Bay Area CVB Discussion
On February 11, the Tri-Valley CVB hosted a group of San Francisco Bay Area CVBs to discuss and develop ways to increase tourism to their destinations through collective marketing, public relations and sales activities. Jonelle Tannahill and Jean Johnstone from CTTC presented cooperative marketing opportunities, and an open discussion was held. For more information or a meeting recap, contact Amy Blaschka at amy@trivalleycvb.com or 925.846.8910.

Upstairs Downtown
From the National Trust for Historic Preservation comes this great Webinar on Thursday, April 2. This seminar will discuss successful upper-floor housing development. Whether the goal is to increase investor returns, expand the district’s usage round-the-clock, or create a built-in market for retailers, upper-floor housing can be an effective solution for under-utilized space. Hear from national and state leaders who are making it happen in local Main Street districts. Cost is $25; click here to register.

California Preservation Conference
This conference, held in Palm Springs April 16-19, will focus on "The Culture of Leisure - Rethinking the California Dream." More than 30 sessions, tours and workshops will focus on issues facing California's historic, cultural and natural resources, taught by over 100 expert speakers. Continuing education units are also available. Click here for more information.

Statewide Leadership in Arts Education Conference
On April 20-21, learn about important work being done at the state, regional, county and local levels to improve the quality of arts education, and to encourage participation and leadership that will shape the future of arts education in California. Click here for more information.

California Trails & Greenways Conference
The California Trails & Greenways Conference provides an opportunity for land and recreation program planners, trail administrators and managers, trail advocacy groups, trail builders and other trail enthusiasts to network and advocate for trails in their community as well as learn about new techniques and opportunities. The Conference is also a forum for education, networking and development of strategies for envisioning, planning, funding, designing, constructing, and managing non-motorized recreational trails in California. Plan to attend the 2009 Conference, set for April 22-24 at Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite. Registration begins this month; click here for more information.

Placer Cultural & Heritage Tourism Workshop
On April 29-30, Placer County will host a special workshop to create an action plan for promoting cultural and heritage tourism. However, the meeting is not just for Placer County stakeholders - attendees from surrounding Sierra Nevada communities are invited and expected, harnessing the potential for collaborative projects that span communities and counties. For more information, contact Karen Killebrew at PlacerArts at karen@placerarts.org or 530.885.5670, or click here.

Visalia Reception & Sequoia Adventures Expo
The Visalia CVB will be hosting its first annual Reception on April 30, in conjunction with the Sequoia Adventures Expo. The Reception will feature presentations by local and state partners on tourism promotion and opportunities, and planning for the future. The Expo features local Central Valley adventures, demonstrating the region's beauty to consumers. Booth and sponsorships are still available. Contact Erin Capuchino at 559.334.0141 or erin@visitvisalia.org. Click here to learn more about the Expo.

Green Main Streets
This Webinar on Thursday, May 7, from the National Trust for Historic Preservation will discuss practical steps you can take now to go green. Everyone is talking “green,” and the efficient design/density of downtowns can make Main Street the core of any sustainable community initiative. At the same time, our districts must retrofit buildings and rethink how we do business. However, confusing terminology and competing technologies for green design make it hard to know where to begin. Let these leaders in the field of design and sustainability show you how it’s done. Cost is $25; click here to register.

Shasta Cascade Regional Tourism Summit
The annual Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association's Tourism Summit will take place May 12 at Win River Casino.  Topics will include branding, expanding cultural and heritage tourism, top travel trends, building partnerships and more. The keynote speaker will be Berkeley Young, an expert on tourism, focusing on research and strategic planning. For more information, contact Karen Whitaker at 530.365.7500 or karen@shastacascade.org. Click here to learn more about Young.