Top Destination CEOs Meet in California to Tackle the Future of Tourism Leadership         

Destinations International convenes global leaders in Newport Beach for its 2026 CEO Summit           

POTOMAC FALLS, Va., U.S. (Apr. 8, 2026) – Destinations International, the world’s largest and most trusted association for destination organizations, successfully hosted its 2026 CEO Summit last week in Newport Beach, California, bringing together nearly 300 CEOs, senior destination leaders and industry professionals from around the world for one of the industry’s most important executive forums.

Centered on the theme “EXPLORE: The Mindset of Modern Leadership,” the Summit delivered a powerful combination of thought leadership, peer exchange and strategic insight, reinforcing the critical role of destination leaders in navigating an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global environment.

“Destination organizations are being called upon to lead in new ways, balancing economic opportunity with community impact and strategy with authenticity,” said Don Welsh, president & CEO of Destinations International. “This year’s CEO Summit created a unique environment where leaders stepped back, shared openly and gained insights needed to guide their organizations and communities forward.”

Navigating Complexity with Confidence

The 2026 CEO Summit addressed the realities of leadership in what many described as an era of “constant chaos” in which uncertainty, disruption and heightened stakeholder expectations are reshaping the role of destination organizations. Opening keynote speaker Deepak Malhotra, Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, set the tone with a compelling discussion on decision-making under pressure and negotiating through complexity. Additional sessions explored critical topics of destination leadership including:

• Power of relationships and trust in destination leadership (Rodney Schlosser, principal, Schlosser Consulting LLC)  
• Growing influence of sports in shaping destination economies and community identity (John David, STS, president & CEO, Sports Events & Tourism Association)  
• Impact of artificial intelligence on destination strategy and operations (Todd Brook, CEO, Unchained AI)  
• Executive leadership structure and compensation trends in a competitive talent landscape (Andreas Weissenborn, SVP, Advocacy & Destination Advancement, Destinations International; Julie Hart, president & CEO, CFO By Design).  
• Leading through disruption and uncertainty (Melvin Tennant, II, MA, CAE, president & CEO, Meet Minneapolis; Megan Conway, president & CEO, Travel Portland; Norbert Kettner, CEO, Vienna Tourist Board).  
• DMO funding alignment with hotel ownership (Gary Sherwin, CDME, president & CEO, Visit Newport Beach; Kory Kramer, partner, Eagle Four Partners; Debbie Snavely, general manager, VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa; Michelle Donahue, CDME, SVP of Sales, Visit Newport Beach).
• Global issues impacting the visitor economy (Gloria Guevara, president & CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council; Ellen Davis, COO & executive vice president, U.S. Travel Association; Leslie Bruce, CDME, president & CEO, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism; Norbert Kettner, CEO, Vienna Tourist Board; Gretchen Hall, CDME, COO, Destinations International).
• Destination leadership for the future (Chuck Davidson, CDME, vice president of Commercial Strategy & Partnerships, Tourism Economic; Michael Crockatt, president & CEO, Ottawa Tourism; Daniel Kuperschmid, president & CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority; Kara Franker, CDME, president & CEO, Visit Florida Keys & Key West).

A Powerful Forum for Peer Exchange

The CEO Summit continues to stand out as a trusted, executive-level gathering that fosters candid conversation and meaningful connection. Attendees engaged in open dialogue, shared challenges and exchanged strategies in a confidential environment designed specifically for senior leaders. The international event highlighted the importance of collaboration across destinations and sectors, reinforcing that collective leadership is essential to addressing shared challenges and unlocking new opportunities.

During a fireside chat led by DI Chief Impact Officer Sophia Hyder Hock, participants also had the opportunity to hear from, and share perspectives with, Robert O’Leary, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism and Director of the National Travel and Tourism Office on engaging destinations as part of the national travel and tourism strategy.

Summit attendees were able to utilize the “Destinations International AI Companion,” which was developed in partnership with Unchained, DI's 2026 AI Education Collaborator, to make the event easier to navigate and more productive by building a tailored agenda, suggesting peer contacts and capturing key takeaways. The AI Companion will be available at upcoming DI events.

Throughout the Summit, a consistent theme emerged: the future success of destinations will depend not only on marketing effectiveness, but on leadership that prioritizes community value, trust and adaptability.

New Research Released

Announcements during the summit included release of 2025 Annual Reports for Destinations International and the Destinations International Foundation, as well as the 2025 U.S. and Canada Resident Sentiment Study, in partnership with Longwoods International. Produced annually since 2018, with support from the DI Foundation, the Resident Sentiment Study aims to understand residents’ sentiments towards tourism and its impact in the United States and Canada. In addition, the study measures resident perceptions of tourism employment, destination stewardship efforts and industry contributions to community vitality.

30 Under 30, Rising Industry Professionals and Pathways Scholars Announced

Destinations International also announced awardees of its three early-career Talent Accelerator Programs, all supported by the DI Foundation:  

• 30 Under 30: a program for early-career leaders from DI member organizations offering collaboration, education and industry exposure, with Searchwide Global as founding program partner.
• Rising Industry Professionals: a program for early-career leaders from DI partner organizations offering targeted learning, global connections and real-world industry exposure.
• Pathways to Success: a scholarship and professional program designed to broaden access and opportunity to students pursuing careers in hospitality and tourism management across the United States and Canada.

Celebrating Leadership and Community

The summit concluded with a special recognition of Don Welsh’s 10th anniversary as president & CEO of Destinations International, honoring a decade of visionary leadership that has strengthened both the association and the global destination community.

Destinations International also extended its appreciation to Visit Newport Beach, led by Gary Sherwin, CDME, for hosting the event and showcasing the destination’s distinctive character, as well as to the VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa, for providing an exceptional hotel and conference experience for attendees.  

The Destinations International Foundation Silent Auction held during the event was a tremendous success, raising more than $134,000 – almost double the goal – in support of the foundation’s important work. The auction showcased the best of the industry’s creativity and commitment through active bidding on the 74 unique and thoughtfully curated items donated by destination and industry partners.

The 2027 CEO Summit will be held in Tucson, Arizona, March 22-24, 2027.