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405. PACE Forum 2025 Preview, with Gregory LaDuca, Maureen Martin, & Bryan Kubel

Destination On The Left

Release Date: 11/27/2024

434. Leveraging Lifestyle Media to Boost Tourism, with Liza Graves show art 434. Leveraging Lifestyle Media to Boost Tourism, with Liza Graves

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Liza Graves shares her journey growing a 100% digital lifestyle publication that she started as a way to help small businesses through the recession. She talks about why it is important to find your North Star and how that can guide you through the ups and downs. We talk through some of the unique ways that StyleBlueprint helps DMOs and tourism businesses reach a traveling audience. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Liza launched StyleBlueprint during the Great Recession to help support local businesses and why that mission has been the...

info_outline 433. Authentic Encounters and Sustainable Growth in Luxury Travel, with John Nguyen show art 433. Authentic Encounters and Sustainable Growth in Luxury Travel, with John Nguyen

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with John Nguyen, CEO of Heritage Line. In our conversation, John shares his passion for his home in Southeast Asia and describes his luxury cruise line, how he developed it, and how they deliver on unique experiences by going to places that most tour operators cannot access. John describes partnerships that he has built with competing river cruise companies to help develop sustainable practices and facilitate connections between locals and international visitors that make a positive impact. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How John...

info_outline 432. Building a Magnetic Resort Culture, with Sean McCarron show art 432. Building a Magnetic Resort Culture, with Sean McCarron

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Sean McCarron, General Manager at the Conrad Orlando, about why the magic of any resort is in the people who give it soul. We talk about building a team and a culture that inspires. As Sean explains, there is one team, one mission and one goal. We also discuss external collaborations and partnerships that have been successful for the Conrad Orlando, including partnerships with local attractions, shopping malls and nonprofits. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why Sean believes building a strong team culture is the single most...

info_outline 431. Rainbow Air’s Approach to Coopetition in Niagara Falls Tourism, with Patrick Keyes show art 431. Rainbow Air’s Approach to Coopetition in Niagara Falls Tourism, with Patrick Keyes

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Patrick Keyes, Sales and Marketing Manager at Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours in Niagara Falls, about why he believes in coopetition and how collaborations with his competitors have helped him be successful. Patrick explains why being a first call partner to your local and regional DMO is so important, and how you can position yourself to be that partner. He also offers valuable advice on how to work collaboratively at trade shows to build success. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Patrick developed a regional, visitor-centric...

info_outline 430. Transforming Tours with Storytelling, with Mitch Bach show art 430. Transforming Tours with Storytelling, with Mitch Bach

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Mitch Bach, partner at Tourpreneur and CEO of TripSchool, about the shift from information-driven tours to experience-driven journeys, where emotional connection, creative storytelling, and human interaction are now the most valuable takeaways for travelers. Mitch introduces listeners to the concept of the “emotion economy” and offers inspiring examples, from immersive historical reenactments to sensory food experiences, that help tour operators leave a lasting impact on their guests. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why...

info_outline 429. Revolutionizing the Home Exchange Market, with Emmanuel Arnaud show art 429. Revolutionizing the Home Exchange Market, with Emmanuel Arnaud

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Emmanuel Arnaud, CEO of HomeExchange. He shares the remarkable journey of how he went from being a frustrated user of traditional home exchange platforms to founding his own company. We dig into the heart of the sharing economy and how home exchanging not only makes travel more accessible and sustainable but also turns local hosts into enthusiastic ambassadors for their communities. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Emmanuel turned his personal frustration as a home swap user into launching Guest to Guest and ultimately becoming...

info_outline 428. From Attractions to Experiences, with Laurel Greatrix show art 428. From Attractions to Experiences, with Laurel Greatrix

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Laurel Greatrix and I explore why today’s travelers are seeking out the experience first and planning trips around it. She shares the top types of experiences that travelers are searching for and explains why they allow visitors to explore a destination more deeply. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why today’s travelers are increasingly planning trips around experiences rather than destinations, and what this shift means for destination marketers What types of travel experiences are trending right now, from outdoor adventures to immersive,...

info_outline 427. Sustainable Marketing Through Pinterest, with Meagan Williamson show art 427. Sustainable Marketing Through Pinterest, with Meagan Williamson

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Meagan Williamson about Pinterest for travel brands. She shares actionable strategies for using this powerful, often overlooked platform to amplify discovery, boost SEO, and support long-term marketing success. In this episode, she breaks down how Pinterest differs from other social media, why its visual search engine is perfect for the travel and tourism industry, and how its evergreen content can drive results for months—or even years—after posting. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Meagan’s journey from travel blogger to...

info_outline 426. Novel Tourism and Place-Based Storytelling, with Marilyn Higgins show art 426. Novel Tourism and Place-Based Storytelling, with Marilyn Higgins

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with novelist Marilyn Higgins and explore how fiction can make history more accessible and relevant, shedding light on how 19th-century issues echo in today’s world. We also discuss the growing trend of novel tourism, where travelers experience destinations through the lens of stories and literature. This trend sparks new ways to experience and celebrate unique places through the magic of narrative and place-based journeys. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Marilyn’s personal connection to Upstate New York and the Erie Canal...

info_outline 425. Make Your Copywriting Magnetic, with Genevieve White show art 425. Make Your Copywriting Magnetic, with Genevieve White

Destination On The Left

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Genevieve White, travel copywriting expert and Founder of Campion Comms & Coaching, about why there’s so much important work that needs to happen before you ever put pen to paper when you’re writing copy for your travel organization. Genevieve walks us through the customer journey, from the dreaming phase to planning and booking, explaining how your copy should meet travelers where they are, every step of the way. She also shares her favorite recipe for establishing a relatable and confident tone of voice and reveals how...

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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with three tourism industry leaders about the power of partnership and community engagement. Maureen Martin, Vice President of Partnerships and Community from Destination Madison, Bryan Kuebel, Senior Partnership Manager from Visit Milwaukee, and Greg LaDuca, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations from Visit Rochester, join me to discuss the Partnership and Community Engagement PACE Forum, the premier gathering place for passionate DMO professionals committed to the power of partnership and community engagement. They share the origin story of the PACE Forum, talk about the importance of this sector of the DMO industry, and give details of the 2025 event.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

  • Why PACE was formed and the significance of Partnership and Community Engagement for DMOs
  • The value of non-competitive idea sharing among peers
  • How the PACE forum has shifted professional interactions post-pandemic and the advantages of face-to-face networking
  • The importance of creative revenue sources and consistent communication with tourism commissions
  • How the PACE 2025 forum in Cincinnati aims to focus on new technologies, data, and AI

Fostering Community and Engagement

The Partnership and Community Engagement (PACE) initiative is a network of professionals dedicated to enhancing the impact of DMOs. Maureen elaborates on PACE’s origins, sharing how the initiative formally took shape during the pandemic when professional norms shifted dramatically, leading to the first PACE Forum in Madison, Wisconsin, in February 2024.

With an initial expectation of around 50 attendees, the forum’s attendance soared to approximately 120 participants, underscoring the industry’s hunger for community and collaboration. The forum successfully filled a void left by national conferences, offering continuous networking opportunities and fostering an environment for sharing ideas across borders.

PACE 2025 is set to take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, from February 18-20. The upcoming forum promises to dig deep into new technologies, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and the invaluable role of networking in destination marketing.

Advocacy for DMOs

Maintaining consistent communication with tourism commissions and creatively seeking revenue sources is so important in the travel and tourism industry. The success of DMOs hinges on building strong, meaningful relationships within the community. Innovative programs like mentorship initiatives within the PACE Forum are designed to help newcomers integrate and feel connected. Their programs ensure that professionals at all travel and tourism industry levels benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience available.

Advocacy extends beyond simple promotion—it involves building robust relationships, consistent communication, and a clear demonstration of tourism’s economic impact on local communities. Sharing tangible success stories about how tourism positively affects local businesses and the community helps bolster support from various stakeholders. These compelling stories help make the abstract benefits of tourism concrete and relatable.

The Value of Peer Networks

Peer networks create a supportive ecosystem where professionals can share ideas that help them overcome common challenges and foster a sense of community. Greg, Maureen, and Bryan all emphasize how these connections promote professional and personal growth, enable tourism professionals to stay current with industry trends, and collaboratively develop impactful initiatives.

The PACE forum, in particular, exemplifies the power of these networks by shifting traditional, nationally-run conferences towards a more intimate, peer-led format. Greg talks about how the forum’s spirit of non-competitive idea exchange allows peers from various cities to share insights and strategies autonomously.

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