Four Words That Build a Destination
“You did great work on this.” Four simple words. But for a leader in a Destination Marketing Organization, they may be the most powerful words you can say. Not in a board presentation or a press release—but in the hallway, over coffee, or in the quiet after a long event. Leadership doesn’t always look like a podium. Often, it sounds like genuine encouragement. We talk a lot about visitor experience. What will they see? How will they feel? What will they remember? But there’s a direct line between how your team feels and how your destination is perceived. When the people doing the work feel seen and valued, their work gets better. More thoughtful. More creative. More inspired. “You did great work on this” is more than praise. It’s acknowledgment. It’s leadership that sees beyond deliverables and into the effort behind them. The grant proposal that took three late nights. The itinerary brainstormed over lukewarm coffee. The front desk team member who turned a complaint into a compliment....