2022 Marketing & Communications Summit

April 24-26, 2022

Seattle, WA, USA

Renaissance Seattle

Join your fellow marketing and communications colleagues as we navigate the realities of re-branding and re-envisioning destinations in the aftermath of the global pandemic and economic crisis around the globe.

Registration for the in-person event includes complimentary access to session recordings.

MEMBER RATE

US$895

NON-MEMBER RATE

US$1,345

PRE-ORDER SESSION RECORDINGS

Those unable to attend the in-person summit have the opportunity to pre-order the session recordings to view from the comfort of your home or office. Session recordings will be released 7-10 business days after the conclusion of the summit.

MEMBER RATE

US$199

NON-MEMBER RATE

US$299

PRE-ORDER RECORDINGS

Schedule at a Glance
Sunday, April 24

Schedule subject to change.

Welcome Reception

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM PT

Schedule at a Glance
Monday, April 25

Schedule subject to change.

Networking Breakfast

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM PT

Welcome and Overview

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM PT

Details +

David Breisch
Senior Director of Marketing
Destinations International

Zeek Coleman
Head of Marketing - Tourism & Hospitality
Adara

Jack Johnson
Chief Advocacy Officer
Destinations International

Gretchen Hall
Chief Operating Officer
Destinations International

Opening Keynote: Integrating Equity Diversity and Inclusion Principals into the Community

9:05 AM - 9:35 AM PT

Details +

Join this enlightening discussion to hear how Visit Seattle worked within their organization and their community to ensure EDI principals flowed through content, messaging, partnerships and other community businesses.

Kristin Gillespie
Director of Content Strategy
Visit Seattle

Next Generation MarCom: A 30 Under 30 Approach

9:40 AM - 10:40 AM PT

Details +

Join members of the 30 Under 30 class of 2021 as they share their latest marketing campaigns and strategies for destination promotion in the next normal. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas for a destination of any budget size including insights on helping you build your team, creating PR and branding strategies, developing creative advertising opportunities and producing unique video content.

Chase Wharton
Business Development Manager
Visit Tri-Cities

Emily Zertuche
Vice President of Marketing
Visit Corpus Christi

Nate Swick
Senior Communications Manager
Visit Indy

Networking Break

10:40 AM - 10:55 AM PT

Implementing the Community Shared Value Concept

11:00 AM - 11:35 AM PT

Details +

Destination and industry association leaders are increasingly having a bigger seat at more tables in order to influence policy and contribute to long-term solutions beyond the visitor economy. Destination organizations are also expanding their roles, in many directions. They’re aligning with government and community organizations more intentionally to support initiatives designed to improve social issues and local quality of life, fueling priority sector development, attracting outside investment and high-value talent, and elevating the overall destination brand beyond a tourism lens. Join Jack Johnson as he explores this expanding role as well as a new effort to help - the 2022 DI Foundation Challenge.

Jack Johnson
Chief Advocacy Officer
Destinations International

Why the BEEP Should I Care about the Value of Earned Media?

11:40 AM - 12:20 PM PT

Details +

Destinations International has combined efforts with AMEC, the world’s largest media intelligence and insights professional body, to collaborate on establishing public relations and communications measurement guidelines for destination organizations. With the combined efforts of industry leaders and AMEC’s expertise, Destinations International will be releasing a Public Relations and Communications Measurement Guidelines Handbook. This session will provide an overview of the findings from our baseline survey and insights into the future of public relations measurement.

Karyl Leigh Barnes
President, Tourism
Development Counsellors International

Johna Burke
Global Managing Director
International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication

Networking Lunch

12:20 PM - 1:20 PM PT

Destination Marketing to Today’s Traveler: Insights and Campaigns that Drive Recovery

1:25 PM - 2:25 PM PT

Details +

Consumer attitudes toward travel continue to evolve during these unpredictable times. New variants, changing health guidelines and border restrictions have created new challenges and opportunities for destination marketers. As travelers learn to adapt, demonstrating remarkable resilience and renewed interested in travel, Expedia Group Media Solutions will explore the encouraging travel trends, seen in exclusive first-party data and industry research, that will inform your strategy for recovery. Examples of destination marketing campaigns will be featured to highlight how to successfully reach and convert today’s traveler.

Erica Eyring
Director, Business Development
Expedia Group Media Solutions

Jenn McCarthy
Senior Director, Industry Marketing
Expedia Group Media Solutions

Shirtsleeves Discussions and Report-Outs

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM PT

Take Carra Wellness Break

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM PT

Make the Game Play for You: How to Maximize the Impact of Sporting Events in Your Destination

3:35 PM - 4:20 PM PT

Details +

Sports are a massive part of our future as destination organizations help steward the visitor economy and positively affect the economic impact and recovery in the community. The growing importance of sporting events in our industry needs to be embraced, but how do we determine which events drive the most visitation to create a more vibrant visitor economy? How do destinations attract and retain the best sporting venues, events and competitions for their community? During this session, we will hear from several destinations who have had hosted vastly different types of sporting events. They will shed light on how sporting events affect the local economy, how to pitch sporting events to your board and stakeholders, and how to retain sporting events for the future.

Sarah Lehman
CEO
Zartico

Gathan Borden
VP of Marketing
VisitLEX

Patrick Harrison
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Tampa Bay

Jessica Christopherson
Director of Marketing and Film Commissioner
Visit Fort Worth

Marcie Graham
Marketing Manager
La Quinta, CA

Visitor Promotion and Talent Attraction: Raising Your Destination’s Brand

4:20 PM - 5:00 PM PT

Details +

The research is in. Today’s visitor is tomorrow’s talent, and talent is inspired to make their move not only based on their previous in-destination experience, but increasingly based on a destination’s quality of life and quality of place brand absorbed through a variety of digital media channels. After five years of surveying talent of all ages across the country, DCI’s “Talent Wars” research report reveals that “livability factors” are rising in importance as today’s workforce makes decisions as to where to live and work. Historically, economic development offices have taken the lead role in funding and managing talent attraction programs to fill the open positions of their local corporate investors, but the rise in importance of livability factors creates the perfect and timely opportunity for destination organizations to leverage their strengths and primary role of touting the culture, arts, entertainment, dining, greenways and outdoor assets of the destination.

At a time when resources of both funding and staffing are scarce, it’s essential that destination organizations partner with their economic development offices to strategically leverage specialties and priorities within both organizations to broaden their collective digital toolbox and raise their destination’s livability assets and brand to those considering a move. This session will provide an overview of the five digital tools – and five ways – in which destination organizations should be elevating their role to serve as a resource, an expert and a partner to economic development offices when it comes to talent attraction.

Susan Brake
Senior VP, Digital Strategy & Operations
Development Counsellors International

Lindsay Vidrine
VP, Destination Marketing
Oklahoma City CVB

Day One Wrap Up

5:00 PM - 5:10 PM PT

Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, April 26

Schedule subject to change.

Networking Breakfast

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PT

Welcome to Day Two

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM PT

How Intentional Branding Fosters Consistent Storytelling: A Visit Baltimore Case Study

9:05 AM - 9:55 AM PT

Details +

Visit Baltimore, in partnership with creative agency Bellweather, infused learnings from deep stakeholder conversations into the development of a brand that is embraced across the diverse city. From the bold new logo to the locally rooted color palette to in-depth creative collaborations, every aspect of the brand speaks to the foundational narratives that make Baltimore a distinctive destination. The brand is so strong that it carries seamlessly over to meetings and conventions marketing, other niche campaigns and provides tremendous storytelling potential for earned media efforts. You’ll walk away with actionable tips on how destinations of any size and shape can engage with voices across the community to tell your story.

Trish McClean
Chief Marketing Officer
Visit Baltimore

Kelly Nagle
Senior Director of Communications and Partnerships
Visit Baltimore

Emily Lessard
Chief Strategy Officer
Bellweather

Utilizing Values-Based Storytelling to Drive Transactions, Bookings and Tourism

9:55 AM - 10:45 AM PT

Details +

Through the Portrait of American Traveler study, AFAR and MMGY have partnered to understand affluent and conscientious global travelers, the trends they’re driving and the critical impact they’re making on the travel industry's recovery and future. This research will lay the groundwork that will help drive a discussion around how to attract the right visitors with compelling values-based storytelling and marketing. Through comprehensive, content-rich programs and sponsorships, AFAR has worked with many destination organizations to help them tell and amplify those stories to effectively generate awareness, change perception, and ultimately drive consideration and visits. This session will provide an overview of what the world’s best travelers are looking for, and discuss what destination have done, and can do, to lead with a values-driven approach to capture the attention and dollars of this illusive audience.

Leah Chandler, CDME
Chief Marketing Officer
Discover Puerto Rico

Chris Davidson
EVP, Travel Intelligence
MMGY Global

Bryan Kinkade
VP, Publisher
AFAR Media

Marla Tambellini
SVP, Marketing
Explore Asheville

Networking Break

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Pride is a Tactic, Not a Strategy: Targeting LGBTQ+ Audiences Year-Round

11:00 AM - 11:35 AM PT

Details +

During this session we will explore different ways destination organizations keep their communities and residents in front of LGBTQ+ travelers year-round. We’ll walk through the basics including targeted LGBTQ+ advertising and monitoring conversations specific to your region, as well as discuss how to engage with relevant user-generated content, bringing your destination organization into these LGBTQ+ conversations. We’ll also highlight some of the various niche groups within the LGBTQ+ travel community that can be reached, including the circuit party crowd, parents, sports fans and more.

Matt Skallerud
CEO
Pink Media

Fireside Chat with Sophia Hyder Hock

11:35 AM - 11:55 AM PT

Details +

Join this fireside chat with Sophia Hyder Hock about the importance of inclusive marketing, why it matters and how to get started. Sophia will provide actionable take aways including information around the data you need, how to engage the community's local voices and understanding of the types of visitors you want to attract.

Sophia Hyder Hock
Chief Diversity Officer
Destinations International

Closing Keynote: Creating Winning Destinations: Beyond Social-Washing with Let’s Talk Womxn

11:55 AM - 12:30 PM PT

Details +

In an era where the market is hyper socially conscious, it is easy to straddle a litany of causes with dilutive effect, supporting AAPI, Climate, Sustainability, Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ, or Women throughout the year. What you want your business or destination to stand for is a strategic imperative with long-term play. We're all very aware of the draw of restaurants and a vibrant dining scene for business, leisure amd resident traffic. Marrying that draw with winning over women - as consumers, talent, residents and travelers - is a choice to create a winning destination. Meet Let’s Talk Womxn, a renegade movement 600+ restaurateurs and women business owners strong across 13 cities, who have rapidly created positive impact and are recognized as an explosive force – Top 50 Power List by Nation’s Restaurant News – within months of inception. Learn about their unique model to reframe visible and tangible opportunities to shape your destination's trajectory and win with conviction.

Rohini Dey, Ph.D.
Owner/Founder
Vermilion and Let's Talk Womxn

Nancy Cushman
Chef, Owner
Cushman Concepts

Tracy Vaught
Owner
H Town Restaurant Group

Day Two Recap

12:30 PM - 12:40 PM PT

Grab & Go Lunch

12:40 PM PT

MKTG22: CDME Recertification

The 2022 Marketing & Communications Summit is eligible for up to eleven (11) CDME CE credits. Learn about CDME recertification.

Hotel Information

Renaissance Seattle
515 Madison Street
Seattle, WA, USA
+1-206-583-0300

The hotel block is now closed. Please contact the hotel directly to book your room.

Hotel Website

MKTG22: Moderators Text

SUMMIT MODERATORS

Named Destinations International 30 Under 30 honorees as part of the class of 2013, David and Zeek have a combined quarter-century of experience in destination promotion at a variety of organizations including destinations large and small. They will be facilitating interactive panels, moderating audience Q&A and ensuring that you leave the summit with ideas, strategies and connections to take back to your community.

MKTG22: Moderators

Body Column 1

David Breisch headshot

David Breisch
Senior Director of Marketing
Destinations International

Body Column 2

Zeek Coleman headshot

Zeek Coleman
Head of Marketing - Tourism & Hospitality
ADARA

Display Title

MKTG22: Moderators

Join the Online Community

The Online Community connects professionals from across the industry. Find users from your region or join a discussion group to discuss marketing and communications issues.

Marketing Group

PR & Comms Group

Access to the Online Community is an exclusive benefit to all staff from member organizations of Destinations International. Use your member login to access the discussions, or contact us if you need assistance.

2022 Events Safety Promo

2022 Events Safety Promo > List Items

We have developed comprehensive guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees to our 2022 events. We are continually monitoring the evolving situation; event details and safety guidance are subject to change at any time.

CTA

https://destinationsinternational.org/2022-person-safety-guidelines

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Schedule at a Glance Sunday, April 24

Schedule at a Glance Monday, April 25

Schedule at a Glance Tuesday, April 26

MKTG22: CDME Recertification

Hotel Information

MKTG22: Moderators Text

Join the Online Community

2022 Events Safety Promo

2022 Events Safety Promo > List Items

Schedule at a Glance
Sunday, April 24

Schedule at a Glance
Monday, April 25

Schedule at a Glance
Tuesday, April 26