Delegates from around the United States and Canada converged in Traverse City MI, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, earlier in the month to take part in the 5th Annual Accent East Tourism Conference. Produced by Mid-Atlantic Receptive Services (MARS) and hosted by Traverse City Tourism, the conference was designed to better acquaint tour operators with destinations, hotels, attractions, and restaurants in the region. Speakers, brainstorming, itinerary planning, networking activities, a trade show and local area touring were among the activities offered to delegates.
Big business is done in small groups – and Accent East was the perfect example. Delegates really got to know and learn from each other while discovering the diversity of attractions and historical treasures in Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Relationship building and the sharing of best practices are what make the Accent brand so popular.
Delegates had a grand time at the Opening Night Reception, sponsored by Explore York. The next day began with a breakfast sponsored by Circle Michigan, followed by a keynote address, discussing Positive Impact Tourism – Sustainable Travel and Voluntourism beyond the Buzzwords. Along with statistics, Kelly Fields from Fields Trips and Fred Carlson from SerVacations provided practical information explaining small steps that each delegate in the room could implement with a minimum amount of effort. A breakout session by industry segment (hotels, attractions, DMO’s, operators) and a panel discussion followed, sharing current issues, successes and ideas from all the delegates. Lunch followed, sponsored by Visit Richmond, Virginia.
In the afternoon, a trade show matched operators with all the different suppliers. A cocktail reception, a historical tour of the former Northern Michigan Asylum, now the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and dinner, sponsored by Traverse City Tourism, concluded the evening.
Spotlight on Local Businesses
The Accent Supports Local Breakfast featured eight small local businesses, namely The Dougherty Mission House, Traverse Tall Ship Company, The City Opera House, Discovery Cruises, Rainbow Valley Family Farms, Third Coast Fruit Company, the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and the Music House. In addition to sharing information about their companies, they participated in Accent’s most popular session, the Itinerary Planning. Operators took what they learned at the trade show, brainstormed with suppliers, and produced actual itineraries onsite. All seven of the itineraries were then presented to the group.
“Thank you for organizing such a fantastic Accent East conference and FAM tour. As a new startup in the travel industry, this was my first experience at an event like this, and I can’t express how much it meant to feel so welcomed and supported by you and the community.”
Michelle Laudermilk from Infinite Vagabonds.
Laudermilk continued, “Every detail was so thoughtfully planned – from the venue selection to the sponsorship to the give-back opportunities and the organization of the FAM tour, as well as the efficient and fun “speed dating” trade show format. It was such a great way to connect with a wide range of suppliers and fellow professionals in a meaningful way.” Laudermilk continues, “More than just the logistics, I appreciated the warmth and encouragement I felt throughout the event. I left feeling reenergized and inspired, with new ideas and connections that are invaluable as I continue to grow Infinite Vagabonds. I’m already looking forward to the next event!”
Fam Trip Spotlights Regional Attractions
Prior to the conference, operators explored an array of attractions and enjoyed the hospitality of numerous Traverse City Tourism partners. The FAM began with a fabulous lunch at the Peninsula Grill followed by an agri-tourism and historical tour of Old Mission Peninsula, including a visit to the Lighthouse and the Dougherty Mission House. A tour and tasting followed at Chateau Chantal Winery and the group enjoyed dinner at Mission Table before leaving the Peninsula to check into the Park Place Hotel.
The next day the group toured the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These perched dunes are the largest freshwater dune system in the world, soaring 450 feet above Lake Michigan. The driving tour continued through the Cherry Capital of the world and made a stop at the Great Hall of the Cherry Republic, featuring samplings of more than 200 cherry products. A drive through the Leelanau Wine Country and cherry orchards concluded at Black Star Farm where the group enjoyed an included lunch, tour and tasting before heading back to Traverse City. A tour and shopping at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons followed before a delicious dinner at Harrington’s by the Bay.
The following day, the group discovered the Music House Museum. An extensive collection of restored automated music machines was demonstrated including the pictured massive Belgium Dance Hall organ. A behind-the-scenes tour of the Dennos Museum Center and an included lunch at Sleder’s Family Tavern followed.
The last activity on the FAM, part of Accent Gives Back, was a service project at Feed the Kids. Owner Tiffany McQueer explains that when the pandemic began, buses were delivering meals to homes that qualified for free or reduced lunch. McQueer wanted to help. At her restaurant, J & S Hamburg. 81 meals were packed that first week, 500 the next week, and now pack more than 3,000 meals are packed every weekend. They have fed more than 450,000 kids in the last four years. Coolers are available in six locations throughout Grand Traverse County and are available 24/7 to anyone who needs help. No questions asked.
Save the dates below. Future Accent Travel Conference dates are as follows:
- 3rd Annual Accent West – April 24-26, 2025 – Mesa, AZ
- 6th Annual Accent East – November 16-18, 2025 – York, PA
- 4th Annual Accent West – May 6-8, 2026 – Medora, ND
Registration information is available online at www.accenttravelnetwork.com. For more information, contact Sue Arko at sue@takeafuntrip.com or 602-999-5749.
