As 2025 draws to a close, let's take a moment to look back at the stories, insights, and resources that resonated most with you this year. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite or discovering something new — read with the confidence that these pieces inspired strategies, solved challenges, and sparked conversations.
Think of this as your highlight reel: the best of 2025, all in one place.
To jump to a specific section, please click the links directly below:
Resources that resonate
Back to Top of List5 essential Simpleview CRM reports to fuel smarter sales teams
In the dynamic world of destination sales, comprehensive data is crucial for understanding the health of your pipeline and making informed decisions. We’ve pulled together five of the most common Simpleview CRM reports that DMOs around the world use to develop a holistic view of sales activities so you can start selling smarter.
Touring the new ADA terrain: A guide for DMOs
New digital accessibility regulations are coming in 2026, and DMOs are under pressure to enhance their websites — whether they’re directly impacted or not. This ebook from our friends at AudioEye shares what’s changing and when so DMOs can be prepared.
Identities that inspire: A visual journey through award-winning websites
A good tourism website is the heartbeat of your brand story and an immersive gateway to your destination. It inspires visitors, helps planners picture the perfect event, thrills sports fans … the opportunities are endless. This ebook is a visual journey through 2024’s award-winning website designs that set the standards for creativity, functionality, and user experience to spark ideas for your website.
Executive Insights Symposium Report
DMOs are navigating a time of rapid transformation. From revolutionary technology and global market shifts to evolving responsibilities of placemaking and community stewardship, the challenges and opportunities are forcing DMOs to strengthen their strategies. This report pulls together insights industry leaders shared about the powerful forces reshaping our industry at the 2025 Executive Insights Symposium.
Simpleview DMO marketing automation strategies
Building relationships with diverse audiences, spurring engagement, igniting sales, and creating effective communications — the list of demands across can stretch a DMO’s resources to the limit. Marketing automation helps you reclaim your time. This ebook explores how automation can fuel campaigns that streamline work throughout your organization. From sales to partnership — there’s a benefit to everyone.
Worth a watch
Back to Top of ListSEO in the age of AI: What DMOs must know for 2025 and beyond
As destination marketing organizations grapple with rapid shifts in traveler behavior and digital disruption, understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer optional — it’s essential. In this forward-looking webinar, we unpacked how AI is redefining visibility, user engagement, and content strategy in the tourism sector.
AI & the future of discovery: What ChatGPT data reveals about how travelers find you
AI is reshaping how travelers search, plan, and choose destinations. Watch this on-demand session for an early look at new data showing how tools like ChatGPT are influencing destination discovery — and what it means for your content strategy. Learn how DMOs can use these insights to create smarter, more discoverable content that meets travelers where they are in the new AI-powered landscape.
Beyond rankings: Rethinking SEO KPIs in the age of AI
AI has rewritten the rules of search, and rankings and traffic are no longer the only indicators of success. During this on-demand webinar, we explored how AI-powered search shifts user behavior, discourages clicks, and reshapes SEO success.
Inform, influence, engage: How DMOs can turn short-term rentals into long-term value
With 20-fold growth over the past 15 years and more than 2.4 million listings in the U.S. alone, short-term rentals have become a vital part of the tourism ecosystem. This on-demand webinar explored how DMOs can harness their potential as long-term assets for their communities.
Success Stories
Back to Top of ListVisit Delaware’s awe-inspiring and accessible new website: The influence of Simpleview + AudioEye
The Visit Delaware website hadn't been updated in many years. They called on the seamless integration of Simpleview CRM and CMS to adopt a fresh, eye-catching, and user-friendly new design. The redesigned website has delivered the following goal-accomplishing results:
- 45% increase in requests for Visit Delaware’s travel guide
- 37% rise in page views on the events page
- 256% increase in views on the attractions landing page
The perfect pairing: How Visit Rapid City used Simpleview & Visit Widget to serve up success
Behind the historic faces of Rapid City, South Dakota, lies a city of family-friendly adventures and foodie flare. Visit Rapid City expanded its originally downtown-focused Restaurant Week into a citywide event to boost tourism during the off-season, generating:
- 50 participating restaurants — a 25% increase 2024.
- 2,024 total check-ins — a 106% increase 2024.
- $45,000 estimated economic impact.
The power of partnerships: How Experience Columbus wields Simpleview Digital Services + Bandwango
Experience Columbus sought innovative ways to boost engagement and maximize the value of its Bandwango platform, which offers passes that generate leads and drive revenue. The result? An astounding 1,500% increase in interactions and a dramatic rise in user engagement.
Award-winning destination marketing: how Visit Stillwater’s small team clutched a big win
Each year, Visit Stillwater sets ambitious goals to continually improve and grow its online presence, aiming to draw more visitors to its website. The DMO turned to Simpleview for a comprehensive content management system, customer relationship management software, and strategic digital services to drive:
- Increase website traffic by 9.4%.
- Increase website pageviews by 11.7%.
- Notable increase in engagement on the events calendar page.
How Simpleview CRM + Act-On saves Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau 4,000+ hours each year
The Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) promises to support its members by providing unique, strategic benefits to help them achieve their goals. But with 1,300 members (100 new members annually) and hundreds of new contacts for existing members each year, HVCB faced a challenge in onboarding, engaging, and retaining so many accounts without consuming its staff’s valuable time. Using Simpleview CRM and Act-On, HVCB built automated workflows that boast the following results:
- An open rate of 55.1%, with an open rate of 25.7% on resends.
- 78% of respondents said the welcome series was “very helpful.”
- Zero opt-outs.
- Saved 4,000 hours a year with automation.
- Increased membership by about 100 in 2024.
Take a listen
Back to Top of ListThe Layover Live: How destinations collaborate to host major events
Josh Albrecht from Visit Milwaukee and Nick Meisner from Discover Green Bay share the inside story of how state tourism organizations can team up to pull off major events like the NFL Draft. From coordinating across destinations to rallying community support, they’ll walk through the real-world strategies that turn collaboration into impact.
Grass roots tourism: How community engagement fuels tourism development
Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares, and Chris Seek, CEO of Solimar International, share hands-on insights into how community engagement strengthens development.
Symposium special: AI governance for DMOs and their leaders
Janette Roush, senior vice president of innovation and chief AI officer at Brand USA, explores the need for DMOs to review how they use AI.
The Layover Live: How DMOs are using smarter KPIs to drive smarter marketing
Andrea Robyns, marketing technology director at Experience Grand Rapids, and Vimal Vyas, vice president of data, security, and innovation at Greater Raleigh CVB, discuss how DMOs should shift KPIs to AI and engagement-driven strategies.
Resilience and recovery: The role of tourism tech in times of disruption
Hear from DMO Market Strategist and founding partner of Simpleview, Ryan George, who has guided hundreds of destinations through disruption, from analog to digital, and now into the era of AI, automation, and citizen connectivity. Learn how tech, trust, and community are shaping the industry’s future.
On the blog
Back to Top of ListHello, video! 4 tips for fantastic hero videos
We all love bells and whistles, and wouldn’t we all love an extravagantly gorgeous and creative video at the top of our destination marketing organization’s homepage? Explore the secrets behind the most effective hero videos.
GEO for DMOs: how Generative Engine Optimization changes the SEO game
The way people search online is changing ... fast. It’s time to ensure your destination remains visible in the age of AI generative search. Here are our experts’ practical tips specifically for DMOs.
Make way for the stars of the show — destination websites starting the new year off right
The creative services team had another busy year of designing digital excellence for DMOs — perfectly fitting their respective brands and marketing goals. Check out these destinations that are entering the new year with stunning website designs, seamless integrations, and show-stopping brands.
Where wanderlust meets web design: this quarter’s destination launches by Simpleview
From coastal charm to urban escapes, these new sites showcase more than just beautiful design; they are built with purpose. Get ready to explore how cutting-edge design meets the strategic functionality of CMS in our latest launches.
Designing inclusive websites: how to create neurodiverse-friendly online experiences
For every well-planned website you’ve visited, it’s likely you’ve also experienced several websites with low contrast, hard-to-read text, and poor font choices that make navigating information a frustrating chore. By focusing on accessibility and usability, DMOs can make sure websites are welcoming, easy to navigate, and intuitive for everyone — no matter how they process information.
Q&A with Sonoma County Tourism: how Visit Widget boosted the “Sonoma County App Experience Giveaway”
Sonoma County Tourism wants people to know that Sonoma County, California, is so much more than just a premier Wine Country destination. Get ready to be inspired by how they used Visit Widget’s solutions in a creative and successful messaging strategy for the “Sonoma County App Experience Giveaway.”
Unlock success in 2025 with 6 top tourism trends
New year, new content plan. Even with the best of intentions, we know the blank page of a fresh year can be a little intimidating. Need some quick inspiration? Let these brief highlights be your guide to creating captivating content in 2025.
From beach vibes to business hubs: check out this quarter’s website launches from Simpleview
From sun-soaked beaches to dynamic cityscapes, DMOs across the world are enhancing their digital presence to better serve travelers and businesses. Whether exploring aerial views of Panama City Beach, planning year-round adventures in Kelowna, accessing multilingual business resources in Rhode Island, or booking a beach getaway to South Padre Island — these websites deliver seamless, informative, and fun experiences for every visitor.
Get your head in the game! These 3 DMOs are scoring big in youth sporting events
Sports tourism is a key driver in the travel industry, and there is a new MVP on its team: youth sporting events. Here are three examples of DMOs that will inspire you to get your head in the game.
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