Destinology Redux

 

 – By Mike Konzen, principal and chair

 

If you want great answers, perfect the art of asking great questions.

This is the premise for Destinology: The Art and Science of Destinations, a publication that we started in 2003. Over more than thirty issues, we’ve sought answers for key questions like:

     How should destinations measure success?
     How will the millennial generation affect the future of destinations?
     How do you best blend entertainment and education?

When we started Destinology, we couldn’t be sure that it was a worthwhile idea. I had never been the publisher of anything, and there certainly were ideas that did not pan out. But after eleven years, the quality of our content continues to improve, most recently thanks to Ben Cober, our Director of Business Development and Research.

Most importantly, we believed in seeking answers that were important to PGAV Destinations’ clients. After all, our success is tied to theirs. If we are to help them plan their future, we need to understand emerging trends… the kind of trends that could only be identified by asking the right questions. I have no doubt that this has made us better planners and designers of leisure, culture, and entertainment experiences.

Today, Destinology is received by nearly 7,000 destination professionals around the world. Their excellent feedback has been more than enough motivation to keep us asking good questions and investing in more nationwide research projects. We’ve done ten such projects since we started, mostly with the help of our partner, H2R Market Research. And we’ve been cited as an authority by hundreds of publications, which, I admit, gives me a kind of guilty pleasure.

I’ve grown to truly love this quest for answers. It stokes my curiosity, and keeps me learning and seeking.

And by the way… if you are interested in receiving Destinology (for free), you can sign up on our web site at www.pgavdestinations.com/insights/.