Destination Marketing Podcast

In this episode, Adam is joined live in the studio by AJ Brau, co-founder and CEO of Wander. She discusses the recent upgrades Wander has made to their technology and explains why it’s crucial for destinations to collaborate with vendors to drive industry innovation forward. Listen and learn how to own your visitor attribution using tools that capture valuable data directly from the source. Also discover what AJ envisions for Wander's future, including becoming the #1 platform travelers turn to when booking a trip. “We want to solve your problems. We don’t have the same insight into your life that you do, and that’s actually the most valuable thing we can gain from working with destinations—learning what their problems are so we can build better solutions for the entire industry.” – AJ Brau Wander Maps If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

Brandon Schexnayder, the founder of Southern Gothic Media, joins Adam on today's episode to talk about his podcast, which tells the ghost stories of various communities in the Southern United States. He details his background in the music industry, how he found his way into the podcasting space and what the initial stages were like in creating his podcast. He also discusses some of the most interesting stories he's told on his show and his work with DMOs to tell the ghost stories of their respective communities. Lastly, Brandon gives some insight into how he's been able to grow his podcast and the importance of collaboration in the podcasting space. "At the end of the day though, I have to say the biggest thing that you can do is be involved in the other community of podcasts, period. If you want to grow your show, if you want to grow your content, being involved with other content creators and building that community is going to grow more than anything." - Brandon Schexnayder Southern Gothic Media If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

On today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam sits down with Thomas Salley, the director of Great State of Wilkes, Tourism in North Carolina. Thomas joins the podcast in the wake of the impact of Hurricane Helene and he discusses his experiences with the storm and what role DMOs play when this kind of natural disaster takes place. He also provides important takeaways for other DMOs to use as a future reference when dealing with a natural disaster, such as the importance of reliable communication methods, establishing yourself as the travel spokesperson for your destination and building strong relationships with local government and emergency services. "I woke up Sunday morning after the storm had kind of come through, and I saw all these images and heard people saying, you know, we need all of these things, and just seeing the destruction, I knew I had to do something. So, I felt like in my role, what I could do was to go and be of service to my neighbors." - Thomas Salley Resources Mentioned in the Episode: Great State of Wilkes, Tourism: https://www.wilkescountytourism.com/ Hospitality Relief Workers Fund: https://www.ncrla.org/foundation/nc-hospitality-workers-relief-fund/ Visit North Carolina | State Tourism Director Wit Tuttell: wit.tuttell@visitnc.com State Government Emergency Fund: https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations and https://www.nc.gov/disaster-relief-fund-faqs State Hurricane Resource Page: https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene https://www.visitnc.com/advisory/cAdA/hurricane-helene-travel-advisory If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

Tony Carne, a thought leader in AI and the creator of the Everything AI in Travel newsletter, joins Adam on today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast to discuss his background in the travel industry and how he fell in love with AI. Tony also touches on some AI-related things he's seeing in the international travel space, such as AI education opportunities and a company that creates personalized travel guides. He underscores how much AI can increase efficiency and shares his thoughts on how it can impact travel in the future. "The future of destination marketing, as I see it, can change significantly should the leaders in destination marketing choose to make that change. It's no longer, we can't do it because we don't have the resources or it's technically impossible, those pieces have gone away now. It's actually just, 'Do you want to or not?'" - Tony Carne Everything AI in Travel If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

Cody Chomiak from Travel Manitoba and Tom Loftus from Visit Richmond, Virginia join Adam on today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast to discuss various tourism topics. They give their perspectives on issues facing the destination marketing industry, such as navigating small budgets and discerning important metrics. The conversation then moves into a discussion about AI and how each person has embraced it in their professional lives. Stay tuned until later in the episode for an AI-driven musical treat. "If we're really wanting to be honest and we're really wanting to use data to inform decisions, we have to be skeptical of that data and also ask deeper questions so that we're not going in a direction that's going to lead us into disaster." - Cody Chomiak Travel Manitoba Visit Richmond, Virginia If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

On this special episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam joins Dane Carlson as a guest on The Econ Dev Show to discuss the symbiotic relationship between destination marketing and economic development. They discuss how DMOs and economic developers can collaborate and improve on things like site visits to create positive memorable experiences. Adam and Dane also underscore the benefits of owned media and podcasting to their respective industries and the importance of creating valuable content for their respective audiences. The Econ Dev Show Listen to our previous episode with Dane Carlson! If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Kristina Ainge, PR and Content Director at Relic. They talk about the changing landscape of social media and content marketing and why destinations need to pay attention to both micro and macro trends. With nearly a decade of experience in social media, PR, and influencer marketing, Kristina offers a treasure trove of insights on how to effectively engage audiences and build communities through content. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com

In this episode, Adam is joined by Glorianna Yamin, Vice President of Marketing for Discover Puerto Rico. Glorianna shares her career journey, discusses her recognition as one of Destinations International's 30 Under 30, and highlights Discover Puerto Rico’s innovative marketing initiatives, including a collaboration with Pantone to create a color called “Puerto Rico Sunshine." Glorianna also discusses other creative campaigns like "Sounds Like Puerto Rico" and future projects celebrating Puerto Rican heritage. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam is joined by Nathaniel Sweetman, Sports Marketing Coordinator for Visit Sarasota County. Nathaniel shares his journey into sports marketing, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and community engagement. He discusses Sarasota's unique facilities, strategies for attracting niche events, and the economic impact of sports tourism. The episode highlights the role of personalized PR strategies and the power of compelling narratives in enhancing event visibility and fostering local support. “Try and tell the stories. I think sometimes some of our sporting events have some really cool, unique ties to them. You can come in and bring in 150 events and again, if not many people are aware of it or your stakeholders aren't even aware of it, it's not going to mean much at the end of the day.” -Nathaniel Sweetman If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam Stoker and guest Bill Geist discuss a critical issue facing destination marketing organizations: a growing disconnect between boards, CEOs, and political stakeholders. They discuss the misalignment between boards and destinations, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the importance of effective board orientation. Bill emphasizes a need for better communication, storytelling, and proactive strategies to foster understanding and support within DMOs. “You cannot explain what it is we do to somebody over lunch, there's just not enough time and it isn't professional. Orientation should be an all-hands-on-deck, 2 to 3 hour immersion in what we do because what we do, almost nobody out there understands.” -Bill Geist If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Mark Marsiglio, President and CEO of Trail Pilot, to talk about the synergy between tourism and mountain biking. Mark discusses his background, the creation of the Trail Pilot app, and its role in enhancing the mountain biking experience through guided audio tours. Mark emphasizes the importance of targeting niche markets, such as mountain bikers, as they can be a valuable persona in a comprehensive destination marketing strategy. Trail Pilot If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam talks with Dane Carlson, host of the Econ Dev Show and CEO of Site Hunt, about the crucial link between tourism and economic development. Dane shares his journey from blogging to economic development, including how he transformed Mariposa California by adding an escape room to the visitor center. Dane also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between economic developers and destination marketers to create meaningful visitor experiences and drive local economic growth.  The Econ Dev Show If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam talks to John David, President and CEO of Sports ETA. The conversation highlights the organization's role in promoting sports tourism through education, advocacy, resources, and networking. John emphasizes the importance of listening to stakeholders and understanding the economic impact of sports tourism, which includes significant contributions to local economies and job creation. The episode underscores the potential for communities to benefit from investing in sports tourism infrastructure. “You can go build a new facility and certainly service your community at a very high level, or you can partner with tourism and build a facility that is national caliber. Monday through Thursday, you're putting your families, and your citizens on some of the best fields in the United States, and then it's paying for itself Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.” -John David Sports ETA If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam provides a mid-year check-in on the destination marketing industry. He emphasizes the importance of creativity and budget in differentiating destinations, highlighting successful marketing campaigns from Laguna Beach, Minnesota, and Myrtle Beach. Adam discusses the shift from traditional influencers to content creators and the need for dynamic marketing strategies. He also addresses the changing landscape of paid media, advocating for content-focused promotion to more effectively engage potential visitors. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam chats with Dave Parulo, President and CEO, and Claire Fisher, Chief Marketing Officer of Explore Tualatin Valley. Recorded live at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida, they highlight the importance of community engagement in destination rebrands and talk about their experience with their recent rebranding experience. They also discuss the importance of data in decision-making and why it can be challenging to prove the ROI of a branding project to stakeholders. “We found that there was one name and one area, which is the Tualatin Valley which was used predominantly locally, and it was a leap of faith for us to look for a name that wasn't the exact destination name, but the one feature we could find to talk about.” -Dave Parulo Explore Tualatin Valley If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Dave Harrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the importance of storytelling in destination marketing, the evolution of the Quad Cities' podcast "QC That's Where," and the significance of owned media in their marketing strategy. Dave shares a recent experience where a creative, humorous response to a public mention of the Quad Cities went viral, highlighting the power of authenticity and community engagement in shaping public perception and fostering civic pride. “I strongly believe that you've got a responsibility as a destination to make sure that you're reacting in a way that's true to who you are, and you can do it in a way that doesn't necessarily need to be so serious in terms of the tonal response.” -Dave Herrell Check out the viral video! Visit The Quad Cities If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam takes the show on the road to the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. He sits down with Wayne Stewart, former account manager at Relic and current director of marketing and communications at Visit Casper, Wyoming. They talk about Wayne’s career path and the opportunities that ultimately led him to become a part of Destinations International’s 30 under 30 class of 2024. Wayne also shares what it’s like to become a leader in the destination marketing space at such a young age.  “A large majority of us all have imposter syndrome in our positions and being considered future industry leaders and having that 30 under 30 recognition, so it's nice to know that that feeling is shared and I'm not the only one. Having people that I know I can reach out to share information and ask the interesting things that they're working on is a huge benefit.” -Wayne Stewart Visit Casper 30 Under 30 If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam’s business partner Colby Remund joins the show to unveil a major announcement. Listen to hear what the announcement is and how it could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the tourism industry. They also discuss the history of Relic and how they got to where they are today.  “The industry needs that digital town square, that hub, that place where we can all congregate. Our true focus is just hoping desperately that we can keep valuable content constantly in the face of everybody that's using the site.” -Colby Remund Check out Tourism IQ here! If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Lesly Veve joins Adam to discuss his background, skills, and aspirations in the destination marketing industry. Lesly shares his passion for changing the narrative about tourism in Haiti and his desire to positively impact Haiti’s tourism economy. He and Adam dive into some of the skills that Lesly has to offer the destination marketing workforce and why any destination organization would be lucky to have him as a part of their team. “How can we change some of that narrative and show a different Haiti or at least the parts of Haiti where things aren't, you know, the crazy stuff that we see on the media all the time? And so that was, I think, my first drive to try to go in that field.” Check out Lesly's portfolio Connect with Lesly on LinkedIn If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.

In this episode, Adam is joined by Laura White, senior director of brand marketing and strategy at Visit Charlotte. With nearly half of their yearly visitation coming from visiting friends and family, Laura tells us how they shifted their marketing efforts to tap into this previously under-recognized market. Adam and Laura explore the challenges of aligning this new marketing strategy with hoteliers' goals and the importance of fostering community pride.  “When you're hosting, you want to show them the best that where you live has to offer. That fact alone is something that is so intertwined with the perception of the destination. If your residents don't have the best perception of the destination, that is going to translate into how others view your destination.” -Laura White Visit Charlotte If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email adam@relicagency.com or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.