Contacts: Jackie Reau, Game Day
(513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com 

EL PASO, TEXAS (October 26, 2023) - Sports ETA successfully hosted its annual 4S & Rights Holder Summit this week, gathering over 150 dynamic members for an enriching two-day event focused on sharing the latest trends in sports and events tourism strategies, services, sales, and sponsorships. The bustling event was hosted by Visit El Paso, and supported by a network of sponsors, including Chattanooga Sports, Fort Worth Sports Commission, Florida’s Sports Coast, Traveling Teams, and Visit Myrtle Beach.

John David, President & CEO of Sports ETA, expressed his gratitude to El Paso for playing host to the impactful 4S & Rights Holder Summit, bringing together key players in the sports events and tourism industry. "Our time in this vibrant city has been incredibly productive, with fruitful discussions on best practices, emerging trends, and valuable business prospects," he stated.

With a lineup of more than a dozen educational sessions and networking opportunities, the 4S Summit featured engaging discussions on the resilient journey of the El Paso Chihuahuas and MountainStar Sports, as well as the profound community influence of one family through sports. Participants also delved into effective strategies for cultivating a positive city image while effectively addressing national media misinterpretations.

Sports Tourism Strategists Convene: Cultivating Creative Leadership

One of the highlight courses at the 4S Summit was the "Cultivating Creative Leadership" session, specifically designed for the 40 members actively pursuing their Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) designation or seeking to maintain their existing credentials. Led by renowned expert Kyle Stark from Game On Nation, the STS designation equips professionals with cutting-edge content tailored for the sports events and tourism industry, offering top-tier certification programs.

Celebrating Excellence: Recognizing Outstanding Contributions

In a moment of celebration and recognition, the 4S & Rights Holder Summit highlighted the remarkable achievements of four member organizations in destination branding & marketing and exceptional event marketing campaigns.

The Sports ETA Member Awards program, which annually honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the industry, is powered by Team Travel Source.

The distinguished honorees are as follows:

• Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year – Population under 500,000: Visit Frisco
• Destination Branding & Marketing Campaign of the Year – Population 500,000 and above: Catch Des Moines
• Event Marketing Campaign of the Year – Population under 500,000: Erie Sports Commission
• Event Marketing Campaign of the Year – Population 500,000 and above: Tulsa Sports Commission

###

About Sports ETA:

As the only trade association for the sports events and tourism industry, Sports ETA is the most trusted resource for sports commissions, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and sports event owners. Sports ETA is committed to the success of more than 650 member organizations and 2,400 sports event professionals. We promise to deliver quality education, ample networking opportunities, and exceptional event management and marketing know-how to our members to protect the integrity of the sports events and tourism industry.  For more information, visit SportsETA.org.