The Texas Asian Chamber of Commerce hosts three major events during the year – Lunar New Year Gala, Asia Food Fest, Connect: Business & Career Forum – as well as monthly networking and annual membership party. TACC also supports, promotes and participates in other events from community partners including receptions for international delegations, community forums and other business-related events.

UPCOMING EVENTS, from the City of Austin

Cultural & Heritage Tourism Roundtables
Dates: March 23-26
In an effort to help arts, culture, and heritage organizations understand cultural tourism better, and to help tourism/destination marketing entities understand how Austin arts, culture and heritage can be valuable to their industry, and also to build a stronger working relationship between these two sectors, the City is bringing Lenwood Sloan, Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism with the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, to Austin.
Mr. Sloan will facilitate a series of roundtable discussions with
1) destination management groups (hotels, attractions, convention, visitors bureau, and retail districts);
2) large and major arts and culture institutions and flagship organizations;
3) small and medium size arts and culture organizations;
4) small house museums, heritage sites and historical societies; and
5) festivals and special events.
The final day will conclude with representatives from all the roundtable groups gathering for a “Town Hall” style discussion to develop real-world strategies that participants can implement.

Please signup for the Roundtable that best describes what your organization does. If you have a question as to where your group, organization, or event best fits, you can contact Janet Seibert (974-7860). If you are able to attend the Town Hall Open Dialogue, please sign up for that one in addition to your Roundtable.

Kick-off Presentation
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 23, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Boyd Vance Theater at the Carver Museum & Cultural Center (1165 Angelina St.)
In May 1865, a parade for Union soldiers was held in Washington, DC to celebrate their victory in the Civil War; however, colored troops were not invited to attend. In response to this disregard, they were invited to march in Harrisburg, PA in what became known as the “Grand Review.” On Nov. 6, 2010, in Harrisburg, hundreds of re-enactors marched in the footsteps of their ancestors to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this historic event. Mr. Sloan was instrumental in developing this celebration: discovering resources, measuring assets, developing the tourism product, facilitating communications, building partnerships, measuring outcomes and impacts. Come hear the story!
This presentation will allow roundtable participants to use Mr. Sloan’s process as a template for framing their own project or event. Reception to follow the presentation.
RSVP NOW!

Roundtable I: Destination Management
Date & Time: Thursday, March 24, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Omni Hotel, Executive Boardroom-2nd fl. (8th & San Jacinto)
Target Audience: Managers, marketing personnel, concierges of hotels; marketing and public relations personnel in convention and visitor sector; marketing personnel from retail management districts
REGISTER NOW!

Roundtable II: Arts & Cultural Organizations – large and major institutions
Date & Time: Thursday, March 24, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: UT Thompson Conference Center, Room 3.122 (2405 East Campus Dr.)
Target Audience: Marketing/public relations/visitor relations of large and major institutions and flagship organizations (year-round programming + facility)
REGISTER NOW!

Roundtable III: Arts & Cultural Organizations – small to medium size & Sole Proprietors
Date & Time: Thursday, March 24, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: UT Thompson Conference Center, Room 3.122 (2405 East Campus Dr.)
Target Audience: Executive directors and marketing personnel of small to medium size organizations (1 or more events per year, no facility) & individual artists
REGISTER NOW!

Roundtable IV: Heritage/History
Date & Time: Friday, March 25, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Austin History Center, Reception Room (810 Guadalupe)
Target Audience: Executive Directors, managers, and marketing personnel of small house museums, heritage sites, historical/heritage organizations, historical/heritage districts
REGISTER NOW!

Roundtable V: Festivals, Special Events
Date & Time: Friday, March 25, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Small Business Development Program Training Room (201 E. 2nd Street, Suite A)
Target Audience: Executive directors/managers, marketing personnel of festivals and special events; individuals of entities producing one event a year
REGISTER NOW!

“Town Hall” Open Dialogue
Date & Time: Saturday, March 26, 10:00 a.m. – noon
Location: UT Thompson Conference Center, Room 3.122 (2405 East Campus Dr.)
Target Audience: Representatives and participants from all prior Roundtables
REGISTER NOW!

Presenter: Lenwood Sloan, Director of Cultural & Heritage Programs, Pennsylvania Tourism Office
Since 2005, Lenwood Sloan has been developing programs and policy for cultural and heritage initiatives at the Pennsylvania Tourism Office including Pennsylvania Festivals, The Artists and Artisans Trails, Pennsylvania Civil War Trails, PA Quest For Freedom, The Appalachian Trails Initiative, and the Pennsylvania Homecoming project. Prior to joining the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Mr. Sloan spent 35 years pursuing a professional career in the performing arts. He has trained with the Joffrey Ballet Company and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, amongst others. He has received fellowships as choreographer, artistic director, and playwright from the City of San Francisco, the states of California and Louisiana, and the National Endowment for the Arts. His administrative credits include directing the Dance on Film Program for the City of San Francisco, regional technical assistance coordinator for the State of California, Deputy Director of the California Arts Council, Director for the National Endowment of the Arts Presenting and Commissioning Program, and director of New Orleans Arts Tourism Partnership. In 1996 and 2000, Mr. Sloan received the Industry Professional of the Year Award from the Louisiana Travel and Promotion Association. In 1997, he served as artistic director for the American Society of Travel Agents National Conference for which he received two Gambit Magazine Business Awards for Heritage Tourism.

The Cultural and Heritage Tourism Roundtables are supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.