Whether you’re rebranding or brainstorming a new social media campaign, finding inspiration in your industry is a great place to start. Fortunately, in the realm of destination marketing, there’s plenty of inspiration out there. From logo designs and website layouts to killer blog content, we’ve gathered some of our favorite destination marketing organizations that are doing truly creative marketing. 

Sustainability has been a buzzword for some time, but today, it’s affecting consumer decision-making on a daily basis. And travel decisions are no different. 

According to Booking.com’s 2021 Sustainable Travel Report, 83% of travelers think sustainable travel is vital. Of the 29,000 travelers surveyed, 61% said the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the future. 

If you have a travel blog on your destination marketing website, you probably already have a sense of its value. Travelers who are in the interested and considering stages of their travel planning often make their decisions based on online blogs and articles about the destination. For example, one of our own destination marketing clients draws more than half of its website traffic from organic search via a blog. Potential travelers love to research and dream about their future vacation by looking at things to do, places to eat and scenic photos of the area – and you can capture this audience with your blog.

If you’re a destination marketer, you probably have your trusty set of tools that help you draw visitors to your destination – likely a mix of social advertising, print advertising, billboards, content marketing and more. But in the quickly-evolving world of technology and digital marketing, there are always more tools to be harnessed. Whether your visitation numbers have been stalling or you simply want to get ahead (and stay ahead) of your competitors, it’s always good to stay up-to-date on new tools that are available to you.

Remember the wanderlust you felt while under lockdown in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic? You and everyone else were scrolling through Instagram, gathering inspiration for the day you’d be able to travel again.

When it comes to destination marketing, your product is a place. You’re selling an experience – a place that offers people something different than what they might find in their everyday life. That experience is your brand.

Paid advertising is perhaps the most important tool for letting the world know about your destination. While your organic social channels and website might be pumping out great content, it’s pretty difficult to compete in a digital landscape without dropping some dollars. Whether you’re marketing for an up-and-coming small town or a well-known city that’s been drawing tourists for years, it’s a tool you’ll want to have in your toolbox. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on digital advertising; it just means you need to be strategic.

When it comes to destination marketing, the focus is so often on advertising: massive poster ads in airports, billboards, quarter-pages in travel magazines, and even social media ads. And advertising is certainly an essential part of any destination marketing strategy. But when it comes to creating a long-lasting digital presence for your destination, blogging is key.