Each year, ESTO delivers bold content, dynamic learning formats and opportunities to connect and equip destination leaders with insights they can immediately put into action.
In Phoenix, the ESTO 2025 program set a new standard for how destination leaders learn and connect. Attendees experienced:
These highlights exemplify ESTO’s ongoing commitment to building programs that push boundaries and inspire action.
Event Policies
For full details including information around cancellations, substitutions, payments and photography, explore U.S. Travel’s general event policies and ESTO-specific guidelines.
Pre-Registration Required
Join us for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience on August 19th where you’ll flow through a gentle yoga session that emphasizes connecting with the body, breath, and mind, encouraging physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Each participant will be provided with water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Comfortable attire recommended.
Advance RSVP required through your personalized schedule.
Pre-Registration Required
Immerse yourself in the soothing vibrations of our sound healing led by our local sound healer. This experience combines ancient healing techniques with the harmonious sounds of crystal bowls and other therapeutic instruments. End your session with a guided meditation, taking you to a grounded and relaxed mental state allowing you to conquer your week with a heightened sense of clarity and peace. Each participant will be provided with water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Comfortable attire recommended.
Advance RSVP required through your personalized schedule.
Put your skills to the test at the Cadent Claw Machine—where machine precision meets human finesse—for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. Prefer to leave it to luck? Enter our raffle to win a pair of Meta glasses.
While you're there, connect with the Cadent team to learn how we're redefining standards in travel & tourism advertising. We look forward to seeing you!
Step into the ESTO Cares Activation Lounge to continue giving back! Build more kits, connect with fellow attendees, and make an impact in our local community. Whether you’re assembling essentials, sharing a smile, or learning how to extend your volunteer efforts beyond the conference, this is your space to make a difference—one kit at a time.
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
Dan Flores
Head of Tourism
Satisfi Labs
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.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Playground at U.S. Travel’s ESTO 2025 will equip destination marketers with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to embrace AI as a transformative force in travel marketing and destination promotion. This interactive activation space will blend education, hands-on exploration, and real-world applications to help DMOs understand how AI works—and more importantly, how they can leverage it to elevate their strategies and drive impact for their destinations.
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.
Step into the Phoenix Pop-Up Shop Experience and discover the vibrant spirit of the city through its local makers and artisans. Browse a curated selection of products from talented Phoenix vendors—featuring everything from handcrafted goods to locally inspired treats. It’s the perfect chance to take home a unique piece of Phoenix while supporting the businesses that make our community thrive.
Chilttepica Products
Family-owned Chilttepica brings the bold, smoky heat of the legendary chiltepin—the ‘mother of all chiles’—to every season.
Grandeur Lathers
Luxury plant-based bath and body care—handcrafted soaps, solid hair care, and lotion bars in sustainable, plastic-free packaging.
Visit Phoenix Pop-Up Shop
Snag desert-inspired apparel, gifts, and goodies to zhuzh up your style and show off your Sonoran Desert adventure.
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
Rudi Thun
Chief Operating Officer
Mindtrip
Get inspired in just 15 minutes! Join us in the AI Playground for quick, high-impact demos showing how AI can spark ideas, solve problems, and supercharge your work. See real-world examples in action, ask questions, and leave with practical tips you can use right away.
Pre-Registration Required
About the Immersion: Arizona is home to 22 Native American Tribes, each with its own distinct traditions, yet proudly united by a rich heritage, that has shaped both the past and present of the region. This immersive experience offers a deep dive into Native dance, tribal customs, and the craftsmanship of more than 200 Native artisans at the Native Art Market in Old Town Scottsdale.
Be inspired as you create your own authentic memento, such as a dream catcher or beaded bracelet, alongside skilled artisans. Then, step next door to The Frybread Lounge, the first and only Indigenous – owned restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale, where you’ll savor traditional Native American Food and Drink.
This experience showcases, Experience Scottsdale’s dedication to celebrating and preserving Native American culture, fostering strong partnership with local tribes to ensure authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences that connect travelers to the regions’ Indigenous heritage.
Check-in: 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. at the JW Desert Ridge lower level Convention Center
Buses will load at 2:45 p.m. and depart at 3:00 p.m.
Limited to 30 participants. Hosted by Experience Scottsdale
Questions? Please contact [email protected].
Advance RSVP required through your personalized schedule.
Pre-Registration Required
About the Immersion: At first glance, downtown Phoenix may seem like your typical city center, but beneath the surface lies an explosion of regional flavors and cultural identity – just waiting to be explored (and tasted)!
With more than 85% of the businesses in Phoenix’s downtown core locally owned, the city’s food scene is deeply rooted in its surroundings. Many establishments incorporate ingredients sourced directly from the Sonoran Desert, bringing a truly authentic taste of Phoenix to every dish.
On this experience you will visit some of downtown Phoenix’s most revered restaurants and bars, sampling bites and sips of Sonoran-style cuisine. And while tacos and margaritas may be a highlight, Sonoran ingredients are infused into every facet of the city’s diverse culinary scene.
As Phoenix continues to innovate and expand upon its dynamic food scene, you'll discover how destinations can leverage their culinary identity to drive tourism, create recognition and educate visitors on the culture, history and people behind the food.
Check-in: 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. at the JW Desert Ridge lower level Convention Center
Buses will load at 2:45 p.m. and depart at 3:00 p.m.
Limited to 50 participants. Hosted by Visit Phoenix
Questions? Please contact [email protected].
Advance RSVP required through your personalized schedule.