Recent Press
Tourism expert to speak at Centre on Wednesday
By Jimmy Nesbitt (Contact)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Evansville Courier & Press
An award-winning community and tourism expert will speak at The Centre on Wednesday.
Roger Brooks, the founder of Seattle-based Destination Development Inc., will lead a seminar on community development and revitalization from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration for the seminar, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 a.m.
Brooks has worked in tourism and economic development for more than 25 years, specializing in consumer trends, marketing and project development. He is the co-author of the book "Your Town a Destination — The 25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism." He is well-known for his step-by-step instructions on how to enhance communities.
The seminar is sponsored by the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau in conjunction with Keep Evansville Beautiful and Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville.
Marilee Fowler, Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director, said she has heard Brooks speak several times.
"I get excited when I hear what he has to say and how a community can come together to enhance the appearance to make it appealing ...," Fowler said.
Fowler said Brooks has performed more than 400 community assessments and is doing 12 in Indiana. His suggestions often are very simple, such as improving signage or relocating a business at a location where it will receive more curbside appeal, she said.
"He may see things that we miss," Fowler said.
Brooks has not done a community assessment in Evansville, she said.
For more information on the seminar, contact Fowler at 421-2200 or go to Brooks' Web site a twww.destinationdevelopment.com.
