Every few years, Senator Max Baucus puts on an economic development conference. His national political prominence affords the opportunity to bring in some very high caliber guests. People like Jeff Immelt of GE, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft and even Warren Buffet. In a low population state like Montana, these are opportunities we would not otherwise get. This makes the conference very well attended by nearly all of our political and business leaders.

Lately, tourism's star has been shining brightly ...

I have a friend that used to do PR for Fox News. While this job didn't necessarily represent or reflect her politics, it did accurately reflect her skills as a PR ninja. Despite my continual ribbing about having to pitch Top Ten Male Anchor Hairstyles stories, I did always wonder how you do PR for a news organization.

She explained: “When someone noteworthy, a news-maker, says something remarkable, I go out and pitch that quote as news to other ...

Where did hashtags come from? Why are my college-age interns using them during conversations that are nowhere near a computer? What are they good for? Where can I buy one?

A few weeks ago, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made news by suggesting that the social networking giant would soon be implementing hashtag support. I'm sure you saw the headlines, but to truly understand the implications, we need some context.

A brief history of the hashtag.

A long time ago ...

It is the rare airport that provides any real insight into the personality of its city. Generic terminals and bad restaurants are common the world over. Managua, Nicaragua is no different, for one exception: its clocks.

In the main hall, it easy to miss the paintings (or even the importance) of revolutionary thinkers Augusto Sandino and Ruben Dario. But as you pass into security ...

Exclusive access motivates people. It makes us feel special, unique, and appreciated. Willy Wonka knew this. Behind the sealed doors of his elaborate factory, Wonka built a brand shrouded in mystery with great products made from secret recipes. The addicting candy and mysterious presence created an aura around the brand that left customers craving more. Plus, it was chocolate.

The famous Golden Ticket promotion put the energy of his customers' curiosity to work, by providing five customers with exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime ...

[This live streamed keynote presentation from the 2013 Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism happened at 8:30AM on Tuesday, March 26. You can watch a recording of the presentation below. NOTE: Due to some inconsistant wifi access, the livestream ends at 29 minutes. We are working to recapture the second half of the event and will update this post when it is live.]

Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism Keynote: The 5 Principals of Effective Geotraveler Marketing

A note ...