General Information
What is destination stewardship?
Destination stewardship is the continuous pursuit of a net-positive tourism ecosystem that exists in alignment with shared community values.
Learn more about the four guiding principles of destination stewardship that support destination organization decision-making while balancing the needs of residents and visitors alike.
What is Destination Wayfinder?
Destination Wayfinder is a fully integrated destination management platform and framework that turns destination stewardship into strategy and strategy into lasting impact. It combines a 71-point stewardship assessment, a capability framework and a project management tool into one intuitive technology platform helping destination organizations make smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Who is Destination Wayfinder for?
Destination Wayfinder is designed for tourism organizations of any size and jurisdiction, including destination marketing organizations; destination management organizations; convention and visitors bureaus; chambers of commerce; government-led tourism departments; and regional, national and state organizations.
The framework and platform is also available to the tourism industry at large, intentionally built to help stewardship consultants plan holistically and navigate their clients’ destination planning in alignment with global best practices.
Why was Destination Wayfinder developed?
Since the pandemic, destinations have been re-evaluating how to harness the power of tourism for the benefit of both community and visitors. As social, cultural, environmental and economic priorities continue to evolve, tourism organizations are being compelled to become more engaged advocates—requiring them to expand their role well beyond the traditional destination promotion scope of the past, and toward a community-centered stewardship approach.
However, there hasn’t been an industry-wide approach to destination stewardship. There is no common definition, clear starting point or agreed-upon best practices. Destination Wayfinder was designed to change that. Grounded in collaboration and aligned with global best practices set forth by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Destination Wayfinder was created to help tourism organizations define where they are now and plan for where they want to be.
How was Destination Wayfinder developed?
Destination Wayfinder was built by industry, for industry through the contributions of the Global Stewardship Innovation Lab—a group of thought leaders, researchers and stewardship practitioners across the tourism sector with a diverse mix of ethnicity, culture, gender and viewpoints.
Convening in December 2023, the Innovation Lab met in Los Angeles to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the tourism system, delving into systemic issues that all destinations are facing. The outcomes of the inaugural Innovation Lab were a shared definition and global framework and standards for destination stewardship.
After extensive research and planning, we partnered with a New Zealand technology company, 365 Ventures to build the Destination Wayfinder platform, implement the framework and apply the technology to the tourism vertical.
Who is funding Destination Wayfinder?
Destination Wayfinder is funded by Miles Partnership. It’s an example of Miles Partnership’s investment in research, strategy, innovation and technology to develop solutions that empower the tourism industry.
Demo & Trial
How do I schedule a demo?
You can schedule a demo by filling out the form here. Once submitted, you’ll be directed to a Calendly link where you can schedule your demo at a time that works for you.
Can I book a demo for my organization’s board?
We can plan a personalized demo of Destination Wayfinder for your advisory group, board or other key decision makers. We recommend scheduling an individual or small group demo first so we can learn more about your organization and better tailor the demo based on your goals and challenges.
What can I expect during a demo?
Our demos typically last one hour, where we share more about why Destination Wayfinder was developed, how it works to benefit your organization and what pricing and membership plans look like. During this time, we’ll also discuss your strategies, goals and challenges in order to guide you toward the right membership path for your destination.
Can I get a price or estimate without scheduling a demo?
Pricing for Destination Wayfinder varies by country, chosen membership plan and add-ons. While we always recommend speaking with one of our expert consultants, we can provide an estimate if given enough information. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more details.
Do you offer any free trials of Destination Wayfinder?
Each organization that schedules and completes a demo is eligible for a free two-week trial of Destination Wayfinder. We also offer longer-term and bespoke Enterprise trials for destinations on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to us at [email protected] or ask for more information during your demo.