• Turned a failing evening guided walk into the highly popular and commercially successful Chester Ghost Tour, launched in 1984 and still running.
• Created the membership-based Chester Services Partnership and built a network of Visitor Information Points across the North West and North Wales.
• Revitalised Chester’s coach tourism market through a series of familiarisation trips and infrastructure improvements. 
• Transformed the monthly What’s On in Chester & Cheshire guide from loss-making publication to profitable title.
• Developed a rescue plan for Chester Visitor Centre (1997), re-developed its facilities (including a coach pick-up/drop-off point with bus shelter, a pedestrian crossing) and oversaw its operation for 10 years in addition to the Town Hall Visitor Information Centre.
• Originated, developed and managed an innovative, new Rural Safari Minibus Tours programme to encourage exploration of the countryside in a sustainable way as a means to regenerate the visitor economy of rural areas. The project was the first to match Rural Recovery funding with Leader in a ground-breaking cross-border scheme that has received critical acclaim from DEFRA.
• Developed an innovative way for visitors to explore the Towers on the City Walls by launching the Secret Chester Tour with the City Guides opening the historic buildings that were previously closed to the public, as part of the guided walk.

• International Road Union City Trophy for Coach Management (2007)
• UK Awards for destination management.
• Personal – Visitor Chester & Cheshire CATS Award for Commitment to Industry

• Chester City Council
• Chester Marketing Bureau Ltd
• Cheshire West & Chester Council
• Visit Chester & Cheshire
• Marketing Cheshire

Visitor Economy Manager, Marketing Cheshire Ltd, March 2012-November 2014

The role was pivotal to the delivery of client campaign activity, together with the development of client relationships. The position was responsible for the day-to-day running and delivery of campaigns and the management of all client relationships in order to generate revenue from the client accounts whilst providing value for money and excellent service.

Key responsibilities included:

• Budgetary control
• Production of publications including Completely Cheshire Short Breaks Guide, What’s On in Chester & Cheshire events magazine, and Chester Mini Guide from tenders procurement and advertising sales to editorial content and distribution. All titles were hugely successful.
• Editorial ideas and content co-ordination for Cheshire Business Life in partnership with Archant Ltd (publishers of Cheshire Life) as well as targeted distribution to key outlets.
• Research and creation of content for Weekly Bulletin focusing on key stories covering inward investment, the visitor economy, industry and commerce, and study
• Co-ordination of Chester Services Partnership including the development of new Visitor Information Points at Crewe Railway Station, Broughton Retail Park and Golden Square in Warrington and refurbishment of existing facility at Chester Motorway Service (Junction 14 of M56)
• Co-ordination of Chester Attractions consortium
• Management of English Tourism Week programme of events including photo opportunities with MPs
• Research for key projects including Junction 16 Feasibility Study for Cheshire East Council with Marketing Cheshire CEO
• Management of Marketing Cheshire News Service and corporate PR support
• Lectures to universities, FE colleges and schools
• Sales of poster sites for Visitor Information Centre

Visitor Economy Manager (Cheshire West and Chester), August 2008-March 2012

• Budgetary control
• Production of publications including Completely Cheshire Short Breaks Guide, What’s On in Chester & Cheshire events magazine, and Chester Mini Guide from tenders procurement and advertising sales to editorial content and distribution.
• Research and creation of content for Weekly Bulletin focusing on key stories covering inward investment, the visitor economy, industry and commerce, and study
• Co-ordination of Chester Services Partnership including the development of new Visitor Information Points at Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Delamere Forest and Chester Railway Station
• Management of the Chester Attractions consortium
• Origination of consumer and corporate Media Release
• Lectures to universities, FE colleges and schools
• Sales of poster sites for Visitor Information Centre
• Research and author new Destination 49 Guide
• Management of the Chester Attractions Consortium, and co-ordinate the activities of Chester Services Partnership, that builds and operates a network of visitor information points at high-footfall sites across the region including Hapsford Services, and Broughton Retail Park
• Chairman and Treasurer of Britain’s Heritage Cities consortium with a mission to grow business from the US and look at new opportunities elsewhere.

Marketing Manager, Chester City Council, December 2006-August 2008

• Appointed to this key role in the new Distinctiveness and Place Marketing Unit
• Took over the management of the Charisma resident loyalty card scheme and improved its marketing and products
• Continued to develop and improve the new format What’s On in Chester entertainment guide.
• Joint responsibility for the co-ordination of Film and Media Liaison in the Chester District.
• Development of Festival Banners programme.
• Contributed to the development of creative concepts and branding of the Christmas in Chester campaign, and origination of the related promotional collateral
• Received the CATS Award for Commitment to Industry from TV Chef & Presenter Simon Rimmer in November 2007 from Visit Chester & Cheshire.
• Won the International Road Union Trophy for Chester’s coach management strategy

Tourism Development Officer, Chester City Council, August 1989-November 2006

• Originated Secret Chester tour to open towers on the City Walls, the Rows Tours to drive footfall to stores in the mediaeval structures
• Negotiated return of Network Q RAC Rally and brought the Milk Race & Kelloggs Cycle Race to Chester
• Contributed to creation of Chester & Cheshire Conference Desk.
• Refurbished the Town Hall Tourist Information Centre.
• Launched pilot UK Holiday Shop in Tourist Information Centre
• Created the Chester Attractions Consortium
• Developed a rescue plan for Chester Visitor Centre (1997), re-developed its facilities (including a coach pick-up/drop-off point, a pedestrian crossing) and oversaw its operation for 10 years.
• Influenced the transfer of National Express services from Bus Station to Chester Visitor Centre
• Researched & produced a series of multi-lingual guides with VisitBritain and produced the main destination print for Chester for 17 years funded by advertising
• Formed Chester Services Partnership to develop visitor information points at Roadchef Services (M56), Cheshire Oaks, and Broughton Retail Park.
• Launched first Green Badge Training Course in UK in 2001
• Influenced the building of a new Welcome building at Little Roodee Coach Park financed by £450k Transport Facilities Funding
• Developed new landing stage at Eccleston with Rural Recovery funding to develop river-based leisure trips market (2006)
• Originated, developed and managed an innovative, new Rural Safari Mini Bus Tours programme to encourage exploration of the countryside in a sustainable way as a means to regenerate the visitor economy of rural areas. The project was the first to match Rural Recovery funding with Leader+in a ground-breaking cross-border scheme that has received critical acclaim from DEFRA.
• Delivered the Leisure Breaks Marketing Campaign for Chester in 2004 & 2005 achieving a 33:1 return on investment based on independent conversion analysis research in both years.
• Secured a Regional Film Premiere in 2006 to celebrate Chester Odeon cinema’s 70th birthday and Chester-born actor, Daniel Craig winning the starring role in Casino Royale – his first appearance as 007 James Bond.
• Handling £1m budget

Tourism Officer, Chester City Council, January 1988-July 1989

• Given responsibility for the restoration of tourism services in Chester in conjunction with the North West Tourist Board following the demise of Chester Marketing Bureau, which went into voluntary liquidation

Marketing and Administration Manager (deputises for Chief Executive), Chester Marketing Bureau Ltd, April 1984-January 1988

• Transferred to Chester Marketing Bureau from Chester City Council.
• Management of budgets and liaison with Tourist Information Centre
• Developed and launched several new products including a Roman Soldier Wall Patrol (Britain’s first) and the Ghosthunter Trail, which both generated substantial media coverage.
• Attended travel exhibitions, escorted journalists, TV and radio personalities around the area
• Given responsibility for running Tourist Information Centres at the Town Hall and Chester Visitor Centre and the Bureau’s accounts system including payroll and VAT returns.
• Dealt with conference enquiries
• Handled complaints about the city and its businesses.
• Gained invaluable insight into the tourism industry and destination marketing.
• Recruited and appointed TIC staff and implemented training programmes and dealt with personnel management matters.
• Deputised for the Director at Regional and National Tourist Board meetings, local authority and Chamber of Commerce and Trade meetings, assisted with the organisation of the Lombard RAC Rally, Milk Race, Christmas Campaign (including street animation programme), made speeches and gave lectures.
• Organised familiarisation trips for the media and travel trade and planned itineraries.
• Given responsibility for media and public relations.
• Implemented an agreement with North Wales Marketing Bureau giving the agency a staffed promotional presence in Chester TICs
• Opened Tourist Information Centres at Grosvenor Shopping Precinct and Chester Railway Station
• Development of Chestercard as the City’s first customer loyalty card for visitors with CMB Director.
• Following CMB’s collapse, I was appointed by the liquidator to wind up the company and deal with tough questions from the media. I was commended by its chairman for the way I had handled the crisis.

Assistant Publicity Officer, Chester City Council, December 1979-March 1984

• Responsible for the promotion of tourism and publicity of the City
• Deputising for the Publicity Officer
• Working closely with other departments of the Council on publicity matters.

Management Trainee/Administration Assistant, Delyn Borough Council, April 1978-November 1979

• Gained experience in various departments including Leisure Services, Personnel, Housing Services, and Chief Executive’s Department
• Acted as official interpreter for Delyn-Menden Twinning Link visits
• Secured permanent position in the Committee section attending meetings and writing minutes