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.

The Reno Air Service Corporation includes over 30 public and private sector organizations whose goal is to increase air service to the Reno Tahoe International Airport.  Carl Ribaudo was retained to develop a new strategic approach designed to improve airline recruitment efforts. He successfully developed a comprehensive new strategy designed to reach RASC’s goals

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.