Dutchess Tourism, Inc. (DTI) will host three Lunch & Learn Seminars on March 6, March 20 and April 3, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. These free seminars are geared toward tourism-related businesses but are open to all. The series aims to offer valuable insights, foster networking opportunities, and provide a platform for learning and growth within the tourism industry in Dutchess County. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and questions for the presenters.

Wednesday, March 6 at 1 p.m.: Exploring TikTok's Business Potential: Building Big Buzz on a Tiny Screen
Presented by Andrew Mendez-Spera, founder and CEO of Tipsy Social
Location: Hyatt House Fishkill, 100 Westage Business Center Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524
Business owners looking to build community around their offerings are dominating on TikTok. Whether you're a skeptic, newbie, or seasoned pro, discover how small businesses are leveraging TikTok to grow brand awareness and drive engagement from their target audience. From paid promotion to creator collabs, we'll discuss winning strategies and trending examples to see if TikTok is the platform worth your energy.

Wednesday, March 20 at 1 p.m.: Utilizing Video on Social Media: Best Practices for Growing and Retaining Your Audience
Presented by Raphael Beretta, digital media manager at Dutchess Tourism
Location: Homewood Suites Poughkeepsie, 900 Thomas Watson Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Don't have experience producing vertical video for Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts? Learn the basics of shooting video with your phone (from settings to shot composition), editing for a social media audience and developing a content strategy—with no prior experience necessary.

Wednesday, April 3 at 1 p.m.: The Film Industry in the Hudson Valley Panel Discussion
Moderated by Edward Roy, president/CEO of The CineHub and J6 MediaWorks
Location: The CineHub, 20 W Main St., Ste. 4, Beacon, NY 12508
Laurent Rejto, founder of the Hudson Valley Film Commission, will share how he helps productions secure local crew, cast, locations, vendors, and postproduction facilities, and how your business can get involved. Additional panel members to be announced! Please note: due to the last-minute nature of the film industry, panelists may change as we approach the event.

"We are delighted to offer our Lunch & Learn series and provide a platform for tourism professionals to come together, learn, and grow," said Melaine Rottkamp, president & CEO of Dutchess Tourism. "As our industry continues to evolve, it’s important for us to explore emerging trends and best practices. Thank you to our presenters and panelists for sharing their expertise and insights with our community."

To register and learn more about DTI’s Lunch & Learn series, visit DutchessTourism.com/lunch-learn-series. Those interested do not have to attend all three presentations in order to participate.