Visit Winston-Salem’s 2026 Annual Tourism Industry Meeting brings together local tourism partners, community leaders, and others invested in Winston-Salem’s future as a destination for an afternoon focused on the year behind us — and what comes next.
When: Wednesday, October 14 | 3–5 p.m.
Where: Old Salem Visitor Center, 924 S. Main St.
The program will highlight milestones and results from fiscal year 2026, recognize local partners with the inaugural Tourism Ambassador Awards, and preview priorities for fiscal year 2027. Attendees will also get a first look at our new YOU+ marketing campaign and the strategy behind its upcoming launch.
Special guest Wit Tuttell, Executive Director of Visit North Carolina, will provide a statewide perspective on tourism and the opportunities ahead. Tuttell will also discuss the latest statewide tourism economic impact numbers, including a record $37.2 billion in visitor spending in 2025, and what those results say about the continued strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry.
Following the program, attendees can continue the conversation during a networking reception featuring light bites, drinks, and music.
Annual Meeting Agenda
2:30 p.m. — Doors Open & Registration Check in, grab a seat, and enjoy music before the program begins.
3 p.m. — Welcome & Opening Remarks Opening remarks from Visit Winston-Salem leadership and community representatives, including Forsyth County TDA Chair Dana Lu Bryson and Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.
3:20 p.m. — Winston-Salem Tourism Update A look at the past year, including destination performance, local tourism momentum, and the priorities shaping the year ahead.
3:40 p.m. — State of North Carolina Tourism Visit North Carolina Executive Director Wit Tuttell shares the latest statewide tourism economic impact and visitor data, along with perspective on the industry’s continued growth.
3:55 p.m. — Introducing YOU+ The debut of the new YOU+ marketing campaign and a look at the strategy behind the work.
4:20 p.m. — Tourism Ambassador Awards Recognition of four local partners whose contributions help strengthen Winston-Salem and Forsyth County as a destination.
4:35–5 p.m. — Networking Reception Stay for light bites, drinks, music, and conversation with fellow tourism and community partners.
Meet the Speaker: Wit Tuttell
Wit Tuttell has served as Executive Director of Visit North Carolina since 2013, overseeing strategic planning, policy development, and marketing for the state’s official tourism office. In 2022, he was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors.
A tourism industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Tuttell previously worked with Universal Studios Florida and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and has served in leadership roles with Travel South USA and the U.S. Travel Association.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Doors open for the event at 2:30 p.m. for check in registration, and networking, with the program beginning promptly at 3 p.m.
The meeting is inside Gray Auditorium at the Old Salem Visitor Center, located at 900 Old Salem Road (map).
Free parking is available in the large visitor lot directly outside the Old Salem Visitor Center, where Gray Auditorium is located.
No ticket is required, and the Annual Tourism Industry Meeting is free to attend. Advance registration is requested, however, to help Visit Winston-Salem plan for attendance.
Plan for approximately two hours. The main program will last a little over an hour, followed by a networking reception with light bites, drinks, and music. The event concludes at 5 p.m.
The meeting is designed for Forsyth County tourism partners, community leaders, and others interested in the local visitor economy and the future of Winston-Salem as a destination.
Contact Amy da Luz, Visitor Services Manager at Visit Winston-Salem, at [email protected]