Destinations International Launches First-Ever Global Virtual Advocacy Day

New initiative expands advocacy beyond government relations to empower stakeholders across the destination ecosystem

POTOMAC FALLS, Va., U.S. (Apr. 28, 2026) – Destinations International (DI), the world’s largest and most respected association for destination organizations, today announced its inaugural Virtual Advocacy Day, a first-of-its-kind global event taking place May 13, 2026. The initiative is designed to redefine how the industry approaches advocacy by convening destination leaders, board members, public officials, private sector partners and community stakeholders for a dynamic, interactive experience spanning multiple global time zones.

DI’s Virtual Advocacy Day represents a significant evolution in how advocacy is understood and practiced across the destination sector. Rather than focusing solely on government relations, the program expands advocacy into a shared responsibility—engaging boards, businesses, community voices and internal teams to support long-term destination success. The initiative is supported by the Destinations International Foundation, together with event partners Chase Travel, Civitas and Simpleview, a Granicus Company.

“Advocacy today must reflect the complexity and importance of the role destination organizations play in their communities,” said Don Welsh, president & CEO of Destinations International. “This initiative equips a broader network of stakeholders with the understanding, tools and confidence to champion the value of destination organization – not just in economic terms, but in how they contribute to community well-being and stewardship.”

A Global, Action-Oriented Experience

Structured as a full-day virtual program, Virtual Advocacy Day will guide participants through a progression from awareness to action, offering practical insights and real-world examples that participants can immediately apply within their own destinations.  

Key sessions will explore:

• Evolving expectations of destination leadership, including governance, funding and accountability  
• Stakeholder understanding of modern destination organizations, with insights from industry and global partners  
• Impact measurement and the role of AI, expanding conversations beyond economic impact to include community outcomes  
• Public and private sector alignment, highlighting how collaboration drives stronger results  
• Advocacy planning with boards, including a working session to develop actionable frameworks  
• Destination storytelling and community connection, showcasing case studies from leading destinations  
• Sustainable funding and shared responsibility, reinforcing advocacy as a collective effort  

The program will feature contributions from DI staff as well as a diverse range of partners and thought leaders, including global industry experts, destination CEOs and cross-sector collaborators, ensuring a broad and practical perspective on today’s advocacy challenges and opportunities.  

Designed for the Entire Destination Ecosystem

Virtual Advocacy Day is intentionally designed to bring together a wide range of stakeholders, from destination organization executives and board members to elected officials, hospitality partners and community leaders. By fostering shared understanding, the event aims to strengthen alignment and enable more effective collaboration across sectors.  

Participants are encouraged to engage as teams and extend invitations to local stakeholders, for example with destinations creating local “watch experiences” or host in-person gatherings to enhance discussion and real-time application.

From Moment to Movement

The ultimate goal of DI’s Virtual Advocacy Day is to transform advocacy from a periodic activity into an ongoing, embedded function across destination leadership, partnerships and community engagement.

By the end of the event, participants will leave with:

• A clearer understanding of the evolving role and value of destination organizations  
• Practical tools and language to advocate effectively within their communities  
• A stronger sense of shared responsibility for destination success  

“This global Virtual Advocacy Day is about shifting mindsets,” added Welsh. “When advocacy becomes a shared, continuous effort supported by data, storytelling and collaboration, we strengthen not only our organizations but the communities we serve.”

Registration details and additional information are available online.

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About Destinations International

Destinations International is the world’s largest and most trusted resource for destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 10,000 members and partners from over 750 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward-thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.  

About Destinations International Foundation

The Destinations International Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering destination organizations globally to excel through innovation and resource incubation. The foundation innovates new ideas and ways of doing things, incubates new tools and resources, launches and manages future-facing programs and initiatives, develops next-generation professional development and tools, and fosters short- and long-term cooperative relationships around the globe on behalf of Destinations International and its members. For more information, visit https://destinationsinternational.org/about-foundation.