Photos by Kit Marcy, Artesia Arts Council and Nancy Cordero, REDTT.   Back to picture list

Pictures of REDTT's 2007 Rural Tourism Conference The purpose of the REDTT annual meeting is to provide education, information and networking opportunities to tourism professionals and volunteers. This two day event includes: FAM tours of the area in which the meeting is being held; workshops on tourism issues including, but not limited to, tracks in agritourism, technology, business, arts, historical preservation and more; keynote speakers; food; and fun!!!

Welcome to REDTT's 2007 Rural Tourism Conference! The official REDTT welcoming committee: Pat McConnell, Jean Pintar and George Pintar. Thanks to them, all attendees were greeted warmly and recieved lots of valuable goodies inside a very nice canvas briefcase.	When in Eddy County, you will notice the oil business! Creative oil well made from balloons.	Deb Franzoy, REDTT's Deputy Director, welcomes conference attendees to the 2007 Rural Tourism Conference! Notice the New Mexico insignia made entirely from balloons!
The opening session on Thursday was packed with attendees ready to learn more about the issues surrounding rural tourism and anxious to take their chosen FAM tours around Eddy County.	Allison Southworth, REDTT Project Coordinator and Hospitality and Customer Service Trainer, prepares to guide conference attendees to their FAM tour busses. Notice the balloons over the door spell out the conference theme "Go With The Flow."	Balloons and decorations created a festive atmosphere. Each bouquet of balloons were attached to some very unique table decorations that highlighted the various aspects of Eddy County - hence the theme - "Go with the Flow." Things that flow in Eddy County include: the Pecos river for recreation and agricultural irrigation,
dairy industry....	oil and gas....	and wine!! In fact, Dale Taylor from Cottonwood Winery supplied the wine for dinner. Thanks Dale!
Finally, it was time to grab a boxed lunch and hit the road for one of three tours around the county.	FAM (Familiarization) Tours of Eddy County Tour A: Artesia MainStreet and Winery Tour • Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center • Historic Train Depot, Visitor Center, Southwest Dairy Museum and Chamber of Commerce • Artesia’s MainStreet Heritage Plaza and Walkway, Derrick Floor and Pioneer Bronze Sculptures, and Historic Buildings • Cottonwood Winery Tour B: Artesia Oilfield Tour & Wellhead Brewpub • Tour of petroleum producers and reclamation sites • Wellhead Restaurant and Brewpub Tour C: River Cruise, Shop Carlsbad MainStreet • Carlsbad MainStreet Shopping Tour • Carlsbad Cruise on the Pecos River	Tour A: Artesia's first movie house, the Land Sun Theatre (known as landsun by the locals), was started in 1947. Completely, rundown by the late 1990s, a huge renovation occured and brought the theater to life again in all it's original (like) glory!
The original Land Sun neon sign was scrapped in the 1980s but was duplicated for the renovation.The marquee and exterior were returned to their original neon splendor, too.	Part of Tour A was a walk around Artesia’s MainStreet and the Heritage Plaza and Walkway to view the talent's of several artists. Other sights to see were the Derrick Floor bronze sculpture (above) and Pioneer Bronze Sculptures (above right and below left), as well as many historic buildings.	After all this walking, a trip to Cottonwood Winery helped to cool off tour attendees.
Christian Moroson came all the way from Kansas State University to attend the conference and FAM tours. An interview (later) with Christain revealed that he learned a lot of great things from the educational workshops on tourism issues that he can use right away. He also plans to make a return trip to spend more time visiting and exploring all of New Mexico.	Tour C: After Melissa Suggs of Carlsbad Mainstreet program gave an overview of the downtown mainstreet area, folks did some shopping, visited some art galleries and enjoyed some afternoon tea. Participants were then shuttled to Carlsbad Beach and Recreation area where they boarded a party boat for a cruise down the Pecos River.	Derek Balzano, of Carlsbad Cruise Lines, offers conference attendees an informative and relaxing cruise with light snacks and wine tasting. Attendees viewed more than 100 homes which are decorated to the hilt with lights and holiday decorations during Christmas on the Pecos season (www.christmasonthepecos.com).
After the tours, folks returned to enjoy the Trade Show and evening reception. Then it was in to the Carousel House for the evening banquet.	The food was prepared by Rise & Shine Catering of Carlsbad. We enjoyed a fine meal of Chuck Tenderloin Steaks, Grilled Chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, Broccoli Salad, Green Salad, Fresh Spinach Salad with Raspberries, Italian Green Beans, cheesecake, various cakes and pies, cookies, tea, lemonade and coffee.	Gina Hutchins, from the Lovington Chamber of Commerce, shows off some of the fine fare we received.
Dinner speakers included a welcome to Carlsbad by Bob Forrest, Mayor of Carlsbad and remarks by Dr. Mike Martin, President, New Mexico State University (right). U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman sent his greetings and support of REDTT via video message. Finally, the annual Spirit of REDTT Awards were announced. This year's worthy recipients were: Pat Bennett from Hidalgo County; LaRena Miller from Sierra County; and Pete Walden from Grant County.	Packed dinner room!	Dr. Hal Waters as historic figure, John Chisum, New Mexico Chautauqua program, New Mexico Humanities Council.
REDTT’s annual Rural Tourism Conference would not be a success without the generous cash and inkind donations of our sponsors. Sponsors for the 2007 conference include: 100 Proof  AdVenture Marketing  Artesia Chamber of Commerce Artesia National Bank Benson Enterprises LLC dba Pecos River RV Park & Store  Best Western Stevens Inn Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad Carlsbad Caverns National Park Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Carlsbad Cruise Lines Carlsbad National Bank  Certified Folder College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University Cottonwood Winery  County Tourism Council of Eddy County   CRC & Associates Fort Sumner Community Development Corp.	SPONSORS Dora thanks representatives from (left to right) Mack Energy, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Certified Folder, Sky City Casino and Yates Drilling Co.-Yates Petroleum Corp.-Myco Industries Inc.	Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway Heritage Inn  J.S. Ward & Son Insurance Lea County Tourism Council Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park Mack Energy McDonald's / Morach Myco Industries, Inc. Navajo Refinery New Mexico Humanities Council New Mexico Texas Coaches, LLC New Mexico Tourism Department PNM Gas Services Quay County Tourism Council San Saba Pecan   School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at New Mexico State University Sky City Casino Hotel  Stacy Dean Campbell  Tourism Association of New Mexico (TANM) Wellhead Restaurant and Brewpub  Xcel Energy  Yates Drilling Company Yates Petroleum Corporation
	Local Carlsbad band - 100 Proof - rocks the night away as our evening festivities moves over to the host hotel, Best Western Stevens Inn.	Lisa Frederick and Sue Kehoe show us how it's done!
Day Two - Workshops and the annual State of New Mexico luncheon. Workshops included: "Go Off The Road: Marketing Your MainStreet as a Tourist Destination” with Shannon Papin, New Mexico MainStreet “Heritage Preservation Funding Sources and Collaboratives” with Kak Slick, Historic Preservation Division “Cooperative Marketing Program” with Audrey Herrera, New Mexico Tourism Department “Improving Your Business’ Curb Appeal” with John White, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service	"New Mexico Outfitting” with Nick Ashcroft, New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service “Volunteer Management - A Case Study” with Kathy Duffy and Maxine Velasquez, Expo New Mexico “Scenic Byways” AND “Birding Adventures as Economic Development” with Laurie Frantz, New Mexico Tourism Department “The Titanic Survey of Fundraising” with Susan Simons, New Mexico Humanities Council “Agritourism and Nature Tourism: Harvesting all Your Assets” with Holly George and Ellie Rilla, University of California Cooperative Extension Service “It’s Not Just a Rodeo Arena” with Leigh Ann Marez, New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service	How to Develop a Marketing Plan for Rural Communities, Think Strategically!” with Chris Cordova, CRC and Associates “How to Put Together Special Events that Work!” with Joe Vargas, Roswell Recreation Department “Partnering with State Parks to Increase Tourism in Your Community”with Alan Fiala of New Mexico State Parks “New Mexico Night Skies Program” with Peter Lipscomb, New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance (NMHPA) Night Skies Program “It’s Not Us vs. Them - Working with an Advertising Agency” with Martin Leger, New Mexico Tourism Department and Judy Cullison, Rick Johnson & Company
Dora Dominguez, REDTT Project Director, makes announcements and welcomes us to REDTT's State of New Mexico luncheon.	Martin Ledger, advertising manager for the New Mexico Tourism Department, delivers the annual State of New Mexico luncheon, bringing us the new advertising campaign for the state.	Janet Green, former REDTT director and current director of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at New Mexico State University.
	Lil' Summer Lara, Artesia, N.M., wowed us with a powerful performance of the Star Spangled Banner and then a country number.

Happy Faces at REDTT's 2007 Rural Tourism Conference!