Jan Hutton, CEO of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), will dive into ATDW’s ongoing business review, which is reimagining the future of product content distribution across Australia and beyond. Building upon ATDW's extensive database of more than 65,000 profiles, this session offers real-world insights into partnership-focused approaches to product content distribution and how ATDW is navigating today’s digital landscape while laying the groundwork for transformative growth on a global scale, focusing on:

• What lessons can be learned from a high-stakes replatforming experience, and how can challenges be turned into strategic wins?
• How is ATDW approaching the future of product content distribution across both public and commercial channels?
• What role do global technology partnerships play in shaping next-gen digital infrastructure for tourism?

How can digital design unlock the storytelling potential of cultural archives and museum collections? With this session, Julie Van Oyen, Product Designer at Europeana, takes you on a journey through innovative web-based interfaces that bring heritage to life. We will focus on design techniques that deepen engagement and reveal the layers of meaning within destination narratives. Blending creativity, research and innovation, this session will explore the intersection of culture and digital service design, shining a light on:

• How can digital platforms support tourism and strengthen local identity by showcasing cultural collections online?
• In what ways can design and technology be used to reimagine storytelling in the cultural heritage space?
• How does user experience research shape interface design that pushes the boundaries of how cultural content is accessed and experienced?
  

How do you breathe new life into a destination brand while ensuring it delivers on its promise? In this session, Olli Ylioja, Head of Digital at Visit Turku Archipelago, shares the story behind Saaristo – a brand reset that reimagines the Turku Archipelago’s identity for a new era of digital engagement. This session offers a powerful case study on how destinations can intentionally apply service design principles, aligning vision, voice and value in the digital space, exploring:

• How has the destination’s brand evolved over time and how is storytelling now being used to better capture the unique spirit of the islands?
• How can destinations ensure that the experiences shown in campaign assets are easily discoverable and bookable?
• How do digital platforms and design help bridge the gap between a destination's narrative and the visitor journey, turning a brand promise into a meaningful visitor experience?
  

This interactive workshop will identify key opportunities for innovation in tourism during 2025 and beyond. Through a collaborative process, participants will explore how to create seamless and engaging digital experiences that tap into emerging trends, such as sports tourism, celestial experiences and reconnecting with nature, and meet the evolving needs and expectations of travellers.

Join Jamie Claudio, SVP of Destination Marketing at Tiki, and Andrew Wilson,  CMO of Discover Atlanta, as they share how Tiki's unique conversational AI ads drive engaged website traffic. Through a dynamic fireside chat, we’ll then dive into the broader implications of AI on Atlanta’s destination strategy, unpacking the critical questions being asked and the insights that are shaping their path forward, showcasing:

• What makes Tiki’s approach to awareness and top-of-funnel engagement stand out in a saturated market, and what sets them apart from other platforms?
• How is AI reshaping content strategies and influencing real-time decision-making in destination marketing?
• What can we learn from Discover Atlanta’s evolving strategy as AI becomes more deeply embedded in audience engagement?
  

We're moving from experimentation to widespread implementation of AI across every internal and external touchpoint. This session will explore the frontier of multimodal AI platforms in tourism and why it is becoming more central to the overall visitor experience. We'll delve into how this cutting-edge technology will create seamless user experiences.

• What are the opportunities for AI to become a collaborator in tourism planning and decision-making?
• How can we effectively integrate multimodal AI with existing infrastructure and platforms?
• Do we truly understand the evolving desires and expectations of travellers regarding AI usage in tourism?

How can we navigate the complexity of AI as an industry, mitigating the associated risks to ensure a responsible future for tourism? This session will explore the exciting yet intricate interplay of risk and reward by critically examining the potential risks and challenges associated with AI adoption:

• How can tourism businesses maintain control over their brand identity and the visitor experience while leveraging the power of AI?
• Who owns the data generated by AI systems and how can we ensure data privacy and security?
• What can we do to ensure that AI-powered experiences retain a sense of authenticity and human connection?

This interactive workshop will guide participants through the process of developing a robust AI strategy. We'll investigate key considerations for successful implementation, from identifying opportunities for value creation and intuitive design of user interfaces through AI to identifying opportunities for integration establishing ethical frameworks and building trust.