At the conclusion of our recent interview, Sonya Harmon-Nash, travel trade marketing manager for Northern Indiana’s Amish Country, pointed out an unexpected benefit from hosting and meeting with delegates to the Going On Faith Conference in South Bend.
“We have five counties that make up our organization, and on a day-to-day basis, it’s very easy for all of us to fall into the business model of watching out for our own areas,” she said. “It’s very easy to become insular and self-oriented in the heat of everyday sales and marketing.
“At this conference, we didn’t do that. We worked together as a team on sightseeing tours and entertainment, and we communicated with each other in the marketplace about opportunities for one another. And, to be honest, I think we’ll carry that attitude into other conferences in the future as a result.
“Our appointments were great as well: We had planners discussing booking dates, room availability, things specific to bringing groups here. It was all so positive.”
When you consider the long-term perspective moving forward and the short-term benefits that Nash saw from her interaction with faith-based travel planners during the conference, it seems that her area made out very well by being involved.
