Dan Dipiazzo

Opening Keynote: Thursday, June 1 | 4 p.m.

"Quit Marketing and Start Creating Experiences"

People hate marketing – so much so that millions of them even pay to block and avoid the very messages that marketers are targeting to them. The solution is to quit creating ads and give people what they crave: experiences. Learn the inside secrets of leaders in the experience economy and discover how you can create brand experiences that grab attention, create memories and inspire action. 

Takeaways:

- People are rejecting traditional marketing and forced communications in growing numbers, creating an existential dilemma for marketers. 

- Today’s consumers prioritize experiences over things, and this desire for experiences presents an opportunity for brands to connect with people in meaningful new ways. 

- Experience-based attractions have learned the ways to create powerful connections with their guests and marketers can apply these same techniques to shift from unwanted advertising to creating memorable brand experiences. 

Bio:

Dan Dipiazzo has led marketing for some of the nation’s most popular visitor experiences, including Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove. He currently serves as chief marketing and experience officer for Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the largest aquarium in North America and the No. 1 ticketed attraction in Georgia.

Dipiazzo spent 16 years in leadership positions for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. He was vice president of marketing for the company’s parks in Orlando – SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica – and previously held the same position for Busch Gardens, Water Country USA and Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va. He also was CMO for Feeders Pet Supply, a Top 15 U.S. pet retailer, and senior vice president and partner at global PR agency Fleishman-Hillard.

He earned a master’s of data marketing communication from West Virginia University and now serves as the program’s lead instructor.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandipiazzo/