On April 30th, 2026, we will commemorate 60 years of regional tourism promotion and growth.
Please be our guest for dinner and a toast in honor of you—our valued partners—whose support and collaboration have made this milestone possible.
April 30th, 2026 | Smokey’s on the Gorge
Adventures on the Gorge, 219 Chestnutburg Road, WV 25862
Networking 5 PM – 6 PM | Dinner and Speakers 6 PM – 8 PM
Business to Cocktail attire
Comfort is encouraged.
We will host leaders in tourism, past and present, as our special guest speakers.
RSVP by April 17th, 2026
This is a complimentary event. We kindly ask that guests who RSVP make every effort to attend, as meals will be reserved and paid for based on your response.
Questions? Jessica@VisitWV.com | 304-252-2244
About Our Speakers
Scott Durham
Scott Durham is a lifelong advocate for West Virginia’s wild spaces. Durham has worked for West Virginia’s State Parks for over 50 years. During that tenure, he served as the superintendent of Twin Falls Resort State Park, helped implement the online booking system for WV State Parks, helped develop an oral history program, and created the Ranger First Program. This initiative boosted visitor safety and protected natural resources. Durham also serves on the board of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. He has been involved with Visit Southern West Virginia since the 1970s.
Chelsea Ruby
Chelsea Ruby serves as the Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism under Governor Patrick Morrisey, leading the promotion of the state’s Almost Heaven brand, advancing tourism development, and showcasing West Virginia’s vibrant culture and rich history to national and international audiences.
Under Ruby’s leadership, West Virginia’s tourism industry has reached historic milestones. In 2024, the state surpassed $9 billion in annual tourism economic impact for the first time, welcomed more than 77 million visitors, and set a new record for traveler spending.
The Department has earned national recognition for its marketing efforts, including a Gold Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), the largest and most prestigious travel marketing competition worldwide, for its Screen Free Summer campaign.
A founding member of Ascend WV, the state’s remote worker program, Ruby has also been instrumental in attracting more than 900 new residents to West Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and lives in Charleston, West Virginia, with her husband Steve, and their three children, Robert, Caroline and Thomas.
A Look Back on 60 Years of West Virginia Hospitality
