Industry News

Industry News provides weekly news and tips for the people who market Minnesota and its destinations.

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May 26, 2026
St. Croix River and Downtown Stillwater
St. Croix River and Downtown Stillwater
 
 

Recording Now Available for National Resident Sentiment Towards Sporting Events Webinar

The recording is now available from our final spring Continuing Education Series webinar: Research: National Resident Sentiment Towards Sporting Events presented by Longwoods International.

This webinar presented brand new data and insights about how residents perceive the impacts of sporting events and more importantly how you can use data-driven insights to leverage sports in your community.

Watch now.

 

FY2027 Explore Minnesota Tourism Grant Program Overview Available

In case you missed it the FY2027 Tourism Marketing Grant Guidelines, informational webinar, frequently asked questions and application are now available for review.

The tourism grant program’s intent is to provide funding to support the tourism marketing campaigns and initiatives of primary nonprofit DMOs (501c3 or 501c6), municipal DMOs, and Tribal Nations for the economic benefit of their communities. 

Applications for this program will open on June 1 at 9 a.m. CST, and funds are available starting on July 1, 2026.

 

Last Chance to Add Your American Indian Heritage Month Celebrations to ExploreMinnesota.com 

May is American Indian Heritage Month, and Explore Minnesota wants to promote your local events.

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 American Indian Heritage Month events. Please note that submitting an image with your event listing increases the likelihood that your event will be featured in an upcoming newsletter or social media post.

For technical assistance, contact our extranet team at tourism@state.mn.us.

Update your listing on the Explore Minnesota extranet. 

 

Add Your Fourth of July Celebrations and Fireworks Displays to ExploreMinnesota.com

Summer celebrations are here and we want to promote them on ExploreMinnesota.com.

To have your Fourth of July events and firework displays considered for inclusion in various Explore Minnesota communications, log into the Explore Minnesota extranet to update or create new listings for by June 12.

Please note that submitting an image with your event listing increases the likelihood that your event will be featured in an upcoming newsletter or social media post. For technical assistance, contact our extranet team at tourism@state.mn.us. 

Update your listing on the Explore Minnesota extranet.

 

Tee Up for Global Exposure and Update Your Explore Minnesota Listing

As Minnesota prepares to welcome a global audience for the upcoming KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this June—and looks ahead to the 2029 Ryder Cup—now is a critical moment to ensure your golf course is accurately and compellingly represented on ExploreMinnesota.com. Thousands of visitors will be actively researching where to play, stay, and explore.

For many, your listing is their first impression; make sure it showcases the very best your course has to offer. Explore Minnesota encourages Minnesota golf courses to log into the extranet to review and refresh their listings:

  • Confirm all contact and course information is current

  • Add or update amenities

  • Ensure accessibility features are clearly listed

  • Upload high-quality photos—listings with images receive significantly more views

Fresh, visually engaging content not only inspires travelers but also boosts visibility in search results and increases engagement. Updated listings are far more likely to convert interest into booked tee times, especially during high-profile events that introduce new audiences to Minnesota golf.

Golf plays a vital role in Minnesota’s tourism economy, showcasing the state’s natural beauty, world-class course design, and vibrant golf culture. With Hazeltine National Golf Club hosting two premier global events within the decade, Minnesota is firmly in the international spotlight. This is a unique opportunity for courses of all sizes to capture attention, attract new visitors, and turn one-time guests into lifelong golf travelers.

If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please contact Anne Paterson at anne.paterson@state.mn.us or 651-539-5103.

 

Minnesota April Hotel Metrics Mixed & Year-to-Date Metrics Up

In April 2026, Minnesota's hotel metrics varied in comparison to April 2025. The three key performance metrics are hotel occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR).

  • MN occupancy decreased 1% year-over-year (YoY) to 54% in April 2026

  • MN ADR increased 6.6% YoY to $132.20 in April 2026

  • MN RevPAR increased 5.4% YoY to $71.33 in April 2026

For the first four months of 2026 Minnesota hotel metrics remain above 2025.

  • MN occupancy increased 3% YoY to 49.3% for the year-to-date through April 2026

  • MN ADR increased 5.4% YoY to $128.29 for the year-to-date through April 2026

  • MN RevPAR increased 8.5% YoY to $63.27 for the year-to-date through April 2026

Hotel metrics are provided for the five Minnesota Tourism Regions (click to review borders). The U.S. Northwest Central region is included for comparison; this region includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

If you have hotel data questions, please contact Explore Minnesota’s Research Analyst, Gretchen Nussbaum.

 

Gas Prices and Iran War Changing Summer Travel Plans

In the next six months, 90% of U.S. leisure travelers have travel plans, according to a May 2026 Longwoods International survey. While this is a strong number, increased gas prices and the war in Iran are impacting travel. In the next six months, more individuals’ travel plans will be “greatly impacted” by these concerns: gas prices (40%), inflation (35%), airfare prices (33%), and personal financial situation (30%).

Increased gas prices are impacting travel in several ways. Top changes are reducing the number of trips (37%) and choosing destinations closer to home (36%). Travelers are also reducing their spending on entertainment and recreation (31%), food and beverage (27%) and lodging (19%). Additionally, 16% are choosing to drive instead of fly. Furthermore, 7% are choosing not to travel at all, and another 7% are canceling trips due to rising gas prices.

This survey included questions about international travel. The war in Iran makes 25% of U.S. leisure travelers less likely to travel internationally. Of those who indicated that the war is influencing their international travel plans, 27% will replace their international trip with a domestic one.

For more research findings, review the full report.

 

Minnesota DNR's New Transformative Electronic Licensing System Launching Soon

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will launch the first phase of its modernized electronic licensing system (ELS) on June 9 with the fishing and hunting license module, replacing a system that has served the state for more than 25 years.

The new ELS is a modern and secure system that offers more flexibility than ever, including three ways to buy a license: mobile app, online, or in-person from a license agent. It also offers three ways to carry it: paper copy, PDF, or stored in the app. Customers can purchase, store, and even register harvests from anywhere, including areas without cell service.

The existing licensing system will be in use until 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 1, when information from the old system begins moving to the new system, including licenses purchased through June 1.

As the DNR transitions data to the new ELS, fishing license sales will be paused and anglers may fish without a license from 12 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 8. All other fishing season regulations and bag limits will remain in effect.

At 12 a.m. June 9, the new ELS will be available for anglers and hunters. As the new system is launched, DNR and its partner PayIT will have plenty of staff to help users through the transition along with user guides and how-to videos.

Phase two of the launch will happen later, with the recreational vehicle and watercraft titling and registration module. For now, that titling and registration process will remain the same, and the legacy system will remain operational.

When fully launched, the new ELS will support millions of transactions across a catalog of more than 400 license and permit products each year and bring the licensing experience into the modern era. 

Updates from the Minnesota DNR about the new electronic licensing system are available online.

 

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