334: A Mid-Year Industry Check-In

In this episode, Adam is joined by Nathaniel Sweetman, Sports Marketing Coordinator for Visit Sarasota County. Nathaniel shares his journey into sports marketing, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and community engagement. He discusses Sarasota's unique facilities, strategies for attracting niche events, and the economic impact of sports tourism. The episode highlights the role of personalized PR strategies and the power of compelling narratives in enhancing event visibility and fostering local support. “Try and tell the stories. I think sometimes some of our sporting events have some really cool, unique ties to them. You can come in and bring in 150 events and again, if not many people are aware of it or your stakeholders aren't even aware of it, it's not going to mean much at the end of the day.” -Nathaniel Sweetman If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 guest Bill Geist discuss a critical issue facing destination marketing organizations: a growing disconnect between boards, CEOs, and political stakeholders. They discuss the misalignment between boards and destinations, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the importance of effective board orientation. Bill emphasizes a need for better communication, storytelling, and proactive strategies to foster understanding and support within DMOs. “You cannot explain what it is we do to somebody over lunch, there's just not enough time and it isn't professional. Orientation should be an all-hands-on-deck, 2 to 3 hour immersion in what we do because what we do, almost nobody out there understands.” -Bill Geist If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 sits down with Mark Marsiglio, President and CEO of Trail Pilot, to talk about the synergy between tourism and mountain biking. Mark discusses his background, the creation of the Trail Pilot app, and its role in enhancing the mountain biking experience through guided audio tours. Mark emphasizes the importance of targeting niche markets, such as mountain bikers, as they can be a valuable persona in a comprehensive destination marketing strategy. Trail Pilot If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 Dane Carlson, host of the Econ Dev Show and CEO of Site Hunt, about the crucial link between tourism and economic development. Dane shares his journey from blogging to economic development, including how he transformed Mariposa California by adding an escape room to the visitor center. Dane also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between economic developers and destination marketers to create meaningful visitor experiences and drive local economic growth.  The Econ Dev Show If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 to John David, President and CEO of Sports ETA. The conversation highlights the organization's role in promoting sports tourism through education, advocacy, resources, and networking. John emphasizes the importance of listening to stakeholders and understanding the economic impact of sports tourism, which includes significant contributions to local economies and job creation. The episode underscores the potential for communities to benefit from investing in sports tourism infrastructure. “You can go build a new facility and certainly service your community at a very high level, or you can partner with tourism and build a facility that is national caliber. Monday through Thursday, you're putting your families, and your citizens on some of the best fields in the United States, and then it's paying for itself Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.” -John David Sports ETA If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 provides a mid-year check-in on the destination marketing industry. He emphasizes the importance of creativity and budget in differentiating destinations, highlighting successful marketing campaigns from Laguna Beach, Minnesota, and Myrtle Beach. Adam discusses the shift from traditional influencers to content creators and the need for dynamic marketing strategies. He also addresses the changing landscape of paid media, advocating for content-focused promotion to more effectively engage potential visitors. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 chats with Dave Parulo, President and CEO, and Claire Fisher, Chief Marketing Officer of Explore Tualatin Valley. Recorded live at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida, they highlight the importance of community engagement in destination rebrands and talk about their experience with their recent rebranding experience. They also discuss the importance of data in decision-making and why it can be challenging to prove the ROI of a branding project to stakeholders. “We found that there was one name and one area, which is the Tualatin Valley which was used predominantly locally, and it was a leap of faith for us to look for a name that wasn't the exact destination name, but the one feature we could find to talk about.” -Dave Parulo Explore Tualatin Valley If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 sits down with Dave Harrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, at the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the importance of storytelling in destination marketing, the evolution of the Quad Cities' podcast "QC That's Where," and the significance of owned media in their marketing strategy. Dave shares a recent experience where a creative, humorous response to a public mention of the Quad Cities went viral, highlighting the power of authenticity and community engagement in shaping public perception and fostering civic pride. “I strongly believe that you've got a responsibility as a destination to make sure that you're reacting in a way that's true to who you are, and you can do it in a way that doesn't necessarily need to be so serious in terms of the tonal response.” -Dave Herrell Check out the viral video! Visit The Quad Cities If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services, please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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 takes the show on the road to the Destinations International Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida. He sits down with Wayne Stewart, former account manager at Relic and current director of marketing and communications at Visit Casper, Wyoming. They talk about Wayne’s career path and the opportunities that ultimately led him to become a part of Destinations International’s 30 under 30 class of 2024. Wayne also shares what it’s like to become a leader in the destination marketing space at such a young age.  “A large majority of us all have imposter syndrome in our positions and being considered future industry leaders and having that 30 under 30 recognition, so it's nice to know that that feeling is shared and I'm not the only one. Having people that I know I can reach out to share information and ask the interesting things that they're working on is a huge benefit.” -Wayne Stewart Visit Casper 30 Under 30 If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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’s business partner Colby Remund joins the show to unveil a major announcement. Listen to hear what the announcement is and how it could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the tourism industry. They also discuss the history of Relic and how they got to where they are today.  “The industry needs that digital town square, that hub, that place where we can all congregate. Our true focus is just hoping desperately that we can keep valuable content constantly in the face of everybody that's using the site.” -Colby Remund Check out Tourism IQ here! If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! 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 Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.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].