Breezy Point Resort
9252 Breezy Point Drive
Breezy Point, MN 56472
In response to rapidly growing interest in Minnesota as a bicycle tourism destination, several statewide organizations have joined forces to co-host the 2010 Bicycle Tourism Summit to be held from 8 a.m to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29 at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, MN. This one-day workshop will showcase thriving bicycle tourism programs in the United States and explore opportunities to promote bicycle tourism in local communities throughout the state.
Bicycle tourism activities include off-road paved trails, mountain biking trails and on-road routes and the destinations/
communities that they connect. The workshop will be designed with all kinds of bicycle tourism stakeholders in mind,
including: chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus, bicycle clubs and tour operators, trail associations, local government officials, lodging and local businesses with connections to bicycle tourism and bicycle trail providers.
Bicycle Tourism Summit partners include: the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Explore Minnesota Tourism, Minnesota Department of Transportation and the National Park Service.
Download an event postcard to e-mail to a friend.
Preliminary Summit Schedule:
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. General Session – David Minge, Moderator
- Getting It Right: Learning from Those Who Are Already Successful
Jim Sayer, Executive Director, Adventure Cycling
Jim has spoken nationally about bicycle tourism development, and has
worked with CVB and state tourism organizations to help them develop
bicycle tourism.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions
- Planning Successful Bicycle Events – Representatives from the Tour
of Saints around St Cloud, Gitchi Gami State Trail Annual Ride on the
North Shore and the St Paul Bike Classic will share their knowledge
about how to organize a bicycle event, and the potential benefits to
your community or business.
- Getting Started: Preparing Your Town or Business to Welcome
Bicyclists – A panel including Jim Sayer, Adventure Cycling, Mary
Derks, Derks Cycle Tours and Kirsten Mensing, Historic Scanlon House
B&B and Little River General Store will talk about what a community
or business needs to provide bicyclists and bike groups to be
successful in this market.
- Marketing to Bicycle Enthusiasts – Jason Lardy, Nomad Marketing
& Jean Freidl, Jean Freidl Communications – with experience
marketing the Nature Valley Grand Prix and other bike events, these
marketing experts will outline the most effective marketing tools to
reach this market.
11:45 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
- Wayfinding Resources for Bicyclists and Planners – In this session
you will learn how GPS and other technical resources are available to
help you and others plan bicycle routes around Minnesota. There will
also be examples of wayfinding trail/business partnerships that bring
bicyclists off the trail and in to area restaurants and retail
establishments.
- Getting Started – Preparing Your Town or Business to Welcome Bicyclists – Repeat
- Marketing to Bicycle Enthusiasts – Repeat
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. Break
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. General Session – David Minge, Moderator
- Finding Your “Take-Away” for Future Follow up
Regional discussion groups will determine one or more action steps that can be implemented following the Summit.
3:30 p.m. Summit ends
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