Upcoming Appearances:

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• ConnectUp Minnesota - Mini Cannabis Business Summit // St. Paul, MN // September 25, 2025How to Prepare Now for a Strong Cannabis Brand in MinnesotaA powerful brand doesn’t just happen—it’s built with intention. In this hands-on workshop, branding strategist Laura Hand of Laura Loo Experience Design will walk you through the roadmap for creating a memorable cannabis brand in Minnesota’s emerging market.
  
  
• World Tourism Day // World Cannabis Tourism Day // Virtual Live Stream on 09/27/2025
  Cannabis Tourism in the Midwest, Presented by Laura Hand, Board Member for Cannabis Travel Association International (Still Time to register)
  September 27th is known as World Tourism Day, and this year the CCTA: Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance (CCTA) and the Cannabis & Hemp Global Travel Network (CHGTN) will shine a spotlight on cannabis and hemp tourism by holding an online summit — a live, virtual gathering of leaders, innovators, and cannabis and hemp tourism advocates from across the globe.
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• ‍8th Annual Cannabis LAB Conference - The Globalization of Cannabis // Hollywood, FL // October 2-3, 2025
  ‍TOURISM, CULTURE & MEDIA: High Season: The Rise of Cannabis Tourism & Hospitality
  ‍From hotels in Thailand to farm stays in Colombia and consumption lounges in the U.S., cannabis tourism is becoming a serious business. Explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to create compliant, meaningful experiences for travelers around the world.

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Publications

• Forbes.com: July 2025
  ‍Inside The New Cannabis Hospitality Economy: The Shift From Gimmick To Global Business
  ‍This Forbes article written by Javier Hasse explores the evolution of cannabis tourism from novelty experiences to intentional, wellness-focused travel. It highlights how industry leaders are designing thoughtful guest journeys that prioritize care, reflection, and community. Featuring insights from Laura Hand, the piece spotlights global destinations like The Beach Samui and Lifted Lodging as examples of the new standard in cannabis hospitality.
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• Fat Nugs Magazine: June 2025  // Cannabis Destinations Edition
  From Curiosity to Connection - Why the Midwest is Ready for a Cannabis Tourism Awakening : This article explores why the Midwest is uniquely positioned for a cannabis tourism awakening, highlighting the region's natural strengths in wellness, hospitality, and intentional living. Drawing from global experiences like The Beach Samui in Thailand, it outlines how Midwest operators can design thoughtful, sensory-rich guest journeys that shift cannabis from a product to a powerful part of transformation.
  
  

• Voyage Minnesota: May 2025
  Exploring Life & Business with Laura Hand of Laura Loo Experience Design : This interview offers a personal look into Laura Hand’s journey from corporate leadership to founding Laura Loo Experience Design, shaped by deep loss, healing, and a calling to help others create meaningful, transformative brand experiences. It shares how Laura blends strategy, storytelling, and sensory design to support wellness brands, cannabis tourism, and purpose-driven businesses that want to connect more deeply with the people they serve.

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Past Speaking Engagements‍

• Lucky Leaf Minneapolis: March 2025  // Minneapolis Convention Center
  How To Prepare Now For A Strong Cannabis Brand in Minnesota: Although license winners are still being decided, the work on your brand and marketing starts now. In this workshop, cannabis marketing and branding experts guide you through the proper timeline for creating a brand, building an audience, and growing your network. This winning formula will help those who wish to enter the cannabis industry plan and budget for what’s needed for effective and meaningful brand development.

• Lucky Leaf Minneapolis // April 2024 // Minneapolis Convention Center
  Title: Embracing the Experience Economy in Cannabis Tourism in Minnesota: Customer experience strategies to blend with culture-rich offerings, catering to modern consumer demands. Learn how knowing your audience, creating special moments and exclusive services can transform your business.
• Lucky Leaf Minneapolis // April 2024
  Title: The Future of Cannabis Tourism in Minnesota - Panel: Embark on a journey through the emerging landscape of Cannabis travel and tourism in Minnesota with our panel of experts, who span the traditional tourism sector and the innovative world of cannabis experiences. Panelists included: Jamie Croyle  - House Of Oilworx, David Yusefzadeh - Plant Jam & Laura Hand - Laura Loo Experience Design. Moderated by Mark R. Waller, CPA  - Morem & Waller, CPAs
• Cannabis Travel World Fair - Cannabis Travel Association Intl: February 2023  // Virtual Conference
  Title: A Story to be Told: Successful marketing gurus share their secrets in making your cannabis destination, resort, experience, and brand thrive.
  Audience: Event Creators, Destinations, Hospitality, Tour Operators, Spas, Wellness Tourism
• Content Marketing World // September, 2022 // Cleveland, OH2 hour Workshop
  Title: “Semantic Search: The Pillar of Modern Storytelling”
  Audience: Expert level content strategists and marketers
• Cannabis Marketing Association Summit
  June 7-10, 2022 //  Denver, CO
  Panel Title: “Dispensary Layouts: Retail Customer Experience Design as a Means of Curating Brand Loyalty”
• G4 Live Conference and Budtender Awards // May 12-13, 2022 // Las Vegas Convention Center
  Panel Titles: “Women in Weed and the Words that Empower Them” & “Memorable Marketing in the Green Rush”
• Illinois Women in Cannabis // 2022 Annual Summit
  Panel Title: “Navigating the Murky Waters of Marketing & Branding in the Cannabis Space”
• Cannabis Travel Association // 2021 Cannabis Travel Summit
  Title: “Experience Curation for the Cannabis-interested Traveler”
  Audience: Event Creators, Destinations, Hospitality, Tour Operators, Spas
• American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Akron, Ohio (in-person)
  Title:  “Cannabis Marketing – Celebrating Creative Constraints”
  Audience: Marketers outside of cannabis wanting to learn more about the community
• Cannabis Marketing Association
  Title: “Customer Experience Design is the Future of Brand Loyalty”
  Audience: Cannabis Marketers
• Summer EMERGE Cannabis Conference
  Title: “Customer Experience Design is the Future of Brand Loyalty”
  Audience: Cannabis-related Companies

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Podcast Interviews‍

• Sister Friends Podcast // May 2025
  Topic: Sister Friends Episode #25 The One About Cannabis
• Great Lakes Bake Club // February 2025
  Topic: Exploring top cannabis-friendly destinations that offer both fun and safety, cannabis tourism in the Midwest
• Minnesota Cannabis College - Live during Lucky Leaf conference // February 2025Topic:  Cannabis marketing, hospitality, and tourism, diving into how our industry is evolving. 
• Bodacious Women in Cannabis with Susan Burns: July 2024 // Podcast
  Topic: Navigating Cannabis Marketing with Laura Hand of Laura Loo Experience Design
• Pro Cannabis Media Interview: January 27, 2023 // YouTube
  Topic: Crafting Experiences in Cannabis Travel and Hospitality 
• The Canna Boss Babes Podcast Interview: December 2022  // Instagram Live
  Topic: Mapping Out Your Customer Success
• Blunt Brunch - Blunt Conversations // September 2022 // Facebook Live
  Webinar Title: “How to Build your Personal Brand” 
• The World With Nate Podcast
  Topic: “Cannabis is Wellness, with Laura Hand”
• Feminized Podcast with Liz Grow
  Topic: “Customer First: What is Customer Experience Design and Where do I Start?”
• Respect My Region
  Topic: “How to Build the Best Customer Experience”
• Smells Like Business
  Topic: “The Future of Cannabis Tourism”
• WeedBudz Radio
  Topic: “Our Ultimate Human Need to Create the Ultimate Customer Experience”
• Fresh Fuel Marketing
  Topic: “How to Make Your Website More Accessible”
• Profit Launch With Kathleen Riessen
  Topic: “Design Your Customer Experience” 
• ‍MMJ RadioTopic: “Cannabis Travel Summit Promo”