Tourism Marketing & Development
Aurora Consulting's principal and staff have been actively engaged in developing and promoting Alaska tourism since 1986.
Our efforts include working with large scale visitor industry-related projects, such as the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Sealife Center, with market analysis and business planning to provide the respective developments with realistic projections for visitation as well as startup financial analysis and guidelines for programmatic standards.
In fact, business planning for startup tourism ventures is an area in which we have extensive experience. For example, our team worked with businesses such as Chenega Corporation, Bering Strait Native Corporation, Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association, Denali Bluffs Hotel and CIRI Tourism Corporation to research and development new lodging properties throughout Alaska.
We have developed a wide variety of feasibility studies for an Ahtna Historical Village in Cooper Center, a Lodge in Aleknagik, a day-tour company in Dillingham, a Russian River Visitor Center on the Kenai Peninsula, a fishing lodge in Kake and many more.
Promoting Alaska and its myriad tourism businesses is a passion. Ann Campbell has served on the statewide tourism marketing board since 1989 as both its leader as well as chairing several of its critical committees and, as such, has helped fashion Alaska's domestic U.S. and international marketing programs. Our team was instrumental in establishing the Alaska Native Tourism Council, a statewide destination marketing organization for Alaska-native owned tour products; and, during its tenure, the Council successfully assisted member businesses in expanding their product visitation by more than 300 percent.
We have worked in the trenches selling Alaska tour products, operating ground tours, representing Alaskan visitor businesses at U.S. and international trade shows, escorting media representatives and tour wholesalers on product trips throughout Alaska and managing several day-tours in remote corners of Alaska.
Our Work
Alaska Native Heritage Center – Business Planning
Our work with the Alaska Native Heritage Center began five years prior to the facility ever opening as we worked with the Heritage Center's development team to prepare initial business plans and cash flow analysis. Our team's work continued as we developed and implemented a two-week jobs skill training program for the Center's first staff and cultural performers. And, as the Heritage Center moved into its operating stage, our team worked with senior management and the Board of Directors to develop a Strategic Plan and, subsequently, worked with senior management to develop a Business Plan for the Heritage Center's retail operations.