DestiCon 2025: Your Voice Belongs Here (An Invitation for First-Time Speakers)

If you’ve ever sat at a tourism conference, listening politely, and thought:

"I have something to say — but no one’s asking..."

This is me asking.

This isn’t a call for another sales deck. It’s not a call for a polished speaker with the same old talking points.

It’s a call for you.

We didn’t build DestiCon for perfect speakers. We built it for real ones.

This stage isn’t reserved for the same familiar faces. It’s not for people reciting what they think you want to hear. It’s for people who know the system needs work, and still believe it's worth rebuilding.

If you have the courage to say what you really see, if you have the heart to build something better even when it's hard—

I’ll help you stand up and say it. Loud. Clear. Unforgettable.

(And yes — I’ll train you (if you want!). You won’t do this alone.)

Here’s What We’re Building:

DAY ONE: THE REVEAL Let’s stop pretending. Let’s tell the truth.

Sessions include:

• Welcome to DestiCon (Raw kickoff with me)

• Nobody Reads Your Blog: The Death of Travel Content

• The Algorithm Made Us Do It: How Platforms Hijacked Your Strategy

• The DestiCon Roast: The Most Outdated Tourism Strategies

• Why Your Destination’s Social Media is Embarrassing

• Would You Visit Your Own Destination? If Not, Fix It

• Chaos After-Hours: Anonymous Questions. Real Advice.

DAY TWO: THE REBUILD Let’s fix what’s broken. Together.

Sessions include:

• From Roasts to Rebuild (Morning Remix)

• Travel Is Political—Stop Pretending It’s Not

• When No One Knows What You Actually Do

• Your STR Is the Destination

• Your Job Isn’t Your Identity

• From Honest to Better (Closing Vision)

Who We’re Looking For:

• First-time speakers

• Brave perspectives

• Honest voices

• People who are tired of nodding along when they know better

• Anyone ready to be part of the next chapter, not the last footnote

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be polished.

You just have to be real.

What You’ll Get:

• Real speaker coaching from me, built to last a lifetime. I was personally trained by Les Brown, one of the greatest speakers of our time. I’ll show you how to own a stage, tell a story that lands, and deliver your message with clarity and power. This isn’t generic advice. It’s the kind of work that sharpens your voice forever, not just for one conference.

• Full support leading up to your session. You won't be dropped in to figure it out yourself. I’ll help you shape your message, tighten your talk, and walk onto that stage ready to leave a mark.

• The chance to change the conversation—and maybe even your career. One brave session can shift everything. This is your chance to build something real—and to become a voice this industry remembers.

At DestiCon 2025, we’re not offering you shiny trends.
We’re offering you yourself back — the strategist, the creative, the builder, the leader you were always meant to be before the noise drowned it out.

You won't sit through sessions scripted by sponsors.
You won't be sold to at every turn.
You won't leave wondering if it was worth your time.

You will be challenged.
You will be heard.
You will be changed.

How to Step Up:

• Review the session list above.

• Pick the one you feel pulled to.

• Send me a short note on DM or email jbarbee@destinationinnovate.com

Deadline: May 30, 2025

If you know you’re meant to be part of this movement—whether on stage or in the room—save your seat now. https://destinationinnovate.com/desticon/

This is your 8 Mile Moment.

You can sit and wonder what could have been. Or you can embrace your voice.

The future doesn’t need another recycled keynote. It needs you.

DestiCon 2025: Honest Conversations. Better Tourism.

Apply now. Build better. Be heard.