In today’s attractions industry, the intersection of conservation and commerce is more important than ever. By aligning animal welfare initiatives with visitor engagement, businesses can drive revenue while supporting ethical conservation efforts. This blog explores how strategic collaboration across departments can enhance both guest experiences and financial success, illustrating the tangible benefits of merging conservation practices with commercial goals.
The Hogle Zoo Example: When Penguins Boost Sales
A particularly interesting example comes from my time working with a close friend at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah—Seth Palmer, the Director of Guest Services. During one of our collaborative sessions, we brainstormed ways to merge the zoo’s educational and conservation efforts with their commercial services. As always, our training sessions sparked creative conversations across departments.
At one point, Seth shared a fascinating story. While reviewing financial figures, he noticed a daily spike in soda and ice cream sales at a specific kiosk around 12:15 p.m. Intrigued, Seth decided to investigate the cause. Like a detective, he arrived at the kiosk just before the rush, only to discover that a zookeeper was training a penguin to swim. Though this was not an official event, the crowd gathered to watch the penguin’s training session, and afterwards, many of them bought refreshments, likely inspired by the Utah midday heat.
This was a perfect example of how animal welfare practices, like engaging animals in natural behaviours, could also lead to commercial benefits. For Seth and the team, it was a lesson in how ethical conservation and best-practice animal husbandry can positively impact both visitor enjoyment and revenue.
Connecting Conservation with Commerce
This experience exemplifies the collaboration of departments, expertise, and knowledge that we continue to explore with Hogle Zoo and other clients. In fact, our sister organisation, ConsComm—short for Conservation and Commerce—promotes this very idea. By fostering creative collaboration among all team members, we aim to support the sustainable and ethical conservation of animals, habitats, environments, and cultural heritage.
Strategic Guest Engagement
We continually explore innovative ways for different departments to collaborate in support of both educational and conservation objectives. By strategically aligning your team’s expertise with key guest engagement opportunities, you can create memorable experiences that not only inspire visitors but also drive tangible results. This synergy, or “Penguin Power,” demonstrates how thoughtful integration of conservation and commerce can elevate your organisation’s impact in terms of visitor satisfaction and financial success. So, help your team stand out from the crowd by talking to your teams about how they can bring their personal stories on conservation and animal welfare to the visitor experience.