The Missouri Governor’s Conference on Tourism is an annual conference that features a strong line-up of expert speakers, as well as exciting social events to enhance your networking opportunities with top leaders and innovators.
Save the date for the next conference, held October 6-8, 2027, at the Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel in St. Louis.
Registration
Full Conference Pass October 6-8 (meals included) | Early Bird $350 / Regular $400 One-Day Pass October 7 (meals included) | Early Bird $300 / Regular $350 Awards Banquet Pass Only | $100 Lunch Pass Only October 7 (subject to Governor’s attendance) | $50
Destination Experience Sponsored by Visit Maryland Heights
*RSVP required
Transportation will be provided from the Sheraton Westport Chalet to Destination Experience, departing the hotel at 12 pm.
4 pm – 4:30 pm
First-Timers Meet & Greet
Sponsored by Midwest Living [People Inc.]
Start your conference experience by making connections at a casual meet and greet designed just for first-time attendees. Meet the Visit Missouri team, get to know our vendors and make connections with fellow new attendees in a relaxed, small-group setting.
4:30 pm – 6 pm
Marketplace Reception
Sponsored by Midwest Living [People Inc.]
Join us for a Marketplace Reception before the Welcome Reception. The event will provide valuable time to network with your peers and establish connections with vendors at the conference. Light refreshments will be served.
6 pm – 9 pm
Welcome Reception
Sponsored by Visit Maryland Heights and Explore St. Louis
Transportation will be available between the Sheraton Westport Chalet and XXX from 5:45 pm to 9:15 pm. Shuttles will operate on a continuous loop throughout the evening.
Thursday, October 7
8 am – 5 pm
Exhibitor Trade Show
Visit with business professionals and service providers who help support the tourism industry.
8 am – 6 pm
Registration
Sponsored by KH + Madden
8 am – 9 am
Breakfast
Sponsored by OBP Agency
9 am – 9:50 am
Keynote
Sponsored by Tripadvisor
Session Title
Speaker:
9:50 am – 10 am
10 Minute Break
10 am – 10:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
10 am – 10:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
10 am – 10:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
10:50 am – 11:20 am
Break and Exhibitor Trade Show
Visit with business professionals and service providers who help support the tourism industry.
11:20 am – 12:10 pm
All Breakout Sessions Repeat
This is your chance to see another breakout session.
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Luncheon
The Honorable Mike Kehoe*, Governor of Missouri.
*Scheduled appearance subject to change.
1:15 pm – 2 pm
General Session
Session Title
Speaker:
2:10 pm – 3 pm
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
2:10 pm – 3 pm
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
2:10 pm – 3 pm
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
3 pm – 3:30 pm
Break and Exhibitor Trade Show
Visit with business professionals and service providers who help support the tourism industry.
3:30 pm – 4:20 pm
All Breakout Sessions Repeat
This is your chance to see another breakout session.
4:20 pm – 4:30 pm
10 Minute Break
6 pm – 7 pm
Awards Reception
Wine compliments of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board.
7 pm – 9 pm
Awards Banquet & Presentation
Wine compliments of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board.
Friday, October 8
8 am – 11 am
Exhibitor Trade Show
Visit with business professionals and service providers who help support the tourism industry.
8 am – 9 am
Breakfast
8 am – 9 am
Your Voice, Our Focus: Industry Roundtables
Grab breakfast and join us to discuss the trending industry topics that matter most to your work. This is your opportunity to share ideas, connect with peers and help influence our upcoming training initiatives.
9 am – 9:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
9 am – 9:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
9 am – 9:50 am
Breakout Session
Session Title Speaker:
9:50 am – 10 am
10 Minute Break
10 am – 10:50 am
All Breakout Sessions Repeat
This is your chance to see another breakout session.
10:50 am – 11:20 am
Break and Exhibitor Trade Show
Visit with business professionals and service providers who help support the tourism industry.
11:20 am – 12 pm
Missouri Division of Tourism Update
Speaker: Stephen Foutes, Missouri Division of Tourism
During this session, you’ll see examples of MDT’s work to showcase Missouri as a travel destination, hear programmatic updates and get a sneak peek at the Division’s marketing plans for spring 2028 and beyond.
12 pm – 12:10 pm
Giveaways & Closing Remarks
12:15 pm
Conference Concludes
Call for Speakers
Speaker applications will open March 1, 2027. Check back then to submit your proposal.
Interested in speaking at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism? Fill out the Speaker Form below and we will review your request. If interested, Visit Missouri staff will contact you directly.
Mike Kehoe was sworn in as Missouri’s 58th Governor on January 13, 2025. Guided by a lifelong dedication to public service and a commitment to Missouri families, Governor Kehoe has made public safety, education, economic development and agriculture the cornerstones of his administration. Raised as the youngest of six children by a single mother who worked tirelessly to support her family, Governor Kehoe learned the value of hard work and resilience at an early age. Starting his career washing cars at 15, he advanced through the automotive industry to become one of the youngest Ford dealers in the nation. The Governor’s entrepreneurial success and leadership skills in his early career naturally drew him to public service, where he could use his experience to improve the lives of Missouri families and strengthen the state’s economy.
*Scheduled appearance subject to change.
Keynote Speaker
Tim O’Reilly
Tim O’Reilly is the Founder and CEO of O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC (OHM), which develops and manages over 40 hotel, restaurant and venue properties across nine states under leading brands such as Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt. A champion of sustainable development and community-centered hospitality, Tim integrates LEED-certified building practices with robust outreach initiatives like the O’Reach program, generating tens of thousands of service hours across local partnerships nationwide. He brings a deep passion for creating memorable guest experiences and demonstrating how the travel industry drives meaningful, long-term community investment.
Tracy Kimberlin
Tracy Kimberlin served as the President and CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau for over 35 years before transitioning into his current roles as a tourism consultant and lobbyist for the Missouri Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (MACVB). A highly respected industry pioneer, Tracy was inducted into the Missouri Travel and Tourism Hall of Fame and the Destinations International Hall of Fame for crafting Missouri’s landmark state tourism funding legislation. His extensive leadership background also includes managing several hotels, instructing hospitality courses at Missouri State University and serving as past president of the MACVB. Tracy brings decades of invaluable advocacy, hospitality and destination marketing expertise to this year’s conference.
Matt Wilson
Matt is a commercial photographer, videographer and licensed FAA drone pilot with a diverse background in television production, destination marketing and live media technology. He partners with communities, businesses and organizations to create compelling photo and video content that showcases the unique people, places and experiences of each destination. Beyond his creative expertise, Matt brings deep technical knowledge of delivery and streaming options – including Digital Asset Management systems – to help organizations store, organize and manage their media libraries. By combining creative storytelling with practical technical execution, he helps clients leverage modern media tools to engage audiences and produce high-quality visual content.
Jaimie Hart
Jaimie is a dynamic and dedicated marketing professional with over a decade of experience in the tourism, hospitality and events industries. In her previous role at Discover The Palm Beaches, she spearheaded the DMO’s groups and meetings marketing efforts, leading strategic initiatives that strengthened the destination’s market positioning to drive revenue and economic growth. Jaimie’s deep industry expertise, combined with a strong passion for strategic relationship-building, has been the cornerstone of her continued success.
Scott Caufield
Scott Caufield is a senior principal client partner at Tripadvisor, where he spearheads efforts to help destinations across a 17-state region boost their visibility to the platform’s hundreds of millions of monthly travelers. Over his 12-year tenure at Tripadvisor, Scott has engaged with thousands of destination and hospitality executives nationwide, guiding them through the rapidly changing landscape of modern travel marketing. Scott brings a strategic perspective shaped by real-world experience and industry leadership. He lives with his wife, Laura, and their two children, in Celina Texas.
Hannah Dudeck
Hannah Dudeck thrives on transforming brand stories into captivating content that inspires people to pack their bags. As a social media manager at OBP, she sees online platforms as the place where community pride becomes user-generated content, local events spark engagement and hidden gems become sharable moments. Having been to 19+ countries and over half the states in the lower 48, Hannah knows what digital strategies turn curious users into active travelers. When she isn’t out exploring new destinations, you can find her hiking, gardening, playing board games and relaxing in St. Louis with her husband and two cats.
Sara Sexton
Sara Sexton is a brand leader and strategist known for bringing clarity, vision and heart to full brand experiences. With extensive experience leading account partnerships – including the Missouri Division of Tourism and Bi-State Development – Sara bridges high-level strategic vision with operational execution across content planning, brand strategy and multi-channel campaign initiatives. Whether steering high-stakes campaigns or talking with clients, Sara provides the strategic rigor, warmth and perspective needed to elevate every project she touches. When she’s not online, you can find Sara teaching yoga or hiking in one of her favorite Missouri parks.
Megan Sheets
Megan Sheets is the Travel Trade Specialist for Visit Missouri, where she promotes the Show-Me State across domestic and international markets to drive tourism growth and economic impact. Previously, Megan served as an Event Services Specialist for the City of Columbia, where she excelled at planning, coordinating and executing high-profile meetings and events.
Andrea Sporcic Klund
Andrea Sporcic Klund is the film commissioner for Missouri and runs the Missouri Film Office – a part of the Missouri Division of Tourism. She has been in the film biz representing Missouri for over 20 years. Since 2005 she has worked to market Missouri to the film and television industry nation-wide. She has helped coordinate production logistics for more than 30 feature films, and hundreds of television segments and series filmed all over the state. Before joining the film office she spent 8 years with Cinema St. Louis, the producers of the St. Louis International Film Festival as director of operations. She holds BA degrees in Theatre and Corporate Communications from Lindenwood University. She has also acted, written, directed and produced for the stage and screen.
Patrick Tuttle, CDME
Patrick Tuttle, a Texas native raised in Joplin and a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran, has spent the past 15 years as the director of Visit Joplin, driving leisure, group and sports travel across Southwest Missouri. Under his leadership, the region has emphasized partnerships, local heritage and historic Route 66 – highlighted by his spearheading of the world’s largest collection of Route 66-themed 3D street paintings for the 2026 Centennial. Also a recognized TEDx presenter on the tourism industry, Tuttle combines his military background in international protocol with a deep passion for promoting his hometown.
Stephen Foutes
As director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, Stephen leads a dedicated team of marketers, communicators, researchers, program managers, legislative and financial specialists, and welcome center ambassadors focused on promoting Missouri as one of the country’s top travel destinations. A lifelong Missourian, he holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Central Methodist College and has worked at the Division of Tourism in varying roles for more than 10 years.
Sponsorship
There are multiple opportunities to get involved. Click below for sponsorship details.
The Governor’s Conference on Tourism Awards are open to DMOs, tourism attractions, lodging, restaurants, festivals/events, publications and other entities contributing to the tourism industry in Missouri. Entries should demonstrate exemplary customer service, initiative and have positively influenced the tourism industry.
Missouri Tourism Hall of Fame Presented to an individual who has worked in the tourism industry for a minimum of 10 years and whose contributions have significantly and measurably impacted tourism in Missouri.
Sen. Emory Melton Legislative Award Honors an individual who recognizes the value of tourism to the state and works through the legislative process to support Missouri’s tourism industry.
Marketing Campaign Award Recognizes an effective integrated marketing campaign that results in increased tourism and economic benefit to a region.
Pathfinder Award Recognizes an event or organization that successfully develops a niche tourism market.
Innovator Award Honors a small tourism organization or individual who achieves significant results on a modest budget.
Navigator Media Award Presented to a media outlet that promotes tourism in Missouri and its importance to the state’s economy.
Rising Star Award Honors an individual who has worked for a tourism-related organization less than five years or who has transitioned to a new role and made significant advancements to the organization’s efforts.
Tracy Kimberlin Hospitality Award Recognizes an individual, business or organization that has demonstrated excellent customer service.
Film Industry Champion Award Presented to an individual who advocates for the film industry and works to expand its presence in Missouri.
