Exploring Life & Business with Alanna Kenny of Mi Bike Tours

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Alanna Kenny.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi, I’m Alanna – a creative entrepreneur at heart and an analytical marketer by design. I’m on a mission to create a stand-out experience that draws more tourists to Michigan by showcasing two of our best attributes – the outdoors and small breweries! 

Born and raised along the shores of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, MI, there are a few rules I live by… 

1. Care about your people and your community.
2. Get outside & move your body every day, with no exceptions.
3. Experiences > Things.
4. You are capable of more than you realize. Be your own biggest fan.
5. What’s the point if you aren’t having fun?

2018: I was fresh out of college with a practical degree in Biochemistry. I put my analytical skills to use and started working as a lab tech at the Van Andel Research Institute. 

Passionate about health, my goal was to be part of a scientific discovery that enhanced the well-being of individuals.  During my four years at Van Andel Research Institute, I was proud of our mission and the research we conducted. But I had this nagging feeling that I wasn’t meant to spend my life in the lab. The outdoor adventure and creative parts of me felt stifled. 

2020: I reevaluated my life during 2020 and decided to change my career trajectory so I could fulfill the adventurous and creative parts of myself. I took a class in digital marketing with a focus on copywriting and very quickly started freelancing and eventually working for an e-commerce company. 

As it turns out, digital marketing paired well with my scientific skills. A large portion of the job is evaluating data, looking for trends, and then making adjustments. I was able to create ad campaigns with an 8X return on ad spend and increase organic traffic by over 30%. 

My creative side was satisfied. My analytical skills were being used. But my adventurous outdoor side kept telling me there was something else out there waiting for me. 

2023: A few years back, my sister and I arranged a family celebration weekend for my parent’s 30th wedding anniversary. One of the things we did was a kayak, bike, and brew tour in Traverse City, Michigan. We had SO much fun. Since then, it has been in the back of my mind to try to start bike and brew tours of Grand Haven. The stars aligned when a distant family friend opened a bike shop and said that I could use space in their shop to start Mi Bike Tours. I bet on myself, jumped two feet first into my small business, and haven’t looked back. 

In the summer of 2023, Mi Bike Tours successfully guided tours for 137 people, earning an impressive 18 five-star reviews on Google and five five-star reviews on Viator. The positive feedback reflects not just satisfied customers but the beginning of a journey towards becoming a premier outdoor experience in Michigan. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a relatively smooth road so far. I’ve been fortunate that the community has met my small business idea with enthusiasm and support. The local breweries, coffee shops, and restaurants at which our tours stop love that we are bringing tourists directly to them. Overall, the business really helps stimulate our local economy. 

The biggest struggle has been getting the word out. I’ve been working diligently this winter to build our online presence so people planning West Michigan vacations in summer 2024 find us when searching for “things to do in Grand Haven.” 

We’ve been impressed with Mi Bike Tours, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mi Bike Tours is a small, women-owned business based in Grand Haven, Michigan, specializing in guided bike and brew tours. Our mission is to provide unique and memorable experiences that showcase the local culture, history, and culinary delights of Grand Haven. 

We offer three unique tours: 

1. Morning Bike & Coffee Tour (10 AM – 1 PM). This 8-mile biking tour takes people through historic stops in Grand Haven, MI, and stops at three local coffee shops: Aldea Coffee, Voyage Bowls, and Side Bar Artisan Coffee Shop (alternative stop Kenzie’s Be Cafe).
2. Afternoon Bike & Beer Tour (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM). This 8-mile biking tour takes people through historic stops in Grand Haven, MI and stops at three local breweries; Odd Side Ales, Grand Armory Brewing, and Burzurk Brewing.
3. Sunset Bike Tour (6 PM – 9 PM). This 8-mile biking tour takes people through historic stops in Grand Haven, MI, and stops for appetizers at Lucy’s Backyard, dinner on the beach at Noto’s at the Bil-Mar, and dessert at Burzurk Brewing and Norm’s Ice Cream.

I have a fleet of brand-new comfort cruiser bikes (and one tandem bike), use of which is included in your tour. I designed the route to be as flat and easy as possible. When a lot of people hear “bike tour,” they worry that it is going to be too hard, but I want everyone to know this isn’t a race or an athletic event. It’s all about fun, community, and experiencing the best Grand Haven offers! 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
It goes without saying, joining one of our tours is the best way to support! Telling friends and family about the tours to help spread awareness is also very helpful. 

I am open to collaborating with small and micro-influencers who would want to experience one of the bike and brew tours and share it on their social media. 

Pricing:

• Each tour is $50 per person. Use of bike is included. Individuals are responsible for purchasing their food and drink at each stop.

Contact Info:

• Website: mibiketours.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mibiketours/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mibiketour/