Vibe Index

Measuring the Creative Energy of Destinations

The Vibe Index is a proprietary tool that measures the cultural vibrancy and creative energy of cities and regions. By codifying creativity, the Vibe Index provides cities with data-driven insights to shape tourism strategies, foster innovation, and drive economic growth.

The Vibe Index is the definitive measure of a city’s cultural vibrancy, creative energy, and community spirit.

Designed to help destinations harness the power of their creative industries, the Vibe Index codifies what makes a place unique, fostering sustainable growth and deeper connections between visitors and locals.

Why the Vibe Index?

In an era of increasing homogenization, cities and regions must stand out to attract visitors, talent, and investment. The Vibe Index uncovers the essence of a place’s cultural DNA, spotlighting creative assets and experiences that make destinations irreplaceable.

How it works

How it works

The Vibe Index evaluates destinations based on several key pillars:

  • Arts & Culture – Museums, galleries, public art, and creative districts.

  • Events & Festivals – Cultural programming and citywide events that engage communities and visitors.

  • Innovation Hubs – Creative co-working spaces, incubators, and industry-leading projects.

  • Food & Retail – Culinary experiences, makers' markets, and artisan-driven commerce.

  • Community Engagement – Programs that connect and uplift local creatives and communities.

By assessing these elements, we help destinations identify strengths, address gaps, and craft strategies to enhance their creative footprint.

Why It Matters

Creative destinations outperform their competitors. Cities rich in cultural energy attract more visitors, investment, and talent – boosting tourism while enhancing quality of life for residents.

The Vibe Index ensures destinations:

  • Stand Out – Showcase their unique cultural identity.

  • Engage Audiences – Offer immersive experiences that leave lasting impressions.

  • Drive Growth – Align creativity with economic development and tourism strategies.

Unlock Your City’s Creative Potential

Want to learn how the Vibe Index can transform your destination? Contact us.

Signature Engagements

Signature Engagements

Vibe Index Baseline Report

  • A foundational assessment measuring a destination’s creative energy and cultural vibrancy across key pillars.

  • Key Deliverables:

    • Scoring across 10 creative pillars (Arts & Culture, Events, Innovation Hubs, Food & Retail, etc.).

    • Comparative benchmarking against similar destinations.

    • Actionable recommendations to enhance creative ecosystems.

  • DMOs, city governments, and economic development organizations seeking data to guide tourism and placemaking strategies.

Deep Dive Analysis & Strategic Roadmap

  • A comprehensive expansion of the baseline report, including stakeholder engagement, community insights, and a full strategic roadmap.

    • Community surveys and stakeholder interviews.

    • Custom strategies to amplify creative industries and develop cultural districts.

    • Economic forecasting and projected impact of creative investments.

    • 1-year and 3-year action plans for implementation.

  • Cities looking to drive economic development through creativity or launch large-scale creative placemaking initiatives.

Community Vibe Lab: Workships & Engagements

  • Interactive workshops and activations that engage local creatives, businesses, and residents to co-create solutions for enhancing vibrancy..

    • Half- or full-day workshops designed to align tourism and local culture.

    • Ideation sessions to activate underutilized spaces.

    • Documentation of community insights and next steps.

    • DMOs and city leaders seeking community buy-in and collaboration on creative economy initiatives.

    • Creative organizations seeking to maximize impact, identify trends, enter new markets and design place-based community experiences

Pillar Projects — Impact Initiatives & Exhibitions

Bespoke, place-based initiatives designed to activate creative communities and drive tangible cultural and economic impact around the key pillars of the Community Vibe Index.

  • Each pillar project is designed to ignite innovation, creativity, and cultural growth across the 10 pillars of the Vibe Index. Each project serves as a pilot initiative aimed at testing new ideas, activating underutilized spaces, and fostering collaboration between local creatives, placemakers, and global partners.

    These projects give destinations the tools and frameworks to experiment with fresh concepts, build community engagement, and create scalable models that fuel long-term growth in the creative economy.

  • We turn research into creative projects with local and global partners:

    • Cultural Placemaking Pilots

    • Innovation Pop-Ups

    • Creative Food & Retail Experiments

    • Event & Festival Prototyping

    • Youth & Creative Workforce Development

    • Digital Storytelling & Content Creation

    • Sports, Recreation & Adventure Activations

    • Green & Sustainable Placemaking

    • Heritage + Cultural Preservation Projects

    • Creative Housing & Co-Living Pilots

    • DMOs & Tourism Boards

    • Neighborhood Associations & Districts

    • Real Estate Developers & Venue Owners

    • Municipal Governments & Planners

    • Brands & Sponsors

    • Education and Cultural Institutions

    • Public-private partnerships

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.