
Fall Hospitality and Tourism Summit
WHTC Fall Summit
October 22nd and 23rd, 2025 Holiday Inn Riverton, WY
The 2025 Fall Hospitality & Tourism Summit is Wyoming’s premier fall event for hospitality and tourism professionals, making it the second-largest industry gathering of the year. This dynamic two-day summit brings together business owners, industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Wyoming’s tourism economy. With insightful panel discussions, expert-led sessions, and valuable networking events, this is the place to connect, learn, and collaborate with key decision-makers in the field.
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By sponsoring this event, your brand will take center stage at one of Wyoming’s most influential industry gatherings, reaching top professionals who drive economic growth and innovation in hospitality and tourism. Whether you’re looking for maximum visibility as a Title Sponsor or a targeted engagement opportunity through speaker sessions, networking events, or branded experiences, there’s a sponsorship level to fit your business goals. Don’t miss the chance to align your brand with the future of Wyoming’s tourism industry—secure your sponsorship today!
Interested in sponsoring this event? Email chris@wyohtc.org or visit the registration site
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Lodging Accommodations
Hampton Inn & Suites – Riverton
Call the hotel to book directly at 307-856-3500 and let the front desk know you are traveling with WHTC.
Riverton Holiday Inn Convention Center
Please call the hotel directly at 307-856-8100 and use room block code WHT.
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The Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition is excited to announce three new industry awards that will be given out each year at the Fall Hospitality and Tourism Summit! Nominations will be accepted from August 15 to September 15, 2025.
Wyoming Heart of Hospitality Award
Honoring individuals who personify the spirit of hospitality through extraordinary service.Open to any employee within the hospitality and tourism industry, the individual must work in the county where the Fall Summit is taking place. This year the employee must work in Fremont County.
Consistently delivers exceptional service, exceeding guest expectations.
Embodies the genuine warmth, kindness, and welcoming spirit synonymous with Wyoming hospitality.
Regularly goes above and beyond daily responsibilities to create memorable guest experiences.
Demonstrates a sincere commitment to making every visitor feel valued and appreciated.
Hospitality and Tourism Professional of the Year
Recognizing outstanding leadership and contributions to Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry.Open to any professional in the hospitality and tourism sector in Wyoming.
Demonstrates exceptional leadership, professionalism, and industry expertise.
Contributes significantly to the success and growth of Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism landscape.
Actively mentors, inspires, and develops the next generation of industry leaders.
Serves as a role model for integrity, innovation, and service excellence.
Clarene Law Award
Celebrating leadership and advocacy in support of Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry.Open to any current or former elected or appointed official in Wyoming.
Demonstrates outstanding advocacy and policymaking that positively impacts the hospitality and tourism industry.
Has made a lasting contribution to the growth, sustainability, and success of the industry.
Champions initiatives that strengthen tourism’s role in Wyoming’s economy and community well-being.
Nominating someone is easy. Please send a paragraph (up to 500 words) that includes the person’s name, job title, the award you are nominating them for, and reasons why they should be considered. Send all nominations to chris@wyohtc.org. Nominations close on September 15, 2025.
October 22
PRO TIP: Click on the titles underlined in green to get a glimpse of what to expect throughout the summit!
All events will take place at the Holiday Inn, Riverton
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
WORTH Board Meeting
Taggarts 1
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dome | Joint lunch for members of the WHTC Board, WHTCEF Board, Wyoming Tourism Board and WORTH Board.
Joint Board Lunch
WHTC Board Meeting
1:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Taggarts 1
WOT Board Meeting
Taggarts 2 & 3
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Roundtable discussion for all DMO CEO's to share best practices and discuss current challenges.
DMO Round Table
5:45 PM - 7:00 PM
Registration
Dome
Taggarts | Wyoming Office of Tourism Executive Director Diane Shober will retire at the end of 2025, and this will be her final industry conference. Please join us to celebrate the incredible 22 years that she has dedicated to elevating Wyoming's Hospitality and Tourism Industry!
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Welcome Reception
October 23
Starting at 7:30 AM
Registration
Breakfast on your Own
Dome
8:45 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome & Intro
Charene Herrera, Emcee
Legislative Update
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Legislative Update | Chris Brown, Wyoming Hospitality & Tourism Coalition
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Wyoming Legislators Panel: Current Issues and How to Best Engage | Senator Mike Gierau, Moderator
Session
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Behind the Brand: Two Decades of Shaping Wyoming Tourism | Diane Shober, Executive Director, Wyoming Office of Tourism
Session
Building on Momentum: Our 2025 Impact and 2026 Vision for the Future | Kari Eakins, James Scoon and Michell Howard, Program Directors, Wyoming Office of Tourism
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Session
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Beyond Google: What AI-Powered Search Means for Travelers | Piper Singer Cunningham, Communications Sr. Manager, WOT and Ciara Morrison, Verb
Session
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Partnering for Success: An Overview of Wyoming Office of Tourism’s Cooperative Marketing Opportunities | Intro: Sawyer Sweckard, Partner Activation Manager
Panelists:
Becky Oswald, Brand Integration Sr. Manager, WOT
Mitch Knothe, Miles Partnership
Lesley Rowbal, Madden Media
Ashleigh Wiemer, BVK
Jesse Ryan, Snowday
Session
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Break
Federal Issues Affecting Hospitality and Tourism in Wyoming | Domenic Bravo, Moderator
Session
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Intersection of Industry and How to Navigate Today’s Political Climate | Chris Brown, Moderator
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Session
LOUD & CLEAR: Communication Travel’s Value with Power and Precision | Allison O'Connor, Sr Vice President, Strategic Communications, US Travel Association
Session
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Reception
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Dome
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Please join us for the first annual Fall Summit Awards Dinner, where we will present The Wyoming Heart of Hospitality Award, The Hospitality and Tourism Professional of the Year, and the Clarene Law Award. The evening will conclude with comments from Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
Dinner - Awards
All events will take place in Taggarts, unless otherwise specified.









Photo Credit: Wyoming Office of Tourism
Join us for the fall event of the year to support the continued growth of Wyoming’s hospitality & tourism industry!
Note: All WHTC events have a 14-day full refund policy. If we receive your written cancellation 14 days or more before the event, you will receive a full refund. Cancellations received less than 14 days from an event will not be refunded.
