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.

TripAdvisor airport store program grows
News / Online
TripAdvisor airport store program grows
By Kevin May | May 10, 2018
Rarely mentioned by TripAdvisor (it's not really been officially announced) but the company has a growing offline strategy, too. Read More
ADARA Longwoods data partnership
News / Online
Data analytics partnership offers new "holistic" insights for DMOs
By Mitra Sorrells | April 23, 2018
Travel data co-op ADARA and travel market research firm Longwoods International are collaborating to give destination marketing organizations a deeper understanding of their visitors and the... Read More
'Smart tourism:' Should destinations take ownership of enhancing the in-destination experience through technology?
News / Technology
'Smart tourism:' Should destinations take ownership of enhancing the in-destination experience through technology?
By Nick Vivion | April 4, 2018
This is the latest in a series of articles spun out of tnoozLIVE@ITB, recorded live over three days at ITB Berlin this March. More clips and interviews to come here, as well as on our YouTube channel. Read More
What destinations can learn from data around March Madness
Opinion / Online
What destinations can learn from data around March Madness
By Scott Garner - ADARA | March 19, 2018
For the NCAA basketball tournament, college loyalists are traveling in shows of support for their favorite teams. Here’s how the Arizona Office of Tourism used travel data to quantify the impact of its... Read More
Amadeus Video Solutions
News / Technology
Amadeus' new interactive videos encourage traveler search and shopping
By Mitra Sorrells | March 6, 2018
Amadeus has created a new solution to help travel brands, destination marketing organizations, and online travel agencies use interactive video to facilitate consumers’ travel search and shopping.... Read More
WeChat usage by travel brands
News / Technology
How travel brands are using WeChat to reach Chinese consumers
By Mitra Sorrells | March 1, 2018
With more than 963 million active users each month, WeChat is the leading social media app in China.   Read More
Why "smart cities" disguise other issues
Notated News / Technology
Why "smart cities" disguise other issues
By Bruce Sterling - The Atlantic | February 20, 2018
The term “smart city” is interesting yet not important, because nobody defines it. “Smart” is a snazzy political label used by a modern alliance of leftist urbanites and tech industrialists. Read More
Iceland has Bitcoin power-suckers and overtourism to worry about
Notated News / Technology
Iceland has Bitcoin power-suckers and overtourism to worry about
By Chris Baraniuk - BBC | February 12, 2018
Academics and tourism leaders have discussed overtourism in Iceland (and elsewhere) for many years, yet it is a blockchain-led process that could have another fundamental impact on the island nation. Read More
Google's tough path to understanding language
Notated News / Technology
Google's tough path to understanding language
By Douglas Hofstadter - The Atlantic | February 5, 2018
If you're a translator or a linguist, tech-powered services like these must be either be an irritation or, worse, a drive your accuracy radar mad. Read More
Prepare for impact: autonomous vehicles will reshuffle the travel industry
Opinion / Technology
Prepare for impact: autonomous vehicles will reshuffle the travel industry
By Alex Bainbridge - The Spontaneous Travel Company | January 26, 2018
Self-driving vehicles will, along with Blockchain, perhaps, be the next big industry-wide invention to make and break companies. Read More
Helix buys attractions tech startup Booking Boss
News / Technology
Helix buys attractions tech startup Booking Boss
By Kevin May | January 15, 2018
Australia-based Booking Boss, provider of booking and ticketing tools to operators in tours and activities, has sold to Helix Leisure. Read More
Amazon patent blends reality to virtual locales
Notated News / Technology
Amazon patent blends reality to virtual locales
By Alan Boyle - GeekWire | January 3, 2018
Amazon has a new patented technology: a blended-reality display that puts your image into a virtual scene. Read More
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: In-Destination Experiences and End-to-End Journey
News / Online
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: In-Destination Experiences and End-to-End Journey
By PhocusWire | December 21, 2017
Travel is not about airline seats or hotel rooms - people travel for leisure to experience the destination, business travelers are on a mission to complete specific goals.  Read More
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Call Centers and Mobile AR
News / Technology
PhocusWire Forecast 2018: Call Centers and Mobile AR
By PhocusWire | December 20, 2017
Technologies at the opposite end of the spectrum - but important considerations for any travel brand as they embark on the next 12 months. Read More
Augmented reality specs - the race is on
Notated News / Technology
Augmented reality specs - the race is on
By Laurent Hrybyk - Wired | December 13, 2017
Though the Next Big Thing won’t appear for a while, we know pretty much what it will look like. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026