2024 Schedule of Events

Understanding data doesn’t always require a massive budget or dedicated research team. As a destination marketing leader, you have more data at your fingertips than ever before but knowing where to begin – or make sense of the numbers – can be overwhelming. This interactive session walks participants through the process of evidence-based decision making, providing clear next steps to create impactful and cost-efficient destination marketing strategies. All session attendees will receive a copy of the DMO Toolbox White Paper Project from the inaugural Travel and Tourism Research Association International (TTRA) Think Tank initiative.

No matter the size or scale of our destination strategies, one thing remains constant: the success hinges on how we activate those approaches. Failure to activate leads to disengaged stakeholders, misaligned resources, a lack of measurable outcomes, restless boards, and a plan gathering dust on a shelf. However, when we reorient to being strategy activators, our destination plans come alive and help our communities flourish. Strategy activators can be any one of us and it all starts with little insights that lead to big impacts. This session will explore actionable strategies, navigate common challenges, and uncover effective approaches that empower destination leaders to bring their strategies to life.

The results are in, you officially have three seconds to capture your audience’s attention before they scroll. This session will explore how short form video content isn’t going anywhere – making it more important than ever for destinations to prioritize content creation that inspires travel. Hear from content experts and DMOs that are seeing great ROI. Get ready to create short form videos that convert, because after this session, you’ll leave with actionable tools to inspire your content strategy and capitalize on best practices from destinations large and small.

PPPs can create a lot of value but can also be time consuming and complicated. This session will talk about not only the benefits but the steps to creating great partnerships and a win-win situation for all brands.

Influencers can play a critical role in DMO marketing strategy. However, influencers are people and people come with a variety of opinions and viewpoints that may not always be consistent with your brand. In an increasingly polarized world, learning to work with third-party validators without entangling your brand is imperative. In this session, we’ll explore how to avoid landmines when it comes to partnering with influencers, while also sharing best practices in justifying your influencer strategy to stakeholders.

Visibility without value is vanity. And in the dynamic landscape of destination marketing, we need metrics that add value and show relevance to our marketing objectives and strategies. In this session, we’ll delve into the multitude of KPIs available and equip you with the knowledge to decipher the difference between vanity and value. Whether your goal is to boost visitation numbers, enhance visitor experiences, or elevate destination awareness, you’ll leave this session understanding which metrics truly matter and how to leverage them for tangible results.

This session will take a deep dive into AI and the digital acceleration of how personalized recommendations, automated customer service, predictive analytics, and smart itinerary planning are transforming destination marketing. Discover AI-driven innovations that enhance traveler experiences and learn how to optimize marketing strategies and gain a competitive edge in the dynamic travel market. You’ll also walk away with a better understanding on the consumer landscape and how consumers are using AI.