Give Me Some Good News

For a very special episode 50, Caleb sits down with Stuart Butler, CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach and co-host of Destination Discourse, for a conversation about what it takes to challenge the status quo and move the tourism industry forward.Stuart shares the unlikely journey from studying rocket science to leading one of the country’s premier destination organizations, the experiences that shaped his “scrappy” philosophy, and why courage and imagination are essential for the future of tourism.They explore how AI could fundamentally change the DMO model, why destinations need to think beyond annual budgets and embrace “cathedral thinking,” and the importance of taking risks, collecting experiences, and being willing to be wrong.Plus, Stuart shares his advice for the next generation of tourism leaders—and why, despite all the disruption ahead, he believes there’s plenty of good news about the future of travel.

For Episode 49, Caleb turns the microphone around for the first solo episode of Give Me Some Good News.After nearly a year of conversations with destination leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and tourism professionals, Caleb shares five lessons that have stuck with him: nobody has it all figured out, relationships compound, data matters because people matter, the best leaders stay curious, and there’s still plenty to be optimistic about in tourism.It’s a reflection on 49 episodes, a career built around destination marketing, and why the people behind this industry continue to be the best good news of all.

Fall and holiday events take a lot of work.... but how do you know if they actually worked? In this episode of Give Me Some Good News, Caleb sits down with Datafy’s CRO, Lauren Rogers, to talk about how destinations can better promote, measure, and understand the impact of their events.From reaching the right audiences before an event to measuring attendance, visitor spending, and advertising impact afterward, they break down how better data can help destinations move beyond the “eyeball estimate” and tell a stronger story about the value events bring to their communities.Whether you’re planning a festival, holiday celebration, sporting event, or community activation, this episode offers practical ideas to help you measure what matters—and make the next event even better.

What does it take for a smaller destination to punch above its weight? We find out when we sit down with Steven Schumacher, President of Cartersville Museum City, to talk about bold destination leadership, building a brand that stands out, and why a smaller budget doesn't have to mean a smaller impact.Steven shares the story behind Cartersville's Museum City identity, why successful DMO leaders need to get out from behind their desks and into their communities, and how giving your team permission to experiment, and occasionally fail, can lead to some of your biggest wins.They also explore the changing role of the DMO CEO, the importance of building a strategic process that can adapt to change, and why relationships remain one of the tourism industry's greatest resources.Plus, Steven closes with some pretty great good news from home.

In this episode of Give Me Some Good News, Caleb sits down with Andy Clinton, President & CEO of Visit York County, to talk about his journey from an entry-level visitor services role to leading the DMO in the community where he grew up.Andy shares lessons on leadership, developing the next generation of tourism professionals, balancing visitor growth with community needs, and why DMOs increasingly need to think beyond city and county lines. They also explore York County’s relationship with neighboring Charlotte, the connection between tourism and economic development, and an ambitious new basketball event featuring games at midnight, 3 a.m., 6 a.m. and beyond.It’s a conversation about career growth, community impact, and what the evolving role of a destination organization looks like in practice.