22 January 2019
Kellogg College, Oxford

Following on from the well-received 2018 seminars on town centres, this next event organised by Historic Towns and Villages Forum looks at the visitor economy as a key part of the future high street’s appeal.  Attracting the ‘experiential consumer’ – whether an international tourist or local resident – is now seen as the future to bolstering retail activity in town centres. 

In this seminar we explore what this means in different contexts, the role of the historic environment, and how to attract visitors and re-capture spending locally, looking at: 

• the outcomes of research into the four types of ‘town signatures’ – to understand how different towns actually function; 
• the role of communities and heritage assets in revitalising town centres;
• playing to a place’s inherent strengths in developing its brand for a stronger visitor economy; 
• using place-making strategies to change perceptions; 
• reusing empty shop to bring arts and culture to a town centre; 
• what it takes to turn your town around; 
• why it is worth investing in historic shop fronts; 
• plus, a workshop on your challenges and putting ideas into action.

This seminar will be of interest to local authority officers and councillors, civic societies, amenity and local community groups, and consultants with an interest in urban design, planning, community action, and town centre, heritage and retail management. 

Further details and booking here