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Tourism Marketing Speaker, Rebecca Barnes

A Fresh Perspective on Destination Marketing

Rebecca Barnes, branding and marketing expert and CEO of Virginia-based Imagine, has dedicated her career to helping destinations strengthen their visibility, reputation, and resilience. Working closely with her team, she stays involved in client projects, keeping her insight current and relevant in today’s accelerating world.

Speaking on topics ranging from destination management and strategy to current and upcoming digital marketing trends, Rebecca’s presentations deliver insight through warmth, simplicity, and interaction. (speaker bio here)

Imagine has produced The DMO Pocket Guide: Tips for Navigating the Wild & Crazy World of Destination Marketing (available here) Rebecca is a Past Chairman of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Prince William. She frequently contributes to the growing digital marketing community through articles, webinars, podcasts, videos, and more.

Popular Topics Include
  • Brand Strategy
  • Web Development
  • Destination Marketing
  • Marketing Research
  • Digital Strategy
  • Igniting Creativity
  • Community Engagement
  • Economic Development
  • Full Funnel Marketing
  • Visitor Experience
“

Rebecca Barnes isn’t just a speaker—she’s a force of nature. She doesn’t
just stand at a podium and deliver a speech; she connects, challenges,
and transforms audiences by sharing raw, real-life experiences that
prove resilience isn’t just possible—it’s a choice."

Amanda BaitySemper K-9
“

“Rebecca is an engaging speaker who provided useful
information about goal setting and action plans. I
appreciate the information and have already began to
implement some of her tips into my life. Thank you!”

Dr. Sabrina RicksSBR Workplace Consultation Services

Commonly Requested Talks

“Shiny Objects: Tech You Need and Tech You Don’t”
There seems to be no limit to the tech a DMO has at their disposal that could *possibly* be a game-changer. The truth is that most tech is an absolute waste of time and money. In this talk, Patrick shows the principles of how to determine the technology to keep versus what to ignore.

“In Defense of Visitor Centers”
The combination of tech empowering travelers to be their own tour guides, and the economy making visitor centers harder to keep open, have made some question whether or not visitor centers have a place in small destination marketing. In this talk, Rebecca defends the use of visitor centers and shows how they can become a beacon for both tourists and the community.

“Navigating the Destination Life Cycle”
Every city, town, state, country, etc. is on the destination life cycle. Some spots are good, some are terrible. This talk will show DMOs where they currently stand, informing the choices they make to progress and maintain visitor growth, community support, and business attraction.

“The Science of Creativity”
Many think that creativity is something for a select few, that some people are “just born with it”. The stories of some of history’s most creative minds all point to the contrary. In a 30-minute presentation, Rebecca Barnes will explain what made these people exceptional at their work, the science behind it, and how anyone can replicate the process to make it work for them.

Other talks include:

“The Shift from Social Media to Recommendation Media”

“Tribal Thinking: Your Culture’s Impact on Community Development”

“SEO and Google Analytics: What DMOs REALLY Need to Know”

“Training Tourism Partners, Your Marketing Support System”

Pricing/Availability

Rebecca’s speaking fee ranges from $2,750 to $3,750 per session, plus travel expenses. The cost depends on the specific situation, including the topic(s), date, location, and presentation length. Let us know what you’d like Patrick to cover, and we will gladly provide a free estimate, including travel costs from the Washington, DC area.

Are you planning a local conference? Rebecca will often waive speaking fees when presenting to smaller events.

To help reduce your costs and can handle the technology logistics, Patrick is open to presenting virtually via Zoom/Teams/videoconference or pre-recorded presentations.

Although sometimes available with less advance notice, Rebecca typically books 2-3 months in advance.

Interested in learning more? Contact Rebecca to learn how having him as a tourism marketing speaker can enlighten, entertain, and inspire your audience.