What a day! We kicked off the first-ever Playeasy Innovators Summit in Valley Forge with a full day of innovation, connection, and purpose — and we’re just getting started. Check out the recap below!

🌟 Morning Highlights:
After grabbing breakfast in the ballroom at Hotel West & Main, we launched into a powerful morning of opening presentations.

  • Playeasy Co-Founder Kerri Shields welcomed attendees and set the tone for the Summit.
  • Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, gave us a warm welcome to his incredible destination.
  • Then Playeasy CEO Sean Flaherty shared a big-picture look at where we’re headed as an industry — and why proving our value matters more than ever.

Next up, a standout panel featuring Rick Hatcher and Ray Palmer reminded us just how critical our roles are in keeping tourism thriving. 💪

💻 CTO Jon Gorin wrapped the morning unveiling exciting updates and what’s ahead in the Playeasy product roadmap.

🍽️ Working Lunch gave attendees time to dive into the Playeasy platform with hands-on support and live demos.

🎯 Afternoon Breakouts: Turning Insights into Action

Our afternoon was filled with three dynamic sessions that dug deep into the core of destination success—visitor engagement, community partnerships, and impact measurement.

🧭 Attracting Visitor Engagement through Experiences
First up, Jordan McCraw (Visit York County), Brian Jones (Rock Hill PRT), Mark Campion (Center Court Events), and Rachel Dailey (Valley Forge Sports) took the stage to share how they’re elevating their destinations through unforgettable experiences. From on-the-ground activations to curated itineraries, this group brought incredible ideas on how to turn visitors into lifelong fans.

🤝 Engaging Your Community
Next, Aja Cramer and Leanna DiPrato from Fogo de Chão, Chris Coleman from Columbia County Sports Commission, and Jack Jones from Forge Hospitality walked us through how to rally your local business community. They explored what it takes to engage stakeholders as a membership-based organization—and how to prove your value to build lasting partnerships.

📊 Impact Reporting & Management
We wrapped up with a masterclass in measurement from Alex Dry (Visit Central Florida Sports) and Jason Suitt (Visit Baton Rouge). Whether through CRMs, detailed spreadsheets, or collaborative reporting, they broke down the tools and strategies they use to clearly quantify their destinations’ impact—and showcase their value across the board.

🛍️ Evening Fun:
We wrapped up the day in style with a group outing to King of Prussia Mall — shopping, bites, and laughs included — followed by a nightcap at Southern Cross Kitchen for some casual, late-night networking.

🎉 Thank you to all our incredible attendees for showing up, sharing openly, and inspiring each other. We’re back tomorrow with another big day focused on growth, lead generation, and closing out the Summit strong!