11/30/16 ~ Big Bend Scenic Byway to hold an Access-Able Tourism Workshop & Expo

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Access-Able Tourism Workshop & Expo - A Great Training Opportunity for Hospitality and Tourism Professionals!

Disabled travelers are the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry today.  Are you equipped to handle this sector?  If not, then this training opportunity is a MUST!  Speakers from throughout the state will cover all aspects of Access-Able Tourism -- from big picture topics of market share and size to the nuts-and-bolts of providing guide services, retro-fitting options, and marketing opportunities.  At the outdoor Expo, attendees can meet vendors with the latest adaptive technologies for Access-Able tourism, see how they work, and learn their price.

The event is being held on Thursday, December 8, in the Dogwood Room at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.  The $25 fee includes workshop materials, lunch, and entrance to the Expo, organized by the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association. 

As space is limited, registration is on a first received basis.  Contact Pam Portwood for registration information at 850/544-6133 or by email at pportwood@outlook.com.

BB Scenic Byway

One person who will share his experience at the workshop is long-time Florida Keys guide, Captain Mick Nealey.  Captain Mick is founder and operator of Tranquil Adventures and Active Disabled Americans -- a charter, tour, and cruise operation. He offers fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, bird watching, and eco-tours to the islands in Everglades National Park and the coral reefs in John Pennekamp State Park.  What sets this venture apart is that it caters to people with disabilities, rather than just letting them tag along if they can somehow get aboard.  His philosophy says it all: “The purpose of recreation is not to kill time but to stimulate activity – not to keep people occupied but to keep them refreshed – not to offer an escape from life but to expand its possibilities.”

The event is being organized by the Big Bend Scenic Byway Management Authority in sponsorship with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Disabled Outdoor Association, Wakulla County Tourist Development Council, Franklin County Tourist Development Council, and Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership.