AIANTA Celebrates 18th Annual Conference in Tulalip with Hosts, Tulalip Tribes of Washington

TULALIP, Wash. - April 21, 2016 - PRLog -- The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) proudly presents the 18^th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC), hosted by the Tulalip Tribes of Washington at the Tulalip Resort Casino, September 12 - 14, 2016.

The annual AITC strives to provide attendees with a quality educational forum to help tribes and tribal businesses with their travel and tourism initiatives. As the only national conference on tourism in Indian Country, AITC is designed to share knowledge, experience and best practices from tourism programs around the U.S., featuring an impressive line-up of expert speakers who provide resources and training fit for all, including tribes just entering into the tourism industry to tribes with an experienced tourism program.

"Cultural tourism can contribute to economic development of tribal communities while allowing tribes to keep their culture alive and tell their story in their own way," said Rowena Yeahquo, AIANTA Pacific Region Board Member and Director of the Northwest Technical Assistance Program. "We are excited to bring the 18^th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC) back to showcase the Pacific Region this year.  Attending the AITC is a valuable opportunity in expanding the network of resources available to Tribal communities here and all over the country through cultural tourism."

Each year, AITC kicks off with exciting and unique mobile workshops that highlight the culture of the region and host tribes and networking opportunities to share, teach and learn from each other.

In this year's sessions, attendees will learn more about tour packaging, attracting tour operators, creating itineraries, positioning your tribe for the international tourism market, tourism assessment and inventory development, new technologies and strategies for marketing and media, protecting intellectual and cultural property, working with state and federal agencies, and more.

This year, AIANTA will be assisting tribes and tribal businesses with free on-site registration on NativeAmerica.travel.

AIANTA's annual Enough Good People Silent Auction and Awards Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. PST. The event gives AIANTA an opportunity to recognize the "best of" the tribal hospitality and tourism industry, accompanied by dinner, entertainment and a silent auction featuring extraordinary items, which include native artwork from all over the country and overnight stays at tribal destinations throughout Indian Country. All proceeds from the silent auction benefit the AIANTA scholarship fund.

To learn more about the 18^th Annual AITC visit www.AITC2016.com
(mobile workshops; hotel information; sponsorship, artisan and exhibitor information; speaker biographies; conference agenda; silent auction and award ceremony and more)