Every community has assets — but not every community is activating them to their full potential. In this session, Bandwango’s Mo Parikh will moderate a dynamic panel discussion exploring how communities can source, package, and activate their unique assets to encourage travel, tourism, and economic development.
From cultural and historical resources to outdoor recreation, local businesses, public art, events, and unexpected hidden gems, this conversation will highlight how destinations are creatively leveraging what they already have.
Mo will lead a panel of Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) who are using innovative and resourceful approaches to activate community assets. Panelists will share real-world examples of how they:
- Identify and inventory existing community strengths
- Turn underutilized assets into visitor experiences
- Build partnerships that unlock new tourism opportunities
- Use digital tools and trails to drive engagement and measurable impact
- Align tourism initiatives with broader economic development goals
Attendees will gain practical insights and replicable strategies for transforming everyday community features into compelling visitor experiences that increase visitation, extend stays, and support local businesses. Whether you represent a small town, regional DMO, or statewide organization, this session will inspire new ways to see — and activate — the assets already within your community.
From bioengineering labs to mountain towns and global destinations, Mo Parikh has always followed curiosity over convention. Originally trained as a bioengineer, he took an unexpected turn into travel and entrepreneurship, guided by a deep interest in how people experience the world. A lifelong traveler and snowboarder, Mo became fascinated by the ways people discover destinations, especially the hidden local gems that often go unnoticed.
That curiosity now shapes his work, where he blends teaching, entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving to help organizations rethink experiences and deepen community impact. Whether exploring new ideas or new terrain, Mo is driven by the belief that meaningful experiences, like fresh powder, are worth seeking out. When he’s not working, he’s planning his next trip or waiting for the next snowstorm.
