Jim's role at Wanderlust will focus on business development strategy for the firms clients, including overseeing the development and implementation of new and incremental business opportunities and sponsorship programs for travel services companies, events, attractions and destinations.
'Jim is a great addition to Wanderlust. There are many opportunities to attract revenue to our clients. The challenge has always been finding the resources, both strategically and tactically, to take advantage of those situations.' commented Wanderlust President Mark Shipley. 'With Jim on our team, we can now offer a turn-key solution. It's a win for everyone involved.'
Jim is a business and marketing strategist who has designed and implemented a number of high profile international marketing programs, including hospitality and sponsorship programs for 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, NASA, NASCAR and the New York Racing Association. He also played a strategic role in the launch of several major loyalty programs including Air Miles, Delta SkyMiles, Frequent Shoppers Advantage (190 brands of packaged goods), and National Car Rental's Emerald Club. Jim also served as Chief Marketing Officer for the global launch of XPO Network - a global airport media company based in the United Kingdom.
In 1987, Jim co-founded the Business Strategy and Marketing consultancy, MarkNet Partners - whose clients included American Express (Travel Related Services, Financial Assurance, Travel & Leisure and Food & Wine Magazines), AT&T, Busch Entertainment (SeaWorld, Busch Gardens), Cendant Corporation (AVIS, Century 21, Days Inn, RCI), Gannett Newspapers (local and USA Today), GE Financial Assurance, Hilton Grand Vacations, Home Depot, IBM Global Services, Rayovac and Wal-Mart.
In addition to his work with Wanderlust, Jim is Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of Greenfields Development and the Saratoga Polo Association - the developers of a private residence retreat on the historic Whitney Polo Field in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is a graduate of Skidmore College, currently resides in Saratoga Springs, and has served on the boards of Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) and the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
The Wanderlust consulting group offers a holistic approach to the operation, looking at all phases of service, outreach, and operations. The firm's team will review current revenue management programs, study distribution channels, evaluate combined media/direct marketing/advertising spend and review overall marketing programs. The goal is to identify targets for revenue creation, suggest new outreach strategies and pinpoint misdirected or misspent dollars.
In addition, Wanderlust consulting can evaluate guest services from the pre-booking phase to curb, audit guest service delivery systems including hiring and training practices, leadership and company ethos, software and wetware systems and assess front and back of the house operations. The firm can analyze geographic issues, size up current market conditions, derive a true competitive set, and take measure of the efficacy of the current tourism promotion efforts.
From a revenue growth perspective, Wanderlust can analyze profit and loss statements and identify cost centers and revenue opportunities. The goal is to discover partnership opportunities, assess current pricing and sell strategies, and identify key sources of business for your property.
About Wanderlust
Wanderlust specializes in destination branding. We help our clients understand what drives desire for travel, to bridge the gap between traditional media to the internet, and build integrated marketing communications programs designed to deliver people to their destinations.
Contact: Mark Shipley
Phone: 518-272-2500
Email: mshipley@createwanderlust.com
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