Keynote address speaker, Chandler Vaughan, consultant for the Virginia Rural Center, gave a speech titled "Tourism, Community Development, and Rural Prosperity" towards the close of today's festivities.

Alleghany Highlands Tourism Summit Held at Masonic Theatre By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Clifton Forge, VA (Oct. 6, 2026)— The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism hosted an impactful event at the Historic Masonic Theatre, located at 510 Main Street in Clifton Forge. The first-ever event of its kind, dubbed as the "Alleghany Highlands Tourism Summit," aimed to discuss strategies and initiatives to advance Alleghany County as a tourist destination. It was held on Tuesday, October 6, and ran from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring a variety of speakers and engaging panel discussions. It commenced at around 9:10 a.m. with opening remarks and the State of Tourism speech delivered by Josh Taylor, Executive Director for the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Taylor's speech and slideshow provided an overview of the current tourism landscape and future goals for the region. Following Taylor's speech was Dan Roberts, Vice President of Research and Strategy for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Roberts shared his insights on tourism trends with a speech and well-thought-out slideshow, which showcased a number of ideas on how to advance tourism for the Alleghany Highlands. As for the keynote address delivered before the close of today's event, Kristie Proctor was on the docket to deliver it. However, it was disclosed during the event that Proctor had come down with the flu. Therefore, Chandler Vaughan, Consultant for the Virginia Rural Center, stepped in to pinch-hit. The Tourism Summit also featured two significant and thought-provoking discussions, both of which were moderated by Katie Conner, Director of Destination Development for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. The first panel, titled "Turning Insight into Action: Bringing the Tourism Action Plan to Life," featured four local panelists. They were: Allen Dressler, Covington City Manager; Jon Fitzgerald, owner of the Evergreen Inn and past president on the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (AHCCT) board; Maria Saxton, Director of Planning & Community Development for the town of Clifton Forge; and Chad Williams, Director of Parks & Recreation for Alleghany County. The second panel discussion was titled "Great Things Don't Happen by Accident," and also featured four panelists: Pete Eshelman, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Strategy for the Roanoke Regional Partnership; Teresa Hammond, former AHCCT Executive Director and current board president for the Historic Masonic Theatre; David Mikula, President of Mikula Harris; and Scott Tate, Deputy Director for Community Innovation, VT Center for Economic & Community Engagement. The Tourism Summit also included opportunities for networking and community engagement. Attendees enjoyed a networking breakfast provided by the Kanawha Cafe & Old Dog Coffees, as well as a networking lunch, courtesy of The Friendly Fork in Covington which was sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. These events facilitated meaningful conversations and connections among local leaders, business owners, and tourism professionals. The primary goal of the Alleghany Highlands Tourism Summit was to encourage discussions centered on advancing Alleghany County and attracting more tourists to the area. Through insightful speeches, collaborative panel discussions, and community interactions, the Tourism Summit laid the groundwork for future tourism growth and development in the region. Dan Roberts, Vice President of Research and Strategy for the Virginia Tourism Corporation, gave a slideshow presentation titled, "State of the Market: Virginia, Alleghany Highlands, and what visitors are looking for." (L to R) Pete Eshelman, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Strategy for Roanoke Regional Partnership; Teresa Hammond, Former AHCCT Executive Director and Current Board President for the Historic Masonic Theatre; David Mikula, President of Mikula Harris; and Scott Tate, Ph.D, Deputy Director for Community Innovation, VT Center for Economic & Community Engagement. Jon Fitzgerald (right), owner of the Evergreen Inn and Past President for the AHCCT Board and Chad Williams, Director of Parks & Recreation for Alleghany County, were both panelists for the first panel discussion titled, "Turning Insight into Action: Bringing Tourism Action Plan to Life."

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