The 44th annual Professional Arts Management Institute, America’s longest running interdisciplinary seminar series in the arts, will, for the first time, devote its entire program to a single topic – cultural tourism. Presented at Columbia College Chicago by its Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Department (AEMM) June 23 - 25, the weekend program will feature 20 hours of lectures, panel discussion, and interactive sessions. Directed and moderated by Alvin H. Reiss, editor of both Travel Arts Partnership and Arts Management and “Arts Agenda” columnist for Travel Weekly, the program will include sessions led by top travel and arts professionals. Topics include: marketing cultural tourism programs; working with hotels; partnerships with CVB’s and tourism agencies; utilizing resources; developing cultural tourism plans; and cultural tourism in city neighborhoods. Discussions of case histories and a “hands-on” interactive group session also are on the agenda. A distinguished roster of speakers includes such Chicago area arts and tourism leaders as: Dorothy Coyle, director of the Chicago Office of Tourism; Bastiann Bouma, vice president for marketing and tourism of the Chicago Architecture Institute; and Royce Yeater, midwest director, National Trust for Historic Preservation. Speakers from outside the Chicago area include: John Robinson, director, Missouri Division of Tourism and Scott Schult, director of marketing for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Participation in the program is available to arts and tourism professionals from throughout the country as well as a select group of Columbia College graduate students. Cost for complete program including all materials, two luncheons, and a reception is $300. Information about PAMI's cultural tourism program and registration materials can be found HERE.