Thrive: The Community Vitality Summit is where bold ideas meet purposeful action. This in-person gathering convenes destination leaders, changemakers and community stewards who are committed to creating places where everyone feels welcome, connected and valued. Formerly the Social Inclusion Summit, Thrive reflects an expanded vision to support vibrant, people-centered destinations by aligning the value of tourism with community vitality and economic growth.

As destination organizations take on a broader role in shaping not just the visitor experience but the overall health of the communities they serve, Thrive 2025 explores how intentional design, strong partnerships, data and storytelling can foster trust with elected officials and local stakeholders, and strengthen the social fabric of the community. From youth engagement and creative placemaking to data-informed planning and culturally rooted initiatives, every aspect of the Summit is crafted to inspire courage, accelerate progress and drive meaningful impact through tourism. 

NEW Pre-Summit Experience & Certificate

Tourism for All: Igniting Community-Driven Change 
Monday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | $750 Early Bird; $850 Standard Rate, Separate Registration Required

Before Thrive officially begins, join us for an immersive, action-oriented training course designed to kickstart your journey with Tourism for All, Destinations International’s new program designed to guide destination professionals on cultivating safe and welcoming environments across your local tourism ecosystem. This dynamic full-day workshop brings together early adopters, destination leaders, and impact experts to engage in 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 impact experts 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.  Let this session be your launchpad into purpose-driven progress, and the first milestone in leading transformative, community-centered tourism in your destination.

Impact Experts include HospitableMe, The Culturist Group, TripAdvisor, Tourism Cares and Wheel the World.

Key Highlights of the 2025 Summit

Visionary Peer Exchange

Engage in conversations with peers from across the industry who are leading programs that advance impact, accessibility and shared prosperity at the local level.

Applied Learning and Immersive Experiences

Explore real-world examples of tourism-led community vitality, from immersive experiences in Jackson to inspiring stories of engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

Creative and Youth-Led Voices

Center the next generation of leaders and amplify lived experiences through curated sessions featuring youth voices, artists and culture bearers driving transformation in their communities.

Data, Access and Community Strategy

Discover how organizations are using data to guide planning, prioritize resources and respond to community needs with transparency and intention.

Tools to Lead with Purpose

Leave with practical frameworks, communications strategies, and planning tools to strengthen stakeholder relationships and design programs that reflect local priorities by choice and by design.

Thrive is more than a summit: it’s a space for courage, creativity and collective progress. For destination leaders ready to champion social impact, foster trust and invest in long-term community well-being, Thrive offers the inspiration and resources to move forward with purpose and intention.

Small Destination Scholarships

The Destinations International Foundation is pleased to offer eligible employees of small destination organizations ($3Million or less operating budgets) opportunities for registration scholarships to attend Thrive: The Community Vitality Summit. Apply for a Small Destination Scholarship.