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6 Travel Marketing Conferences to Attend in 2025

From branding and messaging to all things digital marketing, these six travel industry events cover timely topics.

A group of people is engaged in conversation in a well-lit room with large windows. Some are standing in pairs, others in small groups. Empty chairs are scattered in the foreground. The atmosphere seems relaxed and social.

By Tina Kelly

As destination marketing organizations (DMOs) continue to navigate ever-evolving traveler behaviors and expectations, these six travel and tourism marketing conferences — our top picks for 2025 — will dive into research, insights and forecasts about the state of travel and tourism for years to come.

1. eTourism Summit

April 22–24, 2025 | Las Vegas

This specialized conference focuses on the latest developments in the digital realm — think AI, influencer marketing, email, search, mobile and web design, and more.

Highlight: The Spill the Tea Case Studies offer a peek behind the scenes at real-life marketing campaigns and the strategies that led to their success, and the Interactive Master Classes ensure you’ll leave with a new skill.

2. PRSA Travel & Tourism Section Conference

June 2–5, 2025 | Tampa, Florida

This meeting, open to both members and nonmembers of the Public Relations Society of America, draws hundreds of travel, tourism and hospitality professionals interested in discussing trends and forecasts with their peers and gaining exposure to travel-related media via panel discussions and social functions.

Highlight: Meet with the nation’s top travel media, network with thought leaders from around the country and participate in continuing education, all in one place.

3. Destinations International Annual Convention

July 9–11, 2025 | Chicago

All members of the travel industry are welcome at this annual event, which gathers internationally renowned thought leaders and visionaries to share their expertise and insights in keynote addresses. The conference’s integrated approach to learning and relationship-building makes it valuable for destination marketers regardless of budget size or discipline focus.

Highlight: The variety of learning formats — roundtables, fireside chats, instructive presentations — makes for engaging educational sessions with thought leaders both inside and outside the destination marketing industry.

4. U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO)

Aug. 17–19 | Phoenix

This annual conference for destination marketers is renowned for its concentration of educational programming and its no-sales environment, which allows attendees to focus on learning about the latest available trends and tools.

Highlight: Each year at the conference, the U.S. Travel Association announces the winners of its Destiny and Mercury Awards — for local, regional, state and territory marketing — and the state tourism director of the year. It’s an invaluable opportunity to see what it takes to be considered among the nation’s top travel organizations.

5. Digital Travel Summit

Sept. 15–16 | Orlando

Digital Travel Summit is a conference for travel executives looking to re-imagine the customer journey. Leaders of hotels, airlines, transportation companies and more will gather to share information on how they’re gaining customers in the new digital landscape and how they’re improving personalization strategies for cross-channel experiences.

Highlight: Digital Travel has a knack for attracting some of the brightest minds in the industry to serve as keynote speakers. In 2024, for example, speakers included executives from Priceline, Expedia Group, Red Roof Inn and renowned tourism offices across the country.

6. State Tourism Conferences

Varies by location

At conferences held by state tourism departments, it can be easier for DMOs and other travel marketing professionals to convene, confer and collaborate on challenges that affect not just one organization but the whole region or state.

Highlight: Find a searchable lineup of scheduled events on the Events page of the U.S. Travel Association website.

Engage New Travel Audiences

We can help you create quality content to reach diverse audiences. See our work with The Ritz-Carlton, Niagara Falls USA, Visit Tucson and more.

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Tina Kelly Chief Marketing Officer

Tina brings more than 10 years of experience to C/A, where she partners with companies to develop digital marketing campaigns that leverage content, encouraging audiences to consume, engage, share and convert. Tina’s experience spans industries, having led digital marketing strategy development and execution for several global and national brands, including The Children’s Place, Nationwide Insurance, Delta Faucet and many more.

Tina has presented at a number of industry conferences and events, including SXSW Interactive and Content Marketing World. Outside of work, Tina and her husband can usually be found on a sports field somewhere, cheering on their two kids.

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