What We Learned (and Loved) at Tempest Tourism Academy 2026

The Week Started on the Water

We kicked off Tempest Tourism Academy with a dinner cruise. Good food, good drinks, and a chance to meet people before the sessions started. We even spotted dolphins in the St. Johns River, which felt like Jacksonville showing off a little.

Between sessions, we explored downtown and the Five Points neighborhood. Jacksonville has a lot going on, and seeing the city firsthand made the conference content hit differently.

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Booth Life

Day 2 put us at a booth with a waterfront view (hard to complain about that)! We spent the day talking with current partners, reconnecting with folks interested in renewing, and demoing recent Bandwango updates for new prospects. People were genuinely excited about what we've been building, and a few conversations turned into real brainstorming sessions about new ways to use the platform in their communities.

Also, shoutout to our friends at Ottawa Tourism, Visit Baton Rouge, and Visit Indy – always great to catch up in person!

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Sessions Worth Mentioning

Jenna took the stage to introduce a session called "Trails That Thrive," where we heard how food and drink trails can turn into a real economic driver for local small businesses. We heard directly from business owners who participate in trail programs, and their stories reinforced something we believe strongly: a trail is only as good as its impact on the people who live and work in that town.

One presentation on the future of tourism stuck with us. The data point that got the room's attention: the top 10% of Americans hold 50% of the country's wealth and account for more than half of all travel spending. The takeaway for destinations? You don't need a Ritz-Carlton to attract high-spending travelers. Luxury yoga retreats, wine tours, upscale Airbnbs, festivals, and events all qualify. And the biggest spending happens around specific events, especially sports and music. For destinations trying to figure out where to focus, that's a useful filter.

We also sat in on a session about navigating website launches and adapting to change without getting overwhelmed. The Tempest team shared practical advice about taking things one step at a time and focusing on progress over perfection. Simple stuff, but the kind of reminder that lands when you're in a room full of people dealing with the same challenges.

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Closing it Out

The closing ceremony ended with Mo, Jenna, and Elyssa getting caricatures drawn together (see below!) Honestly, a pretty fitting summary of the week: part work, part laughs, part making memories with good people.

Jacksonville reminded us why we go to these conferences. The sessions are great, but the real value is in the 1-on-1 conversations, the ideas you overhear at lunch, and the relationships that get a little stronger every time you show up.

We're already looking forward to the next one. If you were there and we didn't get to connect, reach out. We'd love to hear what you're working on!