SMG developed the new Lake Tahoe Visitor Authority strategic plan. The plan involved a variety of innovative approaches, including economic analysis and scenario planning, to assist in developing a long-term strategy. Additionally, we embedded ourselves in the destination with over 100 interviews and conversations everywhere, from ski lifts to trailheads, in an effort to include different voices and perspectives with residents and visitors in addition to half a dozen community meetings. The plan made sweeping recommendations on a structure to integrate residents more into the process and stewardship to provide an overall cohesiveness to the tourism efforts.

SMG provided an organizational structural review for the town of Vail’s tourism marketing efforts. The project encompassed an analysis of the existing Discover Vail functions, staff, and budgeting and a comprehensive review of other destination organizational structures. Final recommendations were made to the Town of Vail.

SMG provides ongoing Strategic advisory services for a cooperative organization, including destination marketing organizations, local government, and private sector members to increase air service to the Reno Tahoe region.

SMG is developing a new strategic plan for Nevada's Indian territory. The plan is designed to integrate the tribes into a more significant tourism framework. The tribes include the Washoe, Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Southern Paiute.

SFG is developing a new strategic plan for Nevada Pony Express territory. The plan is innovative in that it seeks to create a unique sense of place and build on existing attractions and attributes of the region. The plan also focuses on what makes the region unique from resident's perspectives.

SMG Consulting was the lead consultant, along with two other consulting firms, Nichols Tourism Group and Better Destinations, on developing a 10-year tourism development plan for the friends of the Black Rock desert. The planning was part of Travel Nevada’s 3D innovative new tourism development plan for rural Nevada.

SMG provided SF Peninsula economic analysis and forecasting for their tea bid renewal. We utilized our unique scenario planning approach to provide the DM leadership within sight for their decision-making about their renewal. We will also provided strategic planning services for the board of directors to help guide their efforts with the additional funding from the Tbid renewal.

SMG worked to develop a new strategic framework for visiting Folsom that moved away from a focus on Johnny Cash and the Folsom prison and fully embraced the recreational assets that are in the region, creating a new market space for an urban recreation destination.

To improve the competitiveness of the western region of Riverside County and stimulate tourism economic development in the rural areas, SMG developed a tourism development strategy to maximize the potential opportunities tourism can generate. This regional tourism development approach included the communities of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon, Canyon Lake, Menifee, French Valley, San Jacinto, Hemet, and Anza. The goal was to create a tourism development plan and strategy to encourage visitation and the resulting economic benefits, including revenue, taxes, and employment for the western county region.

We just recently completed a major strategic planning project with amateur vendors. We developed an innovative process designed to create a new strategic framework with which the organization can see the competitive market and developed the appropriate long term strategies to create an advantage in a highly competitive Northern California marketplace.

In the Southern California wine market, SMG recently worked with the Temecula valley winegrowers to develop a strategic plan to effectively reposition the organization and the Eva to achieve their long-term objectives. The strategy involves multi-steps, including comprehensive market research, ideation, and strategy development to guide the organization over the next two years.

SMG consulting is part of a team of consultants, including the Center for Responsible Travel, the Travel Foundation, Better Destinations, and Civitas, to help develop a tourism and outdoor recreation stewardship strategy and plan for the Lake Tahoe basin. This groundbreaking work in Lake Tahoe has the support of every major environmental organization, tourism organization, and local state and federal government. SMG will be bringing innovative destination modeling and scenario planning to assist policymakers in shaping tourism strategies to meet the needs of residents, the environment, and visitors.

Carl Ribaudo was retained to develop the, the Visitor Connection package including the development of an integrated stewardship messaging strategy that could be implemented   across the private and public sector organizations in the three counties.  A working group  was established, comprising 28 representatives of regional organizations with a vast and diverse range of expertise engaging with the visitor audience, from destination marketing organizations to recreation user groups.

SMG Consulting took a fresh look at the Morro Bay competitive position in a new creative way that is sustainable, defendable and increases the competitiveness of the destination. Look for this destination to be much more competitive in a very competitive coastal market.

SMG Consulting was tasked with reviewing the Kalispell Montana Competitive position. After reviewing the destination assets and understanding the local culture reframed the destination's assets and created a more competitive position that is sustainable, defendable and increases the leverages the destinations assets to make Kalispell into a true destination market. competitiveness of the destination.

Visit Vacaville worked with SMG Consulting to review the destination's competitive position considering changes in the destination’s development. Primarily known for its factory outlet stores SMG identified a range of destination revenue drivers including outdoor recreation, agritourism, and a transitioning downtown to reposition the destination as a “mini-hub.”

SMG Consulting and our partners Triple Point Consulting Was tasked with quantifying the opportunity cost of not developing a special events center in Douglas County Nevada of the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. The analysis not only included quantifying the potential lost but also took a strategic look at how the addition of the center would effectively improve the competitive position of the destination.

SMG and its partners LSC Consulting implemented a year-round visitor profile study designed to asses behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions of Truckee visitors. Additionally, we provided a strategic review and recommendations to take advantage of the changing visitor base in light of broader market-based changes.

Based on visitor data collected from the state and welcome center databases as well as from constituent businesses in each Welcome Center destination, SMG and our partners LSC Consulting developed an inclusive strategic direction focusing on evolving the Welcome Center as an experiential and key source of localized and personalized “insider” visitor information.  This model expands the welcome center from a passive provider of brochures, maps and a bathroom into an integrated immersive opportunity for visitors to stop and learn much more about their destination.