Every destination is navigating change. New traveler expectations, new technologies, new pressures, and new opportunities — to name a few. Simpleview Summit 2026 is where the industry comes together to map the routes forward; our experts are charting the strategies, tools, and partnerships that will define destination success in the years ahead.
This year’s keynote lineup is intentionally designed to help you navigate what’s now, what’s next, and what’s possible. We’re talking:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital experiences
- Sports tourism growth
- Placemaking
- Regional collaboration
- Tech-driven storytelling
Across two packed days, these sessions will help you connect the dots, uncover new pathways, and leave with a clearer sense of direction for 2026 and beyond.
Tuesday, May 5 | 8:30–9:45 AM
From Innovation to Impact: How Granicus and Simpleview Are Redefining the Digital Destination Experience
If digital is the front door to your destination, this keynote is your map for what comes next. Traveler expectations keep rising, and the pressure is on to deliver experiences that feel seamless, intuitive, and personal. The good news is that innovation across Granicus and Simpleview is unlocking new routes to get there.
Join Karthik Anbalagan, Granicus's general manager of emerging technologies, for an inside look at how AI, automation, data intelligence, and next generation engagement tools are being built and applied to real world challenges. Then, connect the dots to what it means for DMOs and how this combined innovation ecosystem strengthens the Simpleview platform, improves workflows, and expands what is possible for personalization and performance.
You will leave with a clearer view of what is being built today, what is coming next, and how to plan your digital visitor engagement strategy with confidence.
Tuesday, May 5 | 1:00–1:45 PM
The State of Sports Tourism
Sports tourism is not slowing down, but the route to winning market share is changing. This keynote is your shortcut to the newest data and the trends shaping how destinations compete for events, visitors, and impact.
Be among the first to explore the newly released 2024 to 2025 Sports Tourism Data and Trends Report from Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA). John David, president and CEO of Sports ETA, will unpack fresh insights across participatory and spectator sports tourism, helping you understand where the sector stands right now and where it is headed.
Expect a session that is practical, timely, and packed with takeaways you can bring straight into planning. Whether sports tourism is a major lane for your destination or an emerging opportunity, you will gain a sharper view of traveler behavior shifts, event strategy signals, and how to position your destination for success.
Wednesday, May 6 | 8:30–9:00 AM
What We Talk About When We Talk About the Future of Tourism
The future is not one straight path — it is a network of intersecting routes shaped by technology, trust, community, and changing expectations. In this rapid-fire keynote, placemaking expert Frank Cuypers helps you zoom out, recalibrate, and refocus on what matters most next.
Cuypers explores key trends shaping tourism’s next chapter, including AI advances, permission-based marketing, and the growing importance of community engagement and alignment. He brings proven approaches from international destinations to spark new ideas and challenge conventional thinking.
This is the kind of session that leaves you scribbling notes, starting conversations, and rethinking what your destination should prioritize next.
Wednesday, May 6 | 9:00–9:45 AM
One City, One Vision: How Atlanta Partners to Deliver Global Events
Atlanta is a premier destination for major sporting events, and that success is rooted in citywide collaboration. This panel brings together leaders from Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Atlanta to discuss how they work together to host large-scale events, including preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026™. Panelists will share insights on community engagement and how they collaborate to enhance the visitor experience. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies for building effective citywide partnerships that elevate event experiences and strengthen destination appeal.
Wednesday, May 6 | 12:30–1:15 PM
Unlock Summer: Tech that Fuels Fashion and Travel
Innovation is a new route to relevance, culture, and connection. Visit Milwaukee is proving what happens when a destination uses technology as storytelling and turns creative partnerships into real world results.
In this keynote, Josh Albrecht, chief marketing officer at Visit Milwaukee, along with collaborators Eric “Shake” James and Alexander John, share how Milwaukee blended AI, blockchain, and brand partnerships into campaigns that drove engagement online and impact on the ground. You will explore how AI can humanize destination marketing, how emerging tech like NFTs can build community and loyalty, and why blending physical and digital experiences is becoming the new standard for standout tourism marketing.
Come for the creativity, stay for the practical playbook on earned media, partnerships, and campaigns that visitors want to be part of.
Simpleview Summit 2026 is where strategies connect, partnerships form, and the next chapter for destination marketing takes shape. If you are looking for practical guidance, a fresh perspective, and a stronger sense of where your destination should head next — this is where your route begins.
