Destination Branding For Small Cities

This primer demystifies branding, demonstrates how to reveal a destination brand, and provides real world examples, as well as affordable, proven tools, templates and checklists to help breathe life into a small city brand.

Boost tourism, economic development, and community pride by understanding and mastering the art and science of place branding. "Baker's previous books were instant hits and considered classics. In this one, he takes place branding to the next level." - Dr. Florian Kaefer, The Place Brand Observer In this NEW, UPDATED, and EXPANDED edition Bill Baker presents proven techniques and real-world examples for transforming tourism, economic development, placemaking and wayfinding. He is straight to the point and gives you the nuts and bolts to reveal and manage a sustainable destination brand. PLACE BRANDING SIMPLIFIED "This book tackles the confusion, challenges, limitations, misconceptions, and the scope of place branding." - Robert Govers, Chair, International Place Branding Association 'Place Branding' explores the scope and dynamics of place branding, and provides step-by-step processes to research, define and deploy a winning brand strategy. Each chapter demystifies what can sometimes seem like complex concepts and practices required to establish and manage a competitive identity. PLACE BRANDING BEYOND LOGOS "Bill Baker does a great job of distilling the nuance of not just brand building, but the equal necessity of place building." - Maura Allen Gast, Executive Director, VisitIrving (TX) Baker explains why community partnerships are needed to bring a destination brand to life and create a beloved sense of place. He joins the dots to pinpoint issues related to the organization, staff, partnerships, regulations, experience delivery, placemaking, wayfinding, government policies, and personnel to make the point that success takes more than marketing communications and logos. NEW FRONTIERS AND TRENDS "This book is packed with killer insights. In his latest book, Bill Baker continues to redefine the art and science of community brands." - Bill Geist, Chief Instigator, DMOproz 'Place Branding' spotlights the trends reshaping the practice, scope and dynamics of place branding. It illustrates how place branding must embrace changes, as diverse as technology, consumer behavior, placemaking, urban design, organization roles, sustainability, an experiential focus, more engaged communities, and more. At the same time, he shows how small places must fit into a louder and more crowded world. WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK? "Bill Baker's words always entice and engage audiences at every level of expertise. Here, he targets newcomers to place branding, but his words are a good refresher for old-timers alike." - Erik Wolf, CEO, World Food Travel Association Whether you are new to place marketing and branding or you're seeking fresh inspiration, this is essential reading for destination marketers, DMOs, Boards and Committees, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Associations, economic development managers, urban design teams, government leaders, as well as students and academics. WHAT'S INCLUDED? Reading 'Place Branding', you will: Discover the latest place branding trends and new applications Understand why many place branding efforts are doomed before they start Discover effective ways to bring your community's brand to life Access dozens of helpful tips and useful checklists Understand why branding is even more important in the Digital Age Gain valuable insights from some of the world's leading place branding consultants, academics and practitioners

In today's highly competitive market, many destinations - from individual resorts to countries - are adopting branding techniques similar to those used by 'Coca Cola', 'Nike' and 'Sony' in an effort to differentiate their identities and to emphasize the uniqueness of their product. By focusing on a range of global case studies, Destination Branding demonstrates that the adoption of a highly targeted, consumer research-based, multi-agency 'mood branding' initiative leads to success every time.

This professional guidebook highlights brand development and management for cities, regions, countries, and destinations. It presents a unique collection of expert interviews, combined with latest research insights and thoughts on the most relevant topics and trends linked to the reputation, brand development and management of cities, regions, countries and destinations. This is a book which offers inspiring personal stories and reflections, and at the same time serves as essential know how guide for busy place managers, marketers and developers who care about the reputation and well-being of their community.

Usually, a country brand is not focused, resulting in unsuccessful place branding. It is possible to successfully raise your national identity to the level of an attractive brand. Building a country brand is an investment, with strong positive returns. This book will guide you along the path to building a successful brand.

Americans are loud. Amsterdam equals sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Mexicans are lazy and Germans are boring, but punctual. Paris is romantic, Wuhan infectious, Ukrainians heroic, and New Zealand untouched. This is the way people around the world think about cities, regions and countries and the communities that live there; through cliches and stereotypes. It can be frustrating and hindering trade, diplomacy, investment, tourism, or talent attraction. Many believe that such image problems can be resolved with advertising campaigns, but the classic tourism promotion model is broken and insufficient. This book explains what works and what doesn’t when it comes to improving the reputation of cities, regions, and countries. It does so without the use of jargon and with reference to numerous case-studies. The book primarily aims to inspire readers and offer them a broad overview of an issue in modern society that is of interest and relevance to all of us: the reputation of our communities.

This book investigates small town tourism development in South Africa taking into account the most common strategies: branding, promotion, festivals and theming. The contents of the book resonate with the intersection of the power elite and their impacts on small town tourism. Because the book focuses on small town geographies in South Africa, the literature on small town tourism in the country is reviewed in Chapter 2 to provide a contextual background. Each subsequent chapter begins with an overview of international literature to give the conceptual context of the case studies each chapter explores. In Chapter 3 the concept of small town tourism branding is illustrated by an exploration of the Richmond book town. In Chapter 4 the branding theme is probed further in an investigation of two winners of the Kwêla Town of the Year competition namely Fouriesburg and De Rust. Chapter 5 documents the branding of Sedgefield through its proclamation as Africa’s first Cittaslow (slow town), a process driven by the local power elite to the exclusion of town’s poor who have no understanding of the intentions of the Cittaslow movement and its potential benefits for the town. Chapter 6 is a case study of Greyton’s tourism-led rural gentrification by which a small town has transformed in three decades to become a sought after place of residence for elite inmigrants so making the town a jewel tourism destination while reinforcing racial segregation. Because festivals and events - creations of the wealthy - have made significant financial contributions to small towns, Chapter 7 considers festivals and events as strategies to market and brand small towns in a particular way. Case studies of the economic impacts of festivals on small towns are assessed and the assessment methodologies used are critiqued. Chapter 8 provides a synthesis by drawing on the thesis of the urban growth machine by power elites.

This textbook shows how cities, regions and countries adopt branding strategies similar to those of leading household brand names in an effort to differentiate themselves and emotionally connect with potential tourists. It asks whether tourist destinations get the reputations they deserve and uses topical case studies to discuss brand concepts and challenges. It tackles how place perceptions are formed, how cities, regions and countries can enhance their reputations as creative, competitive destinations, and the link between competitive identity and strategic tourism policy making.