Brand USA Talks Travel

Learn how players like Major League Baseball and Broadway are utilizing conversational A.I., and how DMOs can do the same to enhance visitor engagement. Dan Flores, Head of Tourism at Satisfi Labs takes us behind the scenes of effective A.I. implementation. Plus, you’ll get Dan’s tips on several new A.I. products.

Discover how Gen Z and Millennials are shaking up the industry, how technology is reshaping the competitive landscape and why authenticity is crucial for travel brands. Seth unpacks these key findings from the Skift State of the Industry 2024 report.

Seth Borko is Head of Research at Skift.

Download your copy here: https://skift.com/insight/state-of-travel/

Mark has questions and Kara has answers! Is there a point where DMOs can, and should, start using AI to generate public-facing content even while acknowledging that there are going to be errors? Is it ethical to use AI images which may be composites? We discuss these questions and more with Kara Franker, the new CEO of Visit Florida Keys. Kara is also an attorney - and a former NFL cheerleader.

Utah is celebrating a centennial of Film and TV creation in the state. You’ll hear about the long history of filming, how residents feel about productions, incentives for companies, screen tourism, and how Sundance has evolved. Virginia Pearce is Director of the Utah Film Commission.

Sally says: “The goal is not to be better than your competition. The goal is to be different.” This episode is packed with research-based insights that have highly practical applications. To understand Sally’s approach and obtain an understanding of your own personality strengths, our listeners can take a free version of the “Fascinate” test at HowToFascinate.com/BrandUSA. Sally Hogshead is a New York Times bestselling author, National Speakers Association Hall of Fame speaker, and CEO of How to Fascinate.

Sports has become one of the largest-growing sectors in the travel industry. Are you prepared to take advantage of all the major activities coming to the USA? Dan Mickelson, Sports Diplomacy Chief at the U.S. State Department, and Justin Charschan, Senior Manager, Ticketing, Tourism & Ancillary Revenue at Major League Baseball, are ready to work with the travel trade and destinations in generating incremental tourism opportunities. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in sports tourism.

Innovation meets opportunity as Jeremy explains how B.D. amassed and continues to grow 50 million+ social media followers. We also learn about their new artificial intelligence travel planner called “Ask Layla.” Jeremy Jauncey is Founder/CEO of Beautiful Destinations.

Rafael Villanueva and Art Jimenez take us beyond Burning Man and gambling in Nevada, diving into promoting cross-visitation and expanding engagement in international markets.

Rafael Villanueva is the CEO of Travel Nevada. Art Jimenez is the Executive Director of Visit Reno-Tahoe. Believe it or not, they’ve known each other since they were kids!

Three short-form social media pros discuss content length, messaging frequency, internal staff size, and how to deal with weekend posting when consumers remain active.

Pamela Knowles is Director of Brand & Content Strategy at Visit Savannah.

Claudia Murtha is Multimedia Creator at Visit Bucks County.

Joshua Albrecht is Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Milwaukee.

Researcher Philip Rist and CMO Shane Brossard discuss customizing travel experiences to take advantage of evolving consumer behavioral trends. You’ll also hear recommendations for adapting offerings to better align with economic realities. Shane Brossard is Chief Marketing Officer at Travel Wisconsin. Philip Rist is EVP of Strategy at Proper Insights & Analytics.