About Project Thrive
Are you ready to look forward? To make good things happen? We* are!
We've just started what we're calling Project Thrive, actively planning for better times. We're working on three important elements:
By combining market needs + product development + forensic analysis of when visitors could be attracted + how the NYMNP & businesses can collaborate on promotional activity, we have a unique opportunity to counteract seasonality. To my knowledge, no other destination is doing this. Just as the NYMNP & NYMTN partnership has been used as a national example (via Tourism Management Institute) of good practice in business engagement and support, it is hoped that we can become leaders in off-peak tourism. It’s too early to comment on the exact sectors and opportunities that I might uncover but it’s likely that I’ll need to look at the following (additions welcome):
The intention is that we'll help to develop new experiences and products which have a greater chance of success because they are more market-focused. The off-peak activity will draw on the above work, moving on to more direct solutions to the challenge. * In case you're wondering who 'we' are - it's me, Susan Briggs, Director of the Tourism Network, and voluntary manager of the North York Moors Tourism Network, and the tourism team (led by Catriona McLees) at the North York Moors National Park. |
Join in & get more off-peak businessWe've got an ambitious plan to tackle seasonality. Everyone in tourism talks about this challenge but few really get to grips with it. We're taking a different approach that we think could be successful. No guarantees, but it will be more focused and intentional, trying to fill off-peak gaps than anything I've seen anywhere in my 3 decades of tourism marketing.
Yes, that sounds like a bold claim! Here's how I hope this will be different:
The other difference is that this isn't something we are just going to do, and then hope it benefits you. We want to create a programme and work on it with you. Be the first to benefit We'd like to work with a group of committed businesses who are ready to work together and support each other. This will mean taking you step by step through a series of activities, sharing advice, examples and experiences. We'll do some of the work, and will provide support but you'll have to take action too. None of the suggested activities will be difficult or expensive. They are aimed at developing your off-peak business but will probably be beneficial in other ways as well. We can't make any promises or guarantee this programme will make your fortune, but we do want to go into it with real vigour, enthusiasm and expertise. We're initially looking for just a small group of businesses who're ready to get involved and make things happen. Interested? Please get in touch |