Live from the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association Conference in Atlantic City, this episode heads to Cape May County for a conversation with Diane Weiland, a leader whose destination has been riding a nearly uninterrupted upward growth curve for six years.

Diane breaks down the strategic choices behind Cape May’s sustained success, including: • Understanding shifting visitor behavior • Leveraging natural assets without over-engineering the experience • Extending the season beyond Memorial Day–Labor Day • Using influencers and interest-based media to reach today’s travelers • And why authenticity, not reinvention, is Cape May County’s competitive edge.

• Why Cape May continues to grow while other destinations cycle Diane explains their 94% post-COVID recovery and why the county’s assets align with today’s traveler mindset.

• How studying visitor “wants” drives smarter strategy Bucket-list experiences, authenticity, nature, and open spaces shape Cape May’s messaging.

• The secret weapon: diversity of offerings 47 campgrounds, beaches, B&Bs, fishing ports, birding hotspots, boardwalks, the peninsula microclimate—Cape May stands apart from other coastal destinations.

• Turning shoulder seasons into revenue seasons How a once-summer-only economy became a 9-month (and growing) destination through special events, second-home owners, and data-driven marketing.

• What interest-based media means for DMOs in 2026 From pet-friendly travel to accessibility, Diane outlines how influencers tell stories DMOs can’t tell themselves.