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Founder and Principal Consultant for Mission2Market, a boutique destination consulting…
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisWorking with Visit Leadville - Twin Lakes this summer has been a reminder of why we do this work. When the Willow Fire hit, nobody waited around. This brief film captures what "Leadville Strong" actually looks like on the ground. Worth a view now, and a visit to Leadville and Twin Lakes to cap off your summer or start your fall.Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisWhen wildfire smoke fills the sky, the story a community tells next matters. Last month the Willow Fire burned thousands of acres just west of Leadville, Colorado. Trails closed, Turquoise Lake closed, and local businesses lost some of their best summer weeks. But Leadville and Twin Lakes never stopped welcoming visitors. Our client, the Visit Leadville - Twin Lakes, just released "Leadville Strong," a short film about the people behind that resilience and why the highest city in North America is open and ready for the rest of the season. Recovery marketing is some of the most important work a destination can do. Proud to see this strong and resilient community tell its story. Watch: https://lnkd.in/gPYubM-C #DestinationMarketing #Colorado #Leadville #TourismRecoveryLeadville Strong | A Story of Resilience After the Willow FireLeadville Strong | A Story of Resilience After the Willow Fire
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisHeadline: Super El Nino becoming more likely and could provide much needed moisture to Colorado beginning late Summer 2026Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisWe asked AI to do some deep thinking about medium-term weather patterns and their impacts on Colorado tourism by season. AI sourced a number of articles, references European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and produced the following interesting result: Headline: Super El Nino becoming more likely and could provide much needed moisture to Colorado beginning late Summer 2026 A potential strong El Niño is getting attention, but for Colorado the takeaway is more nuanced with continued need for moisture in the early Summer that may not come, a welcome relief of moisture late summer and into fall and then a great ski season for souther Colorado with potential for all of Colorado's ski resorts to benefit from El Nino. Colorado is entering this pattern from a stressed position: low snowpack, early runoff, drought pressure, water restrictions in some areas, and elevated smoke/wildfire risk. So even if El Niño develops strongly later this year, it does not erase the near-term concerns for summer 2026. What it could mean for Colorado: Summer: likely still hot and dry early, with wildfire and water supply concerns remaining front and center. A stronger monsoon could help later, especially in southern and southwest Colorado, but timing will matter. Fall: this may be the first real window for broader moisture improvement. El Niño patterns often increase the odds of fall precipitation across parts of Colorado, which could help drought conditions and shoulder-season recreation. Winter / ski season: El Niño generally shifts the storm track south. That often favors southern Colorado resorts like Wolf Creek, Purgatory, Telluride, Silverton, and Monarch. Central mountain areas may benefit too, depending on the storm track. Northern resorts such as Steamboat and parts of the northern I-70 corridor may see a more mixed signal. So the planning takeaway is not “Colorado will have a huge snow year.” It is: conditions may improve, but unevenly. For destinations, resorts, and tourism partners, this means: Build summer messaging around fire-safe travel, water-aware recreation, and flexible trip planning. Be ready to lean into fall if moisture improves. For ski season, stay optimistic but avoid overpromising. Southern and central Colorado may have the strongest snow story, while statewide conditions will still depend on individual storms. El Niño is a probability signal, not a guarantee. But after a tough snowpack year, it is a pattern worth watching closely. Hope that helps!
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisI've always subscribed to the notion, leave it better than you found it. So when AI started becoming a daily use tool for Mission2Market, the weight of its environmental impacts weighed heavy on me. Today, M2M is making a commitment to send 1% of our revenue to environmental organizations through 1% For The Planet. It isn't an offset, but a commitment to leave the planet and our destination partners environments better than we found it. #EarthDay #1%ForThePlanet #Mission2Market #DestinationMarketingDave Santucci, MBA shared thisOn this Earth Day, M2M is making a commitment. We use AI every day at Mission2Market. It helps us research faster, draft sharper, and spend more time on the strategic thinking our clients actually hire us for. But AI has a cost that doesn't show up on our invoices — energy and water for data centers, emissions from the infrastructure powering every prompt. If we're going to benefit from these tools, we have a responsibility to account for their impact. That's why we're proud to announce that Mission2Market is joining 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of our annual revenue to environmental nonprofits working to protect the places we help destinations promote. This one is personal for us. We work with communities whose economies depend on clean air, healthy rivers, intact trails, and thriving public lands. The visitor economy we believe in only works if the natural assets behind it are still here and ideally thriving in 50 years. Sustainable tourism isn't a service line, it's the whole premise. Joining 1% for the Planet isn't an offset. It's an alignment. Our business grows because destinations are worth visiting. The least we can do is invest in keeping them that way. To fellow agencies and consultants leaning on AI: how are you balancing the ledger? #SustainableTourism #1PercentForThePlanet #DestinationMarketing #TourismIndustry #ResponsibleBusiness #EarthDay2026
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared this30 years ago, I attended a session at Emory University about internship opportunities, where I planned to talk to the Environmental Lawyer after the presentation to ask for an internship. Then Camille Feanny presented about her work at CNN's Environmental Unit and it changed the course of my life for the best! Yesterday, I presented about music tourism to CSU Business Students and I was inspired by that moment 30 years earlier that I might shift someone's life towards a career that better matches them and their passion. If you have the time and opportunity to give back and speak to young minds about their futures, take it!Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisMusic tourism is projected to double globally by 2032 and destinations that move now to develop cultural tourism strategies will be the ones that benefit most. We had the chance to bring that story to CSU business students this week, presenting alongside Karen Radman of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Beyond the global trends, we shared the Colorado Music Tourism Strategy and Visit Fort Collins Music Strategy both created by M2M and the real opportunities they point to, from Fort Collins to all communities across the state. #ColoradoTourism #MusicTourism #DestinationMarketing #TourismStrategy #COMusicHallOfFame
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisBeing in the room matters. After a few weeks on the ground across Colorado, it’s clear that the real progress happens best face to face. You can share updates virtually. But alignment, trust, and momentum are best built in person. That’s especially true in our destination work at M2M.Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisAfter spending time this month with clients and colleagues across so many incredible Colorado destinations, one thing has become clearer than ever: In-person, face-to-face time matters. A lot. And it’s not just a feeling, the research backs it up. Research from MIT highlights that in-person interactions build significantly stronger trust and collaboration, especially in complex, relationship-driven work. And if there’s one industry where that matters most, it’s ours. Tourism, destination marketing, economic development, these aren’t transactional. They’re built on: • Trust • Shared vision • Community alignment • Real relationships You don’t build that over Zoom alone. There’s something that happens when you’re sitting across the table from a hotelier, walking a downtown with a stakeholder, or hearing directly from a resident in a room full of neighbors. You pick up on nuance. You build alignment faster. You actually understand the place. Technology makes us more efficient. But being there makes us more effective. And in destination work, effectiveness is what drives impact.
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Dave Santucci, MBA reposted thisDave Santucci, MBA reposted this🔊 CADMO Member Profile! This week we are highlighting CADMO member Visit Fort Collins! Harper Goff, who created Disneyland's Main Street USA with Walt Disney, grew up in Fort Collins. Goff came back to Fort Collins in the 1950s to photograph the buildings of his youth to use as the model for the buildings along Main Street USA in Disneyland, California. The Cache la Poudre River which snakes through the nearby Poudre Canyon is Colorado’s only nationally designated “Wild & Scenic” River. Colorado Highway 14, which follows much of the river, is a designated Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway between Fort Collins and the town of Walden. The Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway is recognized as one of the state’s premiere scenic highways. This route features stunning scenery in Poudre Canyon and along the Poudre River, as well as vast forests and high peaks. Just west of town is the Horsetooth Reservoir - a 6.5-mile-long reservoir that is a favorite recreation spot for activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, stand up paddle boarding, water skiing, sailing, bouldering, and picnicking. There are many miles of trails surrounding the reservoir for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking. Horsetooth Reservoir is open year-round and includes RV spots, campsites and cabins. Colorado State University (CSU) is one of the nation’s top-performing public research institutions and has been a cornerstone of Fort Collins from the very beginning. CSU was founded in 1870 as Colorado’s land-grant institution and today enrolls about 33,000 students and employs 7,600 faculty and staff. Learn more about Fort Collins at: https://lnkd.in/gRUUv4f7 #ftcollins #visitfortcollins #fortcollinscolorado #ColoradoTourism
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisSome good news for Colorado coming out of a tough winter for ski destinations. It’s not just migratory birds impacted by the drastic weather shifts we are experiencing. Visitors and Coloradans spent more time and money down in Denver and the front range due to high temps and low snow, but summer might be starting much earlier for CO mountain destinations as Denver’s first 90 degree day that sends people to the mountains to escape the heat might just come as early as March! See the silver lining in these shifts in M2M’s post…Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisWinter was tough, but summer is giving us something to smile about! According to the latest data from Inntopia/DestiMetrics, Colorado's mountain lodging took a harder hit this season than most other Western states. But here's the good news: summer is looking strong. Occupancy is already up over 8%, May arrivals are trending 16% ahead of last year, and average daily rates are keeping pace with inflation. Travelers are planning, and they're excited about Colorado. For DMO pros, this is the signal to shift gears (if you haven't already). Spring/summer messaging isn't something to queue up later, the booking window is open right now, and early momentum matters. Inntopia DestiMetrics
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Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisAs a regular EV traveler living in Colorado, I can attest that we are blessed to live in one of the best places in the world to own or rent an EV. There is a very strong network in place improving everyday. This article shows how destinations can embrace EV charging to drive economic activity and make daily life for residents and visitors easy. How’s the charging network in your community?Dave Santucci, MBA shared thisA great case study by Drive Clean Colorado on what EV charging looks like for rural Colorado towns like Salida. https://lnkd.in/gq2HGEzcRural Routes, Real Results: Lessons on EV Charging from SalidaRural Routes, Real Results: Lessons on EV Charging from Salida
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Dave Santucci, MBA reposted thisDave Santucci, MBA reposted this🔊 CADMO Member Profile! This week we are highlighting CADMO member Aspen Chamber Resort Association! Originally inhabited by the Uncompahgre Tribe of the Ute Nation or Nuche, Aspen became a mining town during the silver boom in the late 1800s. By the late 1940s, the Aspen Idea was born, making Aspen a destination for nurturing the mind, body, and spirit and shaping its identity for years to come. Today, Aspen is a renowned destination defined by breathtaking natural beauty and a unique blend of outdoor adventure as well as arts and culture. Home to the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort, which is made up of four distinct mountains, offering something for everyone, people often say they came for the winter but stayed for the summer. The Maroon Bells, located just 10 miles from downtown is another trip highlight for summer visitors looking to access the backcountry or even just snap a photo in front of these iconic peaks. #aspenco #ColoradoTourism
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Dave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisDave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisWe kicked off GovCon earlier this week with a reception at the beautiful Breckenridge Distillery, welcoming travel leaders from across Colorado! Thank you Breckenridge Tourism Office for hosting GovCon this year!
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Dave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisDave Santucci, MBA reacted on this🎉 PUEBLO, WE’RE HOSTING! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce that Visit Pueblo has been selected as the 2027 host destination for the CTO Governors Conference! 🏔️🌶️ After submitting our bid and competing alongside dozens of incredible destinations across Colorado, we couldn’t be more proud to have Pueblo chosen to welcome 500+ tourism professionals from across the state next October for a minimum of three days! A huge thank you to the Colorado Tourism Office for this incredible opportunity. We can’t wait to showcase our city, our amenities, our hospitality and, of course, our amazing local businesses. ❤️ The Visit Pueblo + Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce teams are incredibly proud to represent our community and are already counting down the days until we get to welcome Colorado’s destinations to Pueblo! Pueblo, this one is a big deal. Let’s show them what we’re all about! 🌶️✨
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Dave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisDave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisYesterday, we completed our final Accessibility Focus Group workshop with Quayla Allen-Comella. Over the last few months, a focus group of Glenwood Springs leaders has worked together to build a roadmap toward a more accessible Glenwood Springs for both visitors and locals. This may have been our final workshop, but it also marks the starting point for the work ahead and for building a truly more accessible Glenwood Springs. A huge thank you to the many leaders, businesses, and organizations who participated in this focus group, including quite a few who dodged the group photo but were very much part of this important work: Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association City of Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs Downtown Development Authority Visit Glenwood Garfield County Libraries High Fives Foundation Return to Dirt Sunlight Mountain Resort Iron Mountain Hot Springs - A WorldSprings Property Hotel Colorado Defiance Rafting Company Valley View Mountain Valley Developmental Services Bluebird Café Bethel Party Rentals OMfluence & Hospitality Marketing Glenwood Springs lodging property leaders Glenwood Springs business owners - with Wynn & Noble Thank you to everyone who shared their time, experience, and perspective throughout this process. The workshops may be complete, but the work toward a more accessible Glenwood Springs is just getting started. #accessibility #destinationmanagement
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Dave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisDave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisYou are a PRIORITY and others can benefit! 21 years ago I made the decision to lose 100lbs NATURALLY & I’ve Maintained it! How?…28 half marathons, 2 Hyrox, 2 full marathons, Strength training, cross fit, functional training and running! God has allowed me to motivate thousands of women! I’m a certified fitness coach, Motivational speaker, owner of Donna’s Divas Workout Classes and author of Smokin cookies! #donnaellemedia
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Dave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisDave Santucci, MBA reacted on thisThat's a wrap on one of the most rewarding years of my career! Over the past year, I've had the incredible privilege of being part of the Colorado Tourism Office Leadership Journey, and we crossed the finish line together this week at the Governor's Tourism Conference. From the mountains to the plains, I got to learn from some of the most inspiring leaders across the Colorado tourism landscape. Every destination faces its own unique challenges, but watching these leaders show up for their communities with so much passion and heart proved what I already knew: Colorado's tourism industry is something truly special. Along the way, I launched framework for an accessibility audit of Loveland, and I couldn't have done it without leaning on the wisdom, experience, and encouragement of this amazing group. Words can't fully capture this journey, but I'll be forever grateful for every conversation, every laugh, and every lesson. A huge thank you to Charles Lammers and Visit Loveland for giving me the ability to pursue this journey. Also, thank you to Breckenridge Tourism Office for hosting an incredible conference. See everyone next year!
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Dave Santucci, MBA liked thisDave Santucci, MBA liked thisCongratulations to Colorado’s newest MICHELIN Guide awardees! This recognition is a testament not only to our talented chefs and restaurant teams, but to the entire culinary community and Colorado’s incredible agriculture industry—the farmers, ranchers and producers who provide the exceptional ingredients that help bring Colorado’s culinary story to life. Proud to see Colorado continue to earn recognition as a world-class culinary destination! #MICHELINGuide #ColoradoTourism #ColoradoCulinary #ColoradoAgriculture #Colorado https://lnkd.in/gEwPRVgu https://lnkd.in/gcQ5fxfE
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Dave Santucci, MBA liked thisCongratulations to all of the awarded participants in the Colorado Tourism Office Destination Blueprint Program! We are especially excited for our Colorado Association Of Destination Marketing Organizations Member, the City of Cripple Creek!Dave Santucci, MBA liked thisThe CTO recently announced the participants for this year’s Destination Blueprint Program. Four Colorado DMOs will complete a 11-month tourism planning process that uses a community-driven approach to create a vision for tourism, identify key priorities, and implement projects that support the development, marketing, and management of the visitor experience. Awarded destinations are: Clear Creek County Tourism Board Colorado River Valley Chamber of Commerce Meeker Chamber of Commerce City of Cripple Creek https://lnkd.in/gBhk3w9j
Experience & Education
Projects
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State of Tennessee Strategic Marketing Plan
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Worked on a statewide team to develop a strategic marketing plan for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The plan was used to gain statewide support and significantly increase the marketing budget for the department.
Other creatorsSee project
Honors & Awards
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Producer
Emmy Award
Emmy Award for the coverage of the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
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Producer
Emmy Award
Emmy Award for Coverage of events of 9/11
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