417: What Actually Matters in 2026 - Destination Marketing Resolutions

In this episode, Adam shares what my resolutions would be if I were running a DMO in 2026. He talks about why the traditional marketing funnel no longer works, why survival is undervalued, how to avoid the illusion of relevance, and what destination marketers must prioritize as AI and stakeholder pressure continue to reshape the industry. If you’re heading into 2026 wondering where to focus and what actually matters, this episode is for you. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

When cities, sports, and tourism leaders align, powerful things happen. In this episode, Adam Stoker talks with former Arlington mayor and The Unity Blueprint author Jeff Williams about how unity helped turn Arlington into a thriving sports and tourism destination, and what DMOs and city leaders can learn about building momentum, creating jobs, and using tourism to strengthen communities. 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 is joined by Yomand Brown, VP of Marketing, Sales, and Communications at the College Football Hall of Fame, to explore how major attractions and DMOs can work together to create seamless visitor experiences. From personalization and AI-driven guest engagement to event sales collaboration and preparing for mega-events like the College Football Playoff and FIFA, this conversation offers practical insights for destinations looking to maximize impact through partnership. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

AI is changing how travelers plan trips—and destination websites can’t afford to fall behind. In this episode, Adam Stoker sits down with Michelle Donogan, CMO of Mindtrip, to discuss how conversational AI is reshaping the visitor experience, why AI should be woven into the entire website (not tucked into a corner), and how destinations can use traveler conversations to uncover content gaps and drive smarter marketing decisions. If you’re thinking about the future of your destination’s digital experience, this episode is a must-listen. 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Virginia Tourism President Rita McClenny joins Adam to discuss the enduring strength of the Virginia is for Lovers brand and how it continues to drive collaboration, major events, and statewide success. From sports tourism to innovative partnerships, Rita shares what makes Virginia stand out—and how destinations everywhere can elevate their own marketing. 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 Ryan Jones, Head of Client Impact at Brand Revolt, to unpack how both marketers and agencies need to evolve for the future. Ryan shares his journey from SEO writer to executive leader, talks about how saying “yes” to new challenges and speaking up (even when it’s uncomfortable) accelerated his career, and explains why tomorrow’s marketers must be strategic, tech-enabled generalists—not single-channel specialists. Adam and Ryan also dive into the trap of vanity metrics, why “set it and forget it” annual plans no longer work, and how Brand Revolt is shifting from a tactics-based ad agency to a true strategic partner through initiatives like CMO Jam–style workshops and deeper stakeholder collaboration. If you’re trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing marketing world, this conversation is a must-listen. 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 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠.