Industry News provides weekly news and tips for the people who market Minnesota and its destinations.
July 7, 2025 |
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| Bonfire on Beach, Fairmont / Photo Credit: Blaze Air, courtesy of Visit Fairmont |
Join Explore Minnesota’s Virtual Executive Director’s Forum on Wednesday, July 16, at 10 a.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.
Join us in person at the Explore Minnesota office or virtually via Teams for our International and Group Market Development meeting on July 30, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Explore Minnesota will provide an overview of FY25 activities and outline our FY26 strategy, encompassing international and group segments.
Explore Minnesota’s offices are located in downtown St. Paul. If attending in person, please email jennifer.schak@state.mn.us or join online via TEAMS.
We recently welcomed our first group of certified communities to our Explore Minnesota Film-Ready Program. We thank each Film Ready Community for taking the time to expand their knowledge base, list their film-worthy locations in our database and work with our Film and TV Production Liaison and your city administration offices to create film guidelines that will serve their community well.
You are committed to promoting our state to film, TV, and commercial productions, helping drive local spending, creating job opportunities, and laying the groundwork for future film tourism. Our next group will be certified by Sept. 1.
Contact us if you’d like to learn more about the Film-Ready Program.
Explore Minnesota has some exciting new options for you in the next FY2026 co-op program. In July, we’ll update exploreminnesota.com/coop with new print publications, expanded social media and content creator opportunities, and more.
If you have any Co-op Program-related questions, please contact Derek Ramthun at derek.ramthun@state.mn.us.
Learn more about Explore Minnesota’s Co-Op Program.
Are you interested in speaking to Minnesota tourism professionals or do you know someone who would make a great speaker at the 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference?
Explore Minnesota is seeking professional speakers presenting timely topics. To be considered for a presentation, please 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.
MSP Communications has provided Explore Minnesota with a partnership opportunity to sponsor the Mpls-St Paul Magazine JUNIOR Summer Issue, showcasing summer fun for families. This compact publication is designed for busy families, grandparents, and childcare providers, with content specifically written to engage children. It’s the perfect platform to highlight Minnesota’s top summer destinations and activities for both in-state and out-of-state families.
50,000 issues were polybagged with the June 2025 edition of Mpls-St Paul Magazine, with 20,000 overruns provided to Explore Minnesota for distribution at Welcome Centers and an online digital edition available on ExploreMinnesota.com. Deliverables include the Explore Minnesota logo on the cover, two full-page display ads, inclusion in the welcome mention, three branded content pages, paid promotional social posts in the Green Bay, Des Moines, and Milwaukee markets, and the partnership noted across all MSP channels.
If you have questions about the MSP Communications partnership, please contact Glori Woolley at glori.woolley@state.mn.us or 651-757-1869.
View the FY25 Explore Minnesota Partnerships.
Audacy is providing Explore Minnesota with an exciting new partnership opportunity to advertise on 670 The Score (WSCR-AM), through a special Series Sponsorship campaign centered around the Chicago Cubs vs. Minnesota Twins matchup. As Chicago’s premier sports talk station, 670 The Score has been the trusted voice of passionate fans for over 30 years. The station broadcasts across 38 affiliates in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, engaging loyal listeners with expert analysis, live play-by-play, spirited debate, and in-depth game coverage.
The Gameday Series campaign is set to deliver over 1.1 million estimated impressions to adults aged 25-54, featuring 55 radio spots across commercials, Minnesota Series Sponsorship mentions, and live reads during the Cubs vs. Twins series on July 8 to 10 at Wrigley Field, Chicago. The primary objective is to boost awareness and branding during a key tourism period, targeting Explore Minnesota’s core markets. This radio initiative will complement other Chicago-based campaigns, including Outfront Media billboards, print ads in Chicago Magazine, travel guide distribution via the Chicago Tribune, and the Minnesota Twins partnership featuring a Cubs vs. Twins sweepstakes giveaway. Together, these efforts aim to maximize reach and exposure in Chicago, inspire sports fans to plan their summer trips to Minnesota, and drive both tourism and traffic to ExploreMinnesota.com.
If you have questions about the Audacy partnership, please contact Glori Woolley at glori.woolley@state.mn.us or 651-757-1869.
View the FY25 Explore Minnesota Partnerships.
The Executive Director serves as the sole staff leader for the La Crescent Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. This hands-on role encompasses business development, event planning, tourism promotion, administrative oversight, financial management, marketing, and strategic collaboration with community stakeholders. The Executive Director ensures the Chamber remains a strong voice for local business and an effective promoter of La Crescent as a destination for visitors and commerce.
