“The only way forward is to fundamentally change,” says CEO Kristin Dunne, describing Tourism Bay’s ambitious destination plan called The Love of Tourism. To make fundamental changes, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) often require an expanded organizational mandate, and this case is no different. In part one of this two-part interview, Dunne explained why regenerative tourism […]
Place DNA (TM)
Fight your DMO’s identity crisis with Place DNA™
Who do you think you are and why does it matter? In the contemporary destination marketing landscape, the best destination marketing organizations (DMOs) not only have a solid understanding of their destination’s identity but know how this foundation intricately shapes the value they offer. Misalignment can lead to the wrong expectations from visitors and residents […]
White papers
Now available: 4 RFP questions your destination brand agency must answer
Is it time to update or rebuild your destination brand? This work is not for the faint of heart. A place branding project will expose your destination marketing organization (DMO) to public criticism from residents, politicians, news media – anyone with a stake in the place you represent. It’s difficult to find the right agency […]
Measuring success
TSI report gives destinations an unbiased look in the mirror: Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree
Your tourism destination’s success depends greatly on perceptions. The way people think and what they say about their experiences – positive or negative – impact travel decisions. By that measure, Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree (TPDD) is enjoying enviable success and is an example that other destination marketers can learn from. The Queensland, Australia destination […]
Case studies
Banff National Park communications plan shifts traveller behaviour amid record-smashing visitor numbers
As more tourism destinations sustain high visitor volumes, some are using innovative strategies to manage visitation. Banff National Park (BNP) is one such place. It is Canada’s oldest and most visited national park, offering scenic outdoor adventures in the Canadian Rockies. The park anticipated record visitation for summer 2017. More visitors would bring in more […]
Sustainable tourism
Manage mass tourism before it manages you
At Destination Think!, our credo is that tourism can make the world a better place. When people travel, their minds open. They learn about other people, cultures, ideas and environments. Most of all, they learn about themselves. Travel can provide a new perspective that challenges travellers to think differently and change certain behaviours. Along the […]
Visitor centres
Are DMO visitor centres making a Blockbuster mistake?
“I’ve been frankly confused by this fascination that everybody has with Netflix […] Netflix doesn’t really have or do anything that we can’t or don’t already do ourselves.” -Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, in a 2008 interview with CBS News In the mid-2000s, Blockbuster Video was the world leader in movie rentals. The famous blue and yellow stores […]
Always-on content
Why the hero-hub-hygiene content marketing strategy still wins for DMOs in 2018
Every organization needs an easily understood content strategy to act as a roadmap for always-on activity and broader content goals. In 2014, YouTube and Google put forth the hero-hub-hygiene (H-H-H) strategy to help digital marketers get the greatest impact from their efforts. It allows teams to diversify content to build audience loyalty and longevity, rather […]
Shareable experiences
Destinations are shifting to digital-first marketing to improve word-of-mouth promotion
The destination marketing world is changing as consumers use technology to share their experiences online through word of mouth, and organizations are trying to adjust to the shift. This 2003 quote from Harvard Business Review remains relevant today: “…the only path to profitable growth may lie in its ability to get its loyal customers to […]