# Event Details - **Event Name**: Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 08:00 pm - **Event Description**: Please join us for a community-based tourism workshop in Macon* from 6 - 8pm on Thursday, May 7! We'll introduce "destination stewardship", develop a shared vision, and discuss ideas for how tourism can support our local economy and historic, natural, and community resources that make this a great place to live and visit. We are partnering with Visit Macon County and the Macon Area Chamber of Commerce to offer this opportunity for Macon County and the surrounding area. Samantha Hogenson Bray from the Recess Inn will facilitate the workshop, and we'll approach the conversation with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. This workshop is for everyone - government, businesses, nonprofits, community groups, artists, craftspeople, farmers, interested residents, etc. This is not only for Macon residents – we hope to see friends from all communities of Macon County. The workshop will take place in the Blees Room of Lakeview Towers (1402 S. Missouri Street, Macon, north entrance - it's the building that also houses the Historical Society Museum). We will be providing light refreshments and drinks. While an RSVP is not required, please do let us know if you plan to come to help us better plan. Reach us by email at info@visitmaconcountymo.com or call (660) 385-2811. We’re happy to answer any questions you have. If your question is “Should I come? Or “Am I the right person to come?” the answer is yes! We hope to see you there! *There will be a workshop in Marceline for Linn County and the surrounding area on Wednesday, May 6! --------------------------------------------------------- About the Facilitator: Meet Samantha. She grew up in Ethel, where she was an active member of the Ethel Ridge Runners 4-H Club, attended what’s now the Ethel Community Church, and spent her summers swimming at Ethel Lake. Samantha’s ties to Recess Inn run deep—her grandparents, father, and even great-grandparents went to school in the building, and her grandparents worked there. As a middle schooler, she even made a clay model of the inn, which now sits proudly in the kitchen, reminding her of her lifelong dream to be its steward. She graduated from Macon County R-IV in 2007. Her career in tourism has been meaningful, connecting back to her love for small communities and sustainable travel. Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree at Missouri State University studying entertainment management and geotourism, followed by a Master’s in Tourism Administration with a focus on sustainable destination management from The George Washington University. She’s a true trailblazer in destination stewardship, having led projects in places from rural Michigan to the Caribbean and even Ethiopia, where she worked on cultural-heritage tourism. As the former managing director of the nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Samantha has helped guide global tourism projects, consulting on topics from climate action to community-based tourism. Now, she’s pursuing a PhD in Geography at the University of Waterloo, where she’s focusing on destination stewardship - caring for communities where tourism occurs through collaboration and partnerships. Samantha’s work emphasizes sustainable destination management, impact tourism, placemaking, and sustainable economic, environmental, and social solutions for destinations and businesses alike. Samantha lives in Parkville, Missouri, with her husband, Michael, and their son, Jordan, and they make it back to Ethel every chance they get! - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/macon/macon-county-community-based-tourism-workshop/200029895805941 - **Event Categories**: workshops - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 26 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Macon - **state**: MO - **country**: United States - **location**: 1402 S Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552-4452, United States - **lat**: 39.72011 - **long**: -92.46655 - **full address**: 1402 S Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552-4452, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/b6be55a5d1114d269827951cc904fb541fd1361ab0f46c71b301e4e528bee3dd-rimg-w1200-h1553-dcffffff-gmir?v=1775953934 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop being held? - **A:** Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop takes place on Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 08:00 pm at 1402 S Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552-4452, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop? - **A:** Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop is organized by Recess Inn B&B. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Macon, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Macon County Community-Based Tourism Workshop", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/b6be55a5d1114d269827951cc904fb541fd1361ab0f46c71b301e4e528bee3dd-rimg-w1200-h1553-dcffffff-gmir?v=1775953934", "startDate": "2026-05-07", "endDate": "2026-05-07", "url": "https://allevents.in/macon/macon-county-community-based-tourism-workshop/200029895805941", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "1402 S Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552-4452, United States", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1402 S Missouri St, Macon, MO 63552-4452, United States", "addressLocality": "Macon", "addressRegion": "MO", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "39.72011", "longitude": "-92.46655" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Please join us for a community-based tourism workshop in Macon* from 6 - 8pm on Thursday, May 7! 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