Advertising used to traffic in symbolism. Today's consumer wants outcomes. Our Chief Experience Officer Max Lenderman is calling this shift the Transformation Economy—and it's reshaping brand strategy right now. Here's the reframe: Duolingo isn't selling a language app. It's selling your more cosmopolitan self. Lululemon isn't selling leggings. It's selling personal evolution. The pattern: Experience is the medium. Transformation is the product. In a world where AI handles utility, meaning is the only moat. And that changes everything about how experiential marketing works. Read Max's full piece to see why brands that help people become will win.
We’re proud to join the Green Sports Alliance community and continue our commitment to sustainability and meaningful partnerships as we strive to build a more sustainable future — one experience at a time. 🌱 #Sustainability #ExperientialMarketing
"Invest in a footprint, not a fortress." 🌵 GMR's Cultural Strategist Lis Webber attended Coachella 2026 and is breaking down brand activations, influencer culture, and why Justin Bieber's stripped-down set was the most important marketing lesson of the weekend. The full breakdown is below. ⬇️ #Coachella2026 #ExperientialMarketing #BrandActivation #Coachella #StoryMakerExperiences
History was made at the Credit One Charleston Open with $2.5 million in equal prize money. 🎾 But beyond the trophy, one moment said everything about the power of great experiences. Janel Riegleman, GMR's Marketing and Communications Manager, reflects on what made the event memorable. #CreditOneCharlestonOpen #ExperientialMarketing #StoryMakerExperiences
Did you know GMR Marketing is Great Place to Work® Certified? 🏆 This recognition is a direct result of the StoryMaker experience we intentionally prioritize and the unstoppable culture we've built together. Since 1979, we've been pioneering experience marketing — tapping into music, sports, entertainment, and more of life’s IRL moments to create memories that last. None of it happens without the people behind them. Thank you to every StoryMaker who makes GMR what it is. 🚀 #GPTW #GreatPlaceToWork #BestWorkplaces #CompanyCulture #ExperientialMarketing
We recently helped longstanding #GMRClient Stryker Joint Replacement and Stryker Active showcase the power of Stryker in New Orleans. Guests joined Stryker's faculty for two evenings of networking and exploration, faculty-led presentations, and hands-on demos. The power of experience was at play as guests learned about Stryker’s innovative joint replacement product portfolio.
Margaret (Meg) Stewart, GMR’s Experience Data and Insights Manager, breaks down why Innings Festival in Arizona fell short of its hybrid identity potential and what brands can learn from it. The takeaway? Shared space isn't the same as shared identity. We send data collectors out to experiential activations around the world, so we can share the trends we're seeing with our clients (and you). Stay tuned for upcoming SOLE Science™ Snippets! ✨ #SOLEScience #ExperientialMarketing #BrandExperience #FanEngagement
The Olympics and Paralympics are over. So, what happens to all the stuff? That's the question we asked early, before we even knew what materials our clients would have on the ground at Milano Cortina. Spoiler: early intention matters more than a perfect plan. What we did differently at MICO: - Started the conversation in early 2025, well before final builds were confirmed. - Standardized inventory documents across clients (unglamorous but knowing what you have is half the battle). - Identified Italian organizations that could use what we anticipated leaving behind. - Stayed flexible. Small or niche items were routed through local staff relationships; suppliers seized reuse opportunities; remaining gifts went to teams as a thank-you on the way out. Where there’s room for improvement: - Timelines. Always. - The variety of materials rarely fits one organization—so, having multiple partners lined up gives options. - Even stronger data and tracking will provide more amplification opportunities for our clients’ efforts to reach their audiences. The result? 750 items donated (and counting!) None of this is magic. It's intentionality, early coordination, and a team willing to hold the thread even when seemingly bigger priorities compete for attention. We’re proud of what the GMR teams, clients, and partners pulled off at the Winter Games and what came after.
We blinked and Q1 2026 is already in the books. 🚀 From the glitz of Super Bowl LX to the peaks of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics to the roar of the Daytona 500, GMR Marketing was front and center at the year's most-watched moments—and the brands that matter most were right there with us. When the stakes are highest and the audience is most engaged, leading brands trust GMR to deliver. Ready to make your mark in Q2? Let's talk. #CMOStrategy #GMRClient
Are the Olympics becoming a shopping mall with athletes? 🏅💰 On our latest episode of the "Voice of Experience," Elke asked the hard question: where's the line between meaningful brand integration and full-blown commercialization? Max made a bold claim—"if this is just another Super Bowl party, you're missing the memo for LA 28." The future of Olympic sponsorships isn't about logos. It's about MAGIC. Catch the full discussion with Corban Baxter, EVP of Products at GMR, as we break down what being on the ground in Milan taught us. 🎙🎧 Listen here: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gfpGWGDr Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gBiT3U2y #VoiceOfExperience #LA28 #Sponsorship #BrandExperience
