About Us
We are unifying the rural tourism industry by creating a place where tourism professionals and rural residents can connect, share ideas, and collaborate.
By building a stronger Rural Tourism Network we can maximize tourism’s positive impacts—improving economic opportunity and cultural resilience in rural communities across the United States.
We are on a mission to connect everyone shaping rural tourism in the United States.
Who We Are
RTN is an early-stage project that is growing through collaboration. We are here to listen closely, test ideas quickly, and let rural voices guide the roadmap. Whether you manage a county DMO, operate a family-owned motel, run farm tours, or invest in place-based economies, you belong in this network. Join us as we build the connections that turn individual efforts into shared success.
Rural Tourism Network is led by Briana Konecke; originally from a small-town in Pennsylvania, her years as a tour guide, teacher, and researcher revealed a simple truth: rural destinations succeed when they learn from one another. In 2025, her idea for a nationwide rural tourism network won NYU’s Hospitality Innovation Incubator top prize and became RTN’s launchpad.
Our Goals:
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RTN brings rural DMOs, tourism pros, and local champions into one space—so you can swap insights, line up joint campaigns, and build cross-county partnerships that stick.
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Our first step to building a go-to library is listening. We’re talking with tourism professionals to learn which templates, data, or training would move the needle for you. Tell us what you wish existed, your feedback will shape every resource we create.
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Sustainable tourism starts with the local community. We’re inviting rural residents to share how tourism impacts their daily lives and what “success” looks like in their community. Those insights will steer RTN’s tools and advocacy, keeping growth community-centered.
