North Dakota Tourism Conference Highlights Collaboration and Momentum

Annual event enters second day with focus on new strategies, partnerships, and industry outlook

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:30am

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A bold, geometric illustration in the Art Deco style, featuring sweeping, streamlined forms and towering forced perspectives of North Dakota's natural landscapes, conceptually representing the state's thriving tourism industry.North Dakota's tourism industry continues to build momentum, with collaboration and creativity driving the sector's resilience and growth.Grand Forks Today

The 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference continued Tuesday in Grand Forks, where nearly 250 tourism and hospitality professionals gathered to explore new strategies, strengthen partnerships and build on the momentum outlined in North Dakota Tourism's newly released 2025 Annual Report. Hosted by Visit Greater Grand Forks, North Dakota Travel Industry Alliance (NDTIA) and the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the conference is the premier event for the state's travel and tourism industry.

Why it matters

The North Dakota tourism industry has shown resilience and momentum despite facing challenges like declining border entries from Canada. This conference provides a platform for industry professionals to collaborate, share insights, and develop strategies to sustain the industry's growth and address key issues.

The details

Tuesday's sessions featured a keynote from author Andrew Davis on using artificial intelligence to work smarter, followed by breakouts on creative storytelling, AI-driven digital discovery, unified branding, and evolving creator strategies for small and rural destinations. Afternoon roundtables encouraged candid discussion among professionals working in sports marketing, media, advocacy, social media, and grant programs. At the annual State of the Industry Luncheon, Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman shared highlights from the 2025 Annual Report, emphasizing both growth and key challenges.

  • The 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference continued on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The conference will continue on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, with the Governor's Awards Breakfast and additional sessions.

The players

Visit Greater Grand Forks

The local destination marketing organization that hosted the 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference.

North Dakota Travel Industry Alliance (NDTIA)

The organization that co-hosted the 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference.

North Dakota Department of Commerce

The state agency that co-hosted the 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference.

Sara Otte Coleman

The Tourism and Marketing Director who shared highlights from the 2025 North Dakota Tourism Annual Report at the conference.

Andrew Davis

The author who delivered the keynote address at the conference on using artificial intelligence to work smarter.

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What they’re saying

“North Dakota's tourism industry continues to show resilience and momentum as we look ahead. Strong domestic travel, rising interest in outdoor recreation and continued marketing investment can sustain industry momentum. What we're hearing from partners this week reflects the strength, creativity and commitment driving our industry forward.”

— Sara Otte Coleman, Tourism and Marketing Director

What’s next

The conference will continue on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, with the Governor's Awards Breakfast, honoring individuals, communities and organizations advancing North Dakota's tourism landscape, followed by sessions on legislative engagement and key trends influencing the future of travel.

The takeaway

The North Dakota Travel Industry Conference is a critical annual event that brings together tourism professionals to collaborate, share insights, and develop strategies to sustain the state's tourism industry growth. Despite facing challenges like declining border entries, the industry has shown resilience and momentum, with continued investment in marketing and a focus on domestic travel and outdoor recreation helping to drive the sector forward.