EsportsTravel Summit Examines State of the Industry

The EsportsTravel Summit, presented by SportsTravel and hosted by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism, will celebrate its annual edition of the conference designed for esports business development, education and networking at the JW Marriott Mall of America.

The EsportsTravel Summit is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers and the only event focused on the travel side of the esports industry. Launched in conjunction with the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2017, the EsportsTravel Summit was an immediate success because it helped fill an information vacuum that exists for organizers of video-game events and those in the travel and tourism industry who want to understand and profit from the esports phenomenon.

“The esports industry continues to evolve and the EsportsTravel Summit has evolved with it,” said Jason Gewirtz, vice president and managing director of Northstar Meetings Group’s Sports Division and the publisher of SportsTravel. “As more in-person esports events come online, it is imperative that event organizers, destinations and suppliers come together to learn what each side needs to produce successful events in the future. This year’s show will once again bring the industry’s thought leaders together to make that future possible.”

The State of Esports

From the professional ranks to the grassroots, esports events are still evolving. Economic pressures have posed recent challenges for parts of the esports events industry but also provided new opportunities. In the opening discussion, the conference will discuss the current landscape, challenges and opportunities ahead for event organizers and destinations wanting to host events, and what the future holds for an industry.

Bloomington, Minnesota, is an example of what a destination can do with their own unique assets when it comes to esports. From successful activations at the Mall of America to a grassroots gaming festival that attracts visitors from around the word, Bloomington has leaned into its civic treasures to plant a flag in the industry. The key people involved in growing an esports strategy in the destination will educate attendees on the lessons they’ve learned that could apply to your destination, and best practices from festival organizers that underscore Bloomington’s esports strategy.

Convention, Sports & Leisure, International will reveal the exclusive results of their latest esports research including which games fans want to watch the most, what would make them travel to more events and how far are they willing to travel. One of the leading medical experts in esports at the Mayo Clinic will explain why the organization is focused on esports, how it is helping players and what events need to know about how to offer the best medical attention possible for participants.

Impactful Programming

This year’s EsportsTravel Summit will also showcase multiple destinations and publishers who have been working to successfully host events around the United States. Among the case studies that will be presented includes BLAST’s Fortnite World Championships and Rocket League World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas; a Rally Cry mobile gaming truck that travels around the country during college football season to multiple destinations; the second annual Midwest Battleground hosted by the DuPage Sports Commission in Illinois; and Skillshot Media’s Brawlhalla World Championship in 2024 in Cobb County, Georgia.