Policy Guidance – Destination Making
Developing strong and distinctive destinations in terms of brand and product offer is critical to increase visitor numbers and encourage greater participation in tourism. Developing tourism destinations is a complex process and requires buy in from a range of stakeholders to help deliver a sustainable solution. Our approach is to ensure that destination and place making projects are based upon a detailed understanding of existing visitor trends (and future forecasts) and community aspirations.

We worked with clients in North Wales to carry out a brand assessment to review the potential of introducing a specialist branded theme to the Region’s profile.

Market Appraisal – Understanding the Market
We have developed lead-edge techniques to assess the market viability and sustainability of tourism projects. We continue to analyse trends and issues in tourism, planning and development including destination management, sustainability, strategic planning and forecasting from the macro to the micro level. Our tourism market intelligence service provides a robust assessment of the market and allows clients to make decisions which are evidence based. We can also carry out original research and consultation.

For the Lancashire Wildlife Trust we undertook a detailed market intelligence and market review experience to identify the demand for a new flagship visitor exoeruence.

Product Development
We have significant experience of developing new, innovative products to build on local strengths and market demand. Product development work is based upon identifying the wider trends in the market place and specific needs of end users.

Our work in the tourism sector has included identifying the needs of mountain bikers and other activity tourists leading to the development of an innovative bunkhouse / hostel style accommodation units for commercial application, as well as identifying adventure activity product opportunities for a coastal resort town.

Business Planning
We are able to take a project from conception through to completion, including assessing the feasibility and viability of taking forward a particular tourism project and developing a business plan which can be used to access funding. Business planning has a key role in assessing viability and clarifying the context within which projects are taken forward. Our business plans are based on core research, financial modelling and analysis and our work has been used to support funding successful applications.

Community and Visitor Engagement and Research
We carry out community and stakeholder engagement, working with communities, special interest groups and people who share common interests to identify and understand their needs and aspirations. Our work includes working with hard to reach groups. By understanding the needs and aspirations of local communities and stakeholders we can help build relationships and partnerships between communities and other organisations. Our community and stakeholder engagement work often helps to improve relationships, identify and prioritise actions to help implement change.

In North Soar, a rural area in South Nottinghamshire we carried out stakeholder engagement with landowners, businesses and interested parties to identify and agree priority actions to create a ‘destination’ based upon walking, cycling and equestrian pursuits.

Strategy Development
We recognise the importance of sound analysis and strategic planning which inspire and create solutions. All our strategy work is founded on the principles of clear market evidence leading to practical actions that can be measured. It is important to ensure that strategies are supported by available funding. We have developed a range of engagement techniques to ensure that stakeholders, partners and the local community are actively involved in strategy and policy development. We have worked on several tourism strategy projects with a recent focus on coastal destination development, activity tourism and adventure tourism.