The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) announced Billings, Montana’s Trailhead as the host for their 2016 national conference. The event will be held July 16 – 18 and will include three jam-packed days of sessions, demos, hospitalities and more.
The Billings Chamber/Conventions and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), along with Visit Southeast Montana Tourism, were instrumental in securing Billings as host for the 2016 event. Intricate planning, demonstrations, sample itineraries and much more were needed to entice the group to the region. In the end, Billings and Montana were simply too incredible to pass up. According to Jack Ballard, local OWAA chair, “There are enough diverse outdoor recreation opportunities in the Billings area and beyond to keep an OWAAer exploring for a month.” Pre- and post-conference trips include biking the Rimrocks, fishing the Yellowstone or Bighorn Rivers, hiking, exploring natural and Western history sites, touring local breweries and distilleries, and more.
Alex Tyson, Executive Director of the Billings CVB/TBID, described the influence of a booking like this, “Not only will OWAA bring 350+ people to Billings for three nights, but each and every delegate is a writer focused on outdoor recreation. The stories that will be told, the words that will be written and thus the lasting impact of the conference are literally immeasurable.”
The conference will take place during the National Park Service’s centennial anniversary, bringing added interest in Yellowstone National Park and entry via the Beartooth Highway.
OWAA’s announcement confirms their return to Montana for the first time since 1987 when the group met in Kalispell. The conference promises attendees the opportunity to “boost your career, expand your professional networks, and promote your produces or campaigns.” The 2014 and 2015 conferences will be held in McAllen, TX and Knoxville, TN, respectively. As they become available, details about the Billings conference will be posted at http://owaa.org/2016conference.
The mission of the Tourism Business Improvement District is to generate room nights for lodging facilities in the city of Billings by effectively marketing our region as a preferred travel destination.
The Tourism Business Improvement District is managed by the Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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