Development Counsellors International

05/04/2026

May 4-8 is and we’re celebrating 100 years of innovation with the International Economic Development Council.

Over the last century, economic development has evolved from “smokestack chasing” and industrial parks to strategic business attraction, innovation ecosystems and intentional place making rooted in people and purpose.

Our team believes deeply in the power of place, and we’re proud to help write the next chapter of economic development as collaboration and innovation continue to drive long-term growth.

Here’s a few communities we’ve been on-the-ground with recently:

🔬 Kala staffed a media visit with REDI Cincinnati, hosting the Editor in Chief of Site Selection and facilitating interviews with life sciences companies.

🐎 Patience explored all Lexington had to offer after joining a panel on how the Greater LEX region is sharpening its talent strategy and leveraging its many assets.

💡 Lina and Caitlin joined the Clark County Office of Community and Economic Development and the Las Vegas business community for Bright Insights: A Clark County Economic Impact Showcase.

04/29/2026

DCI and our SVP of Research, Robyn Domber, were honored with an award from IACC during their recent North American conference, recognizing an 11-year research collaboration. The partnership has centered on the Meeting Room of the Future Trends Report—a signature publication Robyn has stewarded throughout every edition, working closely with Mark Cooper and his team to deliver meaningful insights to the industry.

This recognition underscores the value of sustained, strategic partnerships in destination and meetings research. The 2026 report launches in the coming months—watch for it.

Thank you to IACC and Mark for a decade plus partnership. Here's to many more!

https://www.iacconline.org/?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_69f118f9f2dcbc40ba4fe472

04/27/2026

We’re taking marketing solutions to the mountains. 🏔️

Join us September 23–25, 2026 at the Clayton Hotel in Denver, Colorado for the DCI Marketing Summit. Across three days, economic development marketers will engage in practical, peer-led conversations on what’s shaping business and talent attraction right now.

With tailored breakouts by community size, experience level and marketing channel, to larger discussions on credibility, media fragmentation and global uncertainty, every session is designed to move your strategy forward.

If you’re thinking about attending, now is the time to secure your spot: https://aboutdci.com/insights/dci-marketing-summit/

04/22/2026

When we’re not marketing places, we’re exploring them.

Happy Earth Day from the DCI team. 🌎

04/22/2026

🚨Now available: DCI’s 2026 Capturing the Canadian Consumer Study

Drawing on insights from a nationwide survey of 1,502 Canadians, this study takes a deep dive into one of the world’s most valuable outbound travel markets, unpacking shifting destination preferences, evolving planning behaviours and the full Canadian traveller path to purchase.

Since the previous edition of this report in 2023, the landscape has changed significantly. Interest in U.S. destinations is waning, travellers are booking closer to departure and air travel continues to gain ground, leaving destinations scrambling to adjust their strategies.

For destinations competing globally, understanding these shifts is essential.

Purchase the report: https://aboutdci.com/products/capturing-the-canadian-consumer-study-2026/

04/20/2026

We are excited to share that Gabi Sandler has been named a finalist for Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) Industry Member of the Year! 🎉

Since joining TMAC in 2023, Gabi has served on the National Professional Development Committee, helping deliver innovative and timely programs that provide industry leadership for members, media and partners across Canada.

Whether she’s representing DCI on thoughtfully planned client press trips or creating opportunities for the next generation of PR professionals, Gabi is a superstar and deserving of this recognition.

If you’re heading to the TMAC Conference & Media Marketplace next week, be sure to catch Gabi in person as she moderates a session on building stronger media and industry partnerships: https://travelmedia.ca/2026-conference-keynote-professional-development-sessions/

04/16/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 DCI Marketing Summit, September 23–25 in Denver, Colorado. 💫

If you are an economic development or talent attraction marketer, looking for the space to have honest, informative conversations about what’s actually working in the industry right now, this Summit is for you. Over the course of three days, we’ll explore how to maintain credibility in a fragmented, AI-driven media environment and examine how marketing, PR and technology are shaping location decisions in real-time.

With a limited number of attendees and sessions designed to encourage open discussion, our event is intentionally different from traditional industry conferences. It’s an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, learn directly from peers and return with practical strategies, fresh perspective and new connections that will continue to shape your work long after the event ends.

Join us in Denver: https://aboutdci.com/insights/dci-marketing-summit/

04/15/2026

Place brands should come alive, not sit on a shelf. 💥Join the DCI team at City Nation Place Americas for our session “You have a brand identity … now what? Practical and unexpected ways to activate your place brand.”

Led by Michael Mackay and Siobhan Chretien, with input from the CMOs of Invest Puerto Rico and Visit Baltimore, this session will explore how destinations can activate their brands in meaningful, scalable ways, across tourism and economic development, long after the logo is complete.

Sarah Raynor will also be facilitating a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, helping peers dig deeper into how places are adopting more successful approaches to building community pride and confidence.

We’re looking forward to connecting with fellow place leaders in Vancouver.

https://www.citynationplace.com/americas/agenda -two-thursday-april-23rd

04/14/2026

The best attraction stories don’t start with “visit here.” They tap into culture, legacy and shared passions, meeting audiences through the stories they already care about.

For Explore Western Mass, that meant tapping into sneaker culture and the deeper history of basketball fandom. DCI facilitated a curated media visit that immersed journalist Rashad Grove in Springfield’s basketball legacy, resulting in a Sports Illustrated FanNation feature spotlighting the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame through a cultural lens.

Rather than a traditional tourism narrative, the story connects with audiences where they already are. By grounding Springfield’s global sports legacy in a modern cultural context, the coverage positions Western Massachusetts as part of the ongoing story of the sport, where history, identity and culture collide.

👟🏀 Read the feature:

From the canvas of the Converse Chuck Taylor to the Zoom inside the Nike Kobe 1, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame tracks the evolution of basketball shoes.

04/10/2026

For many DMOs, influencers remain an add‑on rather than a strategic priority. But creators are already doing the work of place branding, whether or not destinations plan for it. From neighborhoods to local events, one post can shift perception, drive intent and strengthen local pride.

See a few practical ways to put creators at the center of your place marketing strategy: https://aboutdci.com/blog/partners-not-posts-4-ways-dmos-elevate-influencers-beyond-pretty-pictures/

01/26/2026

Nothing beats face-to-face time with the media shaping global travel coverage. Our team attended TravMedia International Media Marketplace (IMM) in NYC, spending two days pitching ideas, strengthening relationships and making new connections with journalists and creators from across the industry. ✨