Events, liveability and the urban tourism experience

Research Seminar, Wednesday June 12th,  Craiglockhart Campus, The Business School.

Professor Brian King, Associate Dean (Executive Education & Partnerships) in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University led an interesting and provocative research seminar exploring Melbourne's experience of using events, visitability and liveability as attractors to the destination. A Scotsman and graduate of the Universities of Aberdeen and Strathclyde he has held several senior roles at Victoria University, Australia including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Industry & Community) and Head of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing. He has published extensively in tourism marketing with an emphasis on cultural dimensions and emerging Asia-Pacific markets. Building on his experience in airlines, tour operations and hotels he has also held a number of industry board positions and is a current board member of Destination Melbourne the city’s lead destination management organisation.

Dr. Jane Ali-Knight, Director, Edinburgh Institute: Festival, Events and Tourism (EIFET), chaired the session trying to highlight parallels with the Edinburgh experience and identifying what the tourism industry here can learn from down under in tersm fo promoting and positioning the destination. EIFET are currently working with Scottish Enterprise to deliver a Destination Leadership Programme to key emerging talent in the Scottish tourism industry. The programme which begins in October 2013 is based on a similar model in Melbourne - The Melbourne Industry Leaders Programme.