45: Where Should DMO CEOs Be Spending Their Time? (Kristen Adamo)

In this jam-packed episode of Destination Discourse, Stuart and Adam welcome Kristen Adamo, President & CEO of Go Providence, for a powerful conversation about the evolving role of destination marketing organizations—and more specifically—the CEO’s role in product development and community stewardship.

They explore:
• How Go Providence helped save WaterFire and turned it into an economic development lever
• Why advocacy starts with being at the table, and sometimes means setting the table
• How marketers are uniquely positioned to become CEOs (and why more of them should be)
• The difference between promoting a destination and shaping it
• The importance of “marketing the marketing”—including leave-behind ROI cards, op-eds, and internal newsletters
• Why product development is brand management—and the risk of promoting an experience that doesn’t exist
• How DMOs can gain influence with elected officials and avoid being seen as a “nice-to-have”

Takeaways:
→ If you’re not involved in product, you may be promoting something that’s no longer competitive.
→ The most successful DMOs act as connectors, collaborators, and quiet power players—without needing the credit.
→ Marketing skills (storytelling, communication, vision) are becoming critical CEO traits in a post-COVID world.
→ Local advocacy isn’t optional anymore—it’s a core part of destination leadership.
→ Want to be indispensable? Tie every initiative back to room nights and community impact.