What makes a city worth visiting — and worth living in?

We sat down with Andrew Heidt, Vice President of Sales at Visit Boise, to break down how tourism, conventions, and city branding help drive economic growth in Boise.

Andrew explains how cities attract major events, conferences, and visitors — and why those decisions matter for local jobs, small businesses, and long-term economic development. We also dig into Boise’s “Braggable Destination” campaign, how tourism marketing works behind the scenes, and why livability is one of the biggest factors in a city’s success.

From convention sales and destination branding to quality of life and rapid population growth, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how cities compete for attention — and why Boise continues to show up on national “best places to live” lists.

If you’ve ever wondered how tourism actually impacts a city’s economy, what makes Boise unique, or how cities balance growth with livability, this episode offers an insider perspective on the strategy behind it all.

Connect with Andrew at [email protected], and on LinkedIn @andrewheidt. Check out Visit Boise on YouTube and all the socials @VisitBoise and learn more at www.visitboise.com.

00:00 Introduction: Boise as a Braggable Destination
02:30 Meet Andrew from Visit Boise
06:10 How Andrew Got Into the Tourism Industry
10:20 What Visit Boise Actually Does
15:40 How Cities Attract Conventions and Events
21:10 Tourism as an Economic Driver
27:00 Why Boise Is Growing So Fast
33:40 Livability vs Rapid Growth
40:10 What Makes Boise Unique
46:30 Misconceptions About Tourism
52:15 Behind the “Braggable Destination” Campaign
59:30 The Future of Boise Tourism
01:05:00 Final Thoughts on Boise’s Growth

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