Destination Marketing Podcast

Tony Carne, a thought leader in AI and the creator of the Everything AI in Travel newsletter, joins Adam on today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast to discuss his background in the travel industry and how he fell in love with AI. Tony also touches on some AI-related things he's seeing in the international travel space, such as AI education opportunities and a company that creates pers...

Cody Chomiak from Travel Manitoba and Tom Loftus from Visit Richmond, Virginia join Adam on today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast to discuss various tourism topics. They give their perspectives on issues facing the destination marketing industry, such as navigating small budgets and discerning important metrics. The conversation then moves into a discussion about AI and how each per...

On this special episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam joins Dane Carlson as a guest on The Econ Dev Show to discuss the symbiotic relationship between destination marketing and economic development. They discuss how DMOs and economic developers can collaborate and improve on things like site visits to create positive memorable experiences. Adam and Dane also underscore the benefits of...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Kristina Ainge, PR and Content Director at Relic. They talk about the changing landscape of social media and content marketing and why destinations need to pay attention to both micro and macro trends. With nearly a decade of experience in social media, PR, and influencer marketing, Kristina offers a treasure trove of insights on how to effectively engage audie...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Glorianna Yamin, Vice President of Marketing for Discover Puerto Rico. Glorianna shares her career journey, discusses her recognition as one of Destinations International's 30 Under 30, and highlights Discover Puerto Rico’s innovative marketing initiatives, including a collaboration with Pantone to create a color called “Puerto Rico Sunshine." Glorianna also disc...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Nathaniel Sweetman, Sports Marketing Coordinator for Visit Sarasota County. Nathaniel shares his journey into sports marketing, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and community engagement. He discusses Sarasota's unique facilities, strategies for attracting niche events, and the economic impact of sports tourism. The episode highlights the role of persona...

In this episode, Adam Stoker and guest Bill Geist discuss a critical issue facing destination marketing organizations: a growing disconnect between boards, CEOs, and political stakeholders. They discuss the misalignment between boards and destinations, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the importance of effective board orientation. Bill emphasizes a need for better communication, storyte...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Mark Marsiglio, President and CEO of Trail Pilot, to talk about the synergy between tourism and mountain biking. Mark discusses his background, the creation of the Trail Pilot app, and its role in enhancing the mountain biking experience through guided audio tours. Mark emphasizes the importance of targeting niche markets, such as mountain bikers, as they can b...

In this episode, Adam talks with Dane Carlson, host of the Econ Dev Show and CEO of Site Hunt, about the crucial link between tourism and economic development. Dane shares his journey from blogging to economic development, including how he transformed Mariposa California by adding an escape room to the visitor center. Dane also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between economic developers...

In this episode, Adam talks to John David, President and CEO of Sports ETA. The conversation highlights the organization's role in promoting sports tourism through education, advocacy, resources, and networking. John emphasizes the importance of listening to stakeholders and understanding the economic impact of sports tourism, which includes significant contributions to local economies and job cre...

In this episode, Adam provides a mid-year check-in on the destination marketing industry. He emphasizes the importance of creativity and budget in differentiating destinations, highlighting successful marketing campaigns from Laguna Beach, Minnesota, and Myrtle Beach. Adam discusses the shift from traditional influencers to content creators and the need for dynamic marketing strategies. He also ad...

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam chats with Dave Parulo, President and CEO, and Claire Fisher, Chief Marketing Officer of Explore Tualatin Valley. Recorded live at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida, they highlight the importance of community engagement in destination rebrands and talk about their experience with their recent rebranding exp...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Dave Harrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the importance of storytelling in destination marketing, the evolution of the Quad Cities' podcast "QC That's Where," and the significance of owned media in their marketing strategy. Dave shares a recent experience where a cr...

In this episode, Adam takes the show on the road to the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. He sits down with Wayne Stewart, former account manager at Relic and current director of marketing and communications at Visit Casper, Wyoming. They talk about Wayne’s career path and the opportunities that ultimately led him to become a part of Destinations International’s 30 un...

In this episode, Adam’s business partner Colby Remund joins the show to unveil a major announcement. Listen to hear what the announcement is and how it could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the tourism industry. They also discuss the history of Relic and how they got to where they are today.  “The industry needs that digital town square, that hub, that place where we can all congregat...

In this episode, Lesly Veve joins Adam to discuss his background, skills, and aspirations in the destination marketing industry. Lesly shares his passion for changing the narrative about tourism in Haiti and his desire to positively impact Haiti’s tourism economy. He and Adam dive into some of the skills that Lesly has to offer the destination marketing workforce and why any destination organizati...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Laura White, senior director of brand marketing and strategy at Visit Charlotte. With nearly half of their yearly visitation coming from visiting friends and family, Laura tells us how they shifted their marketing efforts to tap into this previously under-recognized market. Adam and Laura explore the challenges of aligning this new marketing strategy with hotelie...

In this episode, Adam joins Earl B. Hunter Jr. to announce a brand new podcast, "It’s Bigger Than Camping." They discuss the show's mission to promote inclusivity and unity in the outdoor community, educate listeners on the benefits of the outdoors and highlight destinations that welcome all who want to experience the outdoors. Earl shares insights from his experience in the RV and outdoor industr...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Abdullah Aldhavyan, who recently completed his master’s degree in tourism at George Washington University. Hailing from Saudi Arabia, Abdullah hopes to be a part of bringing tourism back to the country by showing the world what this beautiful part of the Middle East has to offer. “Saudi Arabia is opening their gates and their hands to everyone in the world. Ple...

In this episode, Adam sits down with Nephi, Relic’s AI and innovation expert, to talk about an exciting announcement. Over the past several months, Relic has been beta-testing a new AI product that allows destinations to create their own AI chat bot, based on information found on their website. Nephi talks about the process of creating the product and some of the challenges he’s found along the wa...

In this episode, Shelley Zumwalt, Executive Director at The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, joins Adam to discuss the economic impact of tourism on the state level. Shelly highlights tourism's role in attracting businesses and creating jobs, especially in rural areas. She addresses Oklahoma's perception challenges and the need for effective marketing to showcase the state's unique attr...

Greg Star, a cofounder of Carvertise, joins Adam on this episode to talk about his journey with cancer over the past year and what he has learned as he has recovered. Greg shares valuable lessons about what it means to live a life you are proud of and how he overcame his fear of death. Adam and Greg also talk about how Carvertise continued to grow during this time thanks to an incredible team and...

In this episode, Adam takes the show to The Myrtle Beach Classic, where he sits down with Kyle Oland, director of marketing at Golf Tourism Solutions. Kyle has taken a unique journey to get where he is in his career, and he shares why having a passion for your work is so important. Adam and Kyle discuss the event and how Kyle and his team have stepped away from traditional marketing methods to cre...

Janette Roush, executive vice president of marketing and digital at NYC Tourism, has built quite a following sharing her thoughts on LinkedIn about how AI is changing the game for the destination marketing industry. She joins Adam in this episode to discuss how she positioned herself as an AI thought leader and why DMOS must embrace this new technology. They cover how AI has changed over the past...

In this episode, Adam joins the team at Visit Galveston to talk about ways they're moving the destination forward. JR Shaw, host of the Galveston Unscripted Podcast, shares his experience partnering with a destination to produce owned media content. Kellie Gonzalez, client services director at Visit Galveston, talks about her initiative to personalize the guest experience for a recurring conferenc...