It’s time for a freshly brewed episode of Tourism Heads & Their Tales. Today we welcome a leader in the DMO world with a very interesting journey. Today, Victoria Isley is the President & CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. Over her 29-year career, she has represented destinations including the island of Bermuda; Washington, DC; Tampa Bay, Florida and Durham, and now Asheville, North Carolina.

Listen as Vic discusses the biggest challenges facing Asheville and how she is addressing them. Hear Vic describe that tapping into the community with over 300 listening sessions that really helped shape and form the stories. Discover the tremendous financial impact of the Visitor Economy and the related vibrant growth of the River Arts District.

Vic's stories highlight the essentials of environmental stewardship and the crucial lessons she's learned in forging partnerships amidst seemingly conflicting agendas. This episode is packed with valuable insights from a destination leader that we can all learn from. Tune in and don't miss out on the chance to gain from Vic's thought leadership!

Welcome to a fresh edition of Tourism Heads & Their Tales. Today’s guest is
Anne Sayers. Anne was named Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in March of 2023. Secretary Sayers has led the agency since December of 2020 after first serving as the Deputy Secretary since January 2019.

Hear Anne articulate the vision and strategy driving Wisconsin as a premier destination in a competitive landscape. Listen as Anne goes beyond the economic impact and how Wisconsin has been able to attract major national conferences, iconic sporting events, the 2025 NFL Draft, popular TV show’s like Bravo’s Top Chef series and more. Understand how communities get involved and participate in innovative co-op programs. Anne shares the Four Pillars behind the Wisconsin brand and how the state is full of surprises. We learn about sustainability and its origins in Wisconsin’s history and I guarantee there is much to learn in the captivating episode.

Tune into a brand-new edition of Tourism Heads and Their Tales. Today we welcome Joe Marinelli, President and CEO of Visit Savannah. Joe is a well-respected industry thought leader with a solid background in hospitality and tourism. Listen as Joe details the DMO model in place and target markets and how workforce issues impact all destinations. Hear Joe discuss a creative initiative that partners tourism with the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) that literally takes the show on the road to support workforce development and tourism. Learn about the value of partnerships and why it's critical to destinations. We talk about what leadership traits are required to be successful, and Joe shares his thoughts on this subject. There is so much valuable information in our interview with Joe that this is a definite unmissable episode.