Kevin Millington and Alison Burgh head up Acorn Tourism.

Kevin set up Acorn in 1999 when he was working across the Middle East and tracking tourism trends for the UNWTO’s Tourism Vision 2020. Three years later Alison joined him, bringing her research, international events and promotions experience. She started to build the business in the UK while Kevin was working in Saudi Arabia and together they established the limited company in 2002.

Since then, they’ve worked on all of Acorn’s 300+ projects and both advise clients across the UK and worldwide, supported by a vibrant and committed team and a wide network of specialist experts.

We’re all dedicated to ensuring our projects are delivered successfully and on time. We are also all here to help should you need anything, regardless of who you usually liaise with, or if you just want to find out more about our team.  

You’ll find a summary of Kevin and Alison’s experience below, and we can explain far more about how we can share our expertise with you, so do call or email us at any time!

Kevin Millington is a tourism development advisor who has built up a strong reputation for creating tourism solutions for public and private sector organisations based on a well-researched statistical foundation.  He is internationally known for developing systems of tourism statistics and measuring the economic impact of tourism, and has worked with a number of organisations including the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and World Bank developing tourism satellite accounts, measuring the economic impact of tourism and assisting local teams to build their market research base and measure the tourism sector following UNWTO international concepts, classifications and definitions.

Over the last 10 years he has continued to pioneer ways to measure and track the tourism sector as well as specialising in developing and implementing marketing strategies and branding, and has effected successful digital marketing plans in destinations as diverse as Lesotho and the Falkland Islands.  Building on his experience undertaking wide-ranging tourism market research he has also developed significant experience in strategic planning and product development, leading projects in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas for agencies such as the International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, and USAID.

Alison Burgh’s passion for sustainable tourism began when she researched the impacts of tourism on women in Kenya’s coastal communities for her university dissertation. Since then she’s worked in the tourism and hospitality sector; honed her consumer research skills with the Consumers’ Associations in London, Hong Kong, Penang and Sydney; and produced multi-million-dollar international music events, including putting Nelson Mandela on stage at Wembley Stadium in 1990. By 2002 she was ready to settle in the Sussex countryside, learn to row and use the breadth of her experience to build Acorn Tourism.

Working with destination managers, entrepreneurs and funding agencies, Alison shares her market insights and engagement skills to develop community and audience-led strategies and create visitor experiences that build destination brands and marketing content. She has helped emerging countries such as Guyana become award-winning sustainable destinations. As a tourism expert with the CBI for 10 years, she provides SMEs in developing countries with niche market insights to help them diversify their tourism offer. Her work with protected landscapes, country and urban parks looks at how tourism can deliver environmental and community benefits as well as financial sustainability.

As a Director of T-Stats, Blogilicious.com and Associate Director of thinkingplace, Alison keeps her finger on the pulse of destination tracking, placemaking, influencer and content marketing. She is an experienced team leader and a great believer in bringing together innovative teams with diverse skills to ensure her clients benefit from a wealth of shared experience.