National parks draw buzz at Dotdash Meredith's Travel Marketing Summit

Visit California brought the spirit of its national parks to New York City during Dotdash Meredith’s annual Travel Marketing Summit, connecting California destinations with top editorial voices across leading media brands.

The day began with an intimate breakfast that welcomed 12 editors from outlets including Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Real Simple and Parents. The setting sparked meaningful conversations and offered timely insights, including a preview of Parents’ upcoming centennial celebration in 2026.

California partners including Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Visit Ventura and Greater Palm Springs took part in curated Learning Labs that explored trends shaping the future of travel. Topics included the role of artificial intelligence in creative storytelling, podcast strategy, branded content and data-driven travel insights.

Later in the day, Visit California hosted an interactive trade show featuring a pop-up national park experience. Editors were invited to explore vibrant visuals of Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands and Death Valley, and engage in conversations about the importance of California’s public lands. Guests received trail mix from California snack brands, reusable totes from lifestyle brand Rareform and water bottles adorned with stickers representing all nine of the state’s national parks.

Throughout the event, editors showed strong interest in content tied to culinary travel, outdoor adventure, family experiences and special events. These themes continue to drive traveler interest and align closely with California’s offerings, especially as national parks remain a top choice for summer travel.

The summit wrapped with a California wine tasting led by Ray Isle, Wine and Spirits Editor at Food & Wine. Alongside premium pours, Isle shared personal stories that reinforced the value of authentic experiences and storytelling.