Destination Marketing Organizations News

Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are evolving to meet the challenges of digital transformation, traveler behavior shifts, and sustainable tourism demands. PhocusWire covers the latest developments in destination marketing organizations, highlighting how tourism boards are adapting strategies, investing in technology, and redefining destination branding in a competitive global market.

Tourism board strategies and destination marketing insights

Our coverage explores how DMOs are using data-driven insights, social media engagement, and dynamic content to attract travelers and support local economies. From public-private partnerships to tech-forward visitor engagement platforms, we report on the strategic moves shaping the future of destination marketing.

airbnb-remote-work-program
News / Online
Airbnb expands remote work partner program
By Mitra Sorrells | May 7, 2021
Airbnb is providing gifts cards for remote workers to stay in one of their properties in communities that are trying to entice them to relocate. Read More
VIDEO: Capturing the social zeitgeist with Clubhouse for travel
News / Online
VIDEO: Capturing the social zeitgeist with Clubhouse for travel
By PhocusWire | May 5, 2021
The audio-only meeting and discussion app has only been in the market since March 2020 but has since ignited speculation ranging from it being a podcast-killer to the future of customer engagement and... Read More
WTTC Global Summit: Clarity, certainty and collaboration keys to travel recovery
News / Online
WTTC Global Summit: Clarity, certainty and collaboration keys to travel recovery
By Mitra Sorrells | April 27, 2021
More than 600 leaders from travel, tourism, government and the private sector are gathered for the World Travel and Tourism Council's Global Summit in Cancun, the organization's first in-person event... Read More
How I Got Here, episode 61 - Juan de Antonio of Cabify
Interview / Online
How I Got Here, episode 61 - Juan de Antonio of Cabify
By PhocusWire | April 22, 2021
Cabify has grown alongside its high-profile peers in ride-hailing by doing things differently and making strategic moves to ensure it remains popular for both investment funds and users, Juan de Antonio... Read More
bandwango-3m-seed-funding
News / Online
Bandwango raises $3M to build its activities platform for destinations
By Mitra Sorrells | April 14, 2021
Bandwango's Destination Experience Engine packages free and paid experiences that DMOs and other organizations can easily share with visitors. Read More
How tourism organizations can refresh their post-pandemic data strategy
Opinion / Technology
How tourism organizations can refresh their post-pandemic data strategy
By Piyush Shrivastava - Adara | April 14, 2021
Many destination marketers have been operating in a state of waiting. Waiting for the pandemic to subside, for travel to begin in earnest and for social distancing limitations to be relaxed. Read More
Sounding Off: Travelers may have other goals than doing the right thing
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Travelers may have other goals than doing the right thing
By PhocusWire | April 9, 2021
The best hope that anyone can have right now is that people will actually come through on the industry's desire to capitalize on pent-up demand AND do so in a way that at least illustrates signs of a... Read More
Singapore-based Port gets pre-seed investment for "remote travel" concept
News / Startups
Singapore-based Port gets pre-seed investment for "remote travel" concept
By Mitra Sorrells | April 7, 2021
Port connects users with guides around the world who enable them to experience destinations and business events through video calls rather than being there in-person. Read More
sherpa-covid-map
News / Online
Sherpa launches maps that track COVID-related travel policies
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2021
Travel brands can integrate the map into their websites and apps, and it can be accessed directly from the Sherpa website. Read More
"Marketing of Care" and the future of tourism
Opinion / Online
"Marketing of Care" and the future of tourism
By Michael Becker and Adam Hanft | April 5, 2021
In a post-pandemic world, Marketing of Care can help travel marketers promote destinations through a holistic approach that relies on hyper-local data as well as rational and emotional factors. Read More
Leisure travel to lead airline recovery, but demand can’t do it alone
Opinion / Technology
Leisure travel to lead airline recovery, but demand can’t do it alone
By Aditi Mehta - PROS | March 23, 2021
Appealing to travelers will be increasingly important and a digital strategy built around customers and where, how and when they want to engage, will be the key to successfully gaining the loyalty and... Read More
Intrepid Travel enters strategic partnership with Genairgy on pursuit to become $1B adventure travel company
News / Online
Intrepid Travel enters strategic partnership with Genairgy on pursuit to become $1B adventure travel company
By Jill Menze | March 11, 2021
Intrepid says the partnership, which will facilitate the company’s growth strategy in four key areas, will help it become the first $1 billion adventure travel company by 2025. Read More
Via bolsters public transit tech platform with $100M acquisition of Remix mapping platform
News / Technology
Via bolsters public transit tech platform with $100M acquisition of Remix mapping platform
By Kevin May | March 10, 2021
Via says the acquisition will add to its portfolio of services, such as multimodal planning, scheduling and software for on-demand and establish route transit systems. Read More
VIDEO: Bringing governments, destinations, industry and science together safely
News / Online
VIDEO: Bringing governments, destinations, industry and science together safely
By PhocusWire | March 3, 2021
PhocusWire spoke to WTTC's president and CEO, Gloria Guevara, to understand the efforts the council is making to bring its stakeholders together for a coordinated response to the pandemic. Read More
terry-jones-pulse
News / Technology
VIDEO: Terry Jones on health passports, standards and restoring consumer confidence
By Mitra Sorrells | March 2, 2021
Travel industry veteran Terry Jones discusses the need for collaboration and communication as the industry rolls out digital health passports and other solutions to restart travel. Read More
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