Chris van Vleuten 

The conversation about how AI can be used by cities, destinations, regions or countries is sometimes abstract, very technical or too overwhelming, then Chris van Vleuten walks into the room and makes everything clear.

As the founder of Destinatie.ai, one of Europe’s leading platforms for applied AI in tourism, city marketing and destination management, he works exactly where today’s places stand: at the intersection of technology, competitiveness and real human needs.
 

Over the past years, Chris has helped cities, regions, DMOs and developers realise one essential truth: AI is no longer something you prepare for but something you use. And the places that start now will shape the decade ahead.
 

At PLACExNordic 2026, Chris brings both inspiration and precision. His speach explores how generative AI is already transforming the fundamentals of modern place development — from talent attraction and visitor communication to stakeholder engagement, branding and regional competitiveness.

He shows what is possible, but also what is practical. And because Chris never stops at theory, his workshop takes participants directly into hands-on exploration. You will build an AI opportunity map for your own place, work with tools designed for destination and city marketing, and leave with a clear understanding of what true organisational AI adoption requires.
 

Chris combines a pioneer’s curiosity with a teacher’s clarity and a practitioner’s realism. He turns complexity into confidence — helping places move from adapting to advancing.
 

At a moment when every place is searching for its next step, Chris helps you take it.