WHO WE ARE
Rooted in Deep Understanding of the Complexities of Cruise Tourism
We've stood at the same tipping points our clients face.
We founded Springline Destination Strategies because we saw how many communities need common sense, community-rooted advice about cruise tourism from someone who is not trying to sell them growth for their personal profit. Tourism policy can be nebulous and daunting, and many communities do not have the resources to hire expert staff to manage it.
Springline provides these services, either on retainer, or in the form of a practical, step-by-step guide to identifying and achieving tourism goals. Because we have worked for ports where tensions have risen to the point of legal action, we also have the skills and relationships to help with industry negotiations and crisis communications.
We strive to put your community in charge of its tourism industry, both socially and economically, whether you are testing the waters of a nascent tourism sector or you are a saturated destination where community tensions are high.
Springline Destination Strategies is led by Sarah Flink, PhD, Founder and Principal, formerly of CruiseMaine. Sarah brings firsthand experience at the intersection of cruise operations, community concerns, and destination management, along with deep knowledge of cruise industry practice, regulatory frameworks, and municipal governance. She founded Springline because she cares about how the visitor economy shapes the places that host it, and about helping destinations turn tourism pressure into a well-managed opportunity for community self-determination.