Island Helicopters, Kauaʻi

Rise and Glide

A Legacy of Adventure

For decades, Island Helicopters Kauaʻi has been synonymous with unforgettable aerial tours of one of the world’s most breathtaking islands. Known for exclusive access to Jurassic Falls, this family-owned company offers an experience that’s equal parts adventure and luxury. However, as competition in the island tourism market grew, Island Helicopters needed a refreshed approach to maintain their unique positioning and capture the attention of modern travelers.

Watson Creative partnered with Island Helicopters to reimagine their brand, enhance their digital presence, and implement targeted marketing campaigns that ensure their iconic tours remain top-of-mind for both visitors planning trips and those arriving on the island.

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Challenges in a Competitive Market

Despite their exclusive access to Jurassic Falls, Island Helicopters faced challenges in standing out in a crowded market filled with tour operators. Their website and reservation system were outdated, resulting in friction for users booking tours. Additionally, their brand lacked the storytelling and visual appeal necessary to connect emotionally with travelers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

To compound the challenge, the team needed a cohesive strategy to target both off-island planners and on-island visitors, ensuring that their advertising and marketing campaigns effectively bridged the gap between pre-trip inspiration and on-the-ground decision-making.

Reimagining the Experience

Watson Creative worked closely with Island Helicopters to deliver a comprehensive repositioning strategy. The brand was elevated to emphasize its exclusivity and emotional connection to the island, with visuals and messaging that captured the awe of soaring above Kauaʻi’s lush landscapes and touching down at the iconic Jurassic Falls.

A complete website overhaul included a custom-built reservations system designed to make booking seamless for users. The system was optimized for both desktop and mobile, ensuring accessibility for travelers at every stage of their journey.

To drive awareness and bookings, Watson executed omnichannel marketing campaigns targeting travelers during key decision-making phases. Digital ads focused on audiences researching Kauaʻi vacations, while in-airport advertisements encouraged last-minute bookings. A data-driven approach ensured campaigns were continuously optimized for maximum impact.

RESEARCH

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Results

Measurable Results

The transformation brought measurable success. Within the first year of the rebrand, Island Helicopters saw a 22% increase in bookings, driven by the new website and streamlined reservations system. Digital ad campaigns targeting trip planners achieved a 28% increase in click-through rates, while in-airport advertising boosted same-day bookings by 16%.

The enhanced brand identity and storytelling also resonated with customers, with many citing the exclusivity of the Jurassic Falls experience as a key factor in their decision to choose Island Helicopters. Together, these efforts cemented Island Helicopters Kauaʻi’s position as the island’s premier helicopter tour operator.

Benefits

  • Highlight Exclusivity: If your business has a unique offering, like Island Helicopters’ access to Jurassic Falls, make it central to your marketing and storytelling.
  • Optimize Pre-Trip and On-Island Marketing: Target travelers both while they plan their trips and when they arrive, using digital ads, email campaigns, and physical advertising at key locations like airports.
  • Seamless Reservations: Invest in user-friendly booking systems that reduce friction and encourage conversions.
  • Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality imagery and video to capture the emotion and excitement of the experience.
  • Leverage Data: Continuously analyze ad performance to refine targeting and maximize ROI.

Matt Watson, CEO, Watson Creative

“Working with Island Helicopters Kauaʻi has been a journey of transformation. Helping them elevate their brand and simplify the customer experience has ensured they remain a must-do adventure for visitors to the island.”

Not Everything. Just What Works.

Strategy

Build from insight. Strategy isn’t guesswork—it’s groundwork. We listen, research, and distill what matters to guide smarter decisions and set a solid creative direction.

Content

Make it meaningful. From naming to narratives, we create content that speaks with purpose—rooted in truth, tuned to your audience, and built to connect.

Digital

Design for behavior. We craft digital experiences that are intuitive, scalable, and aligned with how real people move, click, swipe, and search.

Experiential

Bring brands to life. Physical spaces, moments, and memories matter. We design experiences that feel human—and stay with you long after the lights go out.

Marketing

Drive connection. Our marketing approach blends data and instinct—getting the right message to the right people, in ways that actually move them.

Consulting

Partner on progress. We work alongside your team to solve real problems, shift thinking, and build internal alignment—without the agency ego.