Today, travelers seek authentic experiences that connect them to the places they visit. Rather than checking iconic landmarks and popular destinations off their must-see lists, they prefer to interact with the region directly through experiences like guided outings and tours, local cultural events, and outdoor recreation.
Highly attuned to this shift, DestinationiQ has pivoted to promoting uncommon experiences where travelers collect memorable moments through engaging with the region and its residents.
Far from a trend, numerous factors are driving this change. The longing for authenticity, a craving for personal fulfillment and growth, and the influence of social media all play a role. The desire to avoid overcrowded areas and attractions motivates travelers to seek under-the-radar activities and places where they can find fresh, unforgettable experiences. In response, DestinationiQ develops detailed itineraries and promotes immersive activities that visitors can customize to their needs.
When a visitor experiences something memorable, they establish an emotional, personal bond to the place. Activities tailored to one’s distinct interests leave longer-lasting impressions that visitors want to share. In our social media age, creating unique moments visitors can post online establishes a shared positive feedback loop where others are inspired to join the experiential travel movement.
Experienced-based tourism benefits both the traveler and the destination. Through our promotion of attractions, experiences, and businesses, these travelers, who now feel intertwined with the area, prefer to support locally owned and operated establishments. Experiential travel often results in more overnight stays than traditional sightseeing trips, leading to more lodging tax collected, benefitting all residents.
Visitors experience a wide range of rewards:
While well-known landmarks cannot be ignored, DestinationiQ markets underutilized gems and lesser-known experiences. Not only does this attract visitors, but it also spreads out the economic benefits of tourism while mitigating overcrowding at high-traffic sites.
We collaborate with tourism boards, residents, local businesses, and artisans to create singular experiences that are true to the place, align tourism development with community needs, and promote cultural preservation.
To offer more personalized experiences, the DestinationiQ team designs, develops, and markets itineraries, activities, and experiences tailor-made to the individual traveler. By providing numerous themes like high adventure, family-friendly, leisure, and cultural immersion, visitors can follow (or mix and match) those best suited to their passions.
We promote unique experiences that bond visitors to the local community, history, and heritage. From excursions that reveal the spirit of a destination to art workshops to cultural outings, tour guides, artisans, and more are connecting travelers to the place.
By leveraging technology, we elevate experiential travel. Through location-aware apps, travelers can take self-guided tours to learn about the area’s history, wildlife, geology, and outdoor recreation opportunities. We also create custom-mapped routes where cyclists, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, and the like can listen to turn-by-turn navigation, use live tracking, locate gas stations, attractions, and more through interactive offline maps.
Hiring social media influencers to showcase immersive experiences is an extremely effective way to reach new audiences with high visitor potential. By targeting an influencer’s niche audience, travelers see professionally made content about activities they love. For example, an influencer focused on rockhounding or birdwatching can attract travelers looking to experience these activities in a new location. The credibility and trust these influencers have gained with their online audiences cannot be understated.
Grow tourism in your region by contacting DestinationiQ today.
Kirsten has always been driven by curiosity and connection. Her love for travel, the outdoors, and discovering new places fuels both her personal adventures and professional passion for helping destinations reach their fullest potential.
Before joining DestinationiQ, Kirsten spent several years in the hospitality industry, where she developed a deep appreciation for exceptional guest experiences and the power of meaningful relationships. She joined DestinationiQ in early 2022 as an administrative assistant, quickly immersing herself in every facet of the company. Her eagerness to learn, natural leadership, and ability to bring teams together led her to grow into the role of Project Manager and ultimately, Account Director.
Kirsten thrives on equipping people and organizations to be the best they can be, whether she’s helping a client strengthen their destination identity or supporting her team behind the scenes. When she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring new places, spending time with her family, or finding the next trail to wander.
Lindsay has been an explorer her entire life. She has traveled much of the world, falling in love with all the outdoor recreational opportunities, geologic diversity, rich history, and cultural depth it has to offer.
She began working with DestinationiQ in 2016, where she encouraged the company to focus even more on Destination Management and easily moved into an account director position where she further shines a light on her communications, relationship-building, strategic planning, and leadership skills; guiding clients on a successful path of tourism evolution.
Lindsay’s extensive network includes tourism directors and board members, social media influencers, members of state tourism offices, journalists, photographers, business leaders, and more.
Bryan is the president and owner of DestinationiQ. He has decades of experience in the tourism field and remains on the cutting edge of the industry. He firmly believes in building open and honest long-term relationships through transparent communication and providing regions with sustainable and responsible tourism strategies that have a significant economic impact.
Years ago, he recognized the ROI on tourism far outpaced many other investments, yet there was always a gap where traditional tourism consultancies and regional staff were seldom able to do everything they need to do. DestinationiQ was born to meet these needs and fill the gap; treating our clients as the experts, actively listening to their goals, forming long-lasting partnerships, and functioning as an extension of their teams, overseeing budget decisions, crafting tourism programs, executing marketing plans, and delivering the products and services they need and deserve.
