See what others are saying!
-Viktoria Ujj, Owner of Sunny Maui Vacations
I first met Ral West when I attended an Alaskan Tourism meeting and her famous father Chuck West was the foremost Alaskan tour operator. At that time I was the Alaska Director of Tourism and I was very impressed that this young lady wanted to follow in her father’s tourism enterprise. However Ral was very independent and started her own marketing and PR company. Later she met her husband John Hardwick, who had his own business selling tours to Hawaii. Together, they decided to lease a big Hawaiian Airlines jet, and successfully sold the charter flights from Anchorage to Honolulu, Hawaii. They also sold tour packages in the Hawaiian Islands and purchased vacation rental condominiums in Maui.
Ral and John were very successful. They asked me to join their Hawaiian Vacations Board of Directors. The Board meetings were very well organized and Ral presented the financial results; the company was very profitable. That is also why Alaska Airlines purchased their Hawaiian Vacations company. Ral could have joined her father’s company but instead became a very successful entrepreneur on her own with her very sharp husband John. Ral can be a great consultant in any business including Real Estate Development.
-Chris von Imhof, Former General Manager Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska, and Author: “Today Alyeska, Tomorrow Zee World!”
I am thrilled to provide this testimonial for Ral West, who has been instrumental in the success of my vacation rental business over the past 10 years. With her guidance and expertise, I have built a solid and flourishing business. Ral has not only provided invaluable insights into the travel/ vacation rental industry but has also helped me set up efficient systems to delegate tasks, choose qualified team members, and oversee their efforts effectively. From day one, Ral took the time to understand my business aspirations and tailored her coaching approach to my specific needs. She provided practical strategies to enhance my marketing, pricing, and guest experience, which have had a tremendous impact on my business growth. Moreover, her expertise in streamlining operations and implementing effective delegation systems has enabled me to focus on crucial aspects of my business while empowering my team to thrive. What sets Ral apart is her remarkable ability to motivate and inspire. She instilled in me the confidence to delegate responsibilities, choose the right team members, and oversee their efforts with efficiency. Her mentorship has not only helped me establish a solid foundation for my vacation rental business but has also transformed me into a more confident and capable entrepreneur. I am immensely grateful for Ral’s unwavering support, guidance, and friendship throughout my journey. Her dedication to my success, deep industry knowledge, and exceptional coaching skills have made a significant difference. I wholeheartedly recommend Ral to anyone seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable coach who can provide insights, strategies, and support to build a thriving business. Thank you, Ral, for your invaluable contributions to my vacation rental business and for empowering me to achieve new heights of success.
-Viktoria Ujj, Owner of Sunny Maui Vacations
I’ve known Ral West since she moved to Sitka Alaska in 2006. Over that time, I have had the opportunity to work with her on a local non-profit board for several years as well as watch her work on her many businesses and projects. I am impressed by her skills she has developed over the years and consider her knowledge and experience valuable assets that she puts to good use. I would consider Ral’s great strengths to be quite thorough, detailed and meticulous. All while displaying a positive and can-do attitude. I am amazed by her strength and vision of always wanting to grow and learn. Age is not a barrier to most anything she undertakes. She is driven, self-motivated and curious as she seeks to share those traits with others who want to better themselves.
-Roger L. Hames, President of Hames Corporation
I have worked with Ral West for 35+ years in many different kinds of ventures. This has afforded me the opportunity to watch her thought processes and actions up close, in both day-to-day operations and strategic Board of Director level discussions. Ral understands the requirements of running an entrepreneurial business and making them grow. I have also watched her grow individuals to become successful business people with her guidance. I myself have benefited from her insights. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking of starting a business or taking an existing business to the next level, to consider using Ral's experience to help them achieve their goals.
-Phil Okeson, Former Chief Financial Officer of Hawaiian Vacations and Northern Air Cargo, and former President of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. He was named to the Alaska Journal of Commerce’s prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” list several years ago.
The first coaching seminar of yours I attended when I worked for The Ral West Company 20+ years ago, GoalMaster, has been a part of me since I took that course. I learned so much from you, such as if you want to reach your goals you need to let the world know what your goals are. I find that when I want something and I tell people where I want to go it makes it more real for me. I remember your sailboat illustration, explaining that sailboats don't move in a direct line but instead move side to side. It’s important to remember that sometimes the goals we set our sights on can't be reached directly, but instead we need to tack from side to side. And as long as you're moving toward your horizon, you're still moving forward. You taught me how to define and plan the steps to reach my goals– thank you! In business, holy cow you were not afraid of anything! We got to show travel agents from the Lower 48 that Prince William Sound wasn’t ruined by the oil spill, planning that trip way before cell phones. You and John leased your own planes with Hawaiian Vacations. Of course this all goes back to the planning you did. I think the best thing you could teach people is to set the goal, plan, re-plan, then hold your nose and jump in. You also give people chances, for instance preparing me to be in sales and marketing for Hawaiian Vacations. I think you saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. Thank you again!
-Janine Welch, Assistant Dean of Administration, Florida State University College of Engineering
I have known and worked with Ral for many years. She has always provided a quality product. She is a hard-working, dedicated business woman.
-Randa Szymański, Owner of Reservations by Randa
Ral is an incredible master of business. Her track record of success alone sets her apart from the crowd. She was so generous with her time and went above and beyond in coaching me and my husband on a very high level business negotiation that resulted in a big win for us! I will definitely continue to consult her when it comes to big business decisions that I find myself feeling uncertain about.
Miranda Phillips, Dr. Miranda L. Phillips is an emergency medicine physician in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a lifestyle medicine physician with SahaVida Institute in Sarasota, Florida, and an entrepreneur, investing in multifamily real estate.
Ral West has the proven results to coach anyone as a growing entrepreneur. The first and most critical piece I look for when looking to execute a big goal successfully is whether I can find someone who has already done what I'm trying to do. Ral's massive success as an entrepreneur inspires me to keep working with her on our most critical business decisions month after month.
Dan Brisse, Managing Partner, Granite Towers Equity Group
Ral West is a powerhouse of entrepreneurial experience with a knack for teaching others to achieve their dream goals. I have witnessed Ral building her own successful businesses for over 30 years and know she has a passion for helping others achieve success.
-Tom Behan, Former bank president and CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, and a lifelong entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of the Alaska Clubs and past president of the International Health and Racquet Sports Association (IHRSA) Tom was a member of Hawaiian Vacations’ Board of Directors. He also co-authored a book: “Entrepreneurship: Prepare for Prosperity”
After the dreadful Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, those of us in business in the Prince William Sound were in a scramble to let the world and visitors know that the Prince William Sound was still beautiful and a visitor destination. How to get the word out? We had a very small organization called Prince William Sound Tourism Coalition. We knew nothing of marketing! Enter Ral West. Having been in the tourism business her entire life, she made it her mission to coach us. She gathered the stakeholders, talked about what we could accomplish together and gave us viable steps to take. She gave us a mission. She assigned tasks and checked in often for progress. We had world class tourism writers like Peter Greenburg visit. We did FAM "familiarization trips" for travel agents, and generally pulled ourselves out of the depressive hole we had fallen into. It worked! Within a few years, the visitor industry was back. Ral West, was born to be a coach! She learned from the best! Her dad, the legendary Chuck West. Without hesitation, I recommend Ral West.
-Margy Johnson, Owner Reluctant Fisherman Inn, Former Mayor of Cordova Alaska (1982-2000), Past President Alaska State Chamber of Commerce