Community Impact Stories
Community Impact Stories
Building trusted and authentic relationships in communities leads to significant impact for destinations: vibrant organizational cultures, thriving community partnerships, and sustainable economic return. The Community Impact Stories celebrate destinations who have achieved tangible outcomes in applying the Social Impact Framework. Get inspired and adopt recommendations from these industry champions.
Interested to highlight your own Community Impact story? Click here to share details with us.
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Supplier Strategy
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board sought to increase access to the economic benefits of tourism among small and diverse-owned businesses from historically disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles, resulting in over 140 new, diverse-owned small businesses as Los Angeles Tourism members.
Explore Brookhaven
Community Representation & Engagement
Explore Brookhaven wanted to bring art to their community by featuring a diverse collection of artists. The Brookhaven Art Pop-Up + Shop, a highly negotiated retail space, was the perfect place to do so.
Destination Greater Victoria
Workforce Development
While rebuilding their team after the pandemic, Destination Greater Victoria aimed to raise more awareness and understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion issues. They sought a common language and tools to address situations and processes that conflict with our DEI definition and policy.
Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
Accessibility
In late 2022, the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) began becoming more accessible within its organization and in the community by partnering with Wheel the World.
Choose Chicago
Engagement with All Community Populations
Choose Chicago and the Choose Chicago Foundation implemented data-driven strategies to advance social impact, focusing on education, professional development, policy, community engagement and storytelling through marketing and media.
Experience Champaign-Urbana
Board Governance
Experience Champaign-Urbana implemented initiatives to enhance board governance, aiming to better reflect and serve its community.
Visit Colorado Springs
Accessibility
Visit Colorado Springs partnered with Wheel the World to enhance accessible travel, ensuring travelers with disabilities can plan and experience the region with confidence.
Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB
Destination Stewardship
In 2023, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau initiated the Henry Marsh Plaza Project to honor Saginaw's first Black mayor and create a universally accessible urban space, fostering unity between the city's north and south sides.
Destination Madison
Welcoming and Belonging
In order to authentically promote their external efforts, Destination Madison formed an internal social impact committee to review job descriptions and postings, build staff awareness, provide internal learning opportunities, and support diverse community events.
We want to hear from you! Fill out this form to submit your own Community Impact Story.
Dig Deeper
Apply the Social Impact Framework in five steps:
1. Review your destination’s vision and goals. Select the pillar(s) that lead to intended outcomes.
2. Identify relevant topics for your destination. Focus on issues that are critical to your community and stakeholders. Choose from the 13 topics below.
3. Develop action-oriented solutions that lead to intended outcomes. Engage with community members and stakeholders to design and implement initiatives.
4. Establish metrics to track outcomes. Track progress and success through data, feedback, or visible change.
5. Communicate the impact of your outcomes. Share progress to build awareness, inspire collaboration, and position your destination as a welcoming place to visit, live, invest and work.
