How do we ensure that funding and policy conversations reflect not only economic impact, but community well-being, stewardship, and long-term resilience? 

Join members of the Advocacy and Social Impact Committees for a dynamic virtual roundtable focused on aligning our language, metrics, and strategies. Together, we’ll explore how impact outcomes can inform advocacy priorities, how storytelling and data reinforce public investment, and how destination organizations can confidently articulate and protect their broader purpose.

We know that DMOs benefit entire communities—not just the tourism sector—but the Destination Promotion: A Catalyst for Community Vitality report crystallizes the evidence: destination promotion delivers significant, widespread benefits, boosting community wellbeing through strategic investments.

Drawing on case studies from 10 North American destinations, join Tourism Economics as we offer proof for how destination promotion supports economics development, enhances quality of life, and attracts and retains local talent. Plus, learn how to apply these key advocacy pillars to your own destination. 

This Webinar is approved for 1 CDME CE Credit. 

Explore the latest tactics state and local governments are using to divert DMO funding and learn what leading destinations have done to secure, stable, long-term funding foundations. This conversation cuts through the clutter with an honest look at the trends reshaping destination funding today: the good, the bad, and the complicated, shaping how DMOs are funded now and in the years ahead. Whether you're defending what you have or building something new, these are the trends you can't afford to miss.

This webinar is approved for 1 CDME CE Credit.

As AI begins summarizing destinations before planners ever click a link, the business events industry is facing a new reality: Visibility is no longer enough. Collateral is no longer persuasive. And, Trust is no longer assumed. 

In this provocative, one-hour Trends Week session, Jaimie Hart, VP of Marketing Strategy at Go Fish Tourism + Business Events, sits down with Senior Director, Brand + Content Strategy, Jenny Frey and Senior Director, Design, Ryan Carr to challenge how destinations think about marketing, sales alignment, and credibility in an AI-led world.

 Together, they will unpack:

 • How AI-driven search is reshaping destination discovery and consideration

• Why traditional meetings marketing strategies are losing influence

• What planners actually trust in 2026 — and what they ignore

• How content, creative, and sales strategy must evolve together

• Why trust is now the competitive advantage in B2B tourism

As planners navigate information overload and AI-generated comparisons, destinations must move beyond transactional messaging and disconnected campaigns toward integrated, audience-first systems that earn credibility before the RFP is ever issued.

This session will challenge assumptions, surface uncomfortable truths, and provide practical frameworks to help DMOs strengthen influence, improve AI visibility, and align sales and marketing around trust-driven growth.

Because in a world where AI can write the summary, only trust wins the business.

This webinar is approved for 1 CDME CE Credit. 

As the 250th anniversary of the United States approaches, destinations are navigating a growing number of national initiatives — including America250, Freedom250, the Great American Road Trip, and others — and determining where and how to engage.

Through their work on the Great American Road Trip, Tori Barnes and DeLisa Selwitz have developed a practical view of how these initiatives intersect, where their roles differ, and how destinations can align their existing marketing and storytelling efforts to amplify visibility nationally. This session will provide a clear overview of the landscape and explore how destinations can leverage the work they are already doing, or easily plug into broader national storytelling efforts, to expand reach and showcase the communities that make up the fabric of the Great American Road Trip.

This webinar is approved for 1 CDME CE Credit. 

Tyler Gosnell, Managing Director of International Inbound Travel at the U.S. Travel Association, will provide an update on the evolving global travel landscape and what it means for U.S. destinations competing for international visitors.

While global travel has rebounded, the United States remains the only major destination in the world where international inbound travel is declining—driven in part by a growing confidence gap around policies, expectations, and the arrival experience. Tyler will discuss how industry leaders are responding to strengthen traveler confidence and clearly communicate that America’s travel industry wants, needs, and welcomes international visitors. The session will also highlight the critical role destinations play in strengthening the United States’ global competitiveness, including improving visibility into international visitation data and ensuring strong industry participation at IPW, the country’s premier international travel marketplace.

Join Destinations International and EY -Parthenon for a webinar presenting findings from a new joint report that examines the linkage between Canada's visitor economy and export performance. This new research positions the visitor economy as a critical contributor to Canada’s export industries and a key driver of Canada's global competitiveness. EY will share data-driven insights on how inbound tourism, business events, and connectivity support trade growth and sector development. Designed as an advocacy resource for destination leaders, this research equips destination organizations with credible evidence to engage policymakers and partners and contribute meaningfully to Canada’s national conversation on economic competitiveness, trade, and sector growth.

Get an inside look at DI’s Event Ambassador Program — its purpose, structure, and how it supports member engagement. This session will walk participants through program benefits, participation expectations, and upcoming opportunities for involvement in 2026.

Presented by Destinations International. For more information about the Event Ambassador Program, please visit https://destinationsinternatio...

See how leading destination organizations are using rich attribution data to pinpoint the website content and brand campaigns that actually drive real-world visitation—plus, how it comes to life in Symphony. We’ll unpack practical case studies from Visit Overland Park and Experience Scottsdale to show how these insights shape strategy, investment, and stakeholder storytelling. Plus, get a first look at new Symphony platform UX updates that make it even easier to explore and act on this intelligence. 

Presented by Tourism Economics as part of Destinations International's Advocacy Tools Series. 

Please note that attendance at a Destinations International webinar is eligible for one (1) CDME Continuing Education (CE) credit. Credit can only be earned through live virtual attendance. Watching recorded webinars does not count toward CDME CE credit.

Are you hoping to earn the CDME credential in 2026? Have you recently completed all required courses and core papers in the CDME Program, or will be in late February at CDME Winter 2026 in Cleveland, OH? Then this webinar is for you! During this session, we will cover important updates to the CDME Final Exam instructions for 2026, including the revised assignment instructions and grading rubrics, deadlines for submission, and other frequently asked questions. Please note that all prospective candidates for the CDME Class of 2026 are required to either attend this session live or watch the recording prior to completing their final exam. 

If you would like to be considered for CDME recognition during the 2026 Annual Convention, your CDME Final Exam is due by March 31, 2026. The recording will be sent to all who register, so be sure to sign up to set yourself up for success in the new year. Congratulations on being one step further towards completing your CDME!