References

Here we introduce various events and projects implemented by ToolBox Consulting Ltd.

Marketing & Sales

WORKSHOP OPERATIONS

• Summer Fun Hybrid Sales Workshop
  Annual event promoting Baltic and Nordic countries. One of the biggest annual workshops in Baltic and Nordic countries. Byers are all over the world. Since 2018.
  Meetings both face-to-face and online. Copyright ToolBox Consulting.

” “I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for organizing the recent FAM trip to Kuopio & Tahko and the Summer Fun Workshop 2024. Both events were exceptionally well-organized and provided me with a wealth of information about the region’s culture, attractions,and offerings.
Additionally, the Summer Fun Workshop 2024 was incredibly beneficial. It was a pleasure to meet and connect with the wonderful suppliers from all over Finland. The networking opportunities and the knowledge shared during the workshop have equipped me with the tools and contacts needed to better serve our clients and expand our offerings.” Ms. Imran Ajmal, Stamp To Travel

“I would like to thank the whole team for well-organized PRE and POST tours that allow you to get to know the most diverse regions of Finland. These visits allow us to understand the special offer of each specific region and bring it to our customers. You have a special ability to find partners with an interesting offer. I can feel happy because I have had the opportunity to visit several, so far unknown places in the Finland. This has led to the growth of the Finnish direction in our company, which was an undeveloped direction until then. I wish for more and more new customers and successful operations. You are doing very well!” Marite Krumina, SIA KMK BUS

• Country Sales Workshops and Roadshows
  Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, Hongkong, India, Italy, Latvia, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, and United States.
  Promoting Baltic and Nordic countries. Buyers are local travel trade. Since 2012. Copyright ToolBox Consulting together with partner companies.
• Theme-based Sales Workshops
  ToolBox Consulting organize sales workshops which have a special theme. We have organized following workshops since year 2000: Outdoor Travel (summer and winter
  activities) 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, GLBIQT+ 2024, Arctic Design Week 2021 and 2022, Aviation workshops: Routes 2023 and 2024, Connect 2024. Group Travel 2023,
  Tourism Consultancy Sales Workshop 2022. Copyright ToolBox Consulting.

FAMILIARIZATION (FAM) TRIPS 

ToolBox Consulting is the biggest private FAM trip organizer in Baltic and Nordic countries. Annual volume varies between 60 – 80 trips. Normally our FAM trips are
either semi-hosted or fully-hosted programmes for Buyers.

• FAM trips related to ToolBox Consulting own sales workshop events
  Summer Fun Workshop, Winter Fun Workshop and Outdoor Travel Workshop events all have own Pre and Post Tour programmes which are organized with the hosting
  companies and destinations. Each event has from 6 to 14 tours.
• Matka Workshop Day
  Kari Halonen invented the event together with Ms. Inna-Pirjetta Lahti and the very first event took place in 2008 (Meet Finland). Nowadays ToolBox Consulting organize
  familiarization trips as Pre and Post Tour Programmes since 2013. Tour volume is around 10 – 25 different tours.
• Turku and Turku Archipelago FAM trip
  Part of the Turku Science Park project, where also was included own FAM trip toexplore City of Turku and it’s archipelago. The target market was Sweden and the
  programme includes transportation, tour programme, site inspections, meals and also meetings with local travel trade. Organized in March 2024.

SALES VISITS

We have organized many Sales Visits in these following countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Hongkong, Germany, Japan, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and United States. Our Database have over 15 000 wholesaler, tour operator and travel agent contacts. Normally the group is around 3 – 5 company representatives.

• Visit Oulu Sales Visit in Baltic countries
  Tour operator visits in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Year 2023.
• Lapponia Tours Sales Visit in the Netherlands
  Tour operator visits in Utrecht and Amsterdam area. Year 2022.
• Visit Karelia Sales Visits in China and Hongkong
  Tour operator visits in Beijing and Hongkong. Year 2019.
• Australia Roadshow
  Sales Visits in Melbourne area, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023. Companies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
• Qatar Sales Visits
  Sales visits in Doha 2024. Companies from Finland and Norway.

TRAVEL FAIRS

We have organized a stand promoting Baltic and Nordic countries in following countries: Australia, China, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Latvia,
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

• World Travel Market
  One of the biggest travel trade show in the world. Location London, UK. We have organized stand there twice: 2022 and 2023. Participants from Denmark, Finland,
  Norway and Sweden.
• ITB Berlin
  One of the biggest travel trade show in the world. B2B only. Location Berlin, Germany. We have organized stand there once: 2024. Particpants from Finland.
• COTTM
  The biggest B2B and outbound travel event in China. B2B only. Time of the event varies yearly. Location: Beijing, China. We have had stand at the event 2016, 2017,
  2018. Participants from China, and Finland.

Marketing Development

• Go Global – Guidebook
  Guidebook to develop company and destination international marketing. Very practical and written from experiences of ToolBox Consulting staff members and added studies and research results related to Baltic and Nordic countries. You can benefit Training Programme of 5 modules covering main areas entering different markets. Published in 2023. Visit Karelia, Finland.
• Market Analysis
  We consider that it is better to study different target market areas before entering the market. Market Analysis includes important push and pull factors with the list of
  major tour operators selling the destination and/or company and tour operator interviews. Client will get an access to the material for one year to benefit gathered and renewed information. Market Analysis are currently made of 28 countries. Clients eg.: Cursor/ Visit Kotka-Hamina, Vuokatti Finland, Visit Oulu, and Lapponia Tours.
• Marketing Plan
  We created a Marketing Plan for Lapponia Tours, a new DMC in Finnish Lapland. We made Market Analysis and after that suggestions what to do as Marketing Plan for
  next 3 years. Additionally we asked foreign tour operators interest to be part of Lapponia Tours eSales Platform and about Sustainable Tourism. Lapponia Tours 2019.

Digitalization

• Digital discoverability of travel companies
  We have done for our clients analysis of companies´ and regions´ digital discoverability. This has been included also report and webinar or workshop where companies will get “to-do” list and practical training to understand analysis´ statistical data. Clients eg.: Visit Suomussalmi 2024, Visit Pargas/Parainen 2023.
• Digital Agent Manual Analysis
  We analyzed companies and services located in Turku city an Turku Archipelago which were presented in digital Agent Manual. The Manual was introduced to Swedish and
  we analyzed the tour operators feedback and interest over Turku area. The analysis was done together Avidly. The result was introduced in webinar for the participants of
  the project. Client: Turku Science Park 2023.

Product Development

• Group Travel Project for DACH market
  2023 – 2024, over 40 companies or destinations in Finland participated tour and route development project where we implement two German based wholesales as partners.
  As result we got 6 – 8 new routes and hundreds of different itinerary and service modules to be modified in different tours.
• Technical Visit and Special Interest Programmes
  2021 – 2022, over 30 companies involved with Technical Visit and Special Interest Programmes in Forssa, Hämeenlinna and Riihimäki cities in Finland. Interviews,
  product ideas, and pricing suggestions.
• Outdoor Activities
  Several occasions starting with 2010 – 2011 Outdoor Finland project. This project included idea to interview activity companies and develop their itineraries and
  products suitable for foreign markets. Activities were canoeing, cycling, hiking, multiactivities and paddling in Sourthern Finland.
  Later in 2014 we collected and similar programmes from all over Finland in 2014 – 2015 and made it as Product Manual. Order was made by Visit Finland.

Accessibility

• Routes 2023 and 2024 events
  ToolBox Consulting organized a stand for Finnish Destination Management organizations at Routes event. The event includes sales workshop meetings and stand
  exhibition. Routes is the biggest aviation event where airline companies, airports and DMOs meet each other.
• Connect 2024
  ToolBox Consulting organized a stand for Finnish Destination Management organizations at Connect event. The event includes sales workshop meetings and stand exhibition. Routes is the second biggest aviation event where airline companies, airports and DMOs meet each other.
• Joensuu Airport Development
  Development of new direct international flight connections and charter flight connections. Tour operator and other distribution channel development. A Plan where new features of Joensuu Airport operations are introduced. Year 2013 – 2014. Partner Finland Consulting Group. Client: Joensuu City and Regional Council of North Karelia.

Strategy Process

• LUMO – Western Uusimaa Region, Finland
  Brand development project, Marketing Strategy and Marketing Plan for new Destination Management Organization. The idea was to create all strategical tools for a new DMO which included also Brand Guidebook. The project was funded by local development agency in year 2014 – 2015.
• Asian Market Strategy – Levi – Lapland, Finland
  The aim of this project in year 2015 has been to prepare Levi’s internationalization plan for the Asian market. The plan presents guidelines and key priorities as well as action proposals for the development of the Levi Tourism Area and the expansion of marketing to the Asian market. The assignment was made together Finland Consulting Group.
• Rural Tourism Development, Finland
  Service design workshops with a domestic and foreign customer target group in year 2018. New meaning of Rural Tourism and strategy process to implement sustainability in Rural Tourism. Client: Rural Women’s Advisory Organization.