New York City is one of the most famous “brands” on earth, yet selling a trip to NYC still comes down to the same hard question every marketer faces: how do you keep something iconic feeling personal, current, and worth the effort? We sit down with Nancy Mammana, Chief Marketing Officer at New York City Tourism + Conventions, to get inside the strategy behind promoting a city that never stops changing, and to understand what “authentic” really means when millions of visitors arrive with completely different tastes, budgets, and comfort levels.

We talk about NYC’s resilience, and why the city doesn’t have an awareness problem, it has a discovery problem. Nancy breaks down how her team tells a fuller story than the headline attractions, using local opinions and neighborhood voices to guide people toward the unexpected across all five boroughs. We also dig into value-driven tentpoles like Restaurant Week, Broadway Week, and the broader Winter Outing push, including how these programs support local businesses during key periods of need and help visitors plan a weekend that actually feels doable.

Then we go deep on AI trip planning and what it’s changing right now. Nancy shares what they're learning from AI-powered tools on their site, how traveler queries are becoming more nuanced, and why keeping information accurate and up to date matters more than ever as people plan through ChatGPT-style experiences. We also look ahead to the FIFA World Cup and how fan zones and citywide activations can turn tournament energy into exploration, community, and real economic impact beyond the stadium.

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Recorded Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Maureen Andersen, President & CEO, INTIX
Guest: Nancy Mammana, Chief Marketing Officer, New York City Tourism + Conventions
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work Consulting

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

A circus company that builds entire worlds does not stop at the stage. We're joined by Spiegelworld CMO Lindsay Sanna to unpack how immersive live entertainment becomes real fandom when every detail is intentional, from the moment you walk in to the last sip of a cocktail. We talk about what makes Spiegelworld experiences like Absinthe feel like true escapism, why intimate venues create a kind of connection that arenas cannot touch, and how “surprise and delight” turns guests into repeat visitors who bring their friends.

We also get into the wild headline that says it all about their creative ambition: Spiegelworld bought Nipton, CA, a tiny town in the Mojave Desert, and is using it as a spiritual and creative center for dreaming up what comes next. From there, we trace how the brand expands beyond shows into hospitality without losing its DNA, and why the best live experience marketing treats food, drinks, and service as part of the same story world.

On the practical side, Lindsay breaks down customer journey strategy, ticketing, and point-of-sale tech, including how their CRM approach helps reduce friction, bundle upgrades, and set pricing expectations before guests arrive. We also compare marketing Las Vegas versus Atlantic City, and tackle the listener question: who is an “adult circus” really for, and how do you message edge while staying inclusive?

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Recorded Thursday, March 26th, 2026
Host: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation
Guest: Lindsay Sanna, Chief Marketing Officer, Spiegelworld
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com

Ever wondered how a legendary stage keeps pace with a hundred different audiences at once? We sit down with Carnegie Hall’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sara Villagio, to explore how a 135-year-old institution stays agile, relevant, and deeply human while serving fans who arrive through classical subscriptions, education programs, global tours, and once-in-a-lifetime occasions. From a rebrand that landed quietly and confidently to a St. Patrick’s Day concert reframed as New York’s signature celebration, Sara shares how the team thinks in both seasons and sprints.

We talk about real-world friction and the quirks that make the Hall beloved: scaling digital ticketing while fans still request printed stubs as souvenirs, navigating a multi-door lobby to the breathtaking reveal of Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, and the storied climb to the balcony that becomes a rite of passage. Sara explains why education and social impact initiatives are designed to help people solve real problems first, not as a pipeline to paid audiences, expanding what “success” means beyond ticket counts and revenue. She also pulls back the curtain on festivals that blend fandoms, like Nuestro sonidos, where reggaeton, salsa, and orchestral programs lived side by side and invited discovery across genres.

On the data and technology front, we dig into practical AI: using Microsoft Copilot to synthesize customer feedback and surface fixable pain points fast; speeding creative edits with transparent, consent-driven tools; and opening the archives with an agent that answers repertoire questions. And yes, we get into subscriptions; why fixed packages spiked thanks to the Ring Cycle, how seat loyalty still matters, and where Create Your Own fits when demand is high. Along the way, you’ll hear stories of first dates turned decades-long marriages, box office lines that feel uniquely New York, and the words that best capture the room’s charge: electric, magical, powerful, moving.

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Recorded Monday, March 2nd, 2026
Hosts: Damian Bazadona, CEO & Founder, Situation & Meghan Goria, Account Group Director of Arts & Culture, Situation
Guest: Sara Villagio, Chief Marketing Officer, Carnegie Hall
Producer: Peter Yagecic, Founder, A Mind at Work

https://situationinteractive.com
https://intix.org
https://amindatworkconsulting.com