GAINESVILLE, Fla. –Elaine McLaughlin, Strategic Operations Director for the Tourism Crisis Management Institute at the University of Florida recently led a workshop program for attendees at the annual Upper Midwest Convention and Visitors Bureau Conference held in St. Cloud Minnesota, September 21-23.

Attendees were Convention and Visitor Bureau professionals from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota South Dakota and Wisconsin. McLaughlin presented the crisis management model adapted by TCMI and aimed at helping all sectors within the tourism industry to better prepare for a crisis event.  She described the on-line tourism crisis management program that is now being developed for certifying professionals.

The Destination Management certification will be available in February while a certification targeted at the Lodging and Attractions sectors will be ready in the summer of 2009.

For more information about the Tourism Management Institute, please visit the website www.tourismcrisis.com.  Or contact: Lori Pennington-Gray, penngray@hhp.ufl.edu, 352-392-4042, ext. 1318 or Elaine McLaughlin, emclaughlin@hhp.ufl.edu, 239-292-0218.

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