The City Destinations Alliance International Conference & General Assembly 2025 is set to take place in Budapest from April 9 to 11, bringing together over 200 tourism professionals from both leisure and business sectors. This year’s conference theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Driving Tourism’s Business Transformation,” aims to challenge traditional tourism models and inspire destinations to adapt to the rapid changes sweeping the industry.
The event will focus on how cities and tourism stakeholders can embrace change to stay competitive in an era marked by technological disruption, shifting visitor expectations, and sustainability pressures. As the tourism industry grapples with these challenges, the conference will provide a comprehensive blueprint for future success.
Key sessions will explore the evolving role of destinations in driving economic growth, fostering social cohesion, and advancing sustainability goals. The event will delve into how digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the way in which tourism is marketed and managed, emphasizing how cities can remain relevant on the global stage.
One of the central sessions, “From Policies to Practice,” will feature Barbara Jamison-Woods, president of City Destinations Alliance, and Dr. Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission. Together, they will discuss how European cities can enhance their competitiveness by attracting visitors, talent, and investment while safeguarding their authenticity and sustainability. This conversation is vital as destinations strive to balance growth with responsible tourism practices.
A key highlight of the conference will be a session titled “Transformative Strategies for Tourism,” led by Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board. Kettner will discuss Vienna’s innovative Visitor Economy approach, which integrates tourism into the city’s broader social and economic framework, prioritizing sustainability and economic diversification. This model serves as a global example for cities striving to redefine success in the tourism sector.
The conference will also tackle how to rethink the visitor experience. “Reimagining the Visitor Experience: A Data-Driven, People-Centric Future” is one such session featuring Gracen Chungath, Senior Vice President of Destination Development at Destination Canada, and Dr. Rachel Dodds, a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. They will present alternative metrics for assessing tourism success, including resident sentiment, overtourism management, and environmental impact. This discussion aims to help destinations find harmony between visitor enjoyment and local community benefits.
In addition, a panel titled “Hospitality Starts at Home: How Locals Can Enhance the Tourist Experience” will explore the importance of engaging local communities in creating authentic and meaningful tourism experiences. Travel writer Doug Lansky will lead this conversation, focusing on how cities can innovate visitor engagement by centering locals in tourism development.
Finally, Sam Beni, Founder & CEO of Platin Ventures, will discuss the transformative role of AI, predictive analytics, and hyper-personalization in tourism marketing during the session “Smarter Cities, Smarter Tourism.” Sustainability and climate action will also play a significant role, with a dedicated session addressing how tourism can drive positive social impacts.
Barbara Jamison-Woods emphasized the conference's necessity, stating, “The CityDNA International Conference in Budapest is an unmissable opportunity to challenge conventional thinking and embrace new models for tourism management. By pushing beyond boundaries, we can collectively drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience in city tourism.”
In another significant event, Great Wine Capitals will host a webinar on March 25, 2025, at 09:00 CET that will focus on the impact of wine tourism on independent wineries. Claire Lamoureux, a researcher from KEDGE Wine School, will share insights alongside representatives from wineries located in Bordeaux and Mainz.
Wine tourism has increasingly become a critical avenue for independent wineries to enhance their business strategy. Yet, questions remain about its actual effects on operations. This informative webinar aims to allow these wineries to discover new methods of creating value through tourism.
Participants will benefit from Claire Lamoureux's findings on wine tourism's influence, engaging directly with her through Q&A. Moreover, firsthand stories from Château Mauvinon in Bordeaux and Weingut Braunewell in Mainz, both of which have successfully harnessed wine tourism, will be presented.
The event will feature several noteworthy speakers, including Caroline Lagiere, a viticulturist at Château Mauvinon recognized for her excellence, and Stefan Braunewell, winemaker and CEO of Weingut Braunewell, who has received accolades for his achievements in wine tourism. Marc Checkley, an expert storytelling specialist based in Lausanne, will moderate this unique opportunity for independent wineries to grasp the impact of wine tourism on their operations and leverage it accordingly.
Registration for this webinar is open to anyone interested in exploring the effects of wine tourism on the wine industry.
