424: Navigating the New Normal of Tourism with Rafat Ali

In this episode, host Adam Stoker sits down with Allison Yamamoto Sparks, the Director of San Juan County Tourism, to discuss the complexities of managing a destination the size of New Jersey with only 15,000 residents. Allison shares her 17-year journey through leadership shifts and how she brokered rare, fast-tracked collaborations with federal agencies to protect Utah’s "Canyon Country". Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this special episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam Stoker shares a keynote from the NAFDMA Agritourism Convention focused on the growing role agritourism plays in the visitor economy. Adam discusses why building relationships with local Destination Marketing Organizations can open doors to funding, partnerships, and greater visibility. He also breaks down how modern marketing has shifted toward earning attention and trust through authentic content and community building—offering practical insights for agritourism operators and destination marketers alike. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This live episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast features a special crossover session with Destination Discourse, recorded in front of a live audience at the South Carolina Governor’s Conference (SC Gov Con). Hosts Adam Stoker and Stuart Butler ditch the PowerPoints for a candid, interactive discussion about the "uncomfortable truths" facing the tourism industry today. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Adam Stoker sits down with Rafat Ali, CEO and Founder of Skift, for a high-level reality check on the state of travel. If you’ve been waiting for the world to "get back to normal," Rafat has news: the volatility of the last few years isn't a phase—it is the new permanent baseline. Whether discussing the rise of AI or the importance of showcasing local creative energy over traditional "sun and sand" ads, Rafat’s message is clear: you can outsource your tactics, but you can never outsource your vision. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Adam Stoker and his business partner Colby Remund discuss the evolution of Tourism IQ into the industry’s ultimate resource for career progression. Colby shares how he leveraged AI "vibe coding" to rebuild the platform, introducing major new features like the Industry Event Calendar, launched in partnership with One West, and the Destination Marketing Agent, an AI tool that puts years of marketing expertise at your fingertips. They explore the resiliency required to navigate a decade of industry shifts and explain how Tourism IQ provides a dedicated, noise-free space for marketers to find jobs, events, and the strategic support needed to level up. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Adam is joined by Nick Shekeryk and Richard Porter from Discover Snohomish County. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, Snohomish County is in a unique position. Located directly between host cities Seattle and Vancouver, they’ve developed a "secondary destination" strategy to capture the overflow of international fans. Nick and Richard also share their playbook for maximizing a global event without being the primary host. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Adam Stoker goes international with Gavin McKenna, Head of Marketing & Digital Communications at Visit Belfast. Gavin shares his path from agency life to leading Belfast’s destination marketing, and why he believes DMOs need to move beyond “digital brochure” websites. They dive into Visit Belfast’s bold launch of the UK’s first social-first destination website, built around UGC, personalization, and a feed-like experience that mirrors how travelers discover places on TikTok and Instagram. Plus: how Belfast leverages screen tourism (from Game of Thrones to Titanic) in a way that stays authentic to the destination brand. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this special episode, Adam Stoker shares a webinar hosted with Destination Core exploring what’s next for destination marketing websites. Joined by Will Wright from Destination Core and Kyle Oland from Golf Tourism Solutions, the group breaks down why traditional DMO websites have become “glorified directories,” why web traffic is declining as discovery shifts to AI and social, and what destinations can do to stay relevant. The conversation explores how content-first strategy and thoughtful AI integration can create more engaging, personalized experiences that better inspire travel and support stakeholders. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam Stoker welcomes back Camden Bernatz for a thoughtful conversation on the future of marketing strategy. They explore the shift from tactician to strategist, why first-principles thinking matters more than ever, and how marketers can stay valuable as AI continues to change how work gets done. It’s a practical, mindset-driven episode for anyone looking to elevate their impact beyond execution. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this special bonus episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, we’re sharing a Destination Discourse conversation with Stuart Butler featuring his predictions for 2026. From why AI won’t “kill” the DMO website this year (but will keep reshaping how travelers search), to the consolidation coming for vendors and destinations, to the shift from “the destination” to the experiences within it. This episode is packed with practical insight to help you plan for the year ahead. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.