The 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference unfolded in Duluth from Feb. 11 to 12 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). The gathering brought together more than 400 tourism professionals (and Minnesota Meetings + Events Editor-in-Chief Todd R. Berger and Associate Publisher Jennifer Max) from across the state for keynotes, sessions, and camaraderie along Duluth Harbor. Explore Minnesota, the state’s tourism promotion office, hosted the conference, which featured presentations by the organization’s Executive Director Lauren Bennett McGinty, Longwoods International President and CEO Amir Eylon discussing the value of being in tune with traveler behavior, and Envisionit founder and CEO Todd Brook diving into how tourism organizations might benefit from artificial intelligence. A highlight of the 2026 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference, the Explore Minnesota Tourism Awards honored outstanding contributions to the state’s travel and hospitality industry. Visit Duluth and the DECC hosted the event’s welcome reception in the Harborside Ballroom the first night, with light bites and a cash bar.
