41: Should DMOs Think More Like a Startup? (Steven Totten)
Steven explains why Visit Phoenix is approaching its DMO like a startup, embracing in-kind partnerships, retail-inspired merchandise drops, and intentionally choosing a creative agency outside the travel industry. The conversation dives deep into why risk-taking is feared, how comfort and inertia dominate DMO culture, and what it takes to break free—including strong internal communication, stakeholder education, and a shift from celebrating outcomes to celebrating strategic courage.
Key Topics:
• Launch of Charlie’s Place podcast with Atlas Obscura, Rococo Punch, and Pushkin
• The problem with outsourcing vision to agencies
• Risk aversion and fear-based culture in tourism
• Why most DMO org charts and funding models are all over the map
• The difference between celebrating risk vs. normalizing it
• Startup mindset and treating innovation as the core mission
• How Visit Phoenix is shifting perception through bold creative and ROI-focused partnerships