Program

2021 Schedule of Events

Take a look at this years schedule. Please note, times are subject to change.

SPEAKER TIME & LOCATION SESSION
Registration
1:00pm to 4:00pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Other
SPEAKER TIME & LOCATION SESSION
ESTO CARES
8:00am to 12:00pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Other
Registration
8:00am to 6:00pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Other
Innovation Hubs
Sponsored by Madden Media Zartico Epsilon
Details

Join us for engaging demonstrations and meaningful conversations with subject-matter experts at the Innovation Hubs. Rotate among four unique 15-minute sessions sponsored by Madden Media, Zartico and Epsilon. Attendees will have time to attend each session as they will be prompted to switch every 15 minutes. Light lunch will be provided.
Justin Laborde
Opening Session
Sponsored by Destination Analysts
Details

As vaccinations continue to rise and the worst impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic recede, many Americans are yearning to re-engage with the marketplace and take vacations once again. But the world after the pandemic is a different place, with a host of new norms, conventions, requirements, expectations, attitudes and values that will shape what future travelers want, need and expect from the destinations they visit. This presentation, based on Kantar Consulting’s very latest U.S. MONITOR data, will focus on those key trends emerging from the virus that will determine travelers’ expectations moving forward, including trends around risk and reassurance, spending, mental health, the pace of life, online living, connections, simplicity and a renewed thirst for adventure. 

 
SPEAKER TIME & LOCATION SESSION
Registration
7:00am to 4:00pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Other
Welcome
8:30am to 9:00am
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
General Session
Welcome
Details

Roger Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Adam Burke, President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Caroline Beteta, President & CEO Visit California
Bonin Bough
Keynote Session: Bonin Bough
Sponsored by Matador Network
Details

As the world begins to heal from the effects of a global pandemic, businesses of all shapes and sizes are having to re-evaluate the methods they’ve traditionally used to connect with their consumer. The customer has become more discerning than ever - from an increased reliance on transformative digital tools, a new desire for on-demand video-based content, a deep appreciation for brands who act ethically, and an understanding that we are all interconnected.

Ultimately the brands who were thinking-digitally before these unprecedented times are winning. For others, COVID19 has shown them just how agile they can be, and how quickly and effectively they can be transformed, when the stakes are raised.

Bonin Bough shares his original insights, and lessons from across the globe, to highlight how we can most constructively learn from this moment. Through highlighting the unique ways in which organizations can preserve, and even amplify, some of these new behaviours he will reveal how this moment presents new opportunities for growth. 
Billy Kolber
,
David Paisley
ESTOx
1:45pm to 3:15pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
General Session
ESTOx
Details

No Longer a Niche: Why Every Destination Needs to be LGBTQ+Ready

With 52% of Gen-z identifying as something other than 100% straight, it’s time for every destination to consider their LGBTQ+ readiness. In this session, you’ll discover the opportunities and challenges in making your destination, organization and marcomms more inclusive and welcoming for diverse travelers, and the business case and best practices for attracting and welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors. Attendees will learn why LGBTQ+ travelers are such a valuable niche, how LGBTQ+ travelers can be a part of every destination’s marketing strategy and acquire best practices and data to support efforts in attracting and welcoming diverse travelers.
SPEAKER TIME & LOCATION SESSION
Registration
9:00am to 2:00pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Other
Heather McGowan
General Session
9:15am to 10:15am
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
General Session
General Session
Sponsored by Crowdriff
Details

When Heather McGowan and Chris Shipley wrote The Adaptation Advantage (April 2020, Wiley) they did not realize how prescient their advice and predictions would become when the coronavirus global pandemic required an immediate and dramatic shift in work, learning, and leading.   Predictions they made for the next three to five years, occurred over the following three to five weeks. Overnight companies remapped supply chains, pivoted product lines, and transformed to distributed work-from-home organization. Entire university and school systems adopted virtual delivery exclusively,  something many said they would never do. This new normal, or normal of now, requires a focus on culture, purpose, trust, psychological safety as we embark on the largest social experiment in human history. The virus has accelerated our future of work, expedited our human transformation to digital creating, and placed an even greater burden on leaders to inspire and motivate human potential. Even when the virus subsides, many of our new ways of working will remain and we will be the better for this forced transformation.
ESTOx
1:30pm to 2:30pm
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
General Session
ESTOx
Sponsored by Simpleview
Details

Accessibility – Seen and Unseen

What is accessibility, and where does it belong in the tourism environment? 

This presentation will discuss the three foundations of accessibility – physical, digital and social – and their relationship to hospitality and tourism. Achieving compliance is a start, but is it the right start?  How can we learn to embed accessibility into all of our business processes and practices? We will explore the demographics of disability that are driving greater awareness of the importance of accessibility, and examine how DMOs can make a difference in bringing accessibility forward in the quest for inclusivity.