亚利桑那州立大学国际旅游学院讲师约翰·希瑟主持了会议。希瑟同时在海南大学亚利桑那州立大学国际旅游学院项目中任职。在致辞和与嘉宾的互动中，希瑟提到在自贸港建设的大背景下，海南旅游业以及整体经济活力、营商环境等方面发生的一系列新变化，美国中西部地区企业应及时了解海南自贸港的新发展势头，尽快抓住海南优惠政策为企业带来的新机遇，双方合作共赢。希瑟表示，亚利桑那州立大学愿担当加强双方联系、促进双边经贸交流的纽带，推动美中西部地区的优势产品如农产品等通过自贸港进一步开拓中国市场；同时，海南在旅游方面资源丰富、各类配套设施和环境在迅速改善，为更多国际人士在海南定居创造了良好条件，希望能吸引美方更多人才前往自贸港工作生活。
John Heather, lecturer of Tourism Development and Management for Arizona State University at the Hainan University Arizona State University International Tourism College moderated the event, mentioning a series of new changes in tourism, economic vitality, business environment, etc. Companies from the heartland region should keep up with the new development momentum of Hainan FTP, and seize the opportunities brought by favorable policies in Hainan. The Arizona State University would be the bridge for bilateral communication, economic and trade relations between the heartland region and Hainan, Hainan is a tropical island rich in tourism resources, and the infrastructure and supporting facilities in Hainan are rapidly improved day by day, which creates good conditions for international talents to settle in Hainan. Hopefully more talents from the U.S. will be attracted to work and live in Hainan FTP.