Welcome back to Destination Discourse! In this episode, Stuart Butler and Adam Stoker are joined by Kyle Edmiston, President & CEO of Visit Lake Charles, to discuss one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of destination marketing—employee engagement and culture.

Key Topics Covered:
✅ Why your team is the most valuable asset in your organization
✅ The power of employee surveys and how Visit Lake Charles uses Gallup Q12
✅ Common blind spots in leadership and how to address workplace challenges
✅ The role of culture in a hybrid and remote work environment
✅ How to encourage time off to avoid burnout and increase productivity
✅ Why DMOs should be measuring employee sentiment just like visitor sentiment

Big Takeaways:
“If you’re asking your employees for feedback, you have to act on it. Otherwise, you’re doing more harm than good.”
“Culture isn’t just pizza parties and happy hours—it’s the sum of all interactions between team members.”
“Your vacation time is part of your compensation—if you’re not using it, it’s like not taking your full paycheck.”