411: Building California’s Newest Tourism Network with Karen Strgacich, Suzy Kay & Veronica Rivera

In this episode, Adam sits down with Karen Strgacich, Veronica Rivera, and Suzy Kay to share the origin story of the California DMO Alliance—how a few pandemic-era check-ins grew into a powerful, grassroots coalition helping destinations across the state collaborate, share leads, and strengthen California’s position in the meetings market. Along the way, they swap memorable travel stories, open up about the challenges that shaped their careers, and offer smart, heartfelt advice for anyone looking to grow in the destination marketing industry. 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 welcomes world traveler and television host Denella Ri’chard, who shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Louisiana to studying abroad in Southern Africa during the Mandela era, working in global hospitality, and ultimately launching her travel show during the height of COVID. Danella explains her “living list” approach to travel, why Vietnam sits at the top of hers, and how deeply personal stories shape the way we explore the world. She also discusses the importance of destinations embracing their full history—comfortable or not—and how authentic storytelling creates meaningful connections with travelers. 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 solo episode, Adam Stoker reflects on his visit to Visit Mesa and shares why their City Limitless podcast is a masterclass in stakeholder engagement. From seeing how host Ashley Stwertnik built powerful relationships with major partners like Cannon Beach and Revel Surf, Adam reveals the unseen value podcasts create—trust, goodwill, and access that money can’t buy. He also explains how his own show transformed his career, why every destination needs to become a storytelling hub, and how long-form content builds influence, not just downloads. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Host Adam Stoker sits down at Visit Mesa with Ashley Stwertnik, the producer-turned-host of City Limitless, to show how a DMO can build real audience by making stories the star and the city the backdrop. Ashley shares the show’s evolution from audio-only to video-first with accessibility, booking high-reach guests (BigDawsTV, Jesse Cole), and the logistics of interviewing Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur with an interpreter. They cover distribution and ROI—YouTube, RSS, blogs, email—and why Visit Mesa is aiming for City Limitless Productions, a true media arm for the destination. Plus: national-park parenting, Tybee-Island daydreams, and the infamous banana suit. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Tourism Kingston CEO Megan Knott joins Adam Stoker to share how a small Canadian city earned global attention, and a Cannes Film and Media Award, through creative storytelling and collaboration. Megan reveals how Kingston balances rich history with youthful energy, tackles tourism challenges like transportation and seasonality, and builds a sustainable, data-driven visitor economy. 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 is joined by Cathy Petersen and  Eric Brockman from Destination Dayton to discuss how to turn low customer expectations into outstanding visitor experiences. They explore the core philosophy behind Dayton’s tagline, Discover the Unexpected, and why it perfectly captures what visitors can anticipate during their trip. Cathy and Eric share how they overcome the city’s reputation by marketing its unexpected assets, utilizing specialized programs to ensure frontline partners provide excellent customer service. 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 is joined by two returning guests, Greg Starr, founder of Driven, and Ed Harris, CEO of Visit Williamsburg. They discuss how tourism professionals can leverage LinkedIn effectively to showcase the value they generate in their communities to stakeholders every day. Maintaining consistent online visibility ensures that stakeholders see the DMO’s activities in real-time, which is critical in earning recognition for their efforts and securing long-term funding. They also highlight the importance of authenticity and transparency in content, encouraging destinations to embrace the build-in-public approach instead of always projecting an image of perfection. 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 Danielle Hollander, the CMO of Visit Orlando, for a follow-up discussion about how her team leverages social media as a live research platform. Danielle shares how Visit Orlando built a massive, live research platform by creating a Facebook planning group that has grown to over 22,000 members in just four years. This group allows the team to get direct, real-time feedback and use it to inform their broader marketing strategy. Danielle also explains how her team uses organic social media as a testing ground, elevating top-performing content with paid media to ensure their advertising spend is as efficient as possible. 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 talks with Catherine Jenkins, the Marketing and Communications Manager for Visit Central Delaware, about how to successfully rebrand a destination with a limited budget. Listen to learn the significance of targeted branding and community engagement for destination marketing professionals, especially during a time of change. Catherine also shares her unique strategy for connecting with military personnel and their families, using platforms like Facebook groups and welcome events to create a sense of belonging for visitors and new residents 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Adam is joined by Brand Revolt’s creative director, Camden Bernatz, to discuss modern research—an approach that focuses on observing consumer behavior rather than relying on traditional surveys or focus groups. Because behavior is the most reliable indicator of a visitor's true intent, Adam argues that it has proven to be much more effective in predicting which content types will resonate with the target audience. They also talk about Camden’s new book, Stop Asking For Pitches: 10 Rules to Fix the Client-Agency Relationship, a thorough guide on how destinations and agencies can collaborate to find long-term solutions to their marketing challenges. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.