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Caribbean Consulting Merchandising w Marketing w Distribution w Profitability
Caribbean Consulting helped raise more than $76,000 for Caribbean Meet the Consultants Hands-on experience sets us apart from most traditional marketing companies. Our unique backgrounds combine hotel management/operations, retail/wholesale travel agencies, direct marketing, advertising, public relations and pioneering work as leaders in the development of online travel sales and marketing. We use a modular approach - building success upon success so you can easily measure your return on investment with a strategy of phased solutions. Our methodology is not limited to traditional concepts of marketing - since virtually every aspect of your operations, service, facilities and attitude are critical factors in selling your property or destination. Even with large-scale projects - we can implement solutions at the end of each phase to show immediate results. Richard Holm and Marie van Rooyen discovered our unique synergy while working at IBM/Prodigy during the early development of online services and the internet. Working together on projects such as American Airline's EAASY SABRE (which we helped evolve into Travelocity) - Richard and Marie rarely agreed on anything. However, it quickly became apparent that when we finally did come to a common conclusion - it was something that everyone including technical programmers, corporate marketing executives, clients and most importantly - the buying public found understandable, usable and successful in the world of online marketing. After our pioneering efforts at IBM, Richard and Marie each went their separate ways (see bios below) - but found that we were each missing that 'other perspective' and marketing synergy that happened when we both worked on a project. Now working together again, our clients benefit from this unique perspective that we don't really understand - but is obvious in our results!
Richard first became interested in Travel while earning an MBA from Baruch College in New York City – owning a retail travel agency, managing one of the first ‘cruise-only’ travel agencies, working with wholesale travel management software and eventually being recruited by IBM’s Prodigy Services to work with American Airlines to develop their eAAsySABRE reservation system which evolved into Travelocity. A precursor to the Internet – IBM/Prodigy provided a research and development platform to discover the way users interact with a computer during the sales/transaction process. While still at IBM – Richard became co-owner of Captain’s Quarters Hotel on the tiny Caribbean Island of Saba, Netherlands Antilles (near St. Maarten). Although Richard was born in Connecticut, the Holm family had lived in St. Eustatius since the early 1700’s – eventually moving to Saba in 1860’s. It didn’t take much to convince Richard to take ‘early retirement’ during one of IBM’s numerous ‘reorganizations’ during the internet boom years – and trade the title ‘Director of Internet Production’ – to move to the Caribbean and ‘re-invent’ Captain’s Quarters on Saba as a boutique hotel along with his Saban cousins. On the eve of re-opening the formerly run-down resort as the new ‘Captain’s Quarters Resort and International Arts Center’ – Hurricane Georges turned every executive’s fantasy into every hotelier’s worst nightmare…. destroying the entire resort complex in a matter of hours. However, it all worked out well - with Richard moving to San Juan and working extensively with the Caribbean Hotel Association while establishing Caribbean Consulting. Now he can combine his unique experience with both the internet and as a hotelier to help our clients throughout the Caribbean. Marie van Rooyen: (photo at left with Berthia Parle - CHA President & Richard Holm at CHIC2005).
Her understanding of travel industry business requirements, customer needs and market trends along with the vendor relationships that have developed over the years, has supported Caribbean Consulting’s clients from property analysis, day-to-day property management to national internet promotions. Prior to joining Caribbean Consulting, Marie was Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for PC Flowers & Gifts, a division of Federated Department Stores for 5 years. Her responsibilities included floral and gift product development, implementation of marketing programs and strategies and management of the order processing and customer service departments.
Among her many marketing achievements, Ms. Van Rooyen substantially increased airline reservation membership enrollment and air ticket purchases to become the major client for eAAsySabre’s Computer Reservation Service which evolved into Travelocity. She also created and implemented the first IBM/Prodigy loyalty program, the first on-line Frequent Flyer information service as well as a variety of travel content which resulted in increased usage and repeat travel transactions. Based in Southington Connecticut, Marie maintains close contact with travel consumers in order to determine trends in travel, hospitality, marketing and what the next 'hot destination' or amenity will be next season. We also have a group of experts in Training, Event Planning, Ecology/Green Hotels, Photography, Translation, Mystery Shopping, Website Design, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Fund Raising, Project Administration & Specialized Niche Markets. Call 787-268-0224 or email Richard at rholm@caribbeanconsulting.com for a proposal and see how we can help. Most projects are completed within 60 days of scheduling and show results in a few months. We have a very reasonable fee structure that accommodates the special needs & budgets of small, mid & large hotels/associations/tourist boards.
This page was last updated on 07/16/2007 |
Richard Holm: (photo at right)
A pioneer in interactive travel and e-commerce with more than 20 years Marketing experience, Marie joined Caribbean Consulting in 2003 as Director of Consumer Marketing. With a key focus on hospitality marketing, product development yield management and cost effective distribution, she brings a proven track record of innovative travel sales and marketing concepts that have substantially increased on-line travel reservations and hotel bookings. 
Ms. Van Rooyen joined IBM’s Prodigy Services Company in 1989 as Director of IBM/Prodigy’s travel content and transaction marketing. She was successfully responsible for the management and revenue stream of interactive travel transactional and editorial services for both the proprietary online service and the Internet. 
Caribbean Consulting is a member of Caribbean Hotel Association (