Practical support for tourism destinations
I’m Sarah Colgate, founder of Exceptional Experiences. I work with councils, regional tourism organisations and destination and visitor economy teams.
I deliver practical operator capability programs, tourism product development and destination projects. We start with what your operators need and what your team needs to deliver.
Practical destination support
Three ways to move your destination forward
Operator capability & industry development
Understand operator needs. Build practical skills, tools and business systems.
Assess → build capability → follow through
Experience & product development
Shape tourism products and experiences visitors can understand and book.
Find gaps → shape products → plan delivery
Destination strategy & implementation
Bring people together and turn priorities into projects with clear next steps.
Agree priorities → plan projects → implement
Structured interviews with tourism operators.
Evidence about business maturity and operational capability.
A basis for planning future industry development.
Operator capability in practice: Redlands Coast
Redland City Council commissioned Exceptional Experiences for its tourism operator capability program.
In Phase One, structured operator interviews examined readiness, business maturity and operational capability. The findings gave Council a basis for planning future industry development.
“Their structured interview program provided us with an insightful, evidence‑based understanding of operator readiness across the region.”
Shannon Thwaites
Service Manager Tourism & Events
Redland City Council
How I can help your destination
Choose one pillar or combine them into a tailored annual program.
1. Operator Capability & Industry Development
Give your operators practical support they can use in their businesses.
I assess operator needs and design workshops, tools and follow-up support. Topics can include pricing, sales conversion, business systems and team capability.
You get a program shaped around your operators’ starting points. We agree how to track participation, actions and progress.
2. Experience & Product Development
Help operators turn good ideas into experiences visitors can book.
I work with your team and operators to assess product gaps, shape experiences and plan delivery. That can include packaging, itineraries, trails and shoulder-season opportunities.
We consider visitor demand alongside pricing, capacity and operational readiness.
About experience and product development
Visitor experience, dispersal and trails
3. Destination Strategy & Implementation
Give your destination priorities a practical plan for delivery.
I help your team bring operators and stakeholders into the discussion. Together, we turn priorities into projects with clear responsibilities and next steps.
Support can include consultation, planning workshops and implementation reviews. Community and environmental priorities belong in those decisions from the start.
About destination planning and engagement
Innovation and regenerative visitor economy support
Understand the starting point
We discuss your priorities, operator needs, budget and delivery capacity.
Agree the work
I recommend a scope with clear deliverables, responsibilities and reporting.
Deliver and follow through
We work with your operators and team, review progress and agree what comes next.
How I work
What does your destination need next?
Tell me what your team needs to deliver and where you need support. We can work out a practical starting point.
Use the Growth Gap Call booking page to choose a time. Our conversation will focus on your destination priorities.