Everyone has an innate capacity for exemplary leadership, far beyond what many realize. But, if leadership represents a state to be activated, who and what is standing in the way? What and where are the resources; how can they be unlocked and made available? Who is helping build managerial acuity?
While most leaders and managers join industry associations to meet and share their wisdom at meetings, seminars and conferences, rarely is this adequate. As one-off events rarely is there sufficient follow-through, little to no provision of resource material.
Sure, outlets for travel/tourism news abound, but such agencies simply inform readers as to what’s going on, what’s hot, what’s not. Little attempt is made to provide managerial, thought-provoking ideas and working knowledge, coupled with the opportunity to collaborate and take action on an on-going basis.
While there really are 305 active learned tourism journals throughout the world (even some that deal with tourism management), they serve primarily as publishing venues for academic communities, but only make vague attempt to reach and inform industry leaders and managers - the actual people who are the practitioners, the solution-providers and transformation-agents.
A plethora of consumer publications and media outlets provide the travelling and vacationing public with interesting options that glorify and promote destinations, but none offer guidance regarding the development and management of communities-as-destinations.
Which raises the question: Why the lack of professional or trade publications dedicated to providing in-depth managerial knowledge?
It’s as if the research and progress being made in the field of management is largely invisible and unknown to the leaders, managers, and others seeking new insights and managerial skills, whole-of-community and whole-of-planet solutions.
That’s why Destinations-in-Action exists, and is intent on bridging the cavernous gaps in the delivery and dispersion of know-how, so as to drive bold change and improvements.
With help from membership subscribers (Prime Movers and Partners) and its networking prowess, it will…
· Advocate on behalf of all hosts, those dedicated to caring for our communities-as-destinations, our destinations-as-communities, our visitor- serving organizations, our citizenry, visitors and guests;
· Amplify everyone’s voices, sharing their concerns, ideas and aspirations;
· Encourage collaboration, promote and reveal how we can work together more effectively;
· Update and provide greater accessibility to current thinking and real-world examples about improving or transforming the hosting, visitor, and destination experience;
· Foster the development of leadership mindsets and an entrepreneurial spirit;
· Reveal how communities and organizations can adapt, thrive, flourish, be resilient, undertake revitalization and more fulsome transformations;
· Delve more deeply into the progressive ideas about tourism’s purpose, principles, and promises, including its people, practices, and potential to do good;
· Improve the governance of communities-as-destinations as a means towards creating compelling communities, inspired hospitality, shared value, comprehensive sustainability, and collaborative innovation; and,
· Ensure that the best ideas and information for improving the management of communities-as-destinations are advanced and propelled expediently from ideation, to activation and execution.
Destinations-in-Action pointing the way for leaders and managers as everyone strives to learn from each other.
Creating value for all.
Daring to be Great. Destined to Astonish!