Tuesday, July 22, 2014

OWAA Searching for 2017 Conference Host Location

Bring outdoor media to your city in 2017!
MISSOULA, Mont. - Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) has opened its 2017 conference bid process. With a goal to host its annual conference in a different part of the country every year, OWAA is focusing on the Midwest, Southwest or East regions for the 2017 conference, but bids are welcome from outside those regions as well.

OWAA will be accepting proposals until Aug. 22, 2014.

Direct economic returns to the site city have reached nearly $300,000 in recent years. More importantly, the long-term economic benefits can be millions of dollars resulting from stories, photographs, artwork, films, radio programs and videos produced by attendees on the rich outdoor opportunities offered by your location.

The preferred conference site will have many varied outdoor activities - not just hunting and fishing. Members attending are working press and freelancers who support their attendance with story material and images of regional outdoor-related subjects.

OWAA works directly with the host city convention and visitors bureau during the bid process - please do not have individual resorts or properties contact OWAA headquarters. While OWAA's conference has traditionally been held in June or July, its conference planners are open to proposals in shoulder seasons that offer the best rates for OWAA and its members.

OWAA conferences typically attract approximately 300 attendees from a wide array of outdoor communication professions as well as outdoor industry representatives. Conference is structured as a three-day peak night pattern over the course of a weekend with pre- and post-conference trips arranged before and after conference. Space must be available to accommodate a half-day "Demo Day" to showcase outdoor recreation equipment giving attendees a chance to test new outdoor products. Conference also hosts a separate half-day "Shooting Day" program in which attendees become familiarized with the latest firearms and related equipment from firearms manufacturers.

If you are interested in bringing the 2017 OWAA conference to your area, please contact your local CVB. Interested CVBs can download the RFP materials at http://owaa.org/conference/rfp/, or contact Jessica Pollett, membership and conference coordinator, at jpollett@owaa.org or 406-728-7434.