Industry News provides weekly news and tips for the people who market Minnesota and its destinations.
June 23, 2025 |
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| Sailing in Matoska Park, White Bear Lake |
We are happy to announce the 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference will take place at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
The Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference is the annual learning opportunity designed specifically for the Minnesota tourism industry. This premier educational event includes national keynote speakers, topical breakout sessions, networking, and plenty of fresh and actionable ideas.
More information on registration, sponsorship and programming will be coming soon. We promise this is one you won’t want to miss!
Save to your Google calendar or save to your Outlook calendar.
Are you interested in speaking to Minnesota tourism professionals or do you know someone who would make a great speaker?
Explore Minnesota is seeking professional speakers presenting timely topics for the 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference. To be considered for a presentation, you must begin the process by submitting our Speaker Form. We are only accepting applications for in-person keynotes and breakout presentations at this time.
Submit now through this online Speaker Form.
Explore Minnesota is seeking a Metro Industry Relations Representative. This position provides regional tourism industry outreach for the service area defined as the Metro Region by Explore Minnesota.
Specifically, this position conducts a broad array of duties in support of agency-specific programs which include conducting a proactive schedule of outreach to the industry through meetings and contacts with tourism-focused communities and travel-related businesses, providing oversight of grant programs, and assisting in the coordination of agency projects, special events, task forces, marketing programs, presentations, and general representation of Explore Minnesota in public and industry-facing settings.
If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Roxanne Lane, Explore Minnesota’s Human Resource Director. The application deadline is July 1.
Apply online through the State of Minnesota External Applicant Portal and view the Metro Industry Relations Representative Job Posting 86855
Celebrate Disability Pride Month in July by adding your events to ExploreMinnesota.com. To have your event considered for inclusion in various Explore Minnesota communications, log into the Explore Minnesota extranet to update or create new listings for your Disability Pride Month events and celebrations by June 27. Please note that submitting an image with your event listing increases the likelihood of your event being featured in Explore Minnesota communications.
For technical assistance, contact our extranet team at tourism@state.mn.us.
Update your listing on the Explore Minnesota extranet.
Join Explore Minnesota’s Virtual Executive Director’s Forum on Thursday, July 10, at 1 p.m.
This meeting is an opportunity for industry stakeholders to engage with Explore Minnesota staff and discuss various topics, including current issues and conditions affecting the industry, industry advocacy, and the recent legislative session.
Questions? Please contact Marya Barsanti, Executive Aide, Explore Minnesota, marya.e.barsanti@state.mn.us.
Add to your calendar or click here to join the meeting.
In May 2025, Minnesota and Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area key hotel performance metrics were more up than down year over year (YoY) relative to May 2024. At the state-level and metro levels, hotel occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) increased. However, revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased for Minnesota and Minneapolis.
At the state-level, monthly hotel occupancy increased 3.8% YoY to 59.5%, ADR decreased .5% YoY to $131.36 and RevPAR decreased 3.2% YoY to $78.15. For reference, in May, the total U.S. average occupancy was 65.3%, ADR was $162.72 and RevPAR was $106.30.
For the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, May hotel occupancy increased 3.8% YoY to 63.9%, ADR decreased 1.3% YoY to $134.09 and RevPAR increased 2.5% YoY to $85.67. In May, the average Top U.S. 25 U.S. Market hotel occupancy was 71.5%, ADR was $196.31 and RevPAR was $140.27.
We are seeking proposals from Minnesota communities to host the GPHO event on Oct. 9-10, 2026. This event is held annually and is coordinated by Explore Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and a host community/tourism organization.
Through several high-visibility events specifically for outdoor and general media, the Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Opener helps elevate visitor awareness of the host community and creates a lasting local impact. Submit your proposal by Aug. 15, 2025, for consideration.
For more information about the Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener, please contact Lisa Havelka at 507-389-2683 or lisa.havelka@state.mn.us.
Do you want to put your destination and businesses on the map—literally? Advertising is now open for the 2026 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide, the official travel resource reaching audiences across the U.S. and beyond.
Why it matters:
Reserve your ad now to lock in discounted rates and secure premium placement. Space is limited and fills fast. Contact Sebrina.Williams@MilesPartnership.com or 773-616-8176 to learn more and reserve your spot.
Explore Minnesota is working in partnership with Visit St. Cloud to service the St. Cloud Welcome Center, and we pleased to announce that brochure deliveries are once again being accepted at this location.
Before shipping, please email Visit St Cloud directly info@visitstcloud.com, to determine their quantity needs.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Julie Ramer, Explore Minnesota Welcome Centers Network Supervisor, at julie.ramer@state.mn.us or 651-539-5105.
The University of Minnesota Tourism Center is excited to share a series of case studies about on-farm experiences. The case studies were created in response to Minnesota farmers' and producers' interest in creating on-farm experiences for their customers. Thank you to the four farmers who were interviewed in fall 2024; the case studies would not have been possible without their generous sharing of time and insights.
Click here to access the landing page, which includes direct links to the three case studies.
Minnesota state park reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance. That window now stretches into October.
Plan your fall colors trip today—sites book fast. And don't forget to sign up for the Fall Colors newsletter. Each week, you'll get the latest Minnesota Fall Color Finder Map sent straight to your inbox—the perfect tool for planning a weekend of leaf peeping.
