Does Explore Marketing only work with U.S.-based tourism businesses?

No. Explore Marketing works with both U.S. and international tourism businesses, including destinations, attractions, sightseeing companies, tour operators, and DMCs.

Can Explore Marketing help international tourism businesses attract U.S. travelers?

Yes. Explore Marketing helps international destinations and tourism suppliers build relationships with U.S.-based tour operators, OTAs, and travel trade partners to attract high-value travelers from the United States.

Can Explore Marketing support outbound tourism from the United States?

Yes. Explore Marketing supports global tourism businesses that want to grow outbound travel demand from the United States and other international source markets.

Does Explore Marketing offer project-based consulting?

Yes. Explore Marketing offers flexible project-based support, including OTA setup, distribution strategy, travel trade readiness, market entry planning, and launch support for new attractions and experiences.

Explore Marketing: Travel Trade Sales & Marketing Expertise

Welcome to Explore Marketing

Helping Attractions and Destinations Succeed in the Travel Trade

Explore Marketing LLC is a tourism sales and marketing consultancy led by Stefan Merkl, specializing in connecting destinations, attractions, and sightseeing companies with travel trade buyers worldwide. With more than two decades of experience in tourism sales and marketing, our approach is built on strategy, professionalism, and market knowledge.

We work with new and established DMOs, museums, cultural attractions, and sightseeing tour operators to expand their distribution networks, grow ticket sales and overnight stays, and build long-term partnerships with the right set of OTAs, tour operators, receptive operators, student group planners, and destination management companies.

Not only does Explore Marketing support US-based travel trade suppliers with building their domestic and inbound sales, but we also work with international tourism businesses seeking to grow outbound sales from the United States and other global source markets through travel trade partnerships and distribution channels.

We help partners:

Attract high-value travelers from the United States
Expand into international source markets beyond the client's home region
Build relationships with tour operators, OTAs, and distribution partners worldwide
Develop trade-ready products and pricing strategies

Our global network includes buyers and partners across North America, Europe, and key international markets, allowing us to create practical, revenue-driven connections between suppliers and travel trade buyers.

Our Services: What We Do for the Tourism Industry

Travel Trade Representation

We represent attractions and DMOs at sales missions, trade shows, and in-person meetings with key travel trade buyers in both U.S. and international markets.

Travel Trade Marketing

We create targeted marketing campaigns and promotional initiatives that reach the right buyers, inspire product inclusion in travel itineraries, and deliver measurable results.

Contracting & Distribution

We manage product contracting with OTAs, wholesalers, and resellers to maximize visibility, improve availability, and streamline ticket sales processes.

Strategic Sales & Marketing Plans

We develop custom strategic plans that align your tourism product with the right audiences, markets, and sales channels for sustainable growth.

Custom Sales Missions

We design and lead exclusive sales missions for DMOs, bringing member organizations face-to-face with the right travel trade buyers in priority markets.

Boutique Small Group Tourism Sales Missions

We organize small, high-value sales missions that individual trade suppliers can join, offering direct access to qualified buyers in key source markets.

Flexible Project-Based Support

Explore Marketing also supports tourism businesses worldwide on a project basis, including:

OTA setup and optimization
Travel trade readiness and distribution strategy
Market entry into the United States or Europe
Launch support for new attractions and experiences

This flexible approach is ideal for organizations that need expert guidance without long-term commitments, especially when entering new markets or building distribution from scratch.

Why Tourism Organizations Work With Explore Marketing

Proven Experience: Since 2016, we have worked with DMOs, attractions and sightseeing operators. Currently this includes the Exploratorium, Red and White Fleet, and Experience NYC, as well as innovative travel technology providers like Intentful.
Global Market Insight: We understand travel trade distribution across North America, Europe, and other major inbound markets.
Hands-On Partnership: We work as an extension of your sales team, ensuring you are represented with professionalism and insider knowledge.
Tailored Solutions: Every client receives a customized approach to match their goals, resources, and market priorities.

Our Focus and Commitment

We believe in building sustainable, long-term relationships between tourism suppliers and the travel trade. By focusing on a select group of 3–4 clients at a time, we can dedicate the time, insight, and resources needed to achieve measurable success. Our work is built on trust, strategic thinking, and clear communication, ensuring that our clients and their partners thrive in a competitive global market.