Industry News
Industry News provides weekly news and tips for the people who market Minnesota and its destinations.
Subscribe for e-mail updates
November 10, 2025 |
 |
| Split Rock Lighthouse / Photo Credit: Amy Peterson via Capture Minnesota |
Explore Minnesota’s Winter Campaign Starts Today
This Winter, Explore Minnesota’s Star of the North™ advertising continues to feature long-form videos (ranging from 4 to 8 minutes) introducing and welcoming new travelers to the state.
We are excited to launch a new story featuring a Minnesotan hosting a Californian and a New Yorker for a quintessential up north adventure, complete with big laughs, big bites, and big(ish) fish.
Learn more about our Winter Campaign.
Join the Leisure Group Market Meeting on November 12
Join us via Teams on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. Explore Minnesota will provide an overview of marketing and sales activities to support the leisure group market segment and will facilitate an interactive discussion and feedback session with attendees.
This meeting has changed to virtual only. Request the meeting link from Brenda Maas by emailing her at brenda.maas@state.mn.us or join the meeting here.
Register to Attend Agritourism in Minnesota Webinar
The third and final session of the fall Explore Minnesota Continuing Education Series will feature Agritourism in Minnesota and occur at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18. This webinar is free to attend, but advance registration is required to receive the link to join.
Speakers Dr. Xinyi Qian, director of the University of Minnesota Tourism Center and Freya Thurmer, an extension educator in Agricultural and Natural Resources, will explore how destination management organizations can work with agritourism operators.
Register for the Agritourism webinar now.
Stakeholders Invited to Outdoor Recreation Economic Impact Discussion on November 20
The Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership (ORIP) is hosting a public outreach meeting on Nov. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fergus Falls Public Library. Findings from the newly released Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Economic Impact Report and discuss strategies to grow the state’s outdoor recreation economy.
This meeting is open to anyone interested in outdoor recreation, including business owners, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, economic development professionals, land managers, tourism/hospitality professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts. Attendees will hear a short presentation on the report’s key findings and participate in an interactive discussion about how outdoor recreation benefits communities and creates economic opportunities.
Seating is limited; please RSVP by Nov. 17. Know someone who should be in the room? Please forward this invitation to them.
Submit a Nomination for the Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards
Celebrate the best of Minnesota tourism by submitting a nomination for the annual Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards. Help us celebrate the outstanding people, marketing and initiatives that make Minnesota a premier travel destination. Nominations are open through Dec. 12.
Awards include:
- Outstanding Marketing Campaign
- Social Media Excellence
- Outstanding Video
- Best Destination Website
- One Minnesota Award
- Emerging Leader
The eligibility period for each award is Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2025. Awards will be presented at the 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference.
Learn more and submit your nominations.
Apply to Host the 2027 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener
Explore Minnesota is seeking a host community for the 2027 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener.
This annual event generates significant media exposure for host communities and signals the unofficial kickoff to summer in Minnesota. Celebrating its 79th year in 2027, the Governor's Fishing Opener is designed to promote Minnesota's natural resources, celebrate fishing, and highlight the host community and local businesses.
To apply as a host community for 2027, submit your application before Friday, January 16.
UMN Tourism Center Research Showcase
This year, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center is doing its annual Research Showcase in a brand-new format. We are presenting our collection of applied research projects as pre-recorded video presentations for your viewing.
The eight projects are grouped into three themes: Economic Impact of Tourism, Community Tourism Development, and Outdoor Recreation.
We encourage you to reach out directly to the presenters with questions and feedback; their name and contact information are available at the end of each video and on this webpage.
View all presentations in a playlist.
Upcoming Industry Webinars
- On24, A New Blueprint for Webinars and Digital Engagement in 2026, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. CST
- Zartico, Unlocking Innovative New Capabilities, Nov. 12, 11 a.m. CST
- Meltwater, Mastering AI Prompts to Scale Earned Media in Digital PR, Nov. 12, noon CST
- Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC), The Great River Road: Uniting Communities, Driving Growth, Nov. 12, noon CST
- Datafy, Using 2025’s Data and Insights to Navigate 2026 Opportunities, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. CST
- Miles Partnership with Travel and Tourism Research Association, Unlocking Tourism Data with AI, Nov. 13, 2 p.m. CST
- Wrike, Streamlining Creative Workflows: From Concept to Final Delivery, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. CST
- UMN Extension and Tourism Center, Agritourism in Minnesota, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. CST
- Miles Partnership and Future Partners, Destination Management, Powered by The State of the American Traveler, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. CST
- VENT, How to Build a Winning Event Strategy for 2026, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. CST