Deadline to Apply: September 18, 2026
RFP Type: Future Study
Opportunity: 2027 Destinations International Future Study
Destinations International is seeking proposals from qualified research, consulting, academic, or strategic
advisory partners to support the development of the 2027 Destinations International Future Study.
The Future Study is a long-standing sector research initiative that Destinations International has facilitated
for more than 40 years. It is designed to help destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus,
tourism boards, and their professionals understand the trends, challenges, opportunities, and strategic
priorities shaping the future of the sector.
In recent years, the study has been conducted through the DestinationNEXT platform, with MMGY
NextFactor administering the survey process and supporting the development of recent editions. Beginning
with the 2027 edition, Destinations International will open the project to a competitive bid process as the
2027 Destinations International Futures Study.
This transition provides Destinations International to evaluate new approaches to global survey research,
stakeholder engagement, sector analysis, strategic interpretation, report development, translation, and
member facing deliverables.
Prior editions have served as strategic road maps for destination organizations, identifying major trends,
opportunities, strategies, future facing organizational roles, and changing measures of success. The 2014
study established a framework that assessed trends based on their likely impact and the degree to which
destination organizations could influence or respond to them. Subsequent editions expanded the
methodology by incorporating global surveys, advisory input, stakeholder interviews, trend analysis, future
maps, strategic frameworks, evolving roles, key performance indicators, and regional comparisons.
More recent editions have reflected the sector’s expanding focus on community and destination
development, evolving mandates, new key performance indicators, public funding, resident engagement,
destination stewardship, artificial intelligence, sustainability, social impact, values based marketing,
destination alignment, and the role of destination organizations as community leaders.
The 2027 Futures Study should build from this history while reflecting the current and future needs of
destination organizations in a rapidly changing global environment.