As the Destination Marketing sector began to seriously address inequality and diversity after the Summer of 2020, SearchWide Global helped develop an organization that would go beyond "committee work" to actually address the challenge before us head on, 24/7. That organization is Tourism Diversity Matters and CEO Greg DeShields returns to DMOU to share the genesis story, their successes with DMOs to date and where the organization intends to be by 2023, providing the tools and expertise for DMOs to be their best. It's an inspiring (and fun) conversation. Join us.

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association has identified Climate Change as an existential focus of its work. And, unless you are a Climate Change denier, this is becoming an issue that many DMOs will need to face...but how to address such a monumental undertaking? Deputy Director Arica Sears shares how the OCVA is engaging in this endeavor through collaboration with other agencies and industries...and how other DMOs can take their first steps to be part of the solution.

It wasn't necessarily the pandemic that powered Visit Champaign County to rethink its role in the community...but it gave them time to work through powerful goals in their Strategic Plan. On this edition of DMOU, CEO Jayne DeLuce shares the thinking behind VCC's new Community Benefit Funding Model, the upcoming launch of a sustainable African-American Heritage Trail and the triumphant return of the State Boys Basketball Tournament this month.

Visit Sarasota County's Virginia Haley joins us to discuss a recent collaboration with the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota in which the EDC came up with the tagline and VSC brought it to life. "Work Where You Want to Live" targets potential visitors to also consider the opportunities to change their zip code. Virginia tells the story of how the collaboration came together and how both agencies are successfully deploying content that neither might have considered before the campaign. Cool stuff.

Over the past two years, the face-to-face interaction with which we all believed was crucial to initiating relationships and closing business was replaced by Zoom meetings, e-mails communiques and telephonic calls. Has this forced era of digitization changed Sales forever? On this episode of DMOU, Tom Martin (author of The Invisible Sale) makes some bold predictions of what's next, how Propinquity is your best new friend and how to make our "new normal" work even better than before. Plus, a "hot and tasty" answer to the Bonus Round Question. Join us.

As we all attempt to emerge from the ravages of the pandemic, the efficacy of Visitor Information Centers continues to be a hot topic in our discussions with DMOs around the country. And, when we find one that redefines the genre, we're all too excited to share the story on DMOU. On this episode, Destination Augusta (GA)'s VP of Destination Development Jennifer Bowen shares the decade long process to reimagine their Visitor Center into a community asset (named Augusta & Co.) that combines retail, culinary and storytelling into a Downtown attraction in its own right. Plus, in the Bonus Round Question, she shares her brush with Hollywood Royalty.

Most Destination Marketing pros understand the power of video to drive brand identity and awareness. But, most don't work on as many levels at Visit Tri-Cities' CEO Michael Novakovich. On this roller-coaster episode of DMOU, Michael shares how his team has embraced video as a brand tool and provided pandemic safety messaging on behalf of area health officials...not to mention how his 40+ member Board rocks. Plus, you'll get an insider's look at his time with the Destinations International House Band and his experience as an alt-grunge drummer in the Bonus Round. Fun stuff...enjoy.

It's the first week of the New Year...and how are those resolutions going? During the Holiday Season, we checked in with West Virginia Tourism's Chelsea Ruby, who recently commissioned a study to identify how such annual promises to one's self impact our travel decisions. The results are fascinating and she shares how consumers are now viewing travel as a wellness and family bonding imperative...and how that will change how her State communicates its value proposition going forward.

As we round out another challenging year, we posed a question in the halls of the Destinations International Advocacy Summit to Destination Leaders from across the Americas: What will you do new in 2022? 17 DMO leaders rose to the challenge of answering that question and we share their responses for inspiration as you ponder the opportunities before you in the New Year ahead. 

In the weeks and months after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico put into play plans to develop an independent Destination Marketing Organization and ultimately hired Brad Dean to build the agency from scratch. We caught up with this year's State Travel Director of the Year to hear how he made the decision to leave a great gig in Myrtle Beach for Puerto Rico, his philosophy behind hiring top talent and how the crisis of COVID drove his staff to create marketing magic that earned Discover Puerto Rico five Emmy nominations. Oh...and one of the funniest answers to the Bonus Round question yet. Join us.