Addendum for Madsen-Kili-Safari-Aug2010-Proposal
To MEC
Please see attached proposal for a trip to Africa August 2010.
Consider the content of this document an important addendum to the review of this proposal.
In particular note:
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It is important that this trip be reviewed and approved (or conditionally approved) at the upcoming
meeting so that advertising for the trip can begin.
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This budget uses an actual quote for the described itinerary from African Environments. Pricing is
2009 pricing since 2010 pricing will not be available till late May 2009. Outfitter has stated that
internal costs will not raise prices this year. Outfitter predicts that taxes,park fees and hotels will go
up 5%. Based on this prediction the increase would be about $60 per participant including AMC
program fee. Approximate trip fee will be increased later if necessary to maintain proper revenue
for trip.
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Advertised price will be at 9 participants with a cost of $5,400 Trek ($200 early sign up discount),
and $1,800 Air, Participants may add the Safari option to the trip for $2,800 (based on 4
participants)
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I intend to actively negotiate ,after MEC trip approval, with the outfitter for further price
reductions, and warn that 2010 price increases could be fatal to the trip.

I do not want to be complacent with its use of this outfitter African Environments. They are
unquestionably a superb outfitter but their costs are high. This proposal goes forward again with the
use of African Environments, but I will have a critical eye on costs. If I can find another outfitter
of the same quality willing to offer a better price than the current outfitter I may present my
findings to the MEC at a later date.

On my own initiative I have approached Erika Bloom about making a competitive offer to be the
outfitter for this trip. She is an impeccable ME leader with significant expertise in trekking and
safari in Tanzania. She as you may know operates a travel business called "Serengeti Pride Safaris"
<info@serengetipridesafaris.com>
- While Erika is interested in making a competitive outfitter offer, she first awaits the committees
deliberations and discussion of her eligibility to do business with the AMC as an outfitter. Please
discuss this issue at the upcoming meeting and inform me and Erika of your decision. Erika will only
proceed with developing a competitive offer for this trip upon approval from the MEC to do so.

The attached budget has 2 spreadsheet tabs for reference.
Kili Trek is the budget for the the Kili climb and the trip airfare.
Safari is the budget for those who elect to take the optional Safari.
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Discussion of trip strategy:
The January 2009 Kili trip was canceled due to low enrollment. I speculate this failure was due in
part to: the current economic recession, individual's loss of personal wealth, uncompetitive trip
pricing, and unpopular time of year to travel.
I believe sufficient demand exists within and outside the AMC to launch a future successful trip to
Kilimanjaro.
This proposal implements the following changes:
● Trip has been moved to August when many more people like to travel and have vacation time.
(this is a suitable time of year for Kili trek and safari)
●
Trip has been lengthened to 15 days on the ground in Africa to allow for both a high quality
Kili trek and safari in one single vacation. (This was necessary to justify the cost and time
requirements of the airline flight)
●
Trip will be advertised immediately to increase the chance of its success and to get the earliest
airfare bookings for the lowest prices.
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If possible a consolidator will be used to secure airline tickets at a reduced rate.
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There is a $200 incentive for participants to sign up early.
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The trip caters to to participants that do and do not want to go on a safari, increasing the trips
potential enrollment.
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The current cheap flights from BOS/JFK have dropped to $1,800, however, the itinerary chosen by
past trips remains at $2,400. This difference of $600 is too costly to justify the nicer itinerary. I
think many participants will prefer the cheaper flight. I will note in the prospectus that participants
may at their own expense opt for a pricier flight if group tickets are not purchased.