TOURISM Hemingway heads to Symposium


Wayne Hemingway MBE, the creative designer and visionary behind the £18m restoration of Dreamland in Margate, has been confirmed as a speaker at the annual Tourism Society Symposium. Te two-day event, taking


place in Kent from 1-2 June, features presentations from an array of high-profile figures linked to the tourism and attractions industries. A founder of the former


fashion label Red or Dead, Hemingway has worked on numerous high-profile projects during his 30-year career, ranging from interior design to landscape planning, housing regeneration and designing uniforms for the likes of McDonald’s and Transport for London. Trough his firm Hemingway Design, the


54-year-old is working with Dreamland CEO Eddie Kemsley to preserve the cultural heritage of the project, while at the same time bringing the attraction up to date for a modern audience. Kemsley will be joining Wayne Hemingway at the podium during the Symposium to share their vision for Dreamland. In an interview for the Q1 2015 edition of Attractions Management,


Wayne Hemingway has helped regenerate Margate through Dreamland


Hemingway said of the Dreamland project: “It’s a wonderful heritage story in Britain’s most happening seaside town. Margate has every- thing a young, creative community would want. It’s evocative. It has an amazing amount of things to Instagram! And Dreamland is the right thing to be happening in Margate.” Kemsley, meanwhile, has extensive experi- ence in organising world class events. A former chair of BALPPA, she helped create London’s LoveBox Festival and was key in the relaunch- ing of Grade II listed Camden Palace as KOKO. Details: http://lei.sr?a=M2j9b


Liz Terry honoured with tourism fellowship


Leisure Media chief execu- tive Liz Terry MBE has been awarded an honorary fel- lowship from the Tourism Society in recognition of her “notable services to UK tourism” throughout a 32-year publishing career. Terry – whose company


publishes nine business-to- business magazines serving the leisure industry and more than 50 websites – has been a staunch supporter of tourism through various channels. She follows Clive Jacobs, Peter Long and Simon Calder as recipients of an honorary fellowship from the industry’s professional membership body. “Done well, tourism is a transformational


The Select Committee Report and the new government


KURT JANSON is policy director of the Tourism Alliance


T


he Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s (DCMS) final report on the government’s handling of its tourism respon-


sibilities was hugely supportive of the UK tourism industry, emphasising the issues that the Tourism Alliance has been cam- paigning for some time – including the need to lower tourism-related tax and bet- ter support regional tourism development. However, there has been debate as to the


usefulness of the report to shape govern- ment policy seeing that it was published just before the dissolution of parliament, meaning the government did not have time to respond to its recommendations. But I would argue that it is precisely this timing that makes the report such a powerful advocacy tool for the industry in helping shape the new government’s tourism strategy over the next five years. While the new government may respond


to the recommendations in the report, it is not obliged to do so as it is not accountable for how its predecessor carried out tour- ism-related responsibilities. This is not actually a bad thing as there are two possible outcomes. If the new government does respond to the Select Committee Report, it will be doing so without the need to justify the policy stance of the former government, meaning the response will be more objec- tive than usual, with a greater chance of recommendations being carried forward. If the new government does not formally


Liz Terry (right) has reported on the tourism industry over four decades


and we support their work wholeheartedly. “Tanks go both to the Tourism Society for


force in the world, bringing people together, creating precious memories, enhancing quality of life and also driving economic growth, peace and prosperity,” said Terry. “The Tourism Society has worked tirelessly and effectively to represent and promote the interests of tourism


© CYBERTREK 2015


the recognition and also to the Leisure Media team, whose passion and enthusiasm for their work inspires me every day.” Te accolade was presented on May 5 during


a special Tourism Society Fellows Lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Heddon Street Kitchen. Details: http://lei.sr?a=h7Z6B


Twitter: @leisureopps


respond to the report, the tourism industry has a comprehensive report to help frame the new government’s tourism strategy that is “unmuddied” by the previous govern- ment’s response. Again, a good outcome as the new tourism minister will be develop- ing a strategy for the next five years. Clearly there is considerable uncertainty


ahead. Te forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review, the prospect of an emer- gency budget and renewed rumours that DCMS could be dismantled, mean the gov- ernment’s commitment to support tourism will be under substantial pressure. However, the Select Committee’s report puts the tourism industry in a strong position to gain support from the new government.


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