Getting There Together for 35 Years!
Happy Birthday to RMI!
On February 8, 2025, RMI celebrates a landmark birthday – 35 years!
For the past three and a half decades, we’ve celebrated many milestones together. We’ve cherished the partnerships we’ve built with tourism boards, businesses and communities, all united by a common goal: to showcase the breathtaking beauty and rich culture of Middle America and the American West.
As we blow out the candles on our 35th anniversary cake, we invite you to join us on a journey through time. From our humble beginnings to becoming a trusted partner for countless regional destinations, our story is woven with threads of integrity, collaboration and community spirit. Let’s take a look back together!
Our Origin Story
RMI came from humble beginnings when two Western states joined forces in international tourism marketing. Originally called Rocky Mountain International, the private sector company built a cooperative marketing program for two public sector tourism offices to collaboratively target international inbound visitors. Founded in February of 1990 by Chuck Box, the unique public-private partnership began in September of that year with Wyoming and South Dakota and then grew over the years, adding Montana, Idaho and North Dakota later in the 1990s. The group billed itself the Real America and targeted visitors in top inbound visitation markets, primarily the United Kingdom, Germany, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand, France, Italy and the Nordics.
The Journey
NEW OWNERSHIP & CLIENT DEVELOPMENT
In 2012 and after 22 years of ownership, Mr. Box sold the company to six-year veteran employee Mathias Jung, who is the current owner and CEO. With the transition of ownership came a fresh perspective and new goals. The regional cooperative model proved successful over two decades, and with such success came the time when growth outpaced the original infrastructure, strategy and ideas. The RMI team and state clients brought a new vision to the regional cooperative strategy, implementing an evolved regional brand (The Great American West), assets and organization.
COMPANY GROWTH
By 2018, with the Great American West cooperative skyrocketing to a whole new level, RMI turned its sights onto growing itself. We aimed high – for diversified company expertise, a new client base, broadened RMI brand awareness, and additional staff and opportunities for career advancement. This is where we started to become the company you see today.
COVID, REBRAND & NEW RMI ERA
The COVID-19 pandemic was not easy on the tourism industry. However, we persevered through significant budget cuts, cancelled events and lack of international visitation. We gutted it through and made major advancements in our company that got us to where we are today. In late 2021, we took on our first new independent client outside of the Great American West cooperative – Wyoming’s Platte County. It was a major milestone for the company; this new client, to whom we are forever grateful for taking a chance on RMI, jumpstarted us into a new era. Not only that, but we rebranded ourselves in November of 2021. This rebrand turned Rocky Mountain International into the RMI you know today – with a fresh new look and feel, dynamic skillset and ambitious new direction.
Today's RMI
Today, celebrating 35 years since our humble beginnings, we continue to enthusiastically and gratefully service The Great American West in seven international markets. But we also have seen steady growth post-COVID with the onboarding of Colorado, Minnesota and Arizona, along with other regional clients like the Cheyenne Regional Airport. We have the largest staff ever and are growing our service capabilities to include not only international marketing, but also market research, media buying, consulting, design and digital services, and event planning, to name just a few.
How We're Celebrating
This milestone is not just a celebration of our history but also an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the communities we live in. From supporting local tourism to empowering community programs, we believe in nurturing the very roots that have supported us over the years. As we joyfully mark our 35th anniversary, we are celebrating by making a conscious effort to give back to the causes that resonate deeply with our team and our community. Throughout our anniversary year, we will mark 12 months of giving – 12 opportunities to focus our attention on the local initiatives that inspire us. Each team member will spearhead a month, choosing a way to honor a project, initiative or cause they feel strongly about – through monetary donations, volunteer hours, sponsorships and more. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, and sign up for our newsletter to see the causes we choose and how we’re giving back.
What's Next
Looking ahead, we are more excited than ever about the future! With fresh ideas and innovative strategies in the pipeline, we remain committed to empowering ourselves and our partners and fostering a sense of community. Together, we will continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of tourism, ensuring that every destination we work with has the opportunity to tell their story. The lessons we’ve learned over the years have been invaluable. We have cultivated relationships built on trust and integrity, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients and partners who have been with us every step of the way. Your support has been instrumental in our success, and we are honored to have been part of your journeys as well. Here’s to the next chapter of RMI Marketing – a chapter filled with collaboration, growth and unforgettable experiences! Thank you for being an essential part of our story. We look forward to many more years of collaboration, growth and shared success!
