Building Tomorrow's Sustainable Tourism Leaders

Our events bring together professionals who care about doing tourism differently. We're not just talking about eco-friendly brochures — we're discussing how to actually shift industry practices toward something that respects communities and the environment.

These gatherings range from small, focused workshops to larger conferences where practitioners share what's working (and what isn't). You'll meet people who've wrestled with the same challenges you face.

Upcoming Events in 2025

Each event addresses specific challenges in sustainable tourism development. We keep groups small enough for meaningful conversation but large enough to hear diverse perspectives.

March 14, 2025

Community-Based Tourism Workshop

Learn practical approaches to developing tourism projects that benefit local communities. We'll look at case studies from destinations that successfully balanced visitor experiences with resident wellbeing.

Marysville Convention Center

Half-day session, 9 AM - 1 PM

April 22, 2025

Measuring Tourism Impact Beyond Revenue

Most destinations track visitor spending. But what about environmental strain, housing pressure, or cultural erosion? This session explores frameworks for measuring what actually matters.

Online via video conference

Evening session, 6 PM - 8 PM PT

May 18, 2025

Sustainable Accommodation Strategies

From water conservation to supply chain management, running eco-conscious lodging involves hundreds of small decisions. Hear from operators who've navigated this transition and avoided common pitfalls.

Partnering hotel venue, Marysville

Full-day intensive, 8 AM - 5 PM

June 9, 2025

Transportation & Carbon Considerations

Getting tourists to and around destinations creates most of tourism's carbon footprint. We'll discuss practical alternatives, offsetting programs, and honest conversations about trade-offs.

423 E 20th St, Marysville

Morning session, 9 AM - 12 PM

July 16, 2025

Marketing Sustainability Without Greenwashing

How do you communicate genuine sustainability efforts without sounding preachy or making claims you can't back up? This workshop tackles the tricky business of authentic environmental messaging.

Online via video conference

Afternoon session, 2 PM - 4 PM PT

August 27, 2025

Annual Sustainable Tourism Summit

Our flagship event brings together tourism professionals, conservationists, and community advocates for two days of presentations, workshops, and networking. Last year's summit drew practitioners from fourteen states.

Regional conference center, Marysville

Two-day event, Aug 27-28

Professionals collaborating during a sustainable tourism workshop session

Why Attend Our Events?

Look, there are plenty of tourism conferences out there. Many feature keynote speakers who parachute in, deliver inspiring talks about disruption and innovation, then leave. That's not what we do here.

Our events prioritize substance over spectacle. You'll spend time with practitioners who've actually implemented sustainable practices — people who can tell you what worked, what flopped, and what they'd do differently.

Small group discussions focused on practical implementation challenges
Case study presentations from destinations similar to yours
Networking time structured around specific topics and challenges
Resources and frameworks you can actually use in your work
Follow-up support connecting you with other attendees facing similar issues

We also keep our events affordable. Sustainable tourism shouldn't be accessible only to well-funded resorts and major destinations. Most workshops cost less than a tank of gas and a hotel night.

Recent Event Highlights

Here's what we've been working on lately. Each event builds on what we learned from previous gatherings.

Winter Forum on Overtourism

January 2025

We gathered destination managers dealing with overwhelming visitor volumes. The conversations got real fast — people shared actual visitor caps they'd implemented, permit systems they'd tested, and political pushback they'd faced.

Turns out limiting visitors is politically tricky everywhere, not just in your town. That was oddly comforting to attendees.

Fall Conference Series

September - November 2024

Three connected events across California exploring regional approaches to sustainable tourism. Each conference adapted to local context — coastal communities face different challenges than mountain destinations.

The recurring themes? Water stress, affordable housing, and how to maintain authenticity when everything gets Instagrammed.

Heritage Tourism Workshop

June 2024

This session focused on cultural preservation in tourism contexts. How do you share heritage without commodifying it? How do you ensure communities retain control over their own stories?

No easy answers emerged, but attendees developed better questions to ask their own communities.

Join the Conversation

Whether you're a destination manager, hospitality professional, or someone trying to shift tourism practices toward sustainability, these events offer practical learning and genuine connections with peers facing similar challenges.

We send event announcements about six weeks in advance, giving you time to arrange travel and clear your schedule. Some events fill up quickly, particularly the hands-on workshops with limited capacity.

Location

423 E 20th St, Marysville, CA 95901, United States

Phone

+14695431463

Email

[email protected]

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