RENO, Nev. (September 16, 2025) – This summer, Visit Reno Tahoe hosted its inaugural Reno Tahoe Creator Camp, a first-of-a-kind, three-day retreat designed to strengthen connections with travel creators and lovers of travel through immersive, experience-based storytelling of the destination.

“Reno Tahoe Creator Camp was designed to push the limits in welcoming new travelers to the destination,” said Visit Reno Tahoe President and CEO Mike Larragueta. “This event brought people together from around the world, enjoying new experiences, inspiring fresh perspectives, and building new friendships here in Reno Tahoe.”

Taking place June 6-8, 2025, Reno Tahoe Creator Camp was developed as a unique campaign to authentically promote the destination, while driving social reach, social engagement and website traffic to VisitRenoTahoe.com. Based on secondary research into travel trends and influencer marketing, Reno Tahoe Creator Camp centered around five curated tracks, each hosted by travel creators with authenticity, brand identity and a personal affinity for Reno Tahoe:

With a combined social media reach of more than 8.5 million, each travel creator invited a curated group from their respective communities: 40 attendees from 4 countries, 13 states and 28 cities. Visit Reno Tahoe developed custom itineraries and digital field guides, and coordinated lodging, activities and meals with local and regional partners. The campaign supported exposure to local businesses, venues, and attractions through creator content, social tags, and event recaps, including:

  • BaseCamp Climbing Wall at Whitney Peak Hotel
  • Battle Born Power Sports
  • Clearly Tahoe
  • IRIE Rafting Co.
  • Junkee Clothing Exchange
  • Lake Tahoe Balloons
  • National Automobile Museum
  • National Bowling Stadium
  • Piping Rock Horses
  • Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa
  • Reno Experience District
  • Reno Fly Shop
  • Reno’s MidTown District
  • Roundabout Catering
  • Sparks Water Bar
  • Tahoe Sailing Charters
  • Tahoe Surf Company
  • The Generator
  • Zephyr Cove

Programming highlights included a moderated panel at Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa, featuring Matador Network CEO Ross Borden, and an attendee talent show with high-profile judges representing Matador Network, Backcountry, and Protect Our Winters, as well as Reno Mayor and Visit Reno Tahoe Board Chair Hillary Schieve. Submissions from the top three finalists earned a spot on the @RenoTahoe Instagram account, raising Visit Reno Tahoe brand awareness and highlighting the professionalism and authenticity of all Reno Tahoe Creator Camp attendees. @TheAngelBarclay and @LatiniAlonso participated in the Summit Seekers track, while @CatherineeGoncalves joined the Nature Nomads track.

“Reno Tahoe Creator Camp was far more than an event; it was a bold and immersive experience that showcased the soul of our region and truly changed perceptions. Built on years of trust and collaboration with top travel creators, it brought together people from around the world to connect, learn, and create in a place that thrives on ambitious experiences. They arrived as visitors and left as passionate ambassadors, bonded by new friendships and a shared love for this extraordinary place. That’s the power of Creator Camp, and the spirit of Reno Tahoe,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.

By fostering genuine partnerships with digital storytellers, this first-time initiative showcased destination visibility, enhanced perceptions of first-time travelers, and established a sustainable framework for future collaborations. Host creators and attendees shared more than 300 posts, reels, and stories that collectively generated a library of photo and video assets to support public relations, marketing and sales initiatives to inspire future visitors. Measurable impact efforts include:

  • 05M video views from Matador Network takeover on social channels
  • 2,208,173+ views on @RenoTahoe Instagram channel
  • 167K+ minutes watched, reinforcing brand awareness
  • 30,000+ visits to VisitRenoTahoe.com
  • 14,543+ total Instagram engagements on @RenoTahoe content
  • 2,451+ follower growth to @RenoTahoe Instagram channel
  • 22% year-over-year increase in engaged traffic to VisitRenoTahoe.com
  • 5% increase in overall visits to VisitRenoTahoe.com during the event

Following a post-event survey, over 92% of attendees said they would return to Reno Tahoe Creator Camp. Something they may be able to do when Reno Tahoe Creator Camp returns in Summer 2026.

Learn about Reno Tahoe Creator Camp with a video recap here: https://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe-creator-camp

See images here.