Insights From the Road: Bandwango’s Latest Industry Takeaways

Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference

Our first stop: Colorado Springs, where Sales Director Kate Skidmore and Customer Success and Events Director Jason Tarr spent the week at the Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference. Before the conference kicked off, they stopped by the local visitor center to say hello – and that warm welcome set the tone for the days ahead.

Throughout the week, the energy around Bandwango was undeniable. The Colorado Tourism Office highlighted their passes during a packed lunch session, complete with a slide encouraging all 500 attendees to sign up. Kate and Jason had no idea the team would be featured so prominently, but they made sure to snag front-row seats – just in time to be called out from the stage. It was a standout moment, and a true testament to the partnership and excitement around digital experiences in Colorado.

The momentum didn’t stop there. Kate and Jason connected with partners old and new, including a particularly encouraging conversation with Visit Denver. They also re-engaged with a longtime contact preparing for a major event (Sundance Film Festival!) next year, an opportunity perfectly aligned with drive markets and visitor engagement.

By the end of the week, their stack of business cards was proof of just how many destinations are eager to explore (or expand) their Bandwango strategy. As Kate put it, the week was “productive, fun, and full of Bandwango advocates,” made even better by the collaboration between sales and our success team.

And yes, Jason did own the stage.

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AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education

Next up, our CEO Mo Parikh and CRO Jay Alson traveled to National Harbor, Maryland, for the AMA Symposium. The conference was extremely successful and offered a great opportunity to connect with leaders across the higher ed marketing community. We also shared a full breakdown of the biggest themes and takeaways in our recent blog post: 10 Storytelling Takeaways from AMA: What Higher Ed Marketers Need to Know in 2025

If you haven’t read it yet, it’s packed with insights on audience behavior, emerging content frameworks, and where student engagement is heading next.

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Virginia Governor’s Tourism Conference

Last week, Sales Director Elyssa Hammond headed to Danville for the VA1 Governor’s Tourism Summit, and it was a memorable experience from start to finish. Hosted at the beautiful Caesars Casino, the event blended productivity with genuine fun. Even the drive in set the tone: rolling scenery and stunning views made the trip feel special before the conference even began.

Throughout the week, Elyssa connected in meaningful ways with partners and peers across the state, catching up with current clients who shared updates on their upcoming America 250 initiatives and the exciting work they’re preparing for the year ahead.

In addition to reconnecting with longtime partners, Elyssa had promising discussions with new organizations across Virginia, who were curious and enthusiastic about digital experience-building.

By the end of the summit, the energy was clear: destinations are eager to innovate, collaborate, and elevate visitor engagement. It was an inspiring week, and a strong step forward in expanding Bandwango’s presence throughout the state.

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A Few Themes Across All Our Stops

• Partnership energy is strong. Whether in the Rockies or on the East Coast, destinations are eager to connect, collaborate, and find practical ways to inspire travel.

• DMOs are leaning into data-driven storytelling. More teams are using real visitor behavior (where people go, what they redeem, what they explore) to personalize content and prove impact.

• Flexibility matters. With traveler sentiment shifting and major events (America 250, FIFA World Cup, Olympics, Route 66 and more) on the horizon, destinations are investing in programs that are easy to launch, easy to maintain, and easy for visitors to say “yes” to.

• Community-first innovation wins. The most memorable conversations were about helping local businesses thrive by creating simple, meaningful pathways for discovery.

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If you’re interested in building a pass or exploring a new concept for your destination, we’d love to chat. Reach out to sales@bandwango.com or visit bandwango.com/demo.