Company
Overview
Marr Consulting Services has a wealth of practical and insightful knowledge of the tourism industry that has been garnered through years of successful, hands-on experience. We are highly qualified and uniquely positioned to undertake a broad range of assignments. From the largest to the smallest organizations and businesses, from international marketplaces to regional destination management organizations, Marr Consulting works to help promote tourism development and initiate new and innovative ideas to bring travellers to these varied destinations. Our work also focuses on sustainable tourism and developing concrete tools for the tourism industry to help integrate sustainability into their product, services and operations.
We offer an insider’s perspective on active transportation projects as active commuters who experience first-hand the challenges and opportunities on roads and on trails. Marr Consulting combines this personal understanding with our extensive experience in community consultation and a keen understanding of the needs of municipal planners and transportation engineers. From developing active transportation plans and facility reviews to creating an overall community vision for cycling, Marr Consulting has worked in both the urban and rural context.
In addition to our extensive experience in the travel industry and the field of active transportation, Marr Consulting Services has gained an excellent reputation in public consultation and facilitation, environmental studies,and other strategic planning projects.
Company History
Marr Consulting Services (formerly Marr Consulting & Communications) was established in 1990 by Ruth Marr and rapidly gained an excellent reputation particularly in environmental impact assessment studies, other environmental work, strategic planning, and public consultation projects. Major clients included Manitoba Hydro and the City of Winnipeg, but projects were also completed for both private companies and provincial agencies. Marr Consulting grew to include several specialist consultants, and frequently partnered with engineering firms, socio-economic companies and landscape architecture firms, as well as individual biophysical specialists. Company president Ruth Marr was often designated Project Manager or Study Director of multi-disciplinary teams evaluating large and complex projects, and Marr Consulting was frequently the lead consultant or part of the management team on most projects.
In 1997, Marr Consulting & Communications Ltd. ceased active operations due to the success and rapid growth of Ruth’s tourism companies – Randonnée Tours Ltd. and Randonnée Adventure Travel Ltd. (collectively known as Randonnée). During this time, Randonnée became North America’s leading specialist in active, self-guided vacations. In January 2003, with both travel companies well established, Ruth re-activated Marr Consulting & Communications Ltd., focusing largely on tourism and active transportation related projects. The company’s extensive experience in the environmental field and in public consultation has allowed us to continue to actively pursue and participate in projects in these areas as well.
As the founder of Randonnée, Ruth and the Marr Consulting team do not just talk the theory of tourism – we act on the reality of travel. We have earned our living not only in environmental consulting and public consultation, but also in making good business decisions about tourism potential and in understanding a changing market. Hands-on, practical experience in the travel industry combines in our team with eclectic and innovative experience in managing complex projects involving a variety of stakeholders. We are well experienced in applying rigorous study principles to fully evaluate the opportunities, constraints and especially the consequences of decisions.
Randonnée Tours Ltd. and Randonnée Adventure Travel Ltd.
Ruth Marr was the founder and owner of both Randonnée Tours Ltd. and Randonnée Adventure Travel Ltd. Over the course of its history, Randonnée offered more than 75 standard self-guided cycling, walking, hiking, multi-sport, skiing and driving adventure tours, each of which could be personalized. No other company offered as much self-guided variety and quality, servicing a worldwide clientele. Ruth and the Randonnée team created an exceptionally comprehensive process for the design, administration, operation and marketing of intricate and often complex FIT vacations. In addition, custom group itineraries were developed for both active and cultural travel, some of which Ruth personally guided. Randonnée officially closed its doors in Winnipeg in December 2005, although it now operates from Vancouver.
As a result of Randonnée’s success as an international tour operator, Marr Consulting Services developed a global perspective on the tourism industry. Tourism trends, tourist expectations (Canadian, American, European) and a thorough understanding of existing tourism experiences in Manitoba, across Canada and around the world – all are areas in which Marr Consulting Services has expertise.