Caught in the Middle: Destinations in Uncertain Times (2026 Travel Unity Virtual Spring Summit)

"Travel industry professionals sometimes find themselves representing places that are suddenly at the center of national conversations or difficult public moments. They did not create those situations, and they do not control them, but they are often the ones expected to answer questions, represent their destinations, and engage with partners and visitors while those moments are unfolding. In this session, Lauren Bruggemans (Visit Greater Palm Springs), Rondel Holder (NYC Tourism + Conventions), Roz Stuttley (Choose Chicago), and Ka Vang (Meet Minneapolis) discuss what it looks like to be the person representing a place when it is being debated, scrutinized, or misunderstood. The conversation focuses on the professional and personal realities of that role: navigating difficult conversations, responding to questions about the destination, and continuing to represent a place honestly while those moments are unfolding. What you’ll take away from this session *What it feels like to represent a destination when it becomes part of larger public conversations *How travel industry professionals navigate difficult questions from partners, visitors, and the public *Ways to support yourself and your colleagues when the place you represent is under intense attention or scrutiny