From Skift Meetings: In a city where hotel taxes are among the highest in the nation, Chicago’s tourism leaders say a 1.5% surcharge is the only way to stay in the game. Kristen Reynolds, just two months into her role as president and CEO of Choose Chicago, is focused on what she calls a critical…
Loren Christie, GainingEdge Consultant and Managing Director of BestCities Global Alliance argues that Destination Marketing Organisations are discovering that collaboration enhances resilience, amplifies impact and drives innovation. These partnerships should be more than operational, they should be visionary and meaningful, and DMOs should leverage their qualities to bring unique value when hosting international association meetings.
In partnership with Destinations International, TravelAbility has created a customized Accessibility Playbook designed to assist destination organizations and their local stakeholders in developing and implementing practical accessibility strategies and initiatives, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. The Accessibility Playbook helps destinations move from compliance to a competitive edge.
From Northstar Meetings Group: Destinations International has released the findings of its 2025 DestinationNEXT Futures Study. The research, which is conducted every two years in partnership with MMGY NextFactor, focuses on top trends impacting the industry, as well as strategies for navigating current issues. The 2025 report includes insights from a global advisory council, five…
The 2025 Destinations International DestinationNEXT arrives at a moment of profound transition for the global visitor economy. After a decade of disruption, reinvention, and recovery, destination organizations are entering a new era; one defined not only by shifting travel patterns and technologies, but by rising expectations from governments, communities, and travelers alike. This year’s study…
In a time when certifications and indexes dominate the sustainability narrative, this whitepaper invites destination leaders to look deeper—beyond metrics and toward meaningful, transformative strategies. Drawing on 20 expert interviews, survey data and real-life insights from frontrunner cities like Helsinki and Gothenburg, it challenges DMOs to use frameworks as tools—not as finish lines.
This White Paper produced by VivaCITY (a partnership between CityDNA and Simpleview / Granicus) examines the role, benefits and limitations of sustainability indices and certifications. With evolving EU regulation raising expectations and challenging both local policymakers and destination management professionals on destination sustainability standards and performance, this paper argues that these concepts are not ends…
Held during the 2025 IMEX Policy Forum in Frankfurt, this high-level interview with urbanist, author and global advisor Prof Greg Clark CBE FAcSS provides essential geopolitical and socioeconomic context for understanding the future potential direction of Business Events and what destinations that wish to strengthen their competitive positioning need to do. “A multiplication of opportunity…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this…
Northstar’s global hosted-buyer event for the incentive travel industry—brings together the most highly-qualified incentive travel buyers with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from around the world. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this…
Destination Hawaii—Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event—brings together the most highly-qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the islands of Hawaii. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group. This unique event…
Thrive: The Community Vitality Summit is where bold ideas meet purposeful action. This in-person gathering convenes destination leaders, changemakers and community stewards who are committed to creating places where everyone feels welcome, connected and valued. Formerly the Social Inclusion Summit, Thrive reflects an expanded vision to support vibrant, people-centered destinations by aligning the value of…
The Business Operations Summit is a cross-functional gathering of destination organization professionals in finance, human resources, operations and technology. This year’s summit will provide insight on post-pandemic recovery from an organizational perspective, focusing on new ways to think about how destination organizations are organized, staffed and operated. Sign Up for More Information: Be the first…
VisitBritain’s updated Delegate Spend Report reveals that 62% of all delegates on average intend to return to the city where the event is held, and 47% intend to return to invest or grow business relationships, encouraging sector growth. You can learn more about the findings / download the full report here…
Wonderful Copenhagen’s new high-level strategy for tourism (including Business Events) 2024-2030, designed to “shed light on tourism’s true impact on society and the world – its positive and negative effects, and its direct and indirect.” A model for meaningful engagement with local citizens and deeper links to local business and scientific ecosystems.
From Boardroom: Long recognised for its hospitality, culture, and strategic position within Europe’s business events landscape, Barcelona is now working to embed long-term societal value into the very fabric of the events it attracts.
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