Expertise
DESTINATION TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING
Since 1995, EIG Inc. (dba Escalante Inc.) has taken advantage of its background and understanding of international markets, cultures, and languages to create a unique global brand that has been carefully honed to offer three areas of expertise: U.S Destination Services, Foreign Languages, and Business Consulting.
Escalante provides personalized inbound U.S. destination services for clients of the international tour and travel trade. By carefully tailoring products to meet the ever-changing demands of a diverse customer base, it holds a unique niche within the U.S. tourism market: white glove travel services for high net-worth clientele; concierge-style on-site customer assistance; foreign language tour guides/escorts; and customized programming. Escalante excels within its domain by applying a fearless and creative attitude to an in-depth knowledge of U.S. regions.
Understanding international business is a key component of Escalante's success. This is exemplified in its foreign language services that caters to the U.S. corporate community. With over 2,000 international translators and interpreters at its disposal, each chosen for their expertise, clients are assured a quality and consistent end-product.
Escalante's consulting service ranges from an advisory role to municipalities who face challenges with destination tourism to assistance for non and for-profits organizations requiring specialized expertise with their foreign language and international business pursuits.
Desiree Stokes Blum
CEO and Owner of EIG Inc. (dba Escalante Inc.). By integrating her in-depth cultural, foreign language, and international working experience, Desiree Stokes Blum has been a pioneer in developing many innovative B2B programs and products that are now considered mainstream in the U.S. inbound tourism industry. After taking over a financially challenged Escalante International in 1995, Stokes Blum moved the company's focus from Japan-centric to the global arena, serving international and domestic tour and travel companies with innovative packages and programming that melded the needs of international travelers with an introduction to the American West.
Today, Stokes Blum applies her knowledge as a consultant to help governmental agencies and private industry to understand the U.S. inbound international tourism industry and its application to U.S. immigration, security, use of Federal lands, and international trade and commerce.
Recent successes have helped U.S. communities with tourism challenges to achieve economic success through innovative proposals, and the identification of creative funding resources and partnerships.
Desiree shares her extensive background through her volunteerism with associations and nonprofits. As a former International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) member and Government Affairs Chair, she was responsible for spearheading the Association's dialogue with Capitol Hill and the Department of Commerce, representing a $226B industry. For her efforts, in 2012, the International U.S. Inbound Tour Operator Association (IITA, formerly RSA) presented Desiree with the prestigious Stanley Award as the industry leader who: "promotes excellence and professionalism in the international inbound tourism market."
Desiree Stokes Blum is a U.S. and Belgium citizen, speaks four languages, and spent over 20 years living and working outside the United States. She is a regular guest lecturer on U.S. tourism and tourism-related subjects. In her spare time she concentrates her efforts on volunteering in the development of Veterans Support Offices in rural Arizona.
Stokes Blum's last foreign assignment was with Honeywell Aerospace and Defense at their European Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, before joining Escalante in 1991, followed by its buy-out in 1995.
Stephen Blum
Original co-owner, Stephen Blum, UK-qualified Chartered Accountant (F.C.A.), passed away on August 2nd, 2014. It is because of Stephen's passion for Inbound Tourism and his extensive business expertise, that Escalante took a prominent position within the international U.S. inbound tourism arena.
He shared his love and knowledge of the industry as a regular guest lecturer to universities, conferences, and trade organizations. Stephen Blum spoke four languages and spent over 43 years living and working internationally. He is greatly missed.