COURT HOUSE —International tourism expert and renowned author and CEO of Destination Development Inc., Roger A. Brooks, will conduct a two-day seminar for the county’s businesses and organizations hosted by the Cape May County Department of Tourism.

This first-time educational event conducted by Brooks will discuss new, smart and practical solutions for moving beyond feel-good generic marketing to help businesses and non-profits rejuvenate branding, product development and marketing with such topics as the New Age of Tourism, 20 Ingredients of an Outstanding Destination, seven immutable rules of marketing and developing an outstanding downtown.

“The purpose of these seminars is to help attendees learn new ways to make the downtown more profitable, increase visitor spending and turn a higher profit as a business operating in a tourism environment.” said Freeholder M. Susan Sheppard, liaison to the Department of Tourism. “The teachings and experience of Roger Brooks are applicable to every for-profit and non-profit doing business in Cape May County,” she added.

The two-day seminar will take place Tues., Oct. 18 at the Wildwoods Convention Center at 4501 Boardwalk in Wildwood beginning at 8:30 a.m. and Wed., Oct. 19 at the Ocean City Tabernacle at 550 Wesley Ave. in Ocean City, beginning at 8 a.m. The workshops are open to all segments of the tourism industry and registration is required.

Sponsors of this educational event in the Wildwoods and Ocean City include the Cape May County Department of Tourism, Comcast Spotlight, Southern Shore Regional DMO, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.

Brooks and the Destination Development International (DDI) Team have worked with nearly 1,000 communities around the world for almost 30 years. Brook's passion and mission are all about making places better, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

His message is clear and effective through real-life examples, engaging stories, photos and humorous video clips. He is an expert at empowering champions and igniting communities to work together to make a difference.

For more information, or to register for the educational seminars, please contact Virginia Gandy at the Cape May County Department of Tourism at 609-463-6415 or e-mail at tourism@co.cape-may.nj. us.