Destination Roadmapping

Vicky Soderberg
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL

A 10-minute spark of inspiration with a side of tough love—helping small towns create big impact through tourism, events, and unforgettable visitor experiences.

  1. The Post-Event Hangover - From Adrenaline to Debrief

    2D AGO

    The Post-Event Hangover - From Adrenaline to Debrief

    Send us a text Every event ends with a crash. Not the bad kind, the adrenaline kind. When the last guest leaves and the radios go quiet, there’s a letdown that most teams rush past or ignore. In this episode, Vicky breaks down the post-event hangover as a real, predictable phase, one that starts with adrenaline dropping and evolves into clarity, reflection, and smarter decisions. You’ll learn how to recognize the hangover for what it is, why timing matters when it comes to debriefs, and how to preserve what worked while fixing friction before memory smooths everything into “it was fine.” This isn’t about overanalyzing or assigning blame. It’s about using the brief window after an event to set the next version up for success, without starting from scratch or losing what made people care. If you want your next event to improve by design instead of by accident, this episode is your roadmap. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    11 min
  2. January Tourism Myths

    JAN 5

    January Tourism Myths

    Send us a text January has a reputation problem. Too many destinations treat January like a dead zone: quiet, unimportant, or something to simply get through until spring. But that thinking quietly undermines momentum for the rest of the year. In this episode of Destination Roadmapping, we unpack the most common January tourism myths, from “no one travels in January” to “nothing we do now really matters”—and explain why they’re holding communities back. You’ll learn: Why January travelers are different (not absent)How perception, trust, and future demand are shaped during quieter monthsWhy going quiet in January often creates more work laterHow small, intentional improvements now can carry forward all yearThis episode isn’t about doing more in January.  It’s about getting clearer. January isn’t a throwaway month.  It’s a positioning month and when you get it right, everything that follows gets easier. Listen in if you work in tourism, Main Street, or place marketing and want a smarter, calmer start to the year. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    12 min
  3. Clear the Clutter with a Clean Slate

    12/29/2025

    Clear the Clutter with a Clean Slate

    Send us a text A new year or a new season doesn’t magically reset anything. Most communities walk straight into January carrying the same meetings, the same tired events, and the same frustrations they were juggling the month before. And adding more goals on top of that rarely fixes the real problem. In this episode of Destination Roadmapping, we’re talking about what it actually means to create a clean slate, not by starting over, but by clearing what’s quietly getting in the way. You’ll learn: Why a clean slate is not the same as a blank slateHow overbuilt calendars, zombie traditions, and messy messaging drain momentumWhy “busy” often hides avoidanceThe three questions that help you reset with clarity instead of chaosThis episode is for small towns, Main Streets, and tourism teams ready to stop carrying what no longer serves them—and start building forward with intention. Clear the slate first. Then build what actually works. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    12 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    The Small Moments That Make People Fall in Love With a Place

    Send us a text Most visitors don’t fall in love with a destination because of one big attraction. They fall in love because of how a place feels, because of how it makes them feel In this episode of Destination Roadmapping, we’re talking about the small, intentional moments that quietly shape a visitor’s experience, the moments that help people relax, linger, and leave feeling better than when they arrived. We’ll explore: Why arrival moments matter more than you thinkHow simple “linger invitations” encourage visitors to slow down and stay longerThe human interactions that spark loyalty and repeat visitsWhy small towns are uniquely positioned to create tourism experiences that restore, not overwhelmThis episode is especially for communities and destinations that want to attract visitors seeking a calmer, more meaningful getaway, the kind that regenerates energy, sparks quiet joy, and feels like a refuge instead of a checklist. If you’re ready to stop chasing hype and start designing experiences people genuinely connect with, this one’s for you. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    10 min
  5. Your Website’s Real Job Is to Help People Decide Quickly

    12/15/2025

    Your Website’s Real Job Is to Help People Decide Quickly

    Send us a text Most tourism and event websites don’t fail because they’re ugly or outdated. They fail because they make people work too hard to decide. In this episode of Destination Roadmapping, we’re taking a tough-love look at what your website is actually doing when visitors land on it and why “looking good” isn’t the same as working. Visitors aren’t browsing your website. They’re deciding — fast. In Episode 22, you’ll learn: Why your website isn’t a brochure, filing cabinet, or history bookThe four decisions every visitor makes (often in under a minute)The Visitor Decision Framework: Belonging, Clarity, Ease, and DirectionWhere small-town and destination websites most often break the decision processA simple 3-minute test to see if your website is helping, or quietly losing, visitorsIf your website feels packed with information but visitation, attendance, or engagement isn’t growing, this episode will help you see why. Your website’s real job is simple: help people decide quickly. And if it doesn’t? They decide to go somewhere else. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    12 min
  6. What to Do When Two Events Conflict

    12/08/2025

    What to Do When Two Events Conflict

    Send us a text Nothing derails an event faster than discovering another organization has scheduled their big event on your exact date. Sometimes it’s innocent. Sometimes it’s political. Sometimes it’s a whole thing. In this episode of Destination Roadmapping, we’re tackling event conflicts head-on. What causes them, what to do the moment they happen, and how to prevent them from ever happening again. You’ll learn:  ~~ Why event conflicts cost communities more than they realize  ~~ How to create systems that make conflicts nearly impossible  ~~ The 4 types of event conflicts (and which one is the real troublemaker)  ~~ The script to use when reaching out to the other organizer  ~~ How to decide whether to stay, shift, merge, or collaborate  ~~ What to communicate publicly, and  ~~ How to turn one frustrating moment into permanent community improvements Event conflicts don’t have to become turf wars. When handled well, they strengthen relationships, build better calendars, and protect the visitor experience. And that's the whole point, isn't it?. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    12 min
  7. Your Event's "What If?" Plan

    12/01/2025

    Your Event's "What If?" Plan

    Send us a text It doesn’t matter how polished your event is. Every festival, tournament, parade, or downtown weekend has one thing in common: the unpredictable. From sudden storms to fainting visitors, lost kids, or full evacuations, every community faces “What if?” moments. But the difference between chaos and calm isn’t luck. It’s preparation. In this episode, we walk through the crisis plan every event needs, including: • The weather decision points your team should define  • How to communicate clearly during closures or sheltering  • Accident response roles every volunteer should know  • Lost child protocols, reunification sites, and compassion planning  • Why your post-event debrief is where true excellence is built When things go sideways, visitors aren’t judging the incident. They know things happen. They’re judging your leadership. This episode helps you build the kind of “What If?” plan that keeps people safe, reduces stress for volunteers, and strengthens your event year after year. Listen now to learn how to crisis-proof your event with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    11 min
  8. The Gratitude Gap: Is the “Thank You” Real or Just For Show?

    11/24/2025

    The Gratitude Gap: Is the “Thank You” Real or Just For Show?

    Send us a text It’s Thanksgiving week in the States, and there’s no better time to talk about something every community thinks it’s doing well, but many are quietly struggling with: gratitude. In this episode, Vicky digs into The Gratitude Gap, the difference between appreciation that’s genuine and heartfelt and the kind that’s done out of obligation, routine, or “checking the box.” You’ll learn: ~~  Why the way your town shows appreciation impacts your community's vibe ~~  The difference between lip-service and gratitude people can actually feel ~~ Why volunteers, businesses, partners, and residents crave real appreciation ~~ The four places where fake “thank yous” do the most damage ~~ Practical, low-cost strategies to close your gratitude gap starting this week ~~ Six bold action steps to make gratitude a cultural habit, not crisis management If your town is tired, stuck, or struggling with engagement, this episode will show you why genuine appreciation, not bigger budgets, is often the missing link. Small towns shine when people feel valued, they thrive when people feel appreciated, and they grow when the gratitude is real, not performed Let’s close your community’s Gratitude Gap, one meaningful “thank you” at a time. Thanks for listening! Look for new episodes each Sunday wherever you get your podcasts, and in the meantime... Follow us on Facebook & Instagram Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Need help with determining the economic impact of your events? We've got you covered with our Event Impact Analysis program.

    12 min
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About

A 10-minute spark of inspiration with a side of tough love—helping small towns create big impact through tourism, events, and unforgettable visitor experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Vicky Soderberg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Destination Roadmapping
  • Show Website
    Destination Roadmapping