The detailed 2023 Outdoor Economy Conference agenda is forthcoming, but this big-picture-view of this year’s conference schedule will make your planning a little easier.
If you are interested in leading a workshop like the IMBA Trail Development Workshop on Monday afternoon, or hosting a summit (like Thursday’s Higher Education and the Outdoor Industry Summit) please reach out to us.
*Please note that we require all summit and workshop attendees to also be signed up for at least one day of the Outdoor Economy Conference.
If you have any questions about the event schedule, contact our team at [email protected].
Trail Planning & Development Workshop - Registration Opens Late Spring
Back by popular demand, this workshop will guide community leaders through the core elements of planning, designing, and implementing a trail development project.
Summits (TBA)
Two major national outdoor industry leadership groups will host their 2023 membership gatherings bookending the Outdoor Economy Conference. If you represent a group in the outdoor industry, nonprofit, government, and/or community that wants to meet on Monday afternoon or Thursday morning, there are rooms available to reserve, ranging from an ~18 person Board Room, to both small and 200+ full-sized breakout rooms.
Field Visits - Registration Opens Late Spring
These outings combine hands-on outdoor adventures with learning insight into the inner workings of building an outdoor economy from expert facilitators that do this important work every day in Western North Carolina.
Registration is in front of the Expo Hall on the first floor of the Cherokee Convention Center. Check in to get your conference pass, and ask our staff any questions.
Important reminder: we will not transfer any tickets after September 15th, and we will not re-assign conference badges on site.
Please make sure that all attendees, sponsors and exhibitor booth staff have their tickets secured under their correct name before the Conference begins.
The 2023 Outdoor Economy Conference kicks off with a welcoming address from our hosts and Presenting Sponsors, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, followed by a greeting from our conference MC, and an energizing opening Keynote.
Monday's reception includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and a nice selection of local and national beverages (local NA options, beers, wines, and spirits). Opening reception registrants and Full Conference passholders will receive a ticket for one beverage of choice.
Enjoy a hot breakfast and gourmet coffee while catching up with colleagues in the Expo Hall.
For those checking in on Tuesday morning:
Registration is in front of the Expo Hall on the first floor of the Cherokee Convention Center. Check in to get your conference pass, and ask our staff any questions.
Important reminder: we will not transfer any tickets after September 15th, and we will not re-assign conference badges on site.
Please make sure that all attendees, sponsors and exhibitor booth staff have their tickets secured under their correct name before the Conference begins.
Impactful, practical, and inspiring keynote speakers and panels will start the day, followed by breakout sessions and roundtables diving into key topics affecting the outdoor economy both today, and into the future.
A mix of breakout sessions, deep-dive workshops, and stakeholder roundtables that dive into key program tracks.
Tasty beverages (including NA options) and equally tasty light bites will be served in the Expo Hall and help keep the conversations flowing as the evening starts to ramp up.
Full Conference passholders and Single-day ticket holders will each receive a drink ticket for a beverage of choice at this networking Happy Hour event.
Tuesday's happy hour food will be light*. Restaurants in/around the Cherokee Convention Center book up quickly, so we recommend reserving a table well in advance if you want to stay on site for dinner. We're inviting local food trucks and will have dining suggestions on the nearby communities.
*The Sponsor, Speaker, and VIP Reception is during this time, with heavy hors d'ouevres*
Be a legend of late-night by sponsoring the Tuesday Night afterparty. An outdoor deck is available for a DJ or small band, and there is an available menu of drink and snack options. and with your help, the connections and brilliant (in the moment, at least) ideas will keep flowing until everyone really ought to go to bed anyway.
Enjoy a hot breakfast and gourmet coffee while catching up with colleagues in the Expo Hall.
For those checking in on Wednesday morning:
Registration is in front of the Expo Hall on the first floor of the Cherokee Convention Center. Check in to get your conference pass, and ask our staff any questions.
Important reminder: we will not transfer any tickets after September 15th, and we will not re-assign conference badges on site.
Please make sure that all attendees, sponsors and exhibitor booth staff have their tickets secured under their correct name before the Conference begins.
Impactful, practical, and inspiring keynote speakers and panels will start the day, followed by breakout sessions and roundtables diving into key topics affecting the outdoor economy both today, and into the future.
Our meals and receptions will be held in the main stage event space and Expo Hall (which share a 34,000sf room on the first floor of the Cherokee Convention Center.)
We will make sure that facilitated networking opportunities are available, as well as active outdoor pursuits, to make connecting easy and exciting, and keep the stoke strong.
A mix of breakout sessions, deep-dive workshops, and stakeholder roundtables that dive into key program tracks.
We'll wrap up the event with a closing ceremony and a sneak preview of the 2024 Outdoor Economy Conference, before turning the evening over to a lovely local craft food and beverage tasting reception to close out the formal programming of the 2023 OEC.
At the closing reception, enjoy samples of craft beverages (including NA options and hard-to-find local brews) alongside locally-sourced light bites.
Much like Tuesday night, the food on Wednesday is more snack/appetizer than heavy hors d'oeuvres, so if you're sticking around, the restaurants in and around the Cherokee Convention Center can get booked up pretty fast. So we recommend reserving a table in advance if you want to stay on site for dinner. We'll also be working with local food trucks and nearby communities to make sure that plenty of options are available if you want to dine al fresco or make a little trip to a nearby town.
Workshops (TBD)
If you're interested in hosting a workshop that aligns with the conference's core theme -Connecting the Ecosystem - and tracks, please contact our team.
Summits (TBA)
Two major national outdoor industry leadership groups will host their 2023 membership gatherings bookending the Outdoor Economy Conference. If you represent a group in the outdoor industry, nonprofit, government, and/or community that wants to meet on Monday afternoon or Thursday morning, there are rooms available to reserve, ranging from an ~18 person Board Room, to both small and 200+ full-sized breakout rooms.
Trail Planning & Development Workshop – Registration Opens Late Spring
Back by popular demand, this workshop will guide community leaders through the core elements of planning, designing, and implementing a trail development project.
Summits (TBA)
Two major national outdoor industry leadership groups will host their 2023 membership gatherings bookending the Outdoor Economy Conference. If you represent a group in the outdoor industry, nonprofit, government, and/or community that wants to meet on Monday afternoon or Thursday morning, there are rooms available to reserve, ranging from an ~18 person Board Room, to both small and 200+ full-sized breakout rooms.
Field Visits – Registration Opens Late Spring
These outings combine hands-on outdoor adventures with learning insight into the inner workings of building an outdoor economy from expert facilitators that do this important work every day in Western North Carolina.
Welcoming Address from Hosts and Presenting Sponsors, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, followed by a greeting from Conference MC, and an energizing opening Keynote.
For those checking in on Tuesday morning:
Registration is in front of the Expo Hall on the first floor of the Cherokee Convention Center. Check in to get your conference pass, and ask our staff any questions.
Important reminder: we will not transfer any tickets after September 15th, and we will not re-assign conference badges on site.
Please make sure that all attendees, sponsors and exhibitor booth staff have their tickets secured under their correct name before the Conference begins.
777 Casino Dr. Cherokee, NC 28719
Working Together to Ensure a Vibrant Future for the Outdoor Economy and Our Outdoor Communities.
