Beyond the Bid: Building a Destination That Can Win

Winning major events isn't just about writing the strongest proposal. It's about building the relationships, partnerships, and organizational alignment that make a destination ready long before an opportunity appears.
In this Take Off Talk, Kevin Hinton sits down with Larry Needle to explore what happens behind the scenes before a destination ever submits a bid. Drawing on decades of experience—and Philadelphia's unprecedented lineup of major events—Larry will discuss how destinations bring together venues, sports organizations, universities, civic leaders, elected officials, and industry partners around a shared vision.
Attendees will gain practical insights into stakeholder alignment, long-term relationship building, strategic decision-making, and collaborative leadership that apply far beyond sports tourism.