The Future of Tourism

On this episode of the Future of Tourism podcast, Dr. Phil Xiang from Virginia Tech explores the evolution of smart tourism. This is the final installment of our Executive Insights Symposium series — catch up on previous episodes here:  AI governance for DMOs and their leaders with Janette Roush, senior vice president of innovation and chief AI officer at Brand USA Rethinking DMO leadership in a new era of alignment and purpose with Adam Burke, president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism You can download a report packed with executives’ insights into the transformational forces DMOs face here. 

On this episode of the Future of Tourism podcast, Adam Burke, president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism, explores the evolving role of leadership and alignment in destinations of tomorrow. 

Janette Roush, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Chief AI Officer at Brand USA, dives into the pressing need for destination executives to rethink AI strategies. She highlights a recent symposium where leaders discussed the urgent challenges and ethical implications of AI in tourism. Janette emphasizes the importance of establishing governance models to manage risks and ensure responsible AI usage. Additionally, she advocates for education and training opportunities to empower professionals in the field, fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability.

On this episode of the Future of Tourism podcast, Greg Takehara and Chris Seek share hands-on insights into how community engagement strengthens development. 

Dr. Phil Xiang, a tourism technology expert from Virginia Tech, and Jason Swick, VP at Simpleview, discuss the evolution of smart tourism. They highlight the integration of technology into the traveler experience and the shift towards personalized marketing. The conversation delves into the crucial role of data in reshaping relationships between Destination Marketing Organizations and civic entities. They also explore AI's potential in enhancing marketing while stressing the importance of storytelling in connecting with travelers and communities.

On this episode of the Future of Tourism podcast, Janette Roush and Cody Chomiak help demystify AI. Learn to view the technology as easy to approach and understand its impact on our future.

On this episode of the Future of Tourism podcast, Brad Jones from Visit Bellevue Washington and Dr. Annie Rummel from Great Lakes Bay Airport Endowment Fund describe two trailblazing DMO projects.

Elisa Mameli, an expert in phygital tourism experiences, discusses the evolution and importance of 'phygital' tourism, highlighting examples of AR in historical site exploration and interactive tourist centers. She explores the merging of physical and digital experiences, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and aligning digital elements with specific objectives. The podcast also delves into creating immersive tourism experiences through co-design and stakeholder engagement.

The first annual PACE Forum was momentous in the evolution of community and stakeholder engagement. Tune into the Future of Tourism podcast to hear from two instrumental people about the conference.

Exploring inclusivity in tourism post-George Floyd incident, personal resilience of Hmong community member, authentic storytelling in racial healing, building community trust in Minneapolis, challenges in EDI work with importance of support and kindness.