A Workation that Works
TulsaBound
How TulsaBound and Tulsa Remote Proved that Belonging is an Economic Strategy
Over the past five years, Tulsa Remote redefined how cities can grow: not through subsidies for companies, but by investing directly in people. With more than 3,475 remote workers choosing Tulsa as home—and generating over $622 million in direct employment income, the program proved that community and connection are as powerful as any financial incentive.
Building on that foundation, TulsaBound took a bold next step:
Rather than offering relocation stipends, TulsaBound created a self-funded, immersive “test drive” of Tulsa life, designed to show digital nomads that belonging isn’t bought, it’s felt.
Running as a month-long curated workcation in fall 2024 (and now 2 in 2025), TulsaBound invites participants not just to work from Tulsa, but to live the Tulsa experience: connecting with the city's culture, community, and infrastructure firsthand. The goal is clear: prove that mid-sized cities can compete for remote talent not just as a stopover, but as a true home base.
As The Experience Tulsa Strategic Hospitality Advisor, I work alongside Tulsa Remote and Experience Tulsa to ensure participants are more than visitors, they are potential future locals.
And the results? When people felt belonging, they didn’t just stay longer, they invested.
The Impact
Belonging Moves People to Invest
TulsaBound participants weren’t just visitors — they became investors in Tulsa’s future
100% of participants said they would recommend TulsaBound to others.
Two-thirds of the first cohort expressed interest in returning to Tulsa long-term.
Participants paid to join TulsaBound, proving strong demand for curated relocation experiences rooted in connection, not cash incentives.
Proving That Hospitality Fuels Economic Growth
TulsaBound’s success echoes Tulsa’s larger economic transformation: showing that when people feel seen and connected, they invest—and stay.
Tulsa Remote’s broader strategy has already generated $622M+ in direct employment income.
In TulsaBound, participants’ experiences shifted perceptions of Tulsa from "unknown" to "future home base."
The future of economic growth lies in building communities people choose—and TulsaBound proved the demand for authentic belonging.
A New Model for Talent Attraction
TulsaBound flipped the script on traditional relocation programs, offering a "test-drive" of life in Tulsa.
Participants lived, worked, and built relationships through curated coworking, cultural events, and local immersions.
The model addressed critical relocation factors: affordability, community, safety, and integration — the real barriers to permanent moves.
By focusing on experience over incentives, TulsaBound unlocked a new path for mid-sized cities to attract and retain modern remote talent.
What This Means for Your Community
Most communities are missing out on the remote work economy not because people don’t want to live there, but because they haven’t created an experience that makes people want to stay. TulsaBound’s success proved that digital nomads aren’t just visitors—they’re potential residents.
If your city is ready to turn short-term digital nomads into long-term economic contributors, it’s time to think beyond