DMOU: Destination Marketing Organization University

It's been a phenomenon that has been fun to watch. Over the past 20 years, Des Moines has gone from being known as just another Midwest town to being on virtually every cool Top Ten list there is. On this episode of DMOU, Greg Edwards (CEO of Catch Des Moines) shares the evolution story of his destination's ascendancy, how regionalism has expanded its magnetism and how humor and video play a key roll in staying on top. Plus, a Bonus Round question that deals with the concept of perspective. Join us.

Sonya Bradley was the CMO for Visit Sacramento...about as high on the Org Chart as one can get in a DMO without being CEO. But then, she was offered the opportunity to transition to lead the organization's efforts in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In this fascinating conversation, Bill and Sonya discuss the process of building a culture of DEI both internally and throughout a community. Plus...a Bonus Round story with which so many of us can identify.

At this year's Annual Convention of Destinations International in Toronto, Terri and I roamed the hall asking attendees to share the new titles or positions they had added at their DMOs (or were planning to add) that never would have been a consideration in 2017. Over 30 DMO pros took our challenge and the resulting answers paint a fascinating picture of our sector's evolution.

Even before COVID, Anthony Everett sensed that a change in how DMOs operated was necessary. But, the pandemic gave him and his organization the opportunity to flesh out the need to transition his DMO to a "Social Enterprise." In this fascinating episode, you'll hear the story of the evolution of 4VI as a force for good and how this new approach to Destination Leadership has attracted other community development organizations to partner with 4VI in ways that wouldn't previously have been imagined.

Tavis Hall (CEO of Experience Waterloo IA) breaks rules. He recently positioned his community as the Black Capitol of the 5th Whitest State in the nation, refers to his DMO as a DXO and is running for political office. Is that enough to qualify for a conversation on DMOU? Absolutely...and his Bonus Round question response regarding his role in the 2008 Iowa Caucus is pretty cool, too. Join us.

Eugene OR is in the midst of a simply amazing year, hosting a non-stop schedule of premier, state, national and international track and field events including, for the first time in the United States, the World Athletic Games. But, when your destination is also home to the Cascades and the Coast, balancing the needs of this sensationally diverse destination requires skillful thought and care. CEO Kari Westlund joins DMOU to discuss how 2022 came about, how the rest of the destination benefits and how the region is contemplating its next facility developments.

When we saw the Rutherford Bound Tourism Master Plan, we knew we had to meet the people behind it. On this episode of DMOU, we talk with the Rutherford County NC TDA's Don Cason and Destination by Design's Eric Woolridge on a range of topics from the genesis story of the plan (a pre-requisite for Don taking the job) to the community buy-in and investment committed to how visualization was key to building wide-spread support for the Plan.

For years, DMOproz has espoused the concept that DMOs should be the marketing agency for every aspect of a community (not just the Visitor Economy). But, nobody has made that case as eloquently as Destination Cleveland's David Gilbert, whose DMO has recently been charged with encouraging top talent to view the city as THE place to relocate. In this fast-paced episode, David shares how having a DMO lead community marketing makes perfect sense...and what DMOs should encourage other organizations to do to elevate their regions.

Visit Corpus Christi CEO Brett Oetting's first day in his new destination coincided with the moment that the world stopped in 2020. And yet, he says his team was more productive in its first year than he could have imagined in two. In this episode of DMOU, Brett shares the backstory of the all new Corpus Christi Tourism Academy, the development of the Gulf Coaster Ambassador program and how he builds a staff of passionate professionals.