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How are today’s leaders rethinking the way they structure teams, evolve strategies, and drive transformation? In this energizing session, three bold Arizona-based leaders share how they’re navigating change with clarity, courage, and intention

Moderated by: Alix Skelpsa Ridgway, Interim Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism

Spotlight speakers include:

• Terry Vesci, founder of Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm and a former global communications executive, on scaling through simplification, trust, and personal resilience
• Latasha Causey, President of Phoenix Raceway, on breaking barriers and leading with purpose in traditionally male-dominated industries
• Zander Ault, Chef & Co-Founder at The Cyclist Menu, on standing out with authenticity

Their stories will set the tone for a dynamic fireside conversation exploring reinvention across sectors—from culinary and wellness to community leadership and brand storytelling.

You’ll leave recharged to rethink how you lead, collaborate, and evolve—on your team, in your destination, and across the industry.

Sign Up Here.

Look Sharp. Be You. Refresh Your Headshot!

Make a lasting impression, both online and in person. Stop by the headshot lounge at the top of the escalators during ESTO to receive a complimentary professional headshot, courtesy of Travelzoo.

Whether you are updating your LinkedIn profile, refreshing your company bio, or simply looking for a high-quality, professional photo, our onsite photographer will help you look your best while capturing your authenticity.

It’s quick, seamless, and a great reason to learn more about how Travelzoo supports professionals like you.

Pause, unwind, and recharge in the Wellness Lounge—your personal reset zone amidst the conference buzz. Sponsored by Simpleview, a Granicus Company, drop in for a complimentary chair massage from licensed therapists and take a few minutes to relax, reset your mind, and release tension. No sessions, no signup—just real relief, right when you need it. Because great ideas start with a clear head.

Pre-Registration Required

Behind every strong strategy is a solid foundation of data and insight. This roundtable, led by U.S. Travel’s Joshua Friedlander, invites tourism professionals to dig into the role of research in guiding destination growth. From identifying traveler trends to informing big-picture planning, explore how smart data leads to better decisions and stronger outcomes.

To foster more focused, meaningful conversation, registration is capped at 60 participants.

Advance RSVP required through your personalized schedule.

By invitation only. Learn more.

DMOs are losing their top talent to vendors and agencies—and it’s not just about pay. It’s about flexibility, career growth, and a workplace culture that doesn’t feel like a dead end. This session dives deep into why the talent drain is happening and how DMOs can fight back. From rethinking compensation to creating a growth-oriented, flexible work environment, we’ll explore actionable strategies to keep your team from jumping ship.

In today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical climate, destination marketing organizations are being challenged to rethink how, where, and to whom they market. Join leading CMOs for an engaging panel discussion exploring how international marketing strategies are being reshaped in real time — from shifting market priorities and revised messaging to reallocating budgets toward domestic audiences. Whether you’re reassessing your international footprint or seeking insight on staying agile in unpredictable times, this session will deliver timely strategies and practical takeaways for destination marketers.

Get ready for fast, focused insights in the Solutions Hub—a series of rapid-fire, 15-minute presentations built to deliver real solutions to real challenges.

Adara: The Intersection of TV Viewership & Travel Intent

Visit Milwaukee wanted to measure actual visitation from hosting a major TV show and Visit Indy wanted to maximize the Caitlin Clark effect. Adara helped them both by combining the power of travel data and TV viewership. Join us as we dive into measurement surrounding Top Chef being filmed in Milwaukee in 2024, including top origin markets for those who watched the show, and Indy’s latest marketing efforts to WNBA game watchers. Bonus: Find out how these approaches can help destinations leverage the Mega Decade of Sports, too!

Expedia: More than a Game: How Sports Travel is Creating New Opportunities for Destinations

Sports tourism now accounts for 10% of global tourism spend – and that figure is expected to grow exponentially. From FIFA Club World Cup to F1 racing, and a whole host of other major tournaments happening in the coming months, tourism players are primed to generate greater value and revenue opportunities. This session dives into how sports fans – especially Gen Z and millennial travelers – are reshaping demand patterns, loyalty behaviors and destination choices.  We’ll highlight how destinations can move beyond traditional travel marketing strategies to reach high-value travelers through targeted advertising and engaging content that captures sports-mad fans. Drawing from Expedia Group’s latest global research, we’ll share actionable insights and how to leverage Expedia Group’s travel media network to create end-to-end campaigns that reach travelers wherever they are, whatever the game.

SPIRRA.io: From Transactions to Relationships: Building Long-Term Partnerships with Travel Influencers

The influencer marketing landscape has shifted from one-off sponsored posts to strategic, long-term partnerships that build authentic destination advocacy. This session explores how DMOs can transform transactional influencer relationships into valuable, ongoing partnerships that drive sustained visitation. Using SPIRRA's relationship management and performance tracking tools, we'll demonstrate how to identify influencers who align with your destination's values long-term, track which partnerships actually convert followers into visitors, and structure ambassador programs that provide value to both the destination and creator. Attendees will learn strategies for moving beyond campaign-based thinking to relationship-based marketing, creating exclusive experiences that build influencer loyalty, and measuring the true long-term value of influencer partnerships versus short-term engagement metrics.

Tiki: From Monologue to Dialogue - The AI-Powered Future of Destination Advertising

Traveler expectations are shifting—from passive inspiration to active, real-time engagement. This session explores how AI is transforming destination advertising from static messages into dynamic conversations. Learn how DMOs can harness conversational media to guide, inform, and inspire visitors at every stage of the journey.

Tripadvisor: Tripadvisor Trendcast 2025

The future of travel just landed.  We dug deep into millions of reviews, bookings, and convos on Tripadvisor to uncover the micro-trends and massive cultural swings that are rewriting the ways we go.  Our first-ever Trendcast captures it all—it’s the ultimate pulse check on where travelers are now and what’ll be driving them forward for years to come.

Visit our Genius Bar to chat with featured AI experts, our featured "geniuses", ready to answer your questions, share tips, and guide you through all things AI.

Table 1

Greg Oates

Director of AI Advocacy

Matador Network

Table 2

Matt Clement

Executive Vice President

Madden Media