Shaping CT's Future: Travel, Tourism, & Hospitality

February 20, 2026 | 1:00 – 6:00 PM

Location: 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338

Shaping is bringing New England’s leaders, creators, tourism partners, and the business community together to rethink how we tell our region’s story; not from a boardroom, but from the ground, experiencing it through the eyes of our guests.

Because before we can ask anyone to visit our six states, we have to remember that we’re tourists, too.

We are the ones who can move from ocean cliffs to mountain peaks, from historic towns to global universities, from wilderness to world-class dining — all within a few hours.
Very few regions on Earth pack this much culture, nature, adventure, and character into such an effortless footprint.

And yet, we’ve never told that story together.

This initiative isn’t just about strategy; it’s about mindset. It’s about switching from “How do we drive tourism?” to “How do we live it?” It’s about leaders being explorers and advocates, acting like curious first-timers.

We’re exploring what becomes possible when our states and sectors collaborate with intention: shared regional storytelling, cross-border itineraries, coordinated seasonal strategy, and a stronger, louder, more confident presence on the national and global stage.

New England has always been extraordinary. Now, we have a chance to shape its story, together.