2026 Innovation Summit

DAY 1 – Wednesday, April 15

Foundations, Governance, and the Near Future

Building your AI foundation—from core concepts to emerging trends.

Optional pre-conference session for newcomers or those needing a refresher

9:00 – 11:30 a.m.         AI 101 + Governance - Pre-Conference Session

If you missed last year's Innovation Summit or have limited hands-on AI experience, this session gives you the foundation you need to get maximum value from the rest of the conference. We'll cut through the hype and give you practical knowledge you can use immediately.

• What AI actually is—and what it isn't
• Why developing AI skills matters for your career and organization
• The core tools: what's available and what each does best
• Understanding prompts: how to communicate effectively with AI
• Live demonstrations using real destination marketing scenarios
• Data privacy, security, and compliance essentials
• Common myths and misconceptions that hold teams back
• Risks to watch for and how to mitigate them

NOON             Lunch & Networking for all attendees

1:00 p.m.        Welcome to the 2^nd Annual Innovation Summit - Opening Remarks

1:15 p.m.        Panel: How We Are Using AI (panel discussion) -                                           Real talk from destination marketers in the trenches

No theory, no slides full of promises—just honest conversation with DMO professionals who are actively using AI in their work. Hear what's happening on the ground, including the wins, the failures, and the surprises.

• Real use cases currently running in production
• What delivered results faster than expected
• Projects that failed—and why
• Lessons learned the hard way
• How AI has changed team dynamics and daily workflows
• Advice for organizations just getting started
• Open Q&A with panelists
  

2:00 p.m           Where AI is Headed in 2026 - Preparing your organization for what's next

AI capabilities are advancing rapidly. This session looks beyond today's tools to help you

understand what's coming and how to position your organization for success. Walk away with a

clearer picture of the road ahead and concrete steps to prepare.

• Key developments expected in the next 18–36 months
• Which roles and job functions will be affected first
• How organizational structures and workflows will evolve
• Budgeting and resource planning for AI initiatives
• Capability gaps to address now before they become urgent
• What forward-thinking leaders are doing today to stay ahead
• Practical steps you can take in the next 90 days
  
  

2:45 p.m.         BREAK

3:00 p.m.         Getting to Know the Top 3 AI Tools – A hands-on comparison   
                          
These tools will likely become part of your team's daily toolkit. This session gives you a clear understanding of each platform's strengths so you can make smarter decisions about which tool to use for which task.

4:00 p.m.              Day 1 Wrap Up

5:00 p.m.              Partner Hall 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.   Opening Reception sponsored by Visit College Station

DAY 2 – Thursday, April 16

Strategy, Marketing, and Hands-On Application

From industry shifts to individual workflows—putting AI to work

8:00 a.m.                               Breakfast

8:45 a.m.                               Welcome to Day 2 – head to breakout sessions

9:00 a.m. - NOON                  Breakout Sessions* (see topics below)

NOON                                     Lunch & Networking 

1:00 p.m.                                My Personal Assistant (General Session)     
                                               Turn AI into your always-available thinking partner

Beyond organizational tools, AI can transform how you personally work. This session shows you how to build AI into your daily workflow as a strategist, sounding board, and productivity multiplier.

• Identifying where AI fits into your personal workflow
• Building custom GPTs tailored to your specific role and needs
• Creating a "brain trust" of specialized AI assistants
• Practical examples: research, writing, analysis, brainstorming
• Prompt patterns that get consistently better results
• Managing context: helping AI understand your ongoing projects
• Protecting your time while dramatically increasing your output
• Common mistakes that limit AI's usefulness
• Hands-on: building your first personal assistant

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.               Breakout Sessions* (see topics below)

4:00 p.m.                                 Summit Recap and Action Planning   

Two days of content means nothing without action. This closing session helps you synthesize what you've learned and commit to specific next steps.

• Key takeaways from both days
• Building your personal 30-day action plan
• Prioritizing: what to tackle first
• Resources for continued learning
• Staying connected: community and follow-up opportunities
• Closing remarks
  

4:30 p.m.                               Conference Ends

See you in Plano in September for the 2026 Women’s Conference
and Annual Conference!

*Breakout Sessions on Day 2 include:

• CEO only advanced training
• Performance in the Age of AI  -How AI is changing traveler discovery—and what DMOs must do to stay visible4
•  Leading the AI Powered Organization - Becoming a stronger leader—and maximizing your team's potential
  
• Shifts in Destination Marketing - The playbook is being rewritten—here's what's replacing it
• Personas and Testing Your Ads- Use AI to understand your audience and optimize creative focus
• Crisis Management: AI-Supported Strategic Response 

**Schedule subject to change**