Destinations International 2025: Elevating the DMO conversation
Chicago
Destinations International 2025: Elevating the DMO conversation
Chicago’ s credentials as a business events capital were unmistakably evident during the Destinations International Annual Convention held in July 2025. Hosted at McCormick Place, the event welcomed 2,020 industry leaders from across the globe, including executives from destination marketing organisations( DMOs), economic development agencies, and tourism boards.
The convention’ s theme,‘ Community, Connectivity, and Change’, reflected the evolving role of DMOs in shaping inclusive, resilient destinations. Keynote addresses from Andre Norman and Justin Wren went far beyond inspiration, inviting attendees to reflect deeply on issues of leadership, equity, and transformation. Norman’ s journey from incarceration to international speaker sparked powerful discussions on potential, second chances, and how DMOs can champion untold stories. Wren, a humanitarian and former MMA fighter, spoke on inclusion and the importance of community-first approaches in tourism development.
Breakout sessions and hands-on workshops equipped professionals with practical tools and data-driven strategies. Attendees had access to the Event Impact Calculator, which helped quantify the economic footprint of events in real-time. Meanwhile, the Symphony Platform demonstrated next-gen visitor experience tracking, enabling planners to anticipate and respond to delegate needs dynamically.
One of the standout features was the Civitas Funding Forum, dedicated to navigating the complex landscape of tourism funding and advocacy. In a time of shifting economic priorities, participants engaged in robust dialogue about resilience, diversification, and the necessity of proactive lobbying in local government.
Networking was reimagined through curated experiences: executive lounges with wellness programming, collaborative dinners hosted across the city’ s top restaurants, and formal receptions that turned Chicago’ s landmarks into stages for relationship-building.
The welcome reception for the Destinations International Annual Convention set an unforgettable tone as delegates gathered at Chicago’ s beautifully restored Old Post Office
Right: MMA star
Justin Wren on stage for D. I. in Chicago
Left: Out on The Ledge: D. I. leaders and friends getting a front row view of the soul of Chicago
building. With its soaring Art Deco interiors and sweeping city views, the venue served as more than a backdrop, it was a tribute to Chicago’ s rich heritage and urban revival.
As the evening unfolded, attendees mingled beneath dramatic brass chandeliers, exploring food stations that celebrated the city ' s patchwork of neighbourhoods. Local musicians added rhythm to the room as conversations sparked across tables adorned with maps of Chicago’ s community districts, highlighting the city’ s pride in its diversity.
A city built for momentum After a week of high-level strategy, immersive incentive experiences, and conversations that will shape the future of destination marketing, one thing became clear – Chicago knows how to deliver. And as Ferris Bueller famously reminded us in his cinematic day off, filmed right here in Chicago,“ Life moves pretty fast. If you don’ t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
For delegates who stepped onto The Ledge, cruised the river, or danced under Art Deco chandeliers in the Old Post Office, this wasn’ t just a convention – it was a front-row seat to the soul of a city that doesn’ t just host events – it makes them unforgettable. n
ISSUE 138 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 33