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.

 

[Fixfire]

Booking my Nashville flights today! Was wondering if there has been any resolution for our friends @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS and/or an SCI contact to call or write??

 

[Andrew62]

Booking my Nashville flights today! Was wondering if there has been any resolution for our friends @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS and/or an SCI contact to call or write??

I just messaged Jo, she said they have not yet heard anything from SCI about getting a booth for this year. Frustrating for them, and also for those of us who are pretty much going simply to see the Tsala Safari family!

 

[Philip Glass]

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….

It is a points process for booth space. The years of attending plus donations all contribute to the points. The move to Nashville from Vegas has limited booth spaces unfortunately. Hopefully they can get in next year.

 

[Fixfire]

How the heck could an attendee that had the space/points in previous years + paid for this year, be circumvented by someone new?? Surely the new vendor can’t have more “points”???
Hopefully the answer isn’t the new vender came up with a larger “donation” (buying access).
Call me naive, but I hope that’s not the case.

 

[BnC 04]

How the heck could an attendee that had the space/points in previous years + paid for this year, be circumvented by someone new?? Surely the new vendor can’t have more “points”???
Hopefully the answer isn’t the new vender came up with a larger “donation” (buying access).
Call me naive, but I hope that’s not the case.

That is the case. Higher value of donation = more points.
I've been in contact with the "powers that be" and hope to have something positive to report this week still.

 

[Fixfire]

That is the case. Higher value of donation = more points.
I've been in contact with the "powers that be" and hope to have something positive to report this week still.

Great to hear!
Based on the current system - smaller, family owned enterprises (what most of us prefer) would eventually be pushed out.

 

[Letzhunt]

This is upsetting....I just joined SCI and was looking forward to the Convention. Admit this leaves a bad taste in my mouth as it gives the impression that SCI is uppity. I chose SCI just because of the distance for me to travel. DSC should have been my choice I guess. I never hunted with TSALA but have heard only great things. It could have easily been one of the smaller outfitters that I have used.

 

[Mountaineer]

I would invite the SCI outfitters to start attending NRA’s outdoor show in Harrisburg and Denver’s outdoor show. There are always other great choices.

 

[Andrew62]

I would invite the SCI outfitters to start attending NRA’s outdoor show in Harrisburg and Denver’s outdoor show. There are always other great choices.

I really enjoy the Harrisburg show, it's just a 3 hour drive for me. The one issue you get into with the Harrisburg show is that it is 8 days, that's a long show for most outfitters to attend.

 

[375Fox]

Based on the current system - smaller, family owned enterprises (what most of us prefer) would eventually be pushed out.

This has always been the system. It’s an expensive proposition for an outfitter to attend the shows. What were their donations past years? Also most outfitters in Africa are family owned or a small partnership.