I worked directly with Audrey and Daniel for the last 18 months on the USAID Business Growth Initiative, and specifically in the Karakol DMO (Destination Management Organization). The main objective of their work was to discover and develop new tourism products in our destination, identify its branding and positioning in the tourism market. Before their visit in Karakol there were no experiential tourism products. In December 2016 during their first 4 day visit to Karakol my eyes were opened to the potential of the city, they helped us as a DMO see our destination in a completely different way, not only as a jumping off point to trekking routes, but as a destination with rich multicultural aspects, which had hidden opportunities to develop new trending tourism products.
Daniel and Audrey surfaced and identified the cultural, culinary and multi-ethnic strengths and components of Karakol’s identity and unique position in Kyrgyzstan. Now there are more than 8 unique new products that highlight uniqueness and cultural heritage of our destination. As a part of their contract with us they developed destination positioning/branding strategy which became a handbook for the tourism stakeholders to look further in tourism development perspectives of Karakol town.
Most importantly in March 2018 Daniel and Audrey developed a vision of not only the destination, but also gave the most valuable recommendations to sustain our organization, to strengthen its membership. Their patience and tireless work brought real results to the development of local economy, because the products they have helped to develop give positive impacts to the entire value chain of tourism sector which completes the mission of our DMO.
It has been an absolute pleasure working with Dan and Audrey! They are the people who change the world!