<p><span class="p-body">Fueled by her experience teaching in rural North Carolina during the pandemic--and equipped with expertise acquired as an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-travel-and-tourism-management.html?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=1732_grad_online_hospitality&amp;utm_content=tourism&amp;utm_segment=g&amp;utm_term=ms%20in%20tourism%20management&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20876204544&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqbSM6G29BIkn1s1zJNgASoLp4Xhx&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw5onGBhDeARIsAFK6QJa-RUxiOIhTVsW6aMpF0xvlYKzYeTCWMsh1m9UHiscKdnLBkFHH2hkaAuEoEALw_wcB">MS in Travel and Tourism Management</a>&nbsp;student—NYU SPS alum Briana Konecke’s Rural Tourism Network (RTN) took home the $20,000 grand prize at the Tisch Center for Hospitality’s HI Hub <i>Pitch Your Passion and Seal the Deal</i> event this past spring.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Konecke’s pitch—a platform designed to empower rural tourism providers through collaboration, shared knowledge, and community-driven growth—struck a strong chord with both judges and attendees. Community serves as a cornerstone of the RTN concept. “Rural communities continue to struggle to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world,” Konecke explains, which “often leads to dwindling populations and fewer economic opportunities.”</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">RTN’s aim is to foster collaborative networks where tourism providers can connect, share insights, and work together to enhance visitor experiences that reflect the unique character of their towns. By nurturing mutual support and knowledge-sharing, RTN empowers small businesses to connect with broader audiences and elevate rural tourism as a whole.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">At the HI HUB event, four teams had eight minutes to present their startup. Judges scored pitches based upon the viability of each business model, the product itself and its originality, as well as marketability and presentation.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">HI HUB fosters entrepreneurship, experiential learning and creative solutions within the hospitality via state-of-the-art facilities with innovative software and tech that provides students, start-ups, and industry partners a place to learn and grow. ”I [had] the privilege of working with an amazing team of mentors from the NYU HI Hub Incubator: Gene Quinn, John Williams, Asi Ginio, David Millili, and Eddie Bergman,” says Konecke. “They’ve provided practical advice and helped me refine my business approach, giving me a deeper understanding of the startup landscape.”</span></p>

<p>With the additional funding garnered from Konecke’s&nbsp;<i>Pitch Your Passion and Seal the Deal</i>&nbsp;presentation, RTN is poised to broaden its reach and extend its impact, moving another step closer to fulfilling Konecke’s vision of affording rural tourism providers “access to resources and support that enable them to thrive, leading to increased economic opportunities and a renewed appreciation for the culture and heritage of rural America.”</p>