The destination marketing landscape is shifting faster than ever, from AI-powered traveler discovery to rising expectations for connected, intelligent technology. This special TRENDS week session brings together Destinations International CEO Don Welsh and Granicus Destinations leadership for a candid executive conversation about where the industry is headed and how Granicus is evolving to meet it. The conversation will be followed by a look at the technology trends and product innovations the Granicus team is watching and building toward. Whether you're planning ahead or trying to keep pace, this is a session worth making time for.

Today's buyers don't move in a straight line—and neither do meeting planners. Long before an RFP is submitted, a site visit is scheduled, or a sales conversation begins, planners are researching destinations, comparing options, validating decisions internally, and building confidence in their final choice. In this session, Go Fish Tourism + Business Events Founder Mya Surrency and SVP of Integrated Media Kelley Stauffer explore what destination marketers can learn from another high-consideration category: real estate.

This session focuses on preserving your budget through political winds. Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will learn how destination leaders have responded to funding threats, navigated legislative changes, built stakeholder support, and protected the funding their organizations depend on.