In 2016, Dr. Phil Xiang co-wrote a prescient academic paper on the then-emerging concept of “smart tourism.” I use the word “prescient” because it foresaw the complex future we are now living in. The fabric of the tourism industry has evolved, reshaping how experiences are created, exchanged…
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Jason Kirby, a reporter for The Globe and Mail, wrote, “In the fall of ‘22, a remarkable innovation burst onto the scene with the power to reshape the world that has kickstarted the next great productivity boom.” Kirby pointed out that in less than two years since artificial intelligence (AI)…
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In today’s ever-evolving and demanding travel landscape, now more than ever destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are testing the boundaries of the conventional DMO role and function with new and innovative projects. The fact that they now have free electric taxis in Bellevue, Washington, may…
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In 2020, Elisa Mameli was fresh out of her studies for her Master’s Degree in Strategic Tourism Management and Marketing and working as a Brand Ambassador for Your Sardinia Experience. By December 2020, the global travel industry ground to a halt, and in her own words, “That is when I became…
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Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Sustainability. Engagement. One of these things is not like the others. EDI and sustainability. Both of these were on the radar of most destination organizations seven years ago. But to be clear, in 2017, EDI was focused on displaying diversity in marketing…
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The events of Memorial Day, May 25, 2020 — the death of George Floyd, captured on video, created a nationwide protest. It was a grisly harbinger of the ever-present specter of racism, but also a powerful call for pressing change not just in Minnesota but across the country and around the world. If…
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For the last decade, tourism organizations globally have been moving toward a more local, engaged, and citizen-focused model. As we set our sights on regenerative tourism, sustainability, accessibility, and a virtuous visitor economy, the question remains — how do we generate the engagement and…
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Advertising guru David Ogilvy said it best in the 1950s: “The consumer is intelligent, the consumer will figure it out, the consumer will make wise choices.” The pressing need for destinations to communicate their authentic state of being has never been more apparent. Visitors in a world rebounding…
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If you’ve watched the rise of narrative-based generative artificial intelligence (AI), then you’re likely as conflicted about the long-term outcomes of this magnificent leap in computing technology as I am. On one hand, we have revered computer scientist and cognitive psychologist, Geoffrey Hinton…
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Behavioral optimization in tourism may not be a familiar term, but it’s definitely happening. For over two decades, psychologists, sociologists, researchers, academics, and strategists worldwide have been actively exploring ways to influence and shift human behavior within the tourism industry. At…
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