Destinations International Appoints 2026

The Local Trend Revealed

The global tourism sector is moving away from simple promotion and toward "destination management"—a shift where the priority is balancing visitor growth with community well-being. At the Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon, Destinations International formalized this shift by appointing a leadership team designed to bridge the gap between public tourism boards and private-sector tech.

Kyle Edmiston, President and CEO of Visit Lake Charles, now serves as Association Chair. His mandate focuses on strengthening local economies and improving community engagement. Simultaneously, Steven Paganelli, Senior Director of Americas Sales at Tripadvisor, takes the helm as Foundation Chair. This pairing of a destination CEO and a digital platform executive signals a new era where data-driven insights from the private sector are integrated directly into public tourism policy.

Cultural & Environmental Value

For the visitor, the real impact of this leadership shift is a move toward "responsible destination management." Rather than chasing raw passenger counts, the 2026–2027 strategy emphasizes resilience and the protection of regional heritage. By integrating leaders from diverse regions—including Visit Phoenix, Visit Baltimore, and the Wyoming Office of Tourism—the association is prioritizing a model where tourism revenue directly supports the conservation of the sites visitors come to see.

This approach moves the industry beyond the "observer" phase. By focusing on workforce development and research through the Destinations International Foundation, the organization is ensuring that local guides, hospitality workers, and conservationists are trained in sustainable practices that prevent over-tourism and protect the cultural integrity of host communities.

Visitor Insider Tips

When visiting destinations managed under these new sustainable frameworks, travelers can enhance their experience by following these local guidelines:

The "Off-Peak" Window: To support local economies without straining infrastructure, visit primary attractions during "shoulder seasons" (the weeks immediately before or after peak summer/winter).
Direct-to-Local Spending: Prioritize "Certified Local" businesses. Look for regional heritage labels that ensure your spending stays within the community rather than going to international conglomerates.
Cultural Etiquette: In regions focusing on community engagement, practice "Slow Travel." Spend three days in one neighborhood rather than hitting five landmarks in one day to reduce your carbon footprint and foster genuine local connections.
Digital Integration: Use official destination apps to track real-time crowd density, helping you avoid over-congested sites and discover under-the-radar gems.

Tourism Outlook

The long-term trajectory for global tourism is one of "smart growth." With the 2026–2027 board including experts from Hunden Partners, Longwoods International, and various state tourism offices, the industry is pivoting toward a professionalized, research-backed standard of management. The goal is no longer just to attract the most visitors, but to attract the right visitors—those whose values align with the environmental and cultural goals of the destination. This will likely lead to more curated travel experiences and a stronger emphasis on the "circular tourism economy."