With 2024 freshly in the rearview, we’re taking a moment to look back at the stories and trends that shaped the last year. Did you go all in on accessibility? Catch a can’t-miss concert? Make something out of this world?
Let’s take a look.
On the Blog
The Simpleview, now a part of Granicus, blog is your go-to spot for the latest featured stories and actionable insights that inform, entertain, and inspire. You can get our latest content delivered fresh to your inbox each month when you subscribe to the “Going Places” newsletter.
Here are the top stories you read in 2024.
A path to paid media success: understanding Performance Max vs. Demand Gen strategies
Do you feel like your paid media efforts are stuck at a standstill? Do you hear talk of new campaigns but don’t know how they could work for your destination marketing organization (DMO)? You're not alone — and this article is here to help.
Simpleview launches a new Digital Asset Management System, tailored for DMOs
This cutting-edge platform is powered by Cloudinary — the image and video technology platform that powers visual experiences for many of the world’s top brands. It is specifically designed to streamline and optimize digital asset management, organization, and delivery for DMOs.
Does Title II of the ADA apply to my destination marketing website?
On April 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) signed a final rule under Title II of the ADA requiring state and local governments to make their websites and mobile apps accessible to people with disabilities. In other words, if a DMO is contracted by the state or local government to provide information on behalf of the government, it must also follow Title II guidelines on web accessibility. This article breaks down key dates and requirements of the new rule, how digital accessibility fits into a modern marketing strategy, and how Simpleview helps DMOs become ADA-compliant.
Captivate travelers in 2024: 5 destination marketing trends
“Trend” can be a dirty word. A noisy, flitting, vapid distraction clamoring for attention while offering nothing of real substance or impact. But some trends present opportunities. They’re built on strong foundations and ripe with future implications. In the ever-shifting landscape of destination marketing, it’s important to know which is which — and which you can trust to strengthen your strategies.
The beginning of an “Era” (you know which one): the evolution & impact of concert tourism
In an era where wanderlust meets the FOMO of seeing your favorite artists perform live, concert tourism has emerged as a vibrant niche in the travel industry — perhaps led by a certain beloved pop star and her 2023-2024 Eras Tour.
To post or not to post … the top 4 social media trends DMOs should dive into or avoid
As social media continues to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate online, DMOs are liking, commenting, and posting like never before to enhance their marketing strategies, entice travelers, and promote their destinations. With new trends constantly emerging, it can be tricky to separate the ones that are worth your team’s limited time from those that might not be as fruitful. Here are four social media trends DMOs should either dive into or avoid.
Destination Q&A: DMOs that discovered co-branding hop-portunities with local breweries
Seeking an innovative way to elevate your tourism brand? A collaborative product might be just what your DMO needs to enhance your brand's image, reach, and profitability. Two Simpleview clients — Visit Athens and The Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau — offered their insights on successfully forging partnerships with compatible brands.
Out-of-this-world (literally) crazy marketing ideas that worked
It’s been a while since our last blog about crazy marketing ideas that worked — and things have only gotten crazier. DMOs near and far never seem to disappoint when it comes to out-of-the-box marketing. Aliens, sheep, a cocktail-themed vending machine, and even a spicy social media post about a certain box office hit — here are four crazy marketing ideas that worked.
7 steps DMOs can (and should) take to help their teams eagerly adopt artificial intelligence
Adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in a DMO can save teams time, effort, and bandwidth — yet gaining buy-in from cautious executive teams requires a strategic approach. Here are recommendations on how to get your team on board when it comes to AI.
New tourism, hospitality & meetings market websites you need to see — Simpleview does it all
From destinations to hoteliers, new websites filled the end of 2023 and more destinations kicked off the new year with the best content management system (CMS) in the travel industry. Over 30 DMOs across the world launched new or refreshed digital landscapes to showcase their content, imagery, and unique offerings. Check out these stunning new sites and bookmark your favorites for 2024 inspiration.
Take a Listen
Whether you’re looking for quick-hitting and practical digital marketing insights for destination marketing pros, or want to take a deep dive into the industry’s challenges and opportunities through candid conversations with leaders and luminaries from around the world, our podcasts have you covered.
You can subscribe to the Future of Tourism podcast and the Layover Live podcast to be the first to know when a new episode goes live.
Here are the hottest episodes that filled your headphones.
Demystifying accessibility: embracing accessible tourism to empower destinations
For the last decade, tourism organizations globally have been moving toward a more local, engaged, and citizen-focused model. The question remains — how do we generate the engagement and alliances in our communities that are needed for success? The most pressing challenge we face right now as destination organizations is how to quickly, meaningfully, and effectively engage our stakeholders and citizens. If we don't prioritize this, then the rest will not fall into place.
Building an inclusive destination: navigating unrest and inequity with trust and opportunity
Join our discussion about how to build an inclusive destination amid unrest and inequity. How do you build trust and create opportunities for a better future? What role does tourism play and where do you start?
Layover Live insights: exploring Google’s Gemini & other content trends
AI took the world — and marketers — by storm when Chat GPT first started answering our questions. I remember the debates. Is this a fad destined to fade? A revolutionary piece of tech that will remove the need for humans to still perform their jobs? A new way of working that will streamline our workflows (and maybe even our lives)? Well, the momentum isn’t stopping.
Digital maturity decoded: how destination marketers can navigate an ever-evolving landscape
Destination marketers live in a different world now than they did just a few years ago. AI, digital privacy, new platforms, and more technology revolutions have fundamentally changed the way we market. Today we have more competition — and more complexity — than ever, which means more opportunities for savvy destination marketers ready to lead their organizations toward digital transformation.
Worth a Watch
Simpleview’s webinar vault is bursting with industry-leading education that gives you access to knowledge, data, and demos. Want more worthwhile webinars? Sign up for our bi-weekly webinar email.
New Year, New ChatGPT: How It’s Changing in 2024
Check out this webinar to hear the latest and greatest on ChatGPT and what our experts expect to see in 2024 as this technology grows. With over 180.5 million users, ChatGPT is proving its worth amongst DMOs — find out how you can take advantage of it to save your team time and effort.
A Deep Dive into the DOJ Ruling for Accessibility: Need-To-Know Standards for DMOs
Dive deep into the recent U.S. DOJ ruling for accessibility. Discover key state government accessibility updates and explore the regulations that your destination marketing organization needs to know to meet accessibility standards.
Prospecting: A Personalized Sales Approach in a Technology-Driven Environment
Technology reigns … but it’s still essential to connect with customers on a personal level if you want to best match your products and services to their business goals and objectives. In this special prospecting MINT+ webinar, wel explore ways to infuse the authenticity of destination, hotel, and venue experiences into communication and relationship-building skills.
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