Destination Marketing Podcast

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam Stoker welcomes back Camden Bernatz for a thoughtful conversation on the future of marketing strategy. They explore the shift from tactician to strategist, why first-principles thinking matters more than ever, and how marketers can stay valuable as AI continues to change how work gets done. It’s a practical, mindset-driven episode for anyo...

In this special bonus episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, we’re sharing a Destination Discourse conversation with Stuart Butler featuring his predictions for 2026. From why AI won’t “kill” the DMO website this year (but will keep reshaping how travelers search), to the consolidation coming for vendors and destinations, to the shift from “the destination” to the experiences within it. Thi...

In this episode, Adam shares what my resolutions would be if I were running a DMO in 2026. He talks about why the traditional marketing funnel no longer works, why survival is undervalued, how to avoid the illusion of relevance, and what destination marketers must prioritize as AI and stakeholder pressure continue to reshape the industry. If you’re heading into 2026 wondering where to focus and wh...

When cities, sports, and tourism leaders align, powerful things happen. In this episode, Adam Stoker talks with former Arlington mayor and The Unity Blueprint author Jeff Williams about how unity helped turn Arlington into a thriving sports and tourism destination, and what DMOs and city leaders can learn about building momentum, creating jobs, and using tourism to strengthen communities. Subscrib...

In this episode, Adam Stoker is joined by Yomand Brown, VP of Marketing, Sales, and Communications at the College Football Hall of Fame, to explore how major attractions and DMOs can work together to create seamless visitor experiences. From personalization and AI-driven guest engagement to event sales collaboration and preparing for mega-events like the College Football Playoff and FIFA, this con...

AI is changing how travelers plan trips—and destination websites can’t afford to fall behind. In this episode, Adam Stoker sits down with Michelle Donogan, CMO of Mindtrip, to discuss how conversational AI is reshaping the visitor experience, why AI should be woven into the entire website (not tucked into a corner), and how destinations can use traveler conversations to uncover content gaps and dr...

Virginia Tourism President Rita McClenny joins Adam to discuss the enduring strength of the Virginia is for Lovers brand and how it continues to drive collaboration, major events, and statewide success. From sports tourism to innovative partnerships, Rita shares what makes Virginia stand out—and how destinations everywhere can elevate their own marketing. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠...

In this episode, Adam Stoker sits down with Ryan Jones, Head of Client Impact at Brand Revolt, to unpack how both marketers and agencies need to evolve for the future. Ryan shares his journey from SEO writer to executive leader, talks about how saying “yes” to new challenges and speaking up (even when it’s uncomfortable) accelerated his career, and explains why tomorrow’s marketers must be strateg...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Karen Strgacich, Veronica Rivera, and Suzy Kay to share the origin story of the California DMO Alliance—how a few pandemic-era check-ins grew into a powerful, grassroots coalition helping destinations across the state collaborate, share leads, and strengthen California’s position in the meetings market. Along the way, they swap memorable travel stories, open up...

In this episode, Adam Stoker welcomes world traveler and television host Denella Ri’chard, who shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Louisiana to studying abroad in Southern Africa during the Mandela era, working in global hospitality, and ultimately launching her travel show during the height of COVID. Danella explains her “living list” approach to travel, why Vietnam sits at the top o...

In this solo episode, Adam Stoker reflects on his visit to Visit Mesa and shares why their City Limitless podcast is a masterclass in stakeholder engagement. From seeing how host Ashley Stwertnik built powerful relationships with major partners like Cannon Beach and Revel Surf, Adam reveals the unseen value podcasts create—trust, goodwill, and access that money can’t buy. He also explains how his...

Host Adam Stoker sits down at Visit Mesa with Ashley Stwertnik, the producer-turned-host of City Limitless, to show how a DMO can build real audience by making stories the star and the city the backdrop. Ashley shares the show’s evolution from audio-only to video-first with accessibility, booking high-reach guests (BigDawsTV, Jesse Cole), and the logistics of interviewing Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur...

Tourism Kingston CEO Megan Knott joins Adam Stoker to share how a small Canadian city earned global attention, and a Cannes Film and Media Award, through creative storytelling and collaboration. Megan reveals how Kingston balances rich history with youthful energy, tackles tourism challenges like transportation and seasonality, and builds a sustainable, data-driven visitor economy. Subscribe to ou...

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam is joined by Cathy Petersen and  Eric Brockman from Destination Dayton to discuss how to turn low customer expectations into outstanding visitor experiences. They explore the core philosophy behind Dayton’s tagline, Discover the Unexpected, and why it perfectly captures what visitors can anticipate during their trip. Cathy and Eric share h...

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam is joined by two returning guests, Greg Starr, founder of Driven, and Ed Harris, CEO of Visit Williamsburg. They discuss how tourism professionals can leverage LinkedIn effectively to showcase the value they generate in their communities to stakeholders every day. Maintaining consistent online visibility ensures that stakeholders see the D...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Danielle Hollander, the CMO of Visit Orlando, for a follow-up discussion about how her team leverages social media as a live research platform. Danielle shares how Visit Orlando built a massive, live research platform by creating a Facebook planning group that has grown to over 22,000 members in just four years. This group allows the team to get direct, real-time...

In this episode, Adam talks with Catherine Jenkins, the Marketing and Communications Manager for Visit Central Delaware, about how to successfully rebrand a destination with a limited budget. Listen to learn the significance of targeted branding and community engagement for destination marketing professionals, especially during a time of change. Catherine also shares her unique strategy for connec...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Brand Revolt’s creative director, Camden Bernatz, to discuss modern research—an approach that focuses on observing consumer behavior rather than relying on traditional surveys or focus groups. Because behavior is the most reliable indicator of a visitor's true intent, Adam argues that it has proven to be much more effective in predicting which content types will...

In this episode, Stuart and Adam take the stage live at ESTO to tackle two provocative topics: whether DMO websites will be irrelevant in five years and if the ROI of paid media will continue to decline. With live audience polling, spirited debate, and plenty of humor, they explore how AI, better metrics, and smarter creative can keep destinations relevant. Plus, the crowd settles the great “Desti...

For our 400th episode, host Adam Stoker went live on LinkedIn for the first time to reflect on the evolution of destination marketing and answer listener questions in real time. From the shift back to branding, to the impact of AI on travel planning, to the importance of risk-taking, Adam shares key lessons learned from 400 episodes and offers a candid look at what’s next for the industry. Did we...

In this episode, Adam gets a masterclass in tourism leadership from Kristen Adamo, President and CEO of Go Providence. Kristen shares how her unique background in journalism and politics gives her a competitive edge, teaching her the importance of effective communication and building relationships with everyone she interacts with. Discover how she cultivates a culture of community collaboration, d...

In this solo episode, Adam recaps a whirlwind couple of weeks of events and shares valuable lessons for the destination marketing industry. From keynote speaking at MatPra to moderating the inaugural CMO Jam, Adam’s had a busy couple of weeks connecting and learning from others in the industry. Also, tune in for a sneak peek at the 400th episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, a live Q&A ses...

In this episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam is joined by Stephen Ekstrom, the co-founder and CEO of Learn Tourism. Stephen, a self-described "professional tourist" and digital nomad, shares his unique perspective on the travel industry and continuing education for DMO professionals. He talks about the origins of Learn Tourism, a nonprofit organization founded during the COVID-19 pan...

In this episode, Adam talks with Allison Brooks and Cameron Molloy from Visit Mesa about a campaign that secured national media attention and numerous awards with a budget of only $20. The team discusses how they leveraged the arrival of the wildly popular Savannah Bananas baseball team to create Banana Week, a community-wide event that went far beyond the baseball game. Allison and Cameron share...

In this episode, join host Adam Stoker and guest Danielle Hollander, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Orlando, as they explore the importance of strategic planning for destinations of all sizes. Danielle shares how her agency background prepared her for her role as CMO and how Visit Orlando used the challenges of a leadership change during COVID-19 to reset and develop a new strategic plan. She ex...