Southeast Tourism Society (southeasttourism.org) hosted its 21st annual marketing college July 29th – August 3rd on the campus of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, GA. Maggie Bill, TOUR SEKY Programs Director participated as a third year student.

Marketing College is a three year professional development program that leads to certification as a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP).  Bill completed the third and final portion of the program and will receive TMP certification during Southeast Tourism Society’s (STS) spring meeting in March 2013. Bill participated in the Festival and Events track and will be recognized as a Festival and Events Specialist in addition to the TMP certification. Bill is part of the inaugural class for the Festival and Events track and will be one of 14 students in the southeast to receive this specialization.

Bill was one of nearly 300 tourism professionals enrolled in the 2012 session of STS Marketing College. Tourism ranks as the first-, second- or third-largest industry in each STS member state. Students come from convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, attractions, hotels and other segments of the tourism industry.

The curriculum covers topics such as social media, sports marketing, media relations and creative advertising. Heritage tourism and community/rural tourism are courses that have attracted special interest in recent years.

There is no other professional development program like STS Marketing College, and it is recognized nationally for its training of tourism leaders. More than 600 professionals have earned TMP certification.

STS, created in 1983, is headquartered in Atlanta and has approximately 800 members who represent travel industry businesses, state tourism departments, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus and travel media. Its activities include cooperative marketing programs, continuing education, professional development and travel industry policy advocacy. The 12 STS states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.