Tourism Cares' 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit
2026-04-14 - 2026-04-16 | Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Build the knowledge, relationships, and perspective needed to lead on sustainability in today’s travel industry. This three-day Summit is designed for travel professionals seeking practical ways to integrate sustainability, community impact, and resilience into their business models, products, and partnerships.
Through focused education, peer exchange, and hands-on learning, attendees will explore how meaningful travel is being applied across destinations and organizations, and how those approaches translate into stronger performance, credibility, and long-term value. The Summit brings together industry leaders who are committed to moving sustainability beyond intention and into implementation.
Hosted in Asheville, North Carolina, the 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit uses the destination as a living case study. Asheville’s commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact, and recovery following Hurricane Helene offers timely insights into how tourism can support communities while remaining commercially viable. From engaging with local enterprises to experiencing trade-ready impact in action, the learning is designed to inform and strengthen your work — wherever you sit in the industry.

U.S. Travel's Destination Capitol Hill
2026-04-14 - 2026-04-16 | Washington, District of Columbia
Travel is Essential

Destination Capitol Hill (DCH) is the leading advocacy event for the travel industry.
Join us in Washington, D.C. from April 14-15, 2026 as hundreds of travel industry leaders come together to showcase the economic power of travel and advocate for policies that ensure America is prepared to seamlessly welcome millions of visitors during a historic decade of events—including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America250, and the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Learn more on the U.S. Travel Association website.

From Expectations to Action: How Associations Are Driving Industry Change
2026-04-15 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Detroit) | Asheville, North Carolina, United States
Tourism Cares’ 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit Panel Discussion
Travel is changing. And expectations around sustainability, community impact, and accountability are only growing.
At this year’s North American Meaningful Travel Summit, association leaders from the United States Tour Operators Association, SYTA: Student & Youth Travel Association, ASTA – American Society of Travel Advisors, National Tour Association, and Destinations International will come together to discuss how our industry can move from intention to action.
Hear from: SYTA CEO Carylann Assante, CAE, Terry Dale, Zane Kerby, Catherine Prather, CTP, and Don Welsh as they share how associations are helping guide the industry toward more responsible, community-centered travel and why coordinated leadership matters more than ever.
Learn more on the Summit agenda page.
