Visit Montana unveiled new branding for the state, the first in 16 years, emphazing culture, natural beauty, and lifestyle An ’86 Chevy is *literally* the vehicle for introducing the refreshed visual at events across the state, such as the governor’s launch announcement at the 74th Annual World Famous Bucking Horse Sale in Miles City last week. In Montana, six regional tourism DMOs are partners in the effort.

Road trips rock. Americans are opting for shorter vacations, domestic destinations and road trips over air travel this summer, with economic uncertainty spurring them to cut spending and use points to offset costs. A Deloitte report notes that 41% of travelers plan trips of three nights or fewer, up from 37% last year.
 
Visit Estes Park announced the purchase of The Stanley Hotel of Stephen King fame by a public entity that aims to create a regional economic and cultural engine to amplify tourism in Colorado. In addition to expanding the historic property, there will be a new 65,000 square foot event center plus a horror film museum.

Discover Los Angeles is feeling the pain. According to data from Visit California, visitor spending in Los Angeles County fell by 61% over four years, from $26.3 billion in 2019 to $10.4 billion in 2023. The downturn, which can be seen in reduced hotel bookings, restaurant business and air travel into LAX, comes as Los Angeles is gearing up for some of the biggest events in its history. Over the next two years, LA is slated to host Super Bowl LXI, FIFA World Cup, the NBA All-Star Game, and Women’s Open golf championship. In 2028, the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games come to town. Read more here.

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Meet Boston, and the Cambridge Office of Tourism have partnered with Michelin as the latest destinations in the U.S. to become Michelin cities. They’ll be included in the Michelin Guide Northeast Cities edition that includes New York City and Washington DC. As recent reporting has pointed out, inclusion is a money game. Tourism boards that are interested can now negotiate a fee with the guide to launch in their cities and/or states.

P.S. Speaking of Cambridge, Massachusetts...

Trivia Corner: Move over Antique Roadshow. Harvard University has unknowingly scored a multi-million-dollar treasure. In 1946, the university purchased what was thought to be a copy of the Magna Carta for $25.70. Surprise! Turns out this is an original from 1300—one of just seven from King Edward I that still survive—and it’s in excellent condition. British professors discovered it in the digitalized archives of Harvard Law School Library and confirmed using ultraviolet light and spectral imaging.

While Harvard has no plans to sell it, it’s noted that an original 1297 version of the Magna Carta sold at auction in 2007 for $21.3 million.

Visit San Antonio is smiling. The city council unanimously approved Project Marvel, a $4 billion plan to develop a sports and entertainment district downtown, including a taxpayer-funded arena for the Spurs basketball team. The project will be funded by hotel and rental car taxes, future arena revenue and a contribution from the team itself.

Explore Charleston and the Historic Charleston Foundation are partnering with the City of Charleston and Bloomberg Associates, on a tourism management plan for the future. The initiative, which is part of a broader effort to address the challenges and opportunities presented by Charleston’s growing popularity as a tourist destination, involves stakeholder interviews, collaborations with advocacy groups, and a forum to discuss responsible tourism. Bloomberg Associates will also conduct research and review local data to inform the development of a new tourism management plan. 

Visit Bellevue has launched a new B2B podcast, “Bellevue Bound,” to spotlight the Washington State destination’s trailblazers, culture shapers, and The 16 episodes slated for this year will include six culinary-focused segments. Hosted by Director of Destination Stewardship and Community Relations Megan Adams and Marketing Manager Trey Jackson, “Bellevue Bound” is aimed at an audience of Certified Tourism Ambassadors (CTAs), local hospitality partners, community stakeholders, and local business leaders.

U.S. Travel Association reports that multigenerational travel is trending. Family Travel Association surveys found that 55% of families are booking multi-generation trips while another showed 84% of parents said they were likely or very likely to travel with older children in the next year.