Collaboration

What was apparent during last week's Americas conference is that places across the USA and Canada are rising to the challenges created by COVID-19. Here are six of the most common challenges faced by place branders in North America, and how cities, states and regions are pivoting to tackle these challenges.

A global recession is unavoidable. UNCTAD [The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development] are estimating that global FDI could drop by as much as 40%. And with companies likely to look towards regionalising their supply chains, a comprehensive Aftercare strategy has never been more important. But how has Aftercare evolved to meet the demands of a COVID-19 world?

In late 2018 it was announced that the Mexican Tourism Promotion Council would be disbanded. A year and a half on, we spoke with Carlos Alberto González González, Director General of the newly relaunched Visit Mexico, to understand how they’re collaborating with industry partners as well as how data is enabling a low-budget promotion strategy during COVID-19.

What happens when place branding becomes separated from the government? What changes when the private sector becomes the leading driver of a place brand strategy?  Can it work?  We looked to three contrasting examples of private sector-led place branding initiatives to understand some developing trends in private sector engagement.

How do we move from looking to raise the number of bed nights to looking at the impact 'beyond tourism'? Karen Bolinger, Strategic Advisor at Best Cities, outlines how destination marketing organisations are working to track the social outcomes their events are delivering.

There have been many placemaking projects to reclaim disused areas and transform them into green public spaces, but none have the audacity of Raleigh’s 308-acre Dorothea Dix Park project. Sean Malone, President and CEO, of Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy to discover how citizen engagement and collaboration are at the core of their strategy.

Brand Scotland's collaborative approach sets it apart from many other place brand organisations. With six different agencies involved, Cat Leaver, shares how stakeholder management is key to the success of the collaboration.

Faced with an ageing and declining population, many rural communities today are having to fight to preserve their economies. But rather than competing against major cities on an unfair playing field, rural areas are recognising that there is an opportunity to capitalise on their own assets.

How can rural destinations differentiate themselves with a clear place branding strategy? Andrew Redden, Hastings County's manager for tourism and economic development, outlines the challenges they face and how collaboration can unlock new opportunities.

The City Nation Place Awards set the benchmark for quality place brand and communication strategies around the world – what lessons can we learn from the winning case studies of 2019?