Selected Current Speaking Topics

Destination Stewardship in an Age of Change

As the world of travel & tourism changes, destination organizations are being called upon to do much more than marketing—often, this means taking on a role of stewardship. Amidst a bewildering sea of certifications and green labels, there’s a core ethos that can guide your destination. Using real-world case studies, this presentation will offer a concise definition of destination stewardship, share a variety of approaches to stewardship, highlight ways to use data to keep your eye on the ball, and share three easy things that every destination can do to become better stewards of their place.

Resilience for Destinations

Destination organizations were severely tested by the events of the last few years. What can be learned from how destinations responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, and natural disasters? What does the latest research on resilience say, and how can those lessons propel destinations into a more resilient future?

Regional Collaboration

What happens when neighboring destinations start working together to draw common visitors, even if they are mismatched in terms of budget, destination assets, or target visitors? How can destination organizations team up to have a greater positive impact on their regional visitor economy?

The Outcomes-Based Value Proposition

It used to be that a destination organization could report on growing visitor numbers and spend, and call themselves successful. Today, stakeholders—both in the industry and outside of it—are demanding better metrics. How can a destination prove its value in a way that’s rigorous and real, while also telling the human-impact story that gives that success emotional relevance?

Trend-Watching for Destinations 

Usually, a destination’s success metrics are looking in the rear-view mirror, always reporting on what’s already happened. How can a destination build a process to monitor trends and watch the future, helping to be prepared and resilient in the face of changes?

Strategy for the Long Haul

Your strategic plan may only be for three years, but many of the changes we’re beginning to witness will play out over decades. How can a destination make near-term choices that set the stage for long-term shifts like demographic changes, climate change, or transportation innovations? 

Centering your Strategic Plan in Equity and Sustainability

Equity and sustainability are at the forefront of discourse in the tourism world, but how can a destination organization ensure that its strategic plan pays more than lip service to these important topics?

Creating an Accessible Destination Strategy

Travelers with mobility disabilities are estimated to spend $58B per year on travel, yet many destinations haven’t undertaken the planning to ensure that their destination is prepared to welcome these visitors. This presentation, centered around a four-category framework for thinking about accessible destination planning, will share learnings from an accessible destination planning project in a coastal community and advice on how to get started in your own community.