I recently had the privilege of joining an exceptional group of destination leaders and Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program managers in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the 2025 CTA Summit — a gathering that quietly but powerfully reminded us what the real operating system of tourism looks like:…
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As Jack Johnson, chief advocacy officer at Destinations Internationals, steps into retirement — he joins the Future of Tourism podcast for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on the ideas that shaped his career and continue to shape the industry. From his roots in public service to his leadership…
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Destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are undergoing a transformation from promotion-focused agencies to true stewards of place. Gone are the days of simply handing out visitor's guides; the destination marketing of today is data-driven and steeped in pride of place. As this shift unfolds…
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If you take a wide view of the past 25 years, it’s hard not to be amazed by tourism’s tenacity. The industry has weathered the September 11 attacks, the SARS and MERS outbreaks, a global financial collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, a world marked by war, geopolitical tension, and economic…
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This is the final installment of our special three-part series inspired by the Executive Insights Symposium — a gathering of some of the brightest minds in destination marketing and management. Catch up on previous episodes here: AI governance for DMOs and their leaders with Janette Roush, senior…
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This episode is part two of our special three-part series inspired by the Executive Insights Symposium — a gathering of some of the brightest minds in destination marketing and management. In part one, we unpacked the urgent need for AI governance with Brand USA’s Janette Roush. Catch up here…
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I’m excited to introduce a series of new, special editions of the Future of Tourism podcast. These episodes are inspired by dynamic conversations from our first ever Executive Insights Symposium — which took place at Simpleview Summit 2025 this past April. We begin by diving into a topic that has…
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The United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG) were designed to address a wide range of global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. Under SDG 17, which simply reads “partnerships for the goals,” UN Tourism notes: Due to…
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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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