Sunday, March 23, 2025
The City Destinations Alliance International Conference & General Assembly 2025 will be held in Budapest from April 9-11, 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 also delve into how digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the way tourism is marketed and managed, with a focus on 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 explore how European cities can bolster their competitiveness by attracting not only visitors but also talent and investment, all while preserving 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, prioritising sustainability and economic diversification. Vienna’s model, which moves beyond traditional visitor numbers, serves as a global example for cities seeking to redefine success in the tourism sector.
The conference will also feature sessions on rethinking the visitor experience, such as “Reimagining the Visitor Experience: A Data-Driven, People-Centric Future.” Gracen Chungath, Senior Vice President of Destination Development at Destination Canada, will join Dr. Rachel Dodds, Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, to present alternative metrics for assessing the success of tourism, including resident sentiment, overtourism management, and environmental impact. This discussion will help destinations strike a balance between visitor enjoyment and local community benefits.
“Hospitality Starts at Home: How Locals Can Enhance the Tourist Experience” will explore how engaging local communities can create authentic, meaningful tourism experiences. Travel writer Doug Lansky will lead a conversation on how cities can break away from outdated approaches to visitor engagement by placing locals at the heart of tourism development.
Finally, Sam Beni, Founder & CEO of Platin Ventures, will discuss the role of AI, predictive analytics, and hyper-personalisation in transforming tourism marketing and city planning during the session “Smarter Cities, Smarter Tourism.” Sustainability and climate action will also be a major focus, with a session dedicated to how tourism can drive positive social impact.
Barbara Jamison-Woods, President of City Destinations Alliance, emphasised the importance of the event, saying, “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.”
