Our premise is that the conference brings together leaders, pioneers and highly engaged tourism industry participants anxious to build a vibrant and viable model for sustainable tourism, both for their individual professional roles as well as for the Canadian tourism industry.

The format of the half-day sessions will focus on the experience that participants will bring as well as address the many questions an industry in the early stages of develop struggles with. Speakers will bring a certain expertise and delegates will have insights and stories to share that will create a dynamic and self directed learning environment.

The Fall gathering will focus on the following 5 key focus areas which were identified at a Sustainable Tourism Think Tank in Toronto during April 2008. These include:

Responsible Travellers- Motivating Traveller Engagement
Addressing the Triple Bottom Lines of Sustainable Tourism
Experiencing the Real Thing– a Destination's Culture and People
Being a Part of the Solution
Moving Forward Together

Our intention is to ignite discussion during each session's two hour 'open space' Learning Lab with a series of four twenty minute presentations by recognized leaders of sustainable tourism.

We will use an innovative approach to facilitation (The Art of Hosting, using open space design) as well as elements of social media technology to create an engaging, real time learning experience. It will form a resource for those that attend as well as an access point for others that were not able to be at the Gathering.

Please note that the conference sessions will be held in the Town of Rocky Harbour.

Arrive in Newfoundland- travel to Rocky Harbour

7:00-9:00 p.m. - Oceanview Motel Dining Room- Meet and Greet

7:00 am - Breakfast at accommodation

8:30 – 9 am-Conference Opening & Welcome

Motivating Responsible Travellers

9:00 – 9:30 am - Keynote Presentation: Tony Wheeler

9:30 – 10:30 am - Panel Presentations: Barry Watson, Michele McKenzie and David Clemmons

10:30 am – 12:20 pm - Open Space Discussions

12:30 – 1:30 pm - Lunch: Ocean View Motel

Being a Part of the Solution

1:45 – 2:15 pm - Keynote Presentation: Costas Christ

2:15 – 3:15 pm - Panel Presentations: Rick Stanley, David Butler and Alexandre Fernand

3:20 – 5:20 pm - Open Space Discussions

5:30 pm - Wrap-up

6:30 – 7:30 pm - Dinner: Ocean View Motel

8:00 – 10:00 pm
Performance of Tempting Providence presented by Theatre Newfoundland Labrador: Rocky Harbour Community Hall

7:00 am - Breakfast at accommodation

The Triple Bottom Line

8:30 – 9 am - Keynote Presentation: Bruce Poon Tip

9 - 10 am - Panel Presentations: Connie McDonald, Bruce Smith and Kristine MacPhee

10 am – Noon - Open Space Discussions

12:15 – 1:15 pm - Lunch: Ocean View Motel

The Real Thing - Authentic Cultural Experiences

1:30 – 2 pm - Keynote Presentation: Jonathan Katz

2 – 3 pm - Panel Presentations: Gaylene Buckle, Gary Clarke and Joella Foulds

3:20 – 5:20 pm - Open Space Discussions

5:30 pm - Wrap-up

6:30 – 8:00 pm - Dinner: Fisherman's Landing Inn

8:30 – 11 pm - A Taste of Trails, Tales and Tunes, a Norris Point Community Festival - Anchor Pub, Ocean View Motel

7:00 am - Breakfast at accommodation

Moving Forward Together

8:30 – 9 am - Keynote Presentation: Jonathan Tourtellot

9 – 11 am - Panel Discussion: Moving Forward Together

11 am – Noon - Final Conference Wrap-up

12:30 – 1:30 pm - Lunch: Ocean View Motel

*** Conclusion***

N.B. There are no specific breaks built into the daily schedule, but coffee, juice, water and nutritious snacks will be available in the conference room for people to consume as needed.