Brand USA Talks Travel

We welcome back Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon and Vice Chair of the Board at Brand USA, to talk about the difference between functioning as a Destination Marketing Organization and a Destination Management Organization, and how running a DMO has evolved over the years.

We hear the history of how BTT was formed, discuss DEI initiatives, and find out about upcoming projects from Stephanie Jones, CEO of Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance and Founder of National Blacks In Travel And Tourism Collaborative.

Lauren Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Upward Projects, dishes on the enduring power of food as a travel motivator, how DMOs can explore the connection between food and other forms of local culture, and mastering the art of time management.

For our final episode live from ESTO in Grand Rapids, we speak with Mike Gussiaas, Global Marketing and Brand Strategy Director for the South Dakota Department of Tourism. Mike tells us about South Dakota's initiative to provide visitors with a digital travel pass app that spreads visitation from the gateway cities and landmarks to every corner of the state. We also learn about the surprising effect that South Dakota's exotic nature has on international visitors.

How does a DMO attract a cruise line? We speak with Jay Robichaux, Executive Director of Louisiana's River Parishes Tourist Commission about what a parish is, and get a fresh perspective from someone coming from another industry to work in tourism.

How does the promise of experiencing cultural diversity affect travelers' decisions? This special episode with Carroll Rheem, Founder/CEO of Iolite Group, is about "The Multicultural Multiplier," a landmark study conducted by her firm. Carroll hosts a free webinar on the importance of cultural diversity as a marketing opportunity on August 23rd at 11am EDT. We return to more "Live from ESTO" episodes tomorrow.

It's a jam-packed episode about innovation and creativity with Stuart Butler, CMO of Visit Myrtle Beach.

Cory Jobe, President and CEO of Great Rivers And Routes, talks about building new product, how DMOs can bolster local economic development, and fun facts about one of the most iconic road-trips in the USA.

Dave Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan, talks tourism public relations, details the difference between visiting and living in a destination, and reviews the history of Pure Michigan positioning

Gwynne Spann, Director of Content Marketing, Visit California talks Tik Tok, next generation websites, and content editorial boards. Plus, we learn how to say her name correctly!