Letter From President and CEO With a big breath we are proud to have completed the first three of eight events we will produce during this fiscal year, ending June 30, 2022. The Birmingham Symposium, Women’s Summit, and Facilities Summit were completed at the end of October with the support of our great host, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. I am very proud of the great work and attention to detail by staff, vendors, and volunteers to stage this year’s Symposium – still under the cloak of COVID. In the couple weeks leading up to the event we lost nearly 35 event owners, several panel speakers, and numerous destination attendees due to health reasons. While the total number of attendees and event owners was lower than years past, we were thrilled with the quality of sports events and tourism professionals that were able to join us in Birmingham, Alabama. This year’s educational sessions were one for the books! Nearly every session was packed with interested participants and attendees had to pick and choose between sessions. We even launched a few new communities: Outdoor Sports Tourism, Parks & Rec, and College Towns. We changed things up in 2021, and we’re on the move to success. From our new touchless registration system, the simplicity of our daily health screening process, to holding three consecutive events in one location, four concurring education sessions and countless networking opportunities. Being together again, with cheerful faces and limited hugs, was incredibly soothing and collegial. There was a lot of great energy and enthusiasm all week. We are beyond grateful to all attendees, event sponsors, engaging keynote and education speakers as well as the many education and community group session emcees, the 2021 Sports ETA Symposium would not have been possible without all of you. Take a few minutes to look through the 2021 Symposium photo album -- it’s no secret, it was a fun, inspiring, and educational week! THINK BIG!
Al Kidd President and CEO
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