52: Can Supply Chain Thinking Revolutionize Destination Marketing? (Caleb Sullivan and Tyler Ford)

In this episode of Destination Discourse, we’re joined by returning guest Caleb Sullivan and first-time guest Tyler Ford, an outsider from the automotive world who just might have the fresh perspective the tourism industry needs.

The conversation kicks off with a lively debate about Las Vegas’s new “Five Days of Fabulous” campaign—is it a smart earned media play or a short-sighted brand devaluation? But the real shift happens when Tyler introduces a bold idea: What if DMOs started thinking like supply chain managers?

Drawing lessons from the automotive industry, Caleb and Tyler challenge the traditional marketing funnel and offer a new lens for thinking about the visitor journey—one built on continuous improvement, systemic thinking, and the idea that every touchpoint in the destination contributes to the final “product.”

We cover everything from earned media vs. fire sales, stakeholder pressure, and brand value, to the concept of marginal gains and the need for more rigor and process in tourism. Whether you’re tired of funnel thinking or looking for ways to operationalize destination management, this episode delivers a compelling new paradigm.

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Topics Include:
 • Las Vegas’s “Fabulous” campaign: brand builder or brand buster?
 • What destination marketers can learn from automotive supply chains
 • Why “the funnel” fails modern tourism
 • Applying “The 5 Whys” and root-cause analysis to tourism challenges
 • How DMOs can expand their role beyond marketing to shaping the product