Locum Destination Review - Issue 13

The journal of record for the global destination industry

Editorial

Welcome to the Autumn issue of Locum Destination Review. After a virtually rain-free August, and something of an Indian summer in September, the season is well and truly on the change. The dry Summer will undoubtedly have significant effects on that mainstay of our destination industry, the gardens. The director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Peter Crane, reflects on a year which has seen Kew harvest that most coveted of honours, World Heritage Status - focussing particularly on juggling his obligations to casual visitors and the scientific community. And Brandwatch tests the colours and scents of this ­ most vital ­ sector.

This issue pays particular attention to the retail sector. Sahar Hashemi, the entrepreneur behind Coffee Republic, divulges her aspirations to turn drinking coffee into an event. Architect Marvin Shane describes how vital design can be for retail planners. And we take a first look at Birmingham’s new Bullring.

City “collaboration” is very much the buzzword among urban planners today. Professor Stuart Gulliver explores what it really means, while Locum’s Richard Tibbott compares the rhetoric with reality.

Dan Anderson’s Economics Without Tears column shows us how to read between the lines of economic appraisals, to assess how tainted the results can be.

Blackpool’s MP, Gordon Marsden tackles the fascinating subject of whether coastal resorts in wildly different parts of the UK have more in common with each other than they do with the non-seaside towns nearby.

And John Nurick’s Web Sight takes a wry look at the Guggenheim phenomenon.

With all our regular columns and features, we hope that you find this issue of Locum Destination Review will keep off those rainclouds for a while yet.

Charlie Courtauld
Editor