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Tourism Sales and Marketing Update
December 2025
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 North Dakota hits high notes in tourism and media excellence
North Dakota’s collaborations with country-music duo Tigirlily Gold have made for an exciting second half of 2025. In July, the sisters from Hazen, North Dakota performed at ND Country Fest and participated in a two-day photo and film shoot. And on Sept. 5, Tigirlily Gold had a worldwide release of their North Dakota anthem, “Call It Home.” Just in the first week of release, social media posts promoting the song and partnership were shared more than 400 times earning more than a million digital impressions.
Additional fall media sponsorships included partnerships with Midwest Golfing Magazine and Heliconia’s Epic Trails. Backpacking TV has produced and posted the first segment from the Epic Trails production on hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
Check out the Q3 dashboard.
Four North Dakota Tourism advertisements have won MarCom Awards
These awards are presented by the national Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals and honor excellence in marketing and communication. Each year about 7,000 entries are submitted from dozens of countries.
To learn more about our tourism marketing opportunities, contact Marketing and Research Manager Heather LeMoine at 701-328-5372 or hlemoine@nd.gov.
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North Dakota Tourism's top media moments of 2025
North Dakota Tourism’s public relations efforts in 2025 have delivered strong results, with strategic storytelling and media engagement driving national attention to the state’s unique offerings. Through seasonal campaigns, influencer partnerships, and targeted media outreach, the team has garnered 3,251 media mentions, reaching an impressive 8.72 billion people across digital, print, and broadcast platforms.
Top Tourism Media Mentions – 2025
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National Geographic’s “Best of the World 2026”
Featured the North Dakota Badlands, generating 142 mentions and reaching over 822 million people.
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Fodor’s Travel: Papa’s Pumpkin Patch
Named one of the top 12 pumpkin patches in the U.S., with over 1 million impressions, 150,000+ social reach, and 5,000+ engagements.
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Travels with Darley – Season 12Highlighted Fargo, Jamestown, Carrington, and more in a nationally aired episode, boosting visibility for multiple communities.
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Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2026”Named Theodore Roosevelt National Park one of the world’s top 25 destinations for 2026. The inclusion is part of Lonely Planet’s annual editorial campaign, which reaches over 2 billion people globally.
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Forbes: Solo Female Travel FeatureIncluded North Dakota in a national roundup of top destinations for solo female travelers. The article praised the state’s safety, hospitality, and inspiring landscapes.
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USA Today’s 10Best: Bully Pulpit Golf Course
Named the #1 Best Public Golf Course in the U.S. by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. This top ranking showcases North Dakota’s outdoor recreation excellence and positions the Bully Pulpit Golf Course as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts.
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Forbes: Wildlife Spotlight on North Dakota’s WetlandsFeatured North Dakota’s bird-filled wetlands as a top destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The article highlighted the state’s rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes, reinforcing its appeal to nature lovers and eco-tourists.
For more information on our public relations and media efforts, reach out to Communications Manager Kim Schmidt at 701-328-2532 or ksschmidt@nd.gov.
 Social media delivers impressive YTD growth across key metrics
Our year-to-date social media performance demonstrates outstanding growth and momentum heading into the new year. These results prove that our strategy is resonating with audiences and successfully driving action.
Big Wins Highlight:
- Doubled Website Referrals: Our most impressive win is the nearly doubled website referral traffic, with Page Link Clicks skyrocketing by 100.86% Year-Over-Year (YOY).
- Engagement and Visibility Explode: Total Engagements saw a massive 64.76% YOY increase, reflecting a highly motivated and interactive audience. Total Impressions grew by 44.8% YOY, dramatically expanding our overall reach.
- Video Dominance: Our focus on dynamic visual content continues to pay off, with Total Video Views jumping by an impressive 89.57% YOY.
This performance solidifies our social channels as a powerful engine for building interest and driving visitors to North Dakota. Our goal is to showcase your destination, community or attraction as well!
For partnered promotions and submission of social media assets reach out to Creative Communications Strategist Alicia Jolliffe at 701-328-2548 or ajolliffe@nd.gov.
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Website & Content Updates
Welcome to our new website advertising partners
Valley City Tourism, Visit Minot, Dry Creek Hideaway LLC, McKenzie County Tourism, Magic Discovery Center, Junkin Market Days, International Peace Garden, Buffalo Historical Society, City of Watford City and Visit Dickinson.
Website Advertising - Online advertising sales is provided by an official vendor, Miles Partnership. To learn more about these advertising options, please contact Lisa Saturday.
For more information on NDtourism.com, reach out to Digital System Manager Tricia Miller at 701-328-5328 or tamiller@nd.gov or Digital Content Specialist Amy Schmidt at 701-328-5315 or amrschmidt@nd.gov.
 Put your brochures where travelers will see them!
Join the North Dakota Rest Area Brochure Program
Reach road-trippers, families and first-time visitors with cost-effective, high-impact brochure placement at 14 North Dakota Department of Transportation rest areas and two State Historical Society visitor centers.
Why Join?
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High visibility: Capture attention at key travel stops.
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Flexible placement: Choose any or all locations.
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Low-cost marketing: Just $300 if enrolled by Jan. 15 ($325 after).
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Easy logistics: One-time delivery to Presort Plus by April 3—we handle the rest.
Enroll by March 1, 2026
Questions? Contact Tourism Outdoor Recreation Manager Mike Jensen at 701-328-2509 or mjjensen@nd.gov.
New Apple Creek activation
The Apple Creek Rest Area features interactive kiosks powered by TrueOmni’s OmniPlatform. These connect travelers to NDtourism.com, showcasing partner listings, itineraries, and local attractions designed to personalize visitor experiences and drive deeper engagement.
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 Walker wraps Q4 with over 150 trade touchpoints across Europe
Commerce Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker is wrapping up a strong Q4 travel mission, connecting with more than 150 travel trade professionals across Sweden, Denmark and the UK. The outreach included training sessions, workshops and strategic meetings with tour operators, product managers and sales teams.
This effort builds on Walker’s October mission in Norway, Finland and Sweden, which featured 51 appointments at TravelWeek in London and revealed growing optimism for U.S. travel in 2026. While 2025 was expected to be soft, markets are showing renewed interest driven by major events like the FIFA World Cup, Route 66 Centennial and America 250.
Walker’s continued engagement positions the U.S. for growth and reinforces the importance of showcasing authentic, crowd-free destinations as international interest rebounds.
For more information on Global Marketing efforts, contact Fred at 701-328-3502 or fwalker@nd.gov.
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 Cunningham showcases North Dakota at NTA Travel Exchange in Ottawa
The National Tour Association (NTA) held its annual Travel Exchange November 8–13 in Ottawa, Ontario. This global event brought together tour operators, DMOs, suppliers, and representatives from over 30 countries to collaborate on group travel opportunities.
Attendees explored new itineraries, shared updates, and discussed ways to enhance travel experiences. The Faith Travel Association also participated, highlighting the growing faith-based travel market.
Commerce Group Travel Marketing Manager Deanne Cunningham met with both new and returning tour operators. Plans are underway for fresh itineraries in 2026–2027, while successful tours from 2024–2025 will be repeated. North Dakota highlights included Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Presidential Library, cultural attractions, culinary experiences, and more.
The next Travel Exchange will be held in Tulsa, OK, Nov. 15–18, 2026.
For details, contact Deanne at 701-328-2502 or decunningham@nd.gov, or visit http://www.ntaonline.com.
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 North Dakota outdoor recreation and film spotlight
Governor’s Youth Pheasant Hunt
North Dakota Tourism supported the inaugural Governor’s youth hunt near Regent by providing state-branded vests and capturing the excitement with on-site photography.
Hollywood comes to Medora!
The cast of Elkhorn arrived in vintage stagecoaches for the Season 2 premiere at Medora’s Old Town Hall Theater. Fans lined the red carpet to greet the stars before enjoying a big-screen showing of the thrilling first episode—an event proudly supported by North Dakota Tourism.
Nonresident license sales show strong growth across the board
North Dakota continues to see strong growth in nonresident license sales across multiple outdoor recreation categories reflecting the success of tourism marketing efforts:
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Waterfowl licenses have trended upward since 2020, with the last two seasons ranking among the top five all-time.
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Fishing licenses in 2024 reached the fourth-highest sales year ever, just shy of the 2020 record—driven by Devils Lake’s rise as a premier destination.
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Small game licenses, including pheasant hunting, hit their highest levels in eight years, surpassing early 2010s numbers and continuing a five-year growth streak.
To learn more about outdoor recreation opportunities, contact Tourism Outdoor Recreation Manager Mike Jensen at 701-328-2509 or mjjensen@nd.gov.
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 New visuals from across North Dakota
New assets are available for Mandan, Grand Forks, Carrington, Watford City, Minot, Jamestown, Spiritwood, Bismarck, Kindred, New Salem, Fargo, Medora, New Town, Mapleton, Emerado, Walhalla, Page, Valley City, Devils Lake, Williston, Underwood, Bowman, Scranton, DIckinson, Belfield, Amidon, Regent, Mott, New England, Beach, Killdeer, Dunn Center, Dodge, Rhame, Hettinger, Casselton, and Center.
Thanks to all who have contributed to the assets over the year to uplift our state. It is easier than ever to show all the reasons North Dakota is a wonderful state. Need to get connected or want to share assets with us? Go to www.medialibrary.nd.gov or contact Digital Asset Specialist Cassie Theurer at catheurer@nd.gov.
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Tourism Industry Conference- April 13-15, 2026, Grand Forks
This annual event unites tourism professionals, marketers, and community leaders statewide for top-tier education, inspiring speakers, practical sessions, and unmatched networking. Registration is now open!
IRU 2026 – April 27- May 1, 2026, Medora
Mark your calendars for the next International Roundup, scheduled for April 27 to May 1, 2026.
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Boost your reach with new cooperative advertising options
North Dakota Tourism has launched a new in-state cooperative advertising program to inspire longer stays and reach the 56% of residents currently making day trips. Affordable options are available to help your business make an impact, from magazine placements and TV features to online display ads.
Opportunities include:
North Dakota Living & North Dakota magazine
BEK TV event spotlights, rodeo live reads + interviews
WDAY feature segments
Online display ads
Regional programs with a 50% match up to $2,500 are also available, including social media partnerships, email, video/display, native ads, streaming audio, and Google keyword campaigns.