When we talk about AI, most marketers picture disruption: new tools, shifting platforms, and a future that feels like it’s moving faster than we can plan for. But the truth is simpler and scarier. AI won’t replace marketers. Apathy will. And the difference between those who thrive in the AI era and those who fade into the algorithmic background comes down [...]

If it seems like the whole world is talking only about AI, you’re not imagining it. In fact, in the past 10 days, we’ve written five blogs about AI. But there’s another marketing tool that’s just as powerful and much older, branding. Branding is the other side of the AI coin. While AI transforms how we create and measure, branding is [...]

TikTok has become the world’s digital departure lounge a place where curiosity turns into booked trips. Now, the platform is making it even easier for travel brands and DMOs to reach high-intent travelers through its newest innovation: Travel Ads powered by Smart+. The new solution launched at the end of September lets advertisers automatically promote destinations, hotels, and experiences at scale, [...]

Celebrating Mississippi Tourism: Congratulations to the 2025 MTA Award Winners "Tourism is easy to celebrate when it’s your fourth-largest industry and growing." This quote from the Lt. Governor of Mississippi underscores the impact of travel in Mississippi. This year, Mississippi welcomed 44 million visitors, supported over 100,000 jobs, and generated an impressive $18 billion in economic impact. Those numbers [...]

A New Era of Consumer Behavior Begins Walmart just changed how consumers use AI. Earlier this week there were two AI stories of note, and both surround Open AI. The first is that OpenAI and Salesforce have entered a partnership which will allow you to access your Salesforce data inside of ChatGPT, use ChatGPT inside of Slack (which Salesforce owns) and [...]

Lessons for Travel Brands At this point it is clear that Artificial Intelligence in 2025 isn’t a futuristic experiment it’s now central to how marketing teams plan, create, and optimize campaigns. If you are like us you want to know how others in our industry are using AI. Enter HubSpot’s 2025 AI Trends for Marketers report  based on insights from over [...]

How Travel Marketers Can Win the AI Search Game If the last few years were about getting found on Google, the next few are about getting *chosen* by AI. Microsoft’s latest piece on optimizing for AI search answers confirms what many of us in travel marketing already feel search isn’t disappearing, it’s evolving. And for destinations, hotels, and attractions, that evolution [...]

What Can Marketers Learn About the State of AI in 2025? As we have been saying all year, in 2025 Artificial Intelligence moved from hype to hard reality. The State of AI Report 2025 reveals a world now driven by three races: the race for reasoning, the race for revenue, and the race for raw power. Together, these forces are reshaping [...]

As shoppers head into the 2025 holiday season, Adobe Analytics forecasts slower online sales growth just 5.3% year-over-year, compared with nearly 9% last year. Consumers are becoming more intentional, clustering spending around events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, leaning on “Buy Now, Pay Later” tools, and showing a willingness to splurge selectively on premium goods. At first glance, that might [...]