Johnny Appleseed Trail Association hosting Annual Tourism Update Breakfast

Forum to bring together tourism related businesses and organizations in the region

The Johnny Appleseed Trail Association (JATA) and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the third annual Tourism Update Breakfast being held on Friday, March 23, 2018 at Chocksett Inn, 59 Laurelwood wood Road, Sterling MA. This exciting and fast paced breakfast event features industry experts who will share their professional insights on marketing North Central Massachusetts. The 2018 breakfast program is sponsored by the Chocksett Inn of Sterling, MA.

Lisa Strout, Director of the Massachusetts Film Office, will discuss the film industry in Massachusetts and its direct impact on North Central Massachusetts as the industry continues to grow. The MA Film Office is the state agency dedicated to promoting the Commonwealth as a premier location for commercial, film and television production. Lisa Strout has been at the helm of the Massachusetts Film Office since June of 2011, and has overseen over 50 major film and television productions throughout the state during her tenure. Lisa was formerly the director of the New Mexico Film Office for nearly a decade, during its production boom. She has 33 years of experience in the film industry, including 20 years as a location manager in New England, New York, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Italy. Films include: Mystic Pizza, Falling Down, Dante’s Peak, Room with a View and Thirteen Days. In addition, she managed the New York City offices of Merchant Ivory Productions for two years.

Tony D’Agostino, has been with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for more than ten years as the Director of Research. In that time, D’Agostino’s main projects have been related to studying the volume of tourists, visitors and the economic impact of tourism spending in Massachusetts. These reports support the marketing initiatives and activities of the sixteen regional tourism councils across the Commonwealth.  Mr. D’Agostino’s presentation will highlight

visitor trends, top visitor markets and the impact of tourism for the state and region.

“Tourism is important to the future of North Central Massachusetts and plays an increasingly important role in our local economy” said Roy Nascimento, president of the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association. “We organize this annual program as a way to bring tourism related stakeholders in the region together to share best practices, learn new trends in the industry and to take advantage of new opportunities to better market local businesses and the region to visitors.”

The Tourism Update Breakfast is open to all community members and will run from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. The cost is just $20 for JATA and North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce members/$30 for non-members and includes a breakfast buffet. Registration can be done online at www.northcentralmass.com. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or visit www.northcentralmass.com.