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 email message 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 the trip can be a success!
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This budget uses the 2009 pricing used for this months canceled Kili trip. 2010 pricing will not be
available till late May 2009.
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Advertised price will be at 13 participants with a cost of $5,990 Land and $2,250 Air. This trip will
not sell at a higher price point! (Prospectus will state, that costs will increase for stated trip at lower
enrollment, and that leader may elect to change itinerary to keep trip viable.)
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Trip is all inclusive and includes no other expenses on the ground. The 4% trip contingency is
excessive and a burden on trip pricing thus I propose a reduction to 2%.
- The existing 20% AMC Program Fee would result in a whooping $13,500 trip expense. This trip
price cannot bear a fee of that size and that alone will make the trip fail. I wouldn't even know how
to begin to explain or justify a fee of that size to trip participants. My Budget proposes a fee of 10%
which would net $6,700 for Boston, a substantial sum of money.
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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.
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I think the AMC has for too long been complacent with its use of the 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 post MEC approval will have a
critical eye on costs. If the leader can find another outfitter of the same quality willing to offer a
better price that outfitter will be presented to the MEC for for consideration and a possible change
to the proposal. This could occur at the Spring meeting.
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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 after this trips approval, 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.
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The attached budget has 3 spreadsheets for reference.
"Langley" is the budget for the canceled 2009 Kili trip and basis for outfitter costs for the current
"Expense" budgets.
"Expense 20" is the budget with current 20% Program fee and 4% contingency.
"Expense 10" is the budget with proposed 10% Program fee and 2% contingency. This budget at 13
participants yields the costs that are found on the Proposal form and in the trip notice.
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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. I do not believe that a future trip following the past trip formula will ever succeed
again.
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)
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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)
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The trip includes 3 weekends making it a possibility for people with limited vacation time.
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Trip will be advertised immediately to increase the chance of its success and to get the earliest
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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Participants are savvy and look for good value in adventure travel. The AMC is at a disadvantage
when its trips are the same price or more expensive than professionally run trips to the same
destination.
It is my intention to make this trip competitive with the other trips available. To do this I will need
to lower the trip costs by:
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Pointing out to the outfitter that prices quoted to the AMC have risen 40% resulting in the
recent trip cancellation.
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Asking the outfitter to examine costs to become more competitive.
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Questioning the need and expense of luxuries on the trip.
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Examine trip itinerary carefully to see that it offers maximum enjoyment to the participants and
good value.