Before Thrive officially begins, join us for an immersive, action-oriented experience designed to kickstart your journey into Tourism for All, Destinations International’s new community-centered program for creating safe and welcoming environments across your tourism ecosystem. This dynamic full-day workshop brings together early adopters, destination leaders, and expert partners to engage in the first hands-on activation of this powerful initiative.

Following the session, participants will complete a short Action Plan assignment—serving as the final step in earning a Tourism for All Readiness Certificate. This credential signals your destination’s preparedness to facilitate Tourism for All cohorts in your community.  

Through guided discussion, peer exchange and live facilitation, participants will:  

Explore the Four Pillars of Tourism for All: Learn how to operationalize practices that foster safety, belonging, and accessibility within your teams, businesses, and communities.  

Begin Crafting a Welcoming Statement: Start shaping a values-based declaration that sets the tone for your local tourism environment.  

Map Your Readiness: Prepare to unite local businesses around shared values of welcoming in a model that builds alignment, trust and collective action.

Co-Design the Future: Collaborate directly with DI partners and program architects to shape what the rollout looks like in your destination.  

The Tourism for All workshop offers a rare opportunity to influence, activate and lead the movement toward impactful community-rooted tourism, from the ground up. This exclusive experience is available for an additional fee and requires separate registration. Space is limited.

Let this session be your launchpad into purpose-driven progress—and the first milestone in leading transformative, community-centered tourism in your destination. 

Sophia Hyder Hock

Chief Impact Officer

Destinations International

Ava Wells

Social Impact Manager

Destinations International

 

 

 

Join fellow members of the Social Impact Committee for an in-person gathering. Together, we will explore our committee theme of navigating uncertainty and obstacles through honest dialogue and peer exchange. Whether you are a long-time member or curious about getting involved, this is your opportunity to engage with passionate leaders who are shaping the future of community-centered tourism. 

Courage is not just a personal trait but a professional imperative. In this powerful opening session, acclaimed disability advocate, broadcaster, and change agent Sophie Morgan will challenge us to redefine what it means to lead with bravery in the face of inequity. Through her personal journey and global perspective, Sophie will inspire us to lean into discomfort, make space for new voices, and choose progress, even when it’s hard. 

Every workplace tells a story about who is welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive. This session invites us to think beyond compliance and explore fresh, creative approaches to inclusion across generations, abilities, and lived experiences. Together, we’ll look at how thoughtful design of space, systems, and cultures can help foster a more vibrant and accessible workforce.

Following session, attendees will be invited to share their own destination journey stories by recording their narratives during Summit lunch breaks.  

What does it look like when a destination becomes a place of belonging for all who call it home? This session explores how community belonging can be thoughtfully cultivated through engagement, refugee and newcomer support, and authentic local partnerships. Using the Social Impact Framework as a foundation, learn how destinations are embracing outreach to move beyond welcome and toward true community belonging.

This powerful afternoon experience at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures offers a unique opportunity to explore the role of culture and overcoming barriers to shape resilient communities. Through guided tours and conversations, participants will engage with themes of identity, belonging, and the vision of the Beloved Community, a model of equity and mutual respect. Learn how cultural literacy and historical awareness are essential tools in destination stewardship and community engagement. 

Destinations are increasingly seen and judged through the lens of their values, and how those values show up in action. Whether navigating societal tension or investing in long-term community relationships, destination organizations must be intentional in how they build trust and shape their reputations. This session explores cross-sector partnerships and how destination leaders are co-creating initiatives that not only mitigate reputational risk but elevate purpose and belonging as strategic assets. 

How do we talk about what we do, not just in strategy decks, but in everyday conversations and community meetings? This design-thinking session challenges participants to reframe their destination’s purpose through the lens of a visitor or community member who does not know why your destination organization exists.  Inspired by video reflections from Visit Jackson’s 3rd grade student ambassadors, we’ll brainstorm bold and values-forward ways to explain the impact of your destination organization.