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Annual Convention

July 9-11, 2025 | Chicago, IL, USA

Annual Convention is the destination organization industry's premier event to meet your peers and gain cutting-edge knowledge to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Want to Speak at Annual Convention?

Destinations International is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2025 Annual Convention, July 9-11 in Chicago, IL. These proposals may also be considered for our industry summits that happen throughout the year. We invite you to be a thought leader and share your expertise at our 2025 events. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.

Submit a Proposal

Review Speaker Guidelines

The world of destination marketing and management is now completely different. Destination organization professionals of today must have a renewed focus on solutions to tackle the challenges of showcasing organizational strength and resilience that create welcoming communities and increase resident engagement. Now is the time to revisit the values of destination organizations through destination stewardship and workforce development programs to retain top talent.

Destinations International's Annual Convention provides:

  • An opportunity to connect peers and thought leaders from inside and outside the industry.

  • An integrated approach to learning regardless of your budget size or discipline focus.

  • Relationship-based exchanges among industry providers and destination organizations.

  • Diversity of thought by assembling the best minds in local insight and global expertise.

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Past Keynotes

Annual Convention features nationally-recognized thought leaders and visionary luminaries on the main stage.

Cynt Marshall keynote address at 2023 Annual Convention
CYNT MARSHALL

Cynt has been a dynamic force for inclusion and diversity within the Dallas Mavericks organization.  When Cynt was hired as the CEO of the Mavs in March 2018, she set her sights on a culture transformation. Her vision was for the Mavericks organization to become the NBA standard for inclusion and diversity.

Charles Blow keynote at the 2023 Annual Convention
CHARLES BLOW

Charles is an acclaimed journalist and op-ed columnist for The New York Times, political analyst on MSNBC and author of two New York Times bestselling books. Fire Shut Up in My Bones was adapted into an opera and opened the Metropolitan Opera's 2021-2022 season, marking the Met's first performance of an opera by a Black composer.

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WES MOORE

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, television producer, retired US Army Officer, Baltimore native. Wes served as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the country, and is currently governor of Maryland.

Attendees by Job Level

Annual Convention is an opportunity for all members of the industry to gather and network, regardless of where you are in your career path. Take a look at the breakdown of attendees by job level.

  • 21.4%
    VP Level
  • 39.2%
    Executive Level
  • 24.5%
    Director Level
  • 14.9%
    Entry Level

Attendees by Budget Size

Attendees come from destinations of all shapes and sizes. Annual Convention offers unparalleled opportunity to network with peers facing the same challenges that you are.

  • 28.1%
    Greater than $10 Million
  • 19.2%
    $5 million - $10 million
  • 24.7%
    $2 million - $5 million
  • 28%
    Less than $2 million

Event Partners