The Destination International Annual Convention concluded in Chicago with a new record attendance and a message that fostering appreciation, destinations, inclusiveness, and tolerance has never been more critical for U.S. Tourism.
The just-concluded 2025 Annual Convention of Destination International went out with a Bang at the House of Blues in Chicago last night.
An action-packed four-day agenda at the largest and arguably most confusing US Convention Center, the McCormick Convention Center, brought a record 2,000 delegates together from destinations in more than 30 countries.
Well organized by Destination International and the Windy City’s former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism, and former Director of the National Travel and Tourism Office for the United States, summarized it all in her motivational acceptance speech for her award to be entered in the Tourism Hall of Fame.
Isabell Hill was the face of the World for US Tourism, serving from the White House under presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.
Isabel Hill, a Hall of Fame inductee, reminded destinations and the world of tourism of what they all love about this country, the United States of America, and their shared goal to make the U.S. a more aspirational and welcoming destination, ultimately making it a better one.
She recognized that every US destination attending the DI conference works every day to make our destinations better and loves to share our communities and our way of life
to foster appreciation, destination, inclusiveness, and tolerance.
Her message ended in some defining words: …
… And never has this been more important than this today
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism and Director of the National Travel and Tourism Office, Isabell Hill, and her team support and implement policies and programs that foster the competitiveness of the U.S. travel and tourism industries in collaboration with the private sector and other federal agencies. Her office produced national statistics on travel and tourism, served as the federal liaison to Brand USA, the public-private partnership that promoted the U.S. as a travel destination, and represented U.S. travel and tourism policy in bilateral and multilateral forums.
A leader in tourism policy and planning, Ms. Hill led the development of the first National Travel and Tourism Strategy for the United States, which was implemented across 12 federal agencies and in collaboration with the private sector, reflecting her commitment to public-private engagement and partnerships to advance shared objectives.
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Ms. Hill led negotiations to open the market for packaged leisure travel from China to the United States. She developed the successful economic case for extending reciprocal visa validity between the United States and China from one to ten years. She has played a significant role in developing policies that advance both the economy and national security of the United States. Ms. Hill directed the first International Tourism Promotion Program for the United States. Based on the platform “You’ve Seen the Films, Now Visit the Set”, the award-winning campaign paved the way for the creation of BrandUSA, the nation’s first dedicated tourism marketing organization.
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