Comments on: Why I love Leeds https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/ Sharing the world with you Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:30:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Darren Cronian https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14840 Darren Cronian Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:04:31 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14840 @ Andy From recent conversations that I have had, most tourism boards measure their success on how many mentions the city receives. So, when it comes to funding they ask for £x million and justify this spend because of the mentions that their marketing received in the media. The question I would ask the people dishing out this money – which content are people on the street going to trust and make a decision on when booking a short break? Tourist board or local people. I know where my money would go, but then I am bias. ;) @ Andy

From recent conversations that I have had, most tourism boards measure their success on how many mentions the city receives. So, when it comes to funding they ask for £x million and justify this spend because of the mentions that their marketing received in the media.

The question I would ask the people dishing out this money – which content are people on the street going to trust and make a decision on when booking a short break? Tourist board or local people. I know where my money would go, but then I am bias. ;)

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14785 Andy Jarosz Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:54:51 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14785 Sounds like a familiar problem Darren. Tourist boards have not yet woken up to the potential that local bloggers (who love the city and are already promoting it) can bring them. I've had the same response down here. It can feel like we're interfering in their efforts to do whatever it is they do, their way. There are some notable exceptions to this trend, and the Valencia guys and Tourism Ireland who I recently travelled with certainly get it. Sounds like a familiar problem Darren. Tourist boards have not yet woken up to the potential that local bloggers (who love the city and are already promoting it) can bring them. I’ve had the same response down here. It can feel like we’re interfering in their efforts to do whatever it is they do, their way.
There are some notable exceptions to this trend, and the Valencia guys and Tourism Ireland who I recently travelled with certainly get it.

]]> By: Darren Cronian https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14707 Darren Cronian Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:34:28 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14707 @ John I agree - the tourism board seem more focused on promoting the luxury aspect of Leeds, i.e. Victoria Quarter, expensive boutique shops, hotels etc. I suspect that this is because it will bring in more money to the city, rather than promoting every aspect of what the city has to offer, so that it does not come across, that all it offers is nightlife and shopping. They are also useless working with bloggers who are keen to promote the city. @ John

I agree – the tourism board seem more focused on promoting the luxury aspect of Leeds, i.e. Victoria Quarter, expensive boutique shops, hotels etc. I suspect that this is because it will bring in more money to the city, rather than promoting every aspect of what the city has to offer, so that it does not come across, that all it offers is nightlife and shopping.

They are also useless working with bloggers who are keen to promote the city.

]]> By: John https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14579 John Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:23:23 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14579 You're spot on Leeds is a lovely city. Shame the tourist board don't push it enough. You’re spot on Leeds is a lovely city. Shame the tourist board don’t push it enough.

]]> By: Darren Cronian https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14502 Darren Cronian Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:28:43 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14502 @ Ciki Thanks for following me on Twitter, and a great blog you have too! :) @ Melvin / Andy Let me know if you make up to Leeds and I would be happy to give you my local tour! When I think back 5 - 10 years it's incredible how much the city has changed. Sure, it has room for improvement, but there's a lot more going on than people give it credit for. @ Jeffrey It is an underrated city and doesn't get enough positive mentions from the media, the only time you hear about the city is when it's negative news (think 7/7 bombings etc.) so I am appreciative that people like Andy are giving me the opportunity to 'show off' my home city. Thanks for the opportunity to write a guest post Andy, and thanks for the comments! @ Ciki

Thanks for following me on Twitter, and a great blog you have too! :)

@ Melvin / Andy

Let me know if you make up to Leeds and I would be happy to give you my local tour! When I think back 5 – 10 years it’s incredible how much the city has changed. Sure, it has room for improvement, but there’s a lot more going on than people give it credit for.

@ Jeffrey

It is an underrated city and doesn’t get enough positive mentions from the media, the only time you hear about the city is when it’s negative news (think 7/7 bombings etc.) so I am appreciative that people like Andy are giving me the opportunity to ‘show off’ my home city.

Thanks for the opportunity to write a guest post Andy, and thanks for the comments!

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14493 Andy Jarosz Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:14:42 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14493 Thanks Darren for the post - it brings back happy memories for me too. We lived in the Calls for a few years and had a little flat that overlooked the river (I worked in the city centre). I loved wandering around the old buildings in the city centre. The Corn Exchange is one of my favourites. There are also so many great places to eat, and the great Yorkshire countryside isn't far away. I could never bring myself to support the local football team, but did enjoy the odd trip up to Headingley to watch the cricket. Looks like the city has changed a lot in the last five years. Reading this post makes me want to visit again. Thanks Darren for the post – it brings back happy memories for me too. We lived in the Calls for a few years and had a little flat that overlooked the river (I worked in the city centre). I loved wandering around the old buildings in the city centre. The Corn Exchange is one of my favourites. There are also so many great places to eat, and the great Yorkshire countryside isn’t far away.
I could never bring myself to support the local football team, but did enjoy the odd trip up to Headingley to watch the cricket.
Looks like the city has changed a lot in the last five years. Reading this post makes me want to visit again.

]]> By: Jeffrey Epstein https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14448 Jeffrey Epstein Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:54:46 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14448 Darren - You're right. In a word, Leeds: "Underrated"! Darren – You’re right. In a word, Leeds: “Underrated”!

]]> By: Melvin https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14420 Melvin Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:24:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14420 Hi Darren, nice post! I've lived close to Leeds (Otley) for a while and I haven't been there for many years. But I'll make it in October and I'm really looking forward to see Leeds again soon! I have some good memories to the time living there! Cheers Melvin Hi Darren,

nice post!

I’ve lived close to Leeds (Otley) for a while and I haven’t been there for many years. But I’ll make it in October and I’m really looking forward to see Leeds again soon!

I have some good memories to the time living there!

Cheers

Melvin

]]> By: ciki https://www.501places.com/2010/08/why-i-love-leeds/#comment-14414 ciki Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:01:05 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=3486#comment-14414 very cool indeed! i am now following Darren in twitter! ;) very cool indeed! i am now following Darren in twitter! ;)

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