On this edition of DMOU, we settle in with John Sage of Sage Inclusion. We met John at the Destinations International Annual Convention and were fascinated by his take on what destinations and DMOs get right (and wrong) about travelers with disabilities, a market cohort that is only growing with an aging population. In our conversation, John demystifies ways that DMOs can play a pivotal role in making their destinations more accessible. Join us.

On this edition of DMOU, travel with us to Shipshewana, Indiana…where roughly half the population (and a big part of the destination’s allure) aren’t online. Sonya Nash shares insights into her community’s Amish Culture and how her DMO has developed a home-grown, customized customer service program that meets the unique needs of her community, from hospitality to pharmacies, that graduated their first class earlier this year. Plus, a Bonus Round Question that shines a light on Sonya’s record-breaking turn at a McDonald’s Drive-thru. Join us.

This year’s NFL Draft was a stone cold win. The biggest first day crowd in history. The biggest global television audience ever. And, it placed Detroit on the world stage for three sensational days. Ummm, Detroit? On this episode of DMOU, we meet Claude Molinari, who describes the philosophy behind recasting the Motor City’s narrative and the tactics Visit Detroit is employing to set Detroit up as the new American renaissance city. And, in the Bonus Round, one of the more interesting side hustles we’ve heard. Join us.

Destinations International has long held that boycotting States over legislation that runs counter to an Association’s values has the unintended consequence of hurting the very people we purport to support. And, Tampa Bay’s selection as this year’s Annual Conference site certainly raised some eyebrows in some quarters. DI has countered by saying this year’s event will serve as a Case Study in showing how destinations can support communities that would otherwise be negatively impacted by a boycott. On this episode of DMOU, Visit Tampa Bay’s Santiago Corrada joins us to share how his DMO has been connecting convention attendees with unconventional experiences, the kind attendees will be glad they didn’t boycott. Join us.

One would be hard pressed to identify a destination with more assets in the pipeline than the Greater Raleigh Region. $400 million Convention Center expansion, $75 million HQ Hotel, $300 million in Arena Upgrades, $75 million Sports Complex…and more. Visit Raleigh’s Denny Edwards joins us to tell the stories behind how so many projects came to fruition. From Conventions to Sports to Major Events…you’ll hear it all.

For some destinations Esports is a mystical new market that they’re just not sure how to address. For others, they may believe the early adopters have already sown up the opportunities. On this episode of DMOU, Esports expert Ed Tomasi de-mystifies this exciting new market and shares how virtually every community can assess where in the sport’s ecosystem they reside and whether they can thrive. Ed offers the stages that every community must traverse to effectively compete…and a great Bonus Round story about his days as a College Cheerleader. Join us.

The philosophies that underpinned the art and science of the Destination Marketing world changed 15 years ago this Summer. That’s when Maura Gast first uttered those now famous words, “If you Build a Place…” On this edition of DMOU, Maura shares the backstory of how her “Building Blocks” came to be and how the entire community development sector is coming around to recognize that “it all starts with the visit.” Plus, she shares her thoughts on additional ways to explain the value of DMOs and her take on highlights from the Board Leadership for Destinations Symposium.

One of the newest marketing opportunities out there is NIL (Name / Image / Likeness)…and we touched on it briefly in Episode 122 with Experience Columbia SC’s Kelly Barbrey. On this edition of DMOU, we sit down with Destination Ann Arbor CEO Sarah Miller to hear how they have entered this arena and what they believe the future holds for them and other DMOs in this space. We also discuss her experience as a relatively new CEO...and talk about our shared experiences at the A&W. Join us.

Sister Cities. Many communities maintain such relations but how many maximize the opportunity before them? On this episode of DMOU, Mary Kay Wydra (Explore Western Mass) and Carline Boland (Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance) share their sensational experience of developing a bi-continental relationship that drives culture, heritage and significant visitation between the two destinations.

On this very special edition of DMOU, Destinations International’s Chief Social Inclusion Officer Sophia Hyder Hock shares the evolutionary shift from EDI to a more inclusive platform in which DMOs can move beyond silos to develop truly welcoming initiatives. We talk about how this concept came to fruition and how DMOs can successfully utilize new resources through the Social Inclusion portal of the DI site. And, you’ll hear how Sophia’s parents elegantly reacted when, as a child, she asked for a baby elephant.

Community engagement has never been more important than it is today for Destination Marketing Organizations. And, after a public debate that called into question the importance of Explore Fairbanks to its community, the DMO has a stepped up its outreach. CEO Scott McCrea joins DMOU to discuss his DMO’s recent foray into local radio, their work in welcoming service men and women to town each week and flipping their membership program to partnership. Plus a Bonus Round Question that involves outhouses. Join us.

You’d have to have been living under a rock to not have seen the international media attention VisitLEX has received after sending an interstellar message of welcome to the TRAPPIST-1 solar system. On this episode of DMOU, we hang with VP of Marketing Leslie Miller to get the inside story on how the initiative came together and how it plays into the broader campaign to build brand awareness for Lexington.

On this Edition of DMOU, we check in with Adam Stoker, author of Touchpoints and progenitor of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network to get under the hood of a new free online town square for Destination Leaders. It’s called TourismIQ…and Adam walks us through its genesis, its current build out and what users can expect in the near future. Join Us.

There's a reason why Chamber-DMO combos aren't as prevalent as they were in the '80s and '90s...and that's because they generally don't work all that well. But, the ones that do, tend to rock their communities. Cheryl Kilday is the CEO of Destination North Myrtle Beach and, on this episode of DMOU, she shares how she has cherrypicked the best aspects of both models to create a community asset that drives the economy and the region's Quality of Life. And, how 55 community leaders landed 138 new members in a three hour span.

After over 45 years in the Tourism trenches, Randy Fiveash retired last year for the second time after a sensational career in the Destination Marketing world. From his local DMO work in places like Branson, Myrtle Beach and Gatlinburg to leading State Tourism Agencies in Kentucky and Connecticut, he’s seen it all…and, on this episode of DMOU, we learn his life lessons that still resonate today. From paying it forward to sharing his thoughts on what we once knew about Destination Marketing that we’ve somehow lost…it’s a fascinating conversation with an industry icon. Join us.

As we kick off a new year of conversations on DMOU, we start you off with a bang. Visit Lauderdale’s Stacy Ritter is a force of nature…and has been an unapologetic voice against some of the policies coming from the current State’s political leadership that have caused some conventions and events to cancel bookings in her destination. We talk about how the culture of the community and the DMO simply require no less of a response, as well as discussing her DMO’s work in the DEI space before there was such an acronym. And, on her Bonus Round Question, she shares her experiences as the Florida Chair of the first Obama for President Campaign. Invest a half hour in this fascinating conversation.

The Iowa City/Coralville metro population is roughly 175,000...and yet they host global events on an annual basis. In our last episode of 2023, we welcome our friend Josh Schamberger, CEO of Think Iowa City, to share his thoughts on the evolving role of Destination Marketing & Leadership Organizations and why the size of a destination means very little when you execute like no place else. It's a fascinating conversation with one of the thought leaders in our sector that proves second and third tier destinations can play at a first tier level.

Over the past 5 years, observers of Puerto Rico Tourism’s comeback from hurricanes, earthquakes, Zika, the Pandemic and political turmoil have marveled at the brilliant efforts of Discover Puerto Rico in guiding that renaissance. CMO Leah Chandler shares the remarkable story of a start-up DMO that took its time to understand its existing brand awareness, and then strategically built out a series of initiatives and promotions that have resulted in five years of record growth to the island. Treat yourself to a masterclass in how to execute a magnificent destination marketing plan.

Josiah Brown (Famous Destination Marketing) is one of this sector's newest thought leaders. We had the opportunity to work with Josiah on a destination assessment project in 2018 and were instantly taken by his "outsider" grasp of the intricacies of Destination Marketing. In this episode, we go deep on his take on what DMO pros get wrong when explaining the power of what we do...as well as his thoughts on the muddled state of branding, taglines and campaigns. And, a pretty hilarious story about his first job in the world of septic fields. Trust us...this is one of the hot new voices in our sector. Enjoy.

After a brief travel-induced hiatus, DMOU is back with a wide-ranging conversation with New York City Tourism + Conventions' Fred Dixon. As Chair of Destinations International, Fred has laid out an ambitious agenda for his year including DEI and Accessibility, Global growth, Member sustainability and a renewed emphasis on meetings and business events. We discuss these topics and more...including a fascinating (and fun) story of how his DMO partnered with Taylor Swift. Join us...and it's good to be back.

It was 2011 when several DMO pros in Illinois began discussing the potential to introduce State legislation to add Tourism Improvement Districts into their funding mix. Earlier this year, that legislation finally passed and was signed into law. Rockford Area CVB CEO John Groh and Visit Quad Cities CEO Dave Herrell return to DMOU to share the up and down story of persistence, negotiation and being ready when the political winds were right. Even if your State already has TID legislation in place, this episode is a fascinating primer on moving an initiative through the political process.

If there is a short list of thought leaders in the DMO world, Rick Antonson is always on that list. He was our first guest 20 years ago on the DMOU Teleseminar and our first guest on the the resurrected DMOU Podcast (and that says a lot). On this episode, he’s back to talk Destination Marketing…but also to share thoughts about his latest book, Train Beyond the Mountains: Journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer. Rick and I go deep into the meaning behind travel, the connections made and the life lessons learned. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that I believe you’ll love with one of the most eloquently expressive voices of our era.

As Destination International’s Advocacy Summit is just around the corner, there’s no better time to talk with Visit Rapid City’s Brook Kaufman who, when she was with Visit Casper, ran and won a seat on her County Board. On this episode, you’ll hear why Brook thinks that more DMO pros should run for office…as well as her experiences during the last Total Eclipse of the Sun and how, as the first non-resident to helm Visit Rapid City in 40 years, she built a culture of trust with both stakeholders and staff. And, oh yeah…how she developed 40,000 Social Media followers during her quest for her first Marathon. Join us.

On this episode of DMOU, we hang with Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers and talk about how the Badger State captured the culinary world’s attention with the most recent season of Top Chef. Anne explains how Wisconsin Tourism made it happen through amazing collaborations and shares how they are extending the reach of the series and major events like the Republican National Convention and next year’s NFL Draft far beyond the events themselves. Plus, a Bonus Round question that involves Muppets. Join us.

PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat is one of the deepest thinkers in the business events space. And, not unlike those old EF Hutton commercials, when Sherrif talks, I listen. So, when he said that DMOs were falling behind his members in the adoption of AI at Destinations International’s Annual Conference this summer, that was more than enough to earn an invitation to DMOU. Join us for a fascinating discussion of how he believes AI can reduce the mundane and better connect us to our clients…and where Sherrif believes the future of DMOs lies.

Experience Columbia SC's Kelly Barbrey joins DMOU to share how her DMO has reimagined the traditional Ambassador program into a sensationally high-profile strategy that utilizes select residents as subject experts to share the destination's stories. She also outlines the success of the Pimento Cheese Passport campaign and her organization's initial foray into NIL Sponsorship of Collegiate Athletes.

When the moderator went to the audience this year at the Annual Convention of Destinations International asking, "what keeps you up at night," Lviv's Olena Pavlyuk held out her mobile device and replayed a recording of an air raid siren. In this fascinating episode of DMOU, Olena shares how war has changed her community into one of volunteers, how Lviv has become a hub for medical tourism through UNBROKEN...and how the DMO secured and serviced over 600 events last year, despite the constant threat of missiles and power black-outs. It's a spirited conversation of inspiration, selflessness and the power of the human spirit. Listen in.

Almost half of American States have legalized the recreational use of cannabis...but many DMOs in those States struggle with ways to promote the advantage they possess against States that don't. In this episode of DMOU, we talk with Brian Applegarth, the foremost expert in the intersection of cannabis and tourism, about how to escape the stigma...and focus on the health, wellness and inclusionary aspects of this amazing community asset. A fascinating episode.

Each year at the Annual Convention of Destinations International, we roam the halls asking a single question. This year, that question was how DMOs were beginning to utilize Artificial Intelligence (or AI). In this episode, you'll hear from a handful of DMO pros on how they are using AI to jump start ideation and save time in the composition of written communiques. And, as you'll hear, this is just the beginning for our sector.

This week, we welcome back Adam Stoker (the Podcast Whisperer) for a thought provoking conversation on how DMOs should view their role in promoting their communities. According to Adam, for years, we have been "renting" visibility in traditional media, online, etc. Shouldn't we be owning it? And, to use another analogy (hunter / farmer), should we be targeting consumers or cultivating them? A fascinating conversation that deserves your listen.

When the Houston CVB was folded into the Houston First Corporation, many saw the move as wrong-headed. But CVB CEO George Franz joins us to share the advantages that were realized in being closer linked to destination assets like the Convention Center and other visitor magnets. And now, the CVB has created the Houston Hospitality Alliance to marshal the power of over 800 members to advocate for the destination. Cool stuff.

When Robert Lopez took the helm of the Abilene CVB, he embarked upon a "Meeting and Eating" tour of community leaders. And, it became clear through those conversations that the destination brand had become stale. Listen in to this conversation on how Robert and his team dove into a brand "refresh" within his first year in-destination. It's a great story of how fresh leadership can often move the needle before the opposition can begin to form.

For many DMOs, Stewardship and Sustainability are the furthest thing from their minds as they refocus on a target rich environment. But we continue to focus on this fascinating evolution from DMO to DSO because we believe it to be the future. And this week’s guest on DMOU is leading her community back from fires, pandemic and floods through an unabashed Stewardship approach. Sonoma County Tourism’s Claudia Vecchio joins us to talk about her approach to stewardship, their recent turn at SXSW and how engaging residents is key to everything they do.

The latest edition of America's Top Cities is out today and DMOU had the opportunity to talk with Resonance's Chris Fair on how the rankings are determined and why they matter. It's no surprise that big cities dominate the top 50 because they have more assets than smaller cities. But, there are some surprising cities in the bottom 50 that point the way to how DMOs can elevate community brand and magnetism to increase awareness and interest. Chris breaks it all down in this exclusive interview on how the rankings have evolved post-COVID. Cool stuff.

When it comes to Short Term Rentals, trying to put the genie back into the bottle has proven elusive for most governments. Initially defended as a property rights play, elected leaders are now grappling with its unintended impact on affordable housing. On this edition of DMOU, we welcome 1000 Island International Tourism Council CEO Corey Fram with a fascinating story of how, after several twists and turns, the New York State Legislature actually passed a bill this session that brings STRs outside of New York City into the Tourism and Community Development eco-system. And, it all came down to framing the issue as not a Tourism or Fairness issue…but as one that cities, towns and villages actually cared about. Plus a Bonus Round question that has me remembering the best moments of “Slap Shot.” Join us.

For DMOs that produce destination events, it often consumes months of staff time. Yet, Visit Estes Park turned a festival that a neighboring community was preparing to sunset into an event that garnered national media attention in just 100 days. CEO Kara Franker guests to tell the unique story of the revitalized "Frozen Dead Guy Days," an event that not only bolstered a need time on the calendar but also raised money for workforce housing and daycare initiatives. It's a stirring story of community collaboration you're not going to want to miss.

Just as Destination Marketing (and Leadership) Organizations are evolving, so too is the philosophy of Visitor Information Centers. On this episode of DMOU, we catch up with Chris Lewis, Director of Destination Development with Tourism Kelowna. In this fascinating conversation, you'll hear how Tourism Kelowna reimagined the Visitor Center concept into a "community hub," how they almost lost their "Social License" (but quickly regained it)...as well as one of the more interesting "first job" stories in over 100 episodes of the Bonus Round. Join us.

How does a very Blue City land a very Red Convention? Visit Milwaukee’s Peggy Williams-Smith joins DMOU to share the story of how her Team and City landed the 2024 Republican National Convention. We’ll also discuss how Milwaukee was named one of National Geographic’s Top Destinations and how Visit Milwaukee has expanded the organization’s community awareness, visibility and support. Plus a Bonus Round question on her deep Beer City roots.

The vast majority of Destination Marketing Organizations in the United States are independent non-profit agencies...but that doesn't mean other structures can't work. In this edition of DMOU, we talk with Discover Flagstaff Director Trace Ward on how his office is rockin' it as both a division of Economic Vitality and the City. And (not to be a spoiler), he says it's all about intentional design and intra-agency respect. 

It's not a part of the primordial DNA of DMOs, but Community Engagement is an increasingly vital component of our work. Visit Anchorage's Jack Bonney joins the show and shares his philosophies on how to build a rock solid community relations program that is based in the yin and yang of what your DMO can do...and can't. And, from that, building a relationship based on trust, service and admiration can be a beautiful thing.

A Destination Marketing consultant recently opined that diving into Sustainability and Stewardship carries with it some danger...and we don't disagree. But Durango's Rachel Brown counters with all the reasons her DMO believes they must engage. She discusses how they've adapted the Care for Colorado program on a local level and shifted their budget to Destination Management. Plus a Bonus Round question that features her staff's Team Building initiative. Very cool stuff.

BVK's Victoria Simmons joins DMOU to share some of the insights from their recent 2023 Trends Report. You'll hear findings that appear to mirror Roy Williams' 40-year Pendulum Theory and how Gen Z will be shaping how travel is delivered for, not just their generation but, all of us. Plus a fun Bonus Round rant on pet peeves in travel. Join us.

In December of last year, vandals compromised the power grid in Moore County NC, placing hundreds of merchants at a disadvantage during their biggest sales window of the year. In this episode of DMOU, we hang with our friend Phil Werz of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen CVB to hear him tell the story of "Moore Miracles," a program that kept local merchants alive during a trying time. You'll also hear about how his DMO is advocating for additional destinational assets...and his mid-life crisis as a PGA Teaching Pro.

Tracy Kimberlin is an innovator. His concept to increase funding for Missouri Tourism was as elegant as it was efficient. On this episode of DMOU, we riff with the recently retired CEO of the Springfield MO CVB on generating new revenues for Destination Marketing and orchestrating the chess board to fund exciting new destination assets. 

As the Neil Diamond lyric goes, "it's a time to groove." But communities are just starting to get serious about supporting their night time economies. Bryan Tony is the Project Coordinator for 24-Hour Dallas, an organization that is dedicated to representing and enhancing the business and culture of the night. In this fascinating conversation, we discuss how his organization is working with local officials to dispel negative beliefs about the night, provide educational support to area businesses to enhance safety and inclusion and develop programs to highlight businesses that adopt best practices (all critical aspects to creating a magnetic experience for visitors).       

Each year on DMOU, we invite the new Chair of Destinations International to share their agenda for the upcoming year. On this episode, Visit Greater Palm Springs’ Scott White shares his goal of providing a higher level of engagement and mentorship to the generations entering the DMO sector…and talks about how his DMO is engaging members of his community to become part of the hospitality community with a pathway to senior management. And then, there is a Bonus Round Question that explores a fascinating love story. Join us.

To kick off the 2023 season of DMOU, we turn to Vail Ross, STR’s Senior VP of Sales & Marketing. And, in this episode she shares her insight into what matters most for hoteliers now as we emerge from the ravages of the pandemic. It’s a fascinating look into one of a DMO’s most important client bases that you won’t want to miss…plus how Vail went from wanting to be a political operative to one of the most quoted hospitality experts on the planet. Join us. 

In Maine, all hotel Room Tax revenue (the most common source of public funding for DMOs across the U.S.) is retained by the State. Visit Portland's Lynn Tillotson shares how her DMO has built its programming based completely on private sector investment...and what that meant during COVID. It's a fascinating look at how a business community has come together to power the work of its DMO.

As is our practice at DMOU, we roam the halls at Destinations International events asking attendees a single question. At this year's Advocacy Summit, we asked DMO pros what their "go-to" response was when challenged that Tourism and Destination Marketing aren't critically important to a region's economy and Quality of Life. We offer their responses here to assist you in crafting your next come back.

I heard a line at Destinations International’s Annual Convention this past summer that I think about almost everyday: “Nothing About Us, Without Us.” It refers to how many Indigenous people in Canada are interfacing with their country’s DMOs. And, on this 100th episode of DMOU, we sit down with Ottawa Tourism VP of Destination Development Catherine Callary to learn more about how Canada is working to tell the indigenous story through the eyes and experiences of the people and how Ottawa Tourism has helped develop a program for indigenous tourism entrepreneurship.