Most companies are simply not designed to survive. They become successful on the basis of one big idea or breakthrough product, says CEO Mike Walsh of Tomorrow, a global consultancy that helps design 21st century businesses. "The companies that will thrive in the near future are the ones not only embracing change but breaking the rules." Companies built to survive the future are no accident. They are a result of deliberate business design decisions smart leaders are making today. In his ongoing research on the world’s most innovative companies, Mike has organized these decisions into seven strategic priorities - that he will explore with audiences as a roadmap for their own reinvention. In this keynote, Walsh will outline the megatrends shaping the future of business and consumer behavior, and the lessons learned from successful Fortune 500 companies on leveraging disruptive innovation, adopting a data-driven mindset and leading change through digital transformation.

Join us for small-group discussions addressing the leadership needs of the future destination organization. All breakout groups will be facilitated and will report out critical insights from the main stage to share ideas with the entire audience.

Based upon Mike's discussion of completely rethinking your business in 2021, and given the situation over the past 8 months, what rules have you "broken" in order to start reinventing yourself, your team and your destination?

Over his more than 30-year career, Brand USA President & CEO, Chris Thompson, has gained unique leadership perspective by navigating a multitude of crises. Hear how that experience is influencing his current strategic decisions and how the pandemic is reshaping his outlook on leadership.

Join us for an insightful discussion with David Burgess, CEO of Miles Partnership as he reflects on how 2020 is helping us to think differently about 2021.

When the situation is uncertain, human instinct and basic management training can cause leaders - out of fear of taking the wrong steps and unnecessarily making people anxious - to delay action and to downplay the threat until the situation becomes clearer. During this session we will hear from leaders who sprung into action quickly and decisively, meeting with their partners, elected officials and other constituents, to do their part in mitigating the effects of the pandemic on their community, their residents and their economic situation.

Panelists:
Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis
Jeff Miller, Travel Portland
Kitty Ratcliffe, Explore St. Louis

Mark Jeffries presents some fascinating ideas and insightful advice on how to influence all those around you. The Brains of Influence represents six keys to influencing different people throughout every aspect of your business. Engaging and entertaining this promises to be a truly valuable 20 minutes, the lessons from which you will be able to use on an ongoing basis.

Join us for this deep dive into Simpleview, an industry leader in the tourism space. Simpleview CEO, Ryan George, will share his insights on how the organization has adapted during the pandemic, and the many innovative solutions they've created to help destinations navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19. Plus, you'll learn about Simpleview's plans for next year, including some highly anticipated updates to MINT+.

Join us for small-group discussions addressing the leadership needs of the future destination organization. All breakout groups will be facilitated and will report out critical insights from the main stage to share ideas with the entire audience.

As we roll into the next normal as leaders, what qualities and skills, both soft and hard, do you feel are necessary to be a leader in 2021?

We know it will be critical for destination organizations leaders to embrace the role that equity, diversity and inclusion will play in moving our industry forward, especially at a time when our industry must face one of the most challenging moments in modern history - recovery from the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry. Simultaneously, there is a racial awakening for some people and communities in the U.S. that will significantly impact the travel industry. Join us for a conversation about why it is critical, now more than ever, to drive growth in diverse leadership representation at the executive and board levels, and why our industry must solidify their commitment to implement EDI best practices to strengthen leadership accountability.

Join us for small-group discussions addressing the leadership needs of the future destination organization. All breakout groups will be facilitated and will report out critical insights from the main stage to share ideas with the entire audience.

As leaders, how do we move the elephant out of the room? At the end of the day, your priorities are driven by your board. How do we move the needle on board diversity when your board makeup is driven by external factors and stakeholders?

When Heather McGowan and Chris Shipley wrote The Adaptation Advantage, they did not realize how prescient their advice and predictions would become when the coronavirus global pandemic required an immediate and dramatic shift in work, learning, and leading. Predictions they made for the next three to five years instead occurred over three to five weeks following publication. Overnight, companies remapped supply chains, pivoted product lines, and transformed to work-from-home organizations. Companies that navigated this new uncertain landscape relied on creativity in serving their customers safely, and transparency in their communications. This new normal, or normal of now, requires a focus on culture, purpose, trust, and psychological safety as we embark on the largest social experiment in human history. The virus has accelerated our future of work, expedited our human transformation to digital creating, and placed an even greater burden on leaders to inspire and motivate human potential. Even when the virus subsides, many of the new ways in which we work and live will remain, and we may just be the better for this forced transformation.

In the face of our new reality, many leaders are asking themselves hard questions that shed light on their biggest challenges to help form a plan for 2021 and beyond. Join us as industry leaders share their strategies to focus on adjusting long term plans while continuing to adhere to the mission, vision and purpose of their organization, create a team that can thrive in the midst of critical change, and ensure that they are leading with commitment, transparency and flexibility.

Join us for this candid discussion with Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation and Chair of Destinations International's board of directors, as he takes a quick look back, shares his thoughts on moving forward into 2021 and beyond, and what’s next for our industry.