What's New at RMI?

Wow, has RMI been on a whirlwind adventure these past few months or what?! We recently wrapped up another top-notch International Roundup® tradeshow, where the Western energy will spark new opportunities in the tourism industry all around the world. But that’s not all – our brand-new RMI TRIP Report™ Dashboard is here, and it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to harness data-driven insights for success. And let’s not forget about all the exciting training opportunities and staff travels that have taken us to new heights. Read on to dive into all the details!

• VP of Marketing Scott Balyo participated in a main stage Q&A about international travel at the 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference April 13-15. He joined Visit Minot Executive Director Stephanie Schoenrock to answer questions on international travel trends, near-term outlook, challenges, and opportunities for suppliers to connect with the overseas travel industry.  
• RMI hosted a live, pre-IRU education webinar for suppliers attending the event in Medora. Led by Scott Balyo, the session was held April 8 and gave suppliers information on the tour operators attending, logistics, schedule and best practices in preparation for the show. On-site in Medora, suppliers also had the chance to attend a pre-marketplace briefing, led by RMI’s Director of Global Programs Kim Snape, giving them up-to-date information on the show, their meetings, the schedule, and the chance to see the marketplace set up in person.  
• Kim attended the 2026 New Mexico Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism June 24-25 in Las Cruces. She joined Brand USA in a featured breakout session “The State of International Travel and Opportunities for Your Destination” to discuss the latest RMI TRIP Report™ data and highlight opportunities for DMOs and tourism suppliers. 

• Mathias Jung and Scott Balyo attended the 2026 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Grand Forks April 14-16. The event brought together industry professionals from throughout North Dakota and included presentations, networking events and exhibitors.
• The Great American West (GAW) states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho held their annual Summit Meeting in Medora, North Dakota, on April 29. This event brought together all of the GAW state representatives, official marketing partners, Gateway Cities, overseas representatives and RMI staff for a series of industry presentations and updates. Speakers included Erika Jones from the US Travel Association, Chris Ellis from Brand USA, Rachel Daniels from Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Great American West overseas representatives, and Mathias Jung and Scott Balyo of RMI. 

Staff Travel

Past:

• April 14-16: North Dakota Travel Industry Conference – Grand Forks, ND
• April 26-28: GAW Summit Meetings – Medora, ND (Mathias, Scott, Kim, Alyssa, Stacey, Ashlie) 
• April 28-May 2: International Roundup – Medora, ND (Mathias, Scott, Kim, Alyssa, Stacey, Ashlie) 
• May 17-21: IPW – Fort Lauderdale, FL (Mathias, Lori, Scott) 
• June 24-25: 2026 New Mexico Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism – Las Cruces, NM (Kim)

Upcoming: 

• August 12-14: 2026 Arizona Governor’s Conference on Tourism – Tuscan, AZ (Mathias)
• September 23-25: 2026 Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference – Breckenridge, CO (Mathias)
• September 28-October 1: 2026 Brand USA Travel Week UK & Europe – Amsterdam (Mathias)
• October 13-16: Utah Tourism Conference – Park City, UT (Lori)
• October 19-21: ICORT – Moscow, ID (Mathias)
• October 21-22: WHTC Fall Summit – Sheridan, WY (Mathias)

International Roundup®

• The 30th International Roundup® took place April 29-May 1 in Medora, North Dakota. The event combines fam tours and a marketplace, bringing together buyers from around the world and suppliers from throughout the Great American West. Highlights included:
• 45 buyers from 15 countries, along with 73 suppliers from the region
• A day-long fam trip in and around Medora, including a sneak peek at the world-class Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, officially opening on July 4
• 3,116 total appointments over two days
• Pre- and post-fam tours for buyers
• Induction of over 40 new Buckle Club members
• As IRU® marked its 30th anniversary, this year’s event also reflected the program’s continued evolution to better serve hosts and attendees. One of the most significant enhancements RMI made was transitioning to CVENT, bringing event communications, reporting, virtual capabilities and the new IRU event app into one centralized platform. For attendees in Medora, the app provided easy access to personalized schedules, networking opportunities, maps, floorplans, FAQs, and other essential resources throughout the event. Building on the success of this year’s event, RMI looks forward to creating even more seamless, engaging experiences for participants in the years ahead.
• SAVE THE DATE! Next year’s IRU will take place the third week of April 2027 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with registration opening in the fall.  

Great American West IPW Buckle Club Event

• The GAW states hosted their annual Buckle Club event at IPW in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 19. The event brought together over 175 buyers and media from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand, as well as receptive tour operators from the United States. Suppliers from the four GAW states as well as marketing partners and Gateway City representatives were also in attendance. 

Community

• The 21^st Annual Cheyenne Day of Giving was held on May 8.  This powerful community event is dedicated to helping those in need, and RMI was proud to support this important cause with a monetary donation, which goes directly to local charities and agencies, including organizations like St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, COMEA, Needs Inc. and the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne. The event is held annually each year, but fundraising happens year-round to assist agencies throughout the year. Click here for more information on how you can make an impact.
• Nicole is currently a board member for the Cheyenne Greenway Foundation, and RMI gladly donated a UW-themed basket for their Thankful Thursday event that took place in April. The event brought in a whopping $16,000 to help fund enhancements and beautification projects on the Greater Cheyenne Greenway. We highly encourage those in the Cheyenne community to check out the almost 50 miles of Greenway around town, especially now that the weather is warming up! 

• Kim successfully completed The Travel Institute’s advanced leadership coursework and exam and is now officially a Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE). This leadership credential equips seasoned travel professionals and executives with modern business, management and leadership skills to drive company growth. 
• Director of Creative Development Nicole Lebsack celebrated her Lucky #7 RMI-iversary in June!

• Missed the last post? Data Manager Evan Thompson gave a thorough update of Excel's ever-changing AI capabilities.
• Looking ahead: Project Development & Events Manager Stacey Sheetz will share practical tips for using events strategically to grow your business, from planning and budgeting to follow-up and measuring success.