Global All-Stars 2020
Inspiration, insights and ideas from around the worldKeynote session: REIMAGINING the future of travel
In its ninth year at Destinations International’s Annual Convention, Global All-Stars 2020 boldly reimagined tourism and DMOs in a world recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. Two leading state tourism directors, Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon, and Rita McClenny, President & CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation, collaborate to identify the five ways tourism will be changed forever. Back by very popular demand, Signe Jungersted, formerly with Wonderful Copenhagen and now CEO and Founding Partner of Group NAO, summarized three key ways DMOs must adapt to survive and thrive in a world post COVID-19 vaccine. Check out the resources from these Global All-Stars and the thought-provoking session, “Reimagining the Future of Travel”.
Session Recordings
Five Ways Tourism Will Be Changed Forever
Three Ways DMOs Will Be Changed Forever
SPEAKER Lineup
Rita McClenny | President & CEO, Virginia Tourism Corporation
Rita D. McClenny serves as president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, a state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination and film location. A native Virginian, Rita received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Fisk University. Rita is also involved in volunteer outreach and organizations serving the Commonwealth community.
Todd Davidson | President & CEO, Travel Oregon
Todd was appointed Executive Director of the Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) in June 1996 and named Chief Executive Officer in September 2004. He was inducted into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders in 2018. Under Todd’s leadership, Travel Oregon has won 22 Mercury Awards and Oregon’s tourism industry in has grown into a $12.3 billion industry employing more than 115,000 Oregonians.
Signe Jungersted | CEO & Founding Partner, Group NAO
Signe Jungersted is CEO and Founding Partner of Group NAO, change strategists within the experience and visitor economy. Before joining Group NAO, Signe led Copenhagen’s tourism transformation as Director of Development with Wonderful Copenhagen. She was the lead designer/author of Copenhagen’s 2020 strategy, which declared the end of tourism and set a course of people-based growth and localhood.
Additional Resources from the 2020 all-stars
Signe Jungersted
Read more insights from Signe on follow-up questions posed during the live keynote session here.
Links for more information on the examples of “future-focused” DMOs & related resources Signe used in her presentation:
Helsinki, Finland:
Helsinki “City of the Future” – Article & Interview with Laura Aalto
New Architecture & Design Museum of Helsinki/Finland
Clarity in a Time of Crisis Webinar Series Presentation by Laura Aalto of Helsinki Marketing
Doughnut Economic Model – A Framework for Sustainable Development:
Introductory Video to the Doughnut Economic Model
The Doughnut Model in an Amsterdam City Framework
Tourism Stimulus Examples:
Resident Involvement in Reimagining Tourism in their Destinations:
Other DMO Examples:
Barcelona Tourism – Solidarity Rose for St. Jordi
Remote Tourism Visit Faroe Islands
Global All-Stars Breakout Session: Stories of Survival and Recovery
This session shared inspirational stories from attractions and destinations that are setting themselves up to thrive in a post COVID-19 world.
Past Global All-Stars Sessions
Global All-Stars 2019
In its eighth year at Destinations International’s Annual Convention, Global All-Stars brought together speakers from Condé Nast Traveler, Wonderful Copenhagen and Vibram to discuss the topical theme of trust, focusing on “Trust in the Future, Trust in Place and Trust in Brand”. In case you missed the presentation in St. Louis, or want to watch it again, check out the resources here.
Global All-Stars 2018
In this exciting session, we experienced a global storytelling journey with Airbnb, learning about the elements that drive their most compelling and buzzworthy content; heard from a world leading urban architect on the latest trends in “placemaking,” reimagining downtown and public spaces to benefit visitors, locals and businesses; and saw how Google Street View is bringing more advanced and compelling content to their platform and what this means for destinations.
Global All-Stars 2017
The 6th annual Global All-Stars session featured three world-leading innovators in travel, technology and marketing; Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura, Vanessa Sain-Dieguez of Hilton and Varune Harnarine of Google. The session highlighted how to empower locals and visitors to share the weird, hidden and wonderful gems in every destination, discussed best practices in combining “High Tech & High Touch” in customer service and took a look at the future of the Internet according to Google including the rise of voice, AI and machine learning.
Global All-Stars 2016
Global All-Stars moved to the main stage at DMAI’s 2016 Annual Convention. This session discussed the power of user generated content and social media and the use of new technology, showcased the learnings and successes of new influencer and content programs and took an exciting, fresh look at new developments in the hotel sector, highlighting what they can teach destination marketers in targeting the affluent traveler, nurturing community, connectivity and a sense of place.
