Business in Maine:
Perspectives on the Maine Experience/Growth Challenges for the Tourism Industry
Join the Association for Consulting Expertise as we host four of the leaders in our community for an engaging discussion about the opportunities the Tourism Industry offers as well as the challenges facing the industry in various sectors of the State of Maine. What is the economic impact of tourism for the state of Maine? What is the economic impact of tourism for the state of Maine? How do the following areas impact tourism: travel, hospitality, marketing the “Maine Experience” and arts and crafts? What might ACE consider doing to make its collection of resources more well-known or apparent?
Panelists are:
Chris Fogg, CEO; Maine Tourism Association
Steve Lyons, Director, Maine Office of Tourism
Lynn Tillotson, President & CEO; Visit Portland
Chris Fogg is the Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Tourism Association who began his position in February of 2015. The Maine Tourism Association works in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism to oversee operations of the state’s seven visitor centers and the production of Maine Invites You and the Official State Map. MTA also represents the interests of its nearly 1,500 members across the state of Maine.
Prior to his post with MTA, Chris was the Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce for more than eight years. Prior to his arrival in Bar Harbor, Chris was the Vice President of Travel and Tourism for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, where he led the Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s lobbying efforts on travel, tourism, and transportation issues. He also served on several tourism-related boards during his tenure in Bar Harbor.
Chris brings nearly 25 years of diverse travel and tourism experience to his position, including almost eight years of management experience with Sage Hotels Incorporated, a Boston-based hotel corporation. Chris has also served as Director of the Vermont State Sports Council, as well as Director of Marketing for the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce in Burlington. Chris is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Tourism Management.
Steve Lyons has been with the Maine Office of Tourism for 20 years, being named Director in July 2017. He is responsible for overall operations of the Maine Office of Tourism, having moved into this position following nine years as Director of Marketing. In that capacity, he played a critical role in developing a tourism marketing strategy for the state of Maine and managed contracts for the state’s ad agency, marketing research firm, fulfillment and call center operations, and web site.
Over the past five years, Steve has been instrumental in guiding the rebranding of Maine and the award-winning “Maine Thing” campaign. The 2017 television campaign won the Mercury Award from the U.S. Travel Association, and in 2016, the campaign was the recipient of three Adrian Awards from HSMAI including: A gold award for the overall campaign, a gold award for its e-zine, the Maine Thing Quarterly, and a bronze award for its 30-second television spot. In 2014, “The Maine Thing” campaign received two Mercury Awards for Best Travel Web Site and Best Digital Campaign.
Prior to assuming the role of Director, Steve managed many other marketing programs for the office including web site development, group tour marketing, and contracts for visitor information centers, publications and PR.
Steve was born and raised in Montpelier, Vermont and began his tourism marketing career at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont. In 1993, he left Stowe and journeyed west where he worked in Glacier National Park, Montana and Portland, Oregon before returning to New England where he held positions as Director of Marketing at Mt. Cranmore Ski Resort in New Hampshire, Public Information Specialist at the Vermont Department of Tourism, and Sales and Marketing Manager for HearthStone. In 1998, he moved to Maine where he has resided ever since.
During his off-time, Steve enjoys hiking, paddling, biking, skiing, snowshoeing and exploring New England’s many interesting attractions with his wife and 16-year-old son, which he writes about in his NE-Wanderer blog.
A Maine native, Lynn Tillotson started her hospitality career at the Orlando World Center Marriott, a 2,100 room, 450,000 square-foot convention center property, where she spent 14 years in sales and operations.
In 2002, she returned home to Maine. After working countless hours in the hotel industry, the idea of predictable schedule was enticing, it was then that she joined Visit Portland (formerly the Convention & Visitors Bureau). In 2013, after working 11 years in various roles within the organization, including Director of Tourism Marketing, Lynn was promoted to President + CEO.
Lynn holds board positions with The Maine Sports Commission, Cruise Portland Maine, The Maine Tourism Association, Portland Community Chamber of Commerce, the USM Hospitality Advisory Board, and the Maine Convention Center Collaborative. Lynn is also the regional representative for the Maine Office of Tourism’s Regional Advisory Committee and currently sits on the Mayor’s Economic Development Stakeholder's Committee for the City of Portland.
Promoting Maine as a year-round destination has been the perfect fit for her since she and her family enjoy the beach, hiking, fishing, skiing, camping, and dining out. She currently resides in Saco with her husband, two daughters, and their dog Fenway...all enjoying the Maine lifestyle!
Roundtable:
The Roundtable runs from about 9:45 to 10:30 and is optional. This is usually a skill-building session facilitated by a member(s).
Tourism Panel Follow Up
Stick around to discuss the program and how we, as consultants and service providers, can assist the tourism industry in Maine.
The Facts...
The ACE regular meeting has networking, a buffet breakfast and a speaker. Guests are welcome.
Registrations (and registration cancellations) are required by March 12th. If you want to be included on the registration list at the meeting then you need to register by the due date.
You can pay online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) or mail a check to:
ACE
110 Marginal Way #142
Portland ME 04101
If you are mailing a check, please register here so the system can track the registrants for us. Thanks!
Members: the $22 fee only works if you pay in advance. At the door, it is $28.
Cancellations:
If you find you can't attend, please notify us by March 12th. After that date, we cannot refund or push forward.
Cancellation - the meeting will be cancelled if Portland Schools are cancelled.
