Locum Destination Review - Issue 2

The journal of record for the global destination industry

Editorial

Locum Destination Review looks at leading-edge projects from around the destination world. In this issue, we are focusing particularly on ‘cross-over’ destinations, where project development strategies, public-private funding partnerships and market positioning cross boundaries and where ‘tourism’, ‘commercial’ and ‘cultural’ destination elements mix.

In a major feature, we look at the shifting balance between public sector regeneration policy makers and the private sector investor-developers whose partnership support they require to deliver policy promises. Examining how US trends may be foreshadowing shifts in regeneration policy and practice in Europe, we profile Marvin Suomi, President and CEO of KUD International LLC, the man behind some of the world’s great partnership projects. Closer to home, we feature the work of another ‘cross-over’ visionary, John Dunning, the creator of Rheged, the new £15 million multi-market attraction and discovery centre in Cumbria.

We hear from Tony Smith, who played a key role in creating an exciting new arts centre, which builds on the strength of an internationally recognised brand: Mick Jagger. We also focus on the business of actually getting people to destinations. Dr Nigel Harris writes on the role of public transport access in destination planning and we meet Matthew Broadbent, MD of the Observer Travel Award-winning Individual Travellers Company. With Matthew, we discover how the travel industry can, and must, develop ever more personalised products against a background of corporate consolidation and homogenisation of experience. Jonathan Bignell also rattles the cage of homogeneity, explaining how destinations are constructed in the minds of consumers by their media representations.

Using the example of the new Bay Street destination in Malta, we look at how a destination concept is designed and then implemented on the ground. Back in the UK, we discover the ‘new libraries’, which are equally category-expanding in their innovative mixing of public services, cultural and commercial elements to create destinations for communities, rather than for tourists. Other contributions address the cross-over between tourism and heritage. We trust that, as always, you will find the news and views of leading destination professionals in your own field, and beyond, stimulating and enjoyable.

Owen Burdekin
Editor