may be standing in the way of achieving your membership growth/retention and revenue goals.

Break #3**
3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Regency North Foyer

Session #3: DEI & Accessibility
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Regency A
Presenters: Heather Andrews, AVP, Community Engagement at Discover The Palm Beaches, Kathy Bussell, Membership Manager at Traverse City Tourism; Adam Jennings, Destination Experiences Manager at VisitGreenvilleSC
Overview: Panelists will explore strategies to create more inclusive experiences to best meet diverse needs and address challenges, offering actionable insights to foster social inclusion and accessibility for all visitors.

Thursday, February 20

Attire: wear your destination apparel!

Breakfast
8 - 9 a.m., with remarks at 8:30 a.m.
Recap of the previous day and highlighting the day ahead.

Breakout #5: Importance of Community Buy-In
9 - 10 a.m.
Regency EFG
Presenters: Heather Andrews, AVP, Community Engagement at Discover The Palm Beaches; Mia Goodwin, Partnership Manager at Chattanooga Tourism Company; Janine Green, Director of Member Engagement at Visit San Antonio
Overview: This breakout will explore the critical role of community buy-in for DMOs, where we’ll discuss leveraging tools like the Community Vitality Wheel (DI) and data-driven insights to foster local support. Panelists will also touch on strategies such as resident workshops, sentiment surveys, and voluntourism to ensure alignment between a DMO's mission and the community’s needs. Panelists will also offer insight on how to keep politics independent from a DMO's vision.

Breakout #6: New Advertising Channels & Modernizing Assets, Presented by Miles Partnership
9 - 10 a.m.
Regency BC
Presenters: Sarah Dale, Sr. Advertising Sales & Partnership Development Manager at Meet Boston; Casey Kimmel, Director of Partnerships at Destination Madison; Lindsey Norri, Director of Industry Relations at VISIT FLORIDA; Roubina Surenian, VP, Partner Development & Engagement at Meet Boston
Overview: This breakout will delve into the strategies for building, implementing, and growing revenue-generating programs utilizing Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) assets. This session will provide valuable insights into how DMOs can leverage their unique assets to create sustainable revenue streams.

Networking Break #4*
10 - 10:30 a.m.
Share your membership mishaps and blooper stories from your destination.

Session #4: Data
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Regency A
Presenters: Tom Carton, Strategy & Operations Director at Hello Burlington; Tim Crouson, Director of Research at Destination Ann Arbor; Jonathan Smith, Director of Research at VisitGreenvilleSC
Overview: This insightful session will dive into the power of data in destination marketing, offering actionable steps on how your DMO can leverage data for informed decision-making and partner support.

Lunch
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Regency A
Seating arranged by various topics – grab a table and join in the conversation! Check out the Simpleview’s table for a targeted conversation about their CRM.

Breakout #7: Selling Partnership to Your Own Team
1 - 2 p.m.
Regency EFG
Presenters: Greg LaDuca, SVP Industry Relations & Visitor Experience at Visit Rochester; April Luter, Director of Partnership Development & Programs at Visit Arlington
Overview: Do you believe that "Membership is everyone's business?" This workshop-style session will address friction points, internal messaging, and events that will assist all of us in engaging our teams and ensuring that we are maximizing the power of membership with all of our teammates.

Breakout #8: Networking Opportunities
1 - 2 p.m.
Regency BC
Presenters: Lauren Alexander, Partnership Services & Events Manager at Visit Denver; Bryan Kubel, Senior Partnership Manager at Visit Milwaukee; Emily Shorrock, Sr. Director of Industry Partner Relations at Experience Kissimmee
Overview: This informative session will dive into effective membership event policies, including communication strategies, no-show management, and RSVP processes. Discover how to better connect members/partners with each other in order to foster stronger professional relationships and collaboration.

Networking Break #5**
2 - 2:30 p.m.
Regency North Foyer
We’ll end our networking breaks with a fun Post-it note activity!

60 in 60
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Regency A
2025 PACE Forum will continue on this tradition of going around the room and having each attendee share their best successes (or fails!) in 60 seconds or less for 60 minutes total.

Awards & Keeping PACE Moving Forward
3:30 - 4 p.m.
We are excited for the debut of the inaugural PACE Forum awards and recognize some of our industry peers for their dedication to the tourism industry. We’ll also share ways how we can keep the momentum created during the 2025 PACE Forum moving forward throughout the year.

Break #6
4 - 5 p.m.

Closing Activity: Cincinnati Experience
5 - 7 p.m.
Five Iron Golf, 80 W. 5th Street, Cincinnati
Join us for a fun evening at Five Iron Golf, featuring interactive games, food, and drinks! Five Iron Golf is a short, one-block walk from the Hyatt Regency.

Evening on Own
7 p.m.
Keep the fun going by experiencing the restaurants and bars in and around Downtown Cincinnati.

Explore the Cincy Region!

The Cincinnati Reds, Skyline Chili, museums, the Cincinnati Ballet, craft beer, bourbon, the list goes on. Depending on who you ask, the Cincy Region is known for a lot of things. More importantly, there’s an abundance of things to do. Check out a few must-see attractions and things to do while you're here.

Cincy's Foodie Culture

The rest of the world is discovering what locals have long known: The culinary scene in Cincy is deliciously diverse. Below are a few resources to help you find what you need during your open evenings.