SCI 2025 News & TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS

[Fixfire]

Recently received the upsetting news that @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS - a fantastic family owned and operated outfitter, as well as a long-time AH and SCI sponsor, has been put on the wait list for a booth at the upcoming SCI convention. They have regularly been booth attendees in the past.

Meeting with Brandon, Jo, et al in person is always a highlight, and is what convinced me to hunt Buffalo with Tsala in ‘24. What an epic adventure with truly exceptional people!! In the planning stages for ‘25/26 and beyond.

Perhaps the collective AH community can lobby the SCI powers-that-be to grant Tsala their deserving place at the January convention….

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think this is the first time that I've heard of an outfitter that has had a booth at SCI not being able to automatically renew for the next years show. Is there more information as to why this happened?

 

[Mountaineer]

I don’t know, but I talked with a long time SCI OH vendor who did not last year. So it’s not unheard of.

 

[Fixfire]

I think this is the first time that I've heard of an outfitter that has had a booth at SCI not being able to automatically renew for the next years show. Is there more information as to why this happened?

Not really. Tsala prepaid for ‘25 immediately after the ‘24 show. Tsala even requested a double booth, but were informed they have been put on a waiting list - even for the prepaid single.
We need to support these smaller family owned and operated outfitters, otherwise the industry will be left to the safari mills.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Not really. Tsala prepaid for ‘25 immediately after the ‘24 show. Tsala even requested a double booth, but were informed they have been put on a waiting list - even for the prepaid single.
We need to support these smaller family owned and operated outfitters, otherwise the industry will be left to the safari mills.

There are certainly lots of small family owned safari companies like Tsala at the shows. I've been working with one for many years now. And I met the owner of Tsala via an AH member last year, he seems a good gent for sure.

In all of the years I've been at DSC and SCI working as an exhibitor, I've only seen once where an outfitter was not given the opportunity to renew for the following year unless there was some issue with the outfitter. That one exception, which I think was a mistake by DSC, happened to @KMG Hunting Safaris. Marius booked when outfitters were pulling back due to Covid, then he didn't get his spot the following year.

Normally we renew for the following year before the current show has even ended. This sounds like what Tsala did. I'd sure like to understand why SCI did not honor that. I'm not suggesting by the way that this had anything to do with Tsala just to be clear.

 

[samson7x]

Does anyone have a contact at SCI who could find out why this happened?

 

[Fixfire]

Does anyone have a contact at SCI who could find out why this happened?

Good question.

 

[Rare Breed]

To me this is just completely unacceptable!!! @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS should have their spot. please let me know who i can call to complain

 

[Andrew62]

I wrote a letter to Jo yesterday and sent it to her to add to any other letters that she may receive and give to SCI. I do not fully know the backstory, but this is a top quality family that epitomizes quality safari service.

 

[Vintageguy]

Tsala is what every outfit should be and SCI’s goal should be to fill their hall with that caliber of exhibitor. We have attended SCI the past two years for two reasons. It’s been in Nashville and our good friends with Tsala have been there. For 2025 I am planning on seeing the gang with Tsala again but I don’t have to see the SCI show.
Tsala reserved for 2025 but apparently you can MAKE a reservation, they can TAKE the reservation, but they seem to not grasp the idea of HOLDING the reservation. Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld.