Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start over? Knowing what you know now, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get it right? In this tumultuous era when everything is being questioned, we have the rare opportunity to re-examine how and why DMOs were founded, how they have evolved and what changes need to be actualized to realize the full potential of community development agencies going forward. CLICK HERE to read our vision for the future.

Despite the collective efforts of Destination Marketing Organizations a growing number continue to be under government and media attack. After a great deal of research, Destinations International has concluded that DMOs must become one of their community’s shared values in a way that explains the value of destination promotion and connects that value and organization to the residents of the community. In this advocacy paper, you will understand the reasons why DMOs must focus on their residents and change the way they talk about themselves in order to survive and grow. This paper will clearly articulate the role of a DMO in a community, provide the starting point for “mission” and “about us” statements, lay out the political argument for public support of destination promotion and identify the ideas and ideals that form the basis of a community shared value. CLICK HERE.

Words matter in politics...and those words need to be chosen carefully. If Destination Marketers are to be successful in changing the narrative surrounding our industry, it starts with a values-based approach. That means talking to stakeholders in a manner that is simple and emotional...and connects their values to your organization.

In this policy brief, Destinations International demonstrates why our industry must utilize a new tourism vocabulary to connect with stakeholders in a meaningful way and better illustrate the value of destination organizations. Click HERE to read the brief.

Heywood Sanders has been a frequent critic of Convention Center development as a community and economic development strategy, recently writing a book on the subject called "Convention Center Follies." In this review, Thomas and John Hazinski counter Sanders' blanket dismissal of convention center development with statistics and experience in the field. Click HERE to download the PDF.

There are those that diss the Tourism Industry for low pay / low benefit jobs. This piece from Travel Oregon refutes that notion by identifying how Tourism jobs prepare people for success. Click HERE to view the PDF.