The Destination Marketing Podcast is built for tourism marketers across the country who are overworked and understaffed. Our goal is to help these people prioritize the activities that are proven to be most effective in marketing a destination and stay up to date on the latest technologies and trends in the industry. This isn’t a feel-good, motivational podcast. We’re diving deep into what to do and how to do it. Subscribe today if you’re a tourism marketer and want to perfect your craft.
447: Experience Ruston's New CEO Reveals the 3-Word Framework Every DMO Needs with Tori Davis
Tori Davis, President & CEO of Experience Ruston, Louisiana, joins Adam Stoker to talk about her path from marketing intern to DMO CEO, and the "three I's" framework she's using to guide the destination — Impact, Investment, and Identity. She and Adam also dig into how Ruston is preparing for Louisiana's first Buc-ee's, using it as a gateway rather than a distraction from the rest of what the destination offers. Plus, Adam opens the show with a look at how the World Cup is proving that live sports and events can build international trust and travel demand that outlasts economic and political headlines. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
446: How Visit Mesa Built a $60M Sports Tourism Machine with Lance Fite
Adam sits down with Lance Fite, VP of Sports at Visit Mesa, to unpack how sports tourism became Mesa's biggest tourism driver, booking 60,000–80,000 room nights a year. Lance shares his path from pro basketball to DMO leadership, the story behind Arizona Athletic Grounds (a 280-acre sports complex years in the making), and why youth sports keep the lights on between marquee events. Adam opens with a monologue on why DMOs are hiring for the wrong things in the AI era. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
445: The Glorified Directory Website is Dead with Will Wright
Adam Stoker talks with Will Wright, managing partner of UK-based Destination Core, about the content-centric, owned-media-first website platform they've quietly built together. They dig into why traditional destination websites function as glorified directories, how their first joint client, Play Golf Myrtle Beach, put the concept to the test, and why the best DMOs now win by answering travelers' questions and inspiring them, rather than just chasing bottom-of-funnel metrics. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com.To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
444: Why Reddit and ChatGPT Are the New SEO for Destinations with Crister Aalberg Næss
Visit Voss, a Norwegian village of 15,000, is showing up in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews without a big ad budget. Host Adam Stoker breaks down why attention + trust = action, then Visit Voss's Crister Aalberg Naess explains how reviews, Reddit, and a signature extreme sports festival built the trust that AI search now rewards. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
443: The Hidden Engine Behind Virginia's Tourism Growth with Katie Conner
Katie Conner, Director of Destination Development at Virginia Tourism Corporation, joins Adam to talk about how a team of six supports 133 localities across the state. They dig into what communities actually need from a state tourism office, why proactive outreach matters, and how authentic local assets — from trail towns to sunflower festivals — become the foundation for sustainable destination growth. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
442: How Discover Long Island Built a Community-First Marketing Strategy with Allison Brown
In this episode, Adam Stoker sits down with Allison Brown of Discover Long Island to explore how a destination with 126 unique communities shifted from outbound tourism marketing to community-first advocacy. Allison shares the strategy behind Lily, their mobile activation truck, their award-winning Long Island Tea Podcast, and how they're using owned media to connect with residents just as intentionally as visitors. She also covers their sports marketing blueprint from the Ryder Cup to the US Open. If your DMO is struggling to build real community buy-in, this one's for you. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
441: Stop Letting Other Destinations Own Your Story with Adam Geller
Adam Geller manages tourism for Page, Arizona — a city where Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell are globally iconic but most visitors don't even make it up the hill to town. In this episode, he shares how he turned that challenge into a strategy: building an interactive Grand Circle map that made Page the authoritative center of one of the world's most famous road trip circuits, launching gamified Bandwango passports to extend visitor stays, and creating hyper-specific historical content that out-ranks AI and drives organic traffic for free. Adam Stoker also opens with a case for why sports tourism is one of the biggest missed opportunities in destination marketing — and why it's really a collaboration problem, not a sports problem. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
440: A Special Episode of Destination Discourse: Live from DI MarCom 2026
In this special live episode of Destination Discourse, recorded on stage at the Destinations International Marketing and Communications Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, Adam Stoker and Stuart Butler tackle the questions the industry keeps dancing around: Why does a DMO actually exist, who is its primary customer, and if funding disappeared tomorrow, who would fight to bring it back? With live audience polling and real-time debate from DMO leaders across the country, the conversation cuts through the industry's tendency toward polite agreement and confronts an uncomfortable truth — as AI begins to disintermediate destination websites and reshape the entire travel research funnel, DMOs that have built their value proposition around web traffic alone may be sitting on a house of cards. It's one of the most candid conversations in destination marketing you'll hear this year. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
439: Why DMOs Must Stop Capturing Demand and Start Creating It with Megan Buchbinder
Megan Buchbinder, Director of Marketing at Wilmington and Beaches CVB, joins Adam to challenge how DMOs measure value, why Google Ads may be doing more harm than good, and how she redesigned her agency RFP process from scratch — and actually made it fun. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
438: How to Build a Video Strategy That Actually Tells Your Destination's Story with Jesse Salazar
Jesse Salazar, Video Production Manager at Visit Lodi, joins Adam to talk about why storytelling instinct matters more than gear, the case for in-house video production, and Visit Lodi's new partner video co-op program. Adam opens with a challenge to DMOs: if locals drive 50%+ of visitation through visiting friends and relatives, why aren't we treating them like a priority audience? Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
437: The PR Strategy Keeping Las Vegas on Top with Molly Castano
Adam Stoker sits down with Molly Castano, VP of Public Relations and Communications at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, for a candid conversation about what it takes to keep 150,000 hotel rooms full and the world's most-watched tourism brand on top. Molly shares how her team navigated a brutal summer news cycle, the unexpected strategy that flipped traditional media training on its head, and why Vegas treats every announcement — from the Michelin Guide to the Super Bowl — as a chance to outdo itself. The conversation also explores the rise of earned media in the AI era, why trust is moving from institutions to individuals, and the one piece of advice every PR pro should hear: be "clearer, not louder." Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
436: Why Your Podcast Is No Longer Just a Podcast with Matt Henson
The rules of owned content just flipped — short-form clips aren't driving traffic to your show anymore, they ARE the show. In this episode, Adam Stoker is joined by Brand Revolt's video and content lead Matt Henson to unpack why every podcast is really a "show" now, and how to structure episodes around five distinct interests instead of one long conversation. Matt also pulls back the curtain on Visit Myrtle Beach's new stakeholder series, Myrtle Moments: Faces and Places — including the "environmental audio" approach and why one episode now fuels weeks of social. Plus: AI in video production, the future of point-and-shoot, and Matt's move from Wrangell, Alaska to Utah. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
435: AI Strategy and Meal Madness with Aaron Jumper
In episode 435, host Adam Stoker explores the critical intersection of AI strategy and creative community activation with Aaron Jumper from Visit Cumberland Valley. The conversation begins with a deep dive into the 2026 AI landscape, specifically why providing deep "contextual intelligence" to tools like Claude is the defining factor in shifting from a marketing tactician to a true strategist. Aaron then reveals the blueprint behind "Meal Madness," a viral, bracket-style restaurant tournament that has transformed the local dining scene and provided a repeatable model for aggregating destination assets to capture maximum attention. Together, they discuss how these modern tools and tournament-style tactics allow DMOs to drive tangible results for local stakeholders, proving that in the attention economy, your only limit is your creativity. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
434: What’s Broken About RFPs—and How DMOs Can Build Better Partnerships with Caleb Sullivan
Adam Stoker and Caleb Sullivan tackle how AI is disrupting destination marketing—especially the value of vendor partnerships. They explore why traditional models (like media commissions and rigid RFPs) are breaking down, and call for a shift toward strategy, trust, and real collaboration. Caleb also shares ideas for rethinking the RFP process to focus on problem-solving and partnership, not just price and paperwork. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
433: How to Turn Your Destination's History Into a Tourism Driver with Jake Wynn and Heidi Schlag
Heritage tourism is one of the most powerful, and most underutilized, tools in a destination marketer's toolkit. Adam Stoker sits down with Jake Wynn, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Frederick, and Heidi Schlag, founder of Heritage Tourism Studio, to unpack how DMOs and museums can work together to turn local history into compelling visitor experiences. The conversation covers why museums need to start thinking like tourism institutions, how destinations can help history organizations build content and experiences that resonate with younger audiences, and why the authentic stories already living in your backyard may be your greatest competitive advantage. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
432: What to expect with this new generation of the DMP
Welcome to a new era of the show: DMP 2.0. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down our shift to a more interactive format for Q2 2026 and diving into why the traditional, front-loaded marketing budget is headed for a "performance cliff." We discuss a necessary paradigm shift for the attention economy—moving away from one-off "hero" campaigns toward a consistent, high-volume content engine. Learn why your paid media should now be reactive, acting as a vehicle to scale the organic winners that have already proven they can earn attention, build trust, and drive action. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
431: Niches, Risk, and Rewriting the DMO Playbook, A Special Episode featuring Give Me Some Good News
Adam Stoker joins the Give Me Some Good News podcast for a candid conversation about imposter syndrome, the death of "me-too" destination marketing, and why the future belongs to DMOs willing to think like strategists instead of tacticians. From autism-friendly travel to Pantone sunsets, Adam shares what it actually looks like to stop playing by the incumbent's rules — and win. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
430: Why Your Podcast Might Be More Important Than Your Website with Robb Wells
In this episode, Robb Wells explains why Visit Beaufort shifted its focus from a traditional website to a video-first podcast strategy. He shares how "challenger" destinations can outmaneuver larger competitors by taking calculated risks on owned storytelling rather than just renting an audience through traditional ads. Robb dives into the "New Chapter" of the Inner Coastal Podcast, detailing how video vignettes now fuel their entire social media ecosystem. He also discusses the tactical shift in his team—prioritizing videographers and creators—to transform the DMO into a modern media house that prioritizes authenticity over polished commercials. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
429: How Utah Valley Built a Social Media Powerhouse with Bethany Bee
Digital content specialist Bethany Bee from Explore Utah Valley joins Adam to share how a modern DMO can thrive on social media without a huge team or high‑end production. Bethany walks through her journey from teenage photographer to government communicator to tourism marketer, and how that background shaped her creator‑driven, test‑and‑learn approach. She explains why follower count matters less than ever, how trial reels and rapid experimentation fuel growth, and why low‑production, high‑creativity content consistently outperforms polished videos. Bethany also breaks down how she built a grassroots “UGC army” of local creators, why influencer pay transparency matters, and how DMOs can rethink partnerships to stretch their resources further. It’s a lively, practical conversation for any destination looking to modernize its social strategy and tap into the creator economy. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
428: Behind the Scenes of the Destination Marketing Podcast with Leena Atout
In this episode of the Destination Marketing Podcast, host Adam Stoker steps behind the scenes to interview the show's own producer, Leena Atout. Leena shares her journey from being a journalism student at UNLV to becoming a multifaceted strategist and producer, highlighting how she leverages AI tools like Gemini and Descript to streamline production without losing the essential "human touch." The conversation explores the shifting landscape of marketing, the importance of curiosity in hosting, and practical tips for creating high-value content. From sharing travel stories about the Seven Wonders of the World to discussing the professional advantages of being an "oldest daughter," Leena provides a unique perspective on what it takes to evolve from a tactical editor into a strategic marketer. Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt’s services, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com or visit www.thebrandrevolt.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@thebrandrevolt.com.
