Destination Marketing Podcast

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.

In this episode, Adam joins Earl B. Hunter Jr. to announce a brand new podcast, "It’s Bigger Than Camping." They discuss the show's mission to promote inclusivity and unity in the outdoor community, educate listeners on the benefits of the outdoors and highlight destinations that welcome all who want to experience the outdoors. Earl shares insights from his experience in the RV and outdoor industries, emphasizing the importance of inviting everyone, regardless of age, race or gender, to enjoy the outdoors. The podcast aims to establish a community of outdoor lovers and encourage meaningful discussions around a virtual campfire. “We started this amazing podcast because we want to share with the world, and share with everyone, who we are, what we do, and we want to invite and welcome everyone, anyone, no matter who you are or your race, age, gender or ability. We want you to enjoy the outdoors. We want you to really tell us who you are and what you like to do in the outdoors, and we're going to find out that we have more same than differences, my friend.” Subscribe to It's Bigger Than Camping! Apple Spotify Audioboom 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 Abdullah Aldhavyan, who recently completed his master’s degree in tourism at George Washington University. Hailing from Saudi Arabia, Abdullah hopes to be a part of bringing tourism back to the country by showing the world what this beautiful part of the Middle East has to offer. “Saudi Arabia is opening their gates and their hands to everyone in the world. Please come and see Saudi. It’s very beautiful. Saudi Arabia has lots of cultures. We have history here. We have lots of great stories to tell.” -Abdullah Aldhavyan Connect with Abdullah 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 sits down with Nephi, Relic’s AI and innovation expert, to talk about an exciting announcement. Over the past several months, Relic has been beta-testing a new AI product that allows destinations to create their own AI chat bot, based on information found on their website. Nephi talks about the process of creating the product and some of the challenges he’s found along the way. They also discuss how AI is changing the digital landscape as we know it and why it’s critical for DMOs to jump on board before it’s too late.  “The funny thing about AI is you get out of it what you put into it. If you know how to talk to it, you can get it to tell you the things that you need, but you need to know what you don’t know if that makes sense.” -Nephi Henry 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, Shelley Zumwalt, Executive Director at The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, joins Adam to discuss the economic impact of tourism on the state level. Shelly highlights tourism's role in attracting businesses and creating jobs, especially in rural areas. She addresses Oklahoma's perception challenges and the need for effective marketing to showcase the state's unique attractions.  “When we're talking about Oklahoma, we're not just talking about marketing tourism. We’re talking about business development. When we have businesses that come in and look at Oklahoma, those tourism dollars aren't just marketing to people we want to take vacations here. They're marketing to everyone. They're saying, this is what Oklahoma is about.” -Shelley Zumwalt Travel Oklahoma 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.

Greg Star, a cofounder of Carvertise, joins Adam on this episode to talk about his journey with cancer over the past year and what he has learned as he has recovered. Greg shares valuable lessons about what it means to live a life you are proud of and how he overcame his fear of death. Adam and Greg also talk about how Carvertise continued to grow during this time thanks to an incredible team and insurmountable support from industry friends. “I learned a lot about business from cancer. I would say the big thing about business is you just always have to remain even keel. When something good happens, great! Something bad will happen next month. You’ve just got to stay even.” -Greg Star 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 to The Myrtle Beach Classic, where he sits down with Kyle Oland, director of marketing at Golf Tourism Solutions. Kyle has taken a unique journey to get where he is in his career, and he shares why having a passion for your work is so important. Adam and Kyle discuss the event and how Kyle and his team have stepped away from traditional marketing methods to create an unparalleled guest experience. Listen to learn why it’s crucial to understand the life cycle of your consumer and how you can build a pipeline of new customers using owned media. “One of the things that’s massive for content marketing is building community, and if you can build a community of people that are super passionate about a subject or matter,  it’s just going to build them and their support towards what you’re doing. It’s been a really fun ride.” -Kyle Oland 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.

Janette Roush, executive vice president of marketing and digital at NYC Tourism, has built quite a following sharing her thoughts on LinkedIn about how AI is changing the game for the destination marketing industry. She joins Adam in this episode to discuss how she positioned herself as an AI thought leader and why DMOS must embrace this new technology. They cover how AI has changed over the past several years and how destination marketers can find the best tool to help in their specific job titles. “I think it’s about finding the work that you hate the most and then outsourcing it. We all have things that we don’t love to do with our jobs or things that we need a little help with. Hopefully, they’re looking at it as this is a way to make work more fun and to get help with things that I struggle with.”  -Janette Roush The Pigeon Ad 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 joins the team at Visit Galveston to talk about ways they're moving the destination forward. JR Shaw, host of the Galveston Unscripted Podcast, shares his experience partnering with a destination to produce owned media content. Kellie Gonzalez, client services director at Visit Galveston, talks about her initiative to personalize the guest experience for a recurring conference. Mackenzie Finklea, public affairs manager at Visit Galveston, explains the destination's celebrations for Juneteenth and highlights Galveston's significant role in the holiday's history. “Authenticity and collaboration over competition. If you go through social media now I think people can sense an ad when there’s an ad there, they scroll right past it. They can feel that ad. The more authentic you can be, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just be an authentic person or create authentic content. That is key.” -JR Shaw Visit Galveston Galveston Unscripted 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.

President of Tourism Economics Adam Sacks joins Adam on the show to talk about how his organization has been able to help destinations look at data in a new light. The two discuss how tourism impacts economic development and why it’s critical for communities to work together to see long-term benefits from visitors. “Quality of life for the community is better because all of these events, experiences, attractions, and amenities, exist to the degree they do in the destination because of visitors. The destination organization is the one that’s supporting the market for that. If you took out the destination organization, you’re basically taking out everything that’s driving the success of that place that makes it not only a great place to visit but a great place to live.” -Adam Sacks Destination Promotion: A Catalyst for Community Vitality Tourism Economics 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 takes the show on the road to the North Carolina Tourism Conference. He joins Scott Peacock, Director of Marketing at Visit North Carolina, to discuss the evolving landscape of destination marketing. They talk about the recent changes in AI and how destinations need to consider what use case is right for them. They also discuss the difference between influencers and content creators and why the industry is shifting towards the latter. “There’s not going to be this one-size-fits-all answer. It’s probably going to be two or three different solutions out there, technology-wise, and it’s really going to be incumbent on us as the DMO marketers to sit down and figure out which path forward is going to be the best option for us. And that’s okay.” -Scott Peacock Visit North Carolina 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.