Destinations International announces Chicago as host city for 2025 convention

Destinations International, a leading resource for destination organisations, has announced that its 2025 Annual Convention will be held in Chicago, Illinois from 9-11 July 2025. The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Annual Convention in Tampa, Florida (held 16-18 July). The Destinations International Annual Convention this year focused on the critical role destination organisations play in community engagement, resilience, and destination stewardship. The convention has seen record attendance in recent years and nearly 1,900 attendees from 34 countries and territories gathered in Tampa for the 2024 Annual Convention. “We had a record-breaking Annual Convention in Tampa this year, and based on guest feedback, we couldn’t be more pleased with the results,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “We’re deeply grateful to Visit Tampa Bay president and CEO Santiago Corrada and his outstanding team for their warm hospitality, partnership, and hard work in making this year’s convention an unforgettable experience. We’re excited to be heading to Chicago next year for our 2025 Annual Convention and look forward to working with Rich Gamble, interim CEO at Choose Chicago, and his team to plan another must-attend conference for our members. Chicago holds a special place in my heart, as my family and I called it home for five years when I served as the CEO of Choose Chicago.” Rich Gamble, interim president and CEO at Choose Chicago, also shared his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to welcome the Destinations International 2025 Annual Convention to Chicago next summer. At a time of unprecedented growth and transition for destination organisations, this gathering represents a truly exceptional opportunity for industry leaders to come together to meet and learn from one another. We’re thrilled to offer convention attendees the opportunity to explore Chicago and experience everything that makes us worthy of being named Best Big City in the US for seven consecutive years by readers of Condé Nast Traveler.” More information on the 2025 Annual Convention will be available online at www.destinationsinternational.org.