People

If you want to know more about me, or have an idea you want to discuss, check my profile and drop me a line. Or you can connect with me on Linkedin

Andy's Introduction

Allow me to introduce myself; I am Andrew Hurst, Regional Digital Strategist for North Wales. Working under the Digital Tourism Business Framework Programme my role is multi-faceted and I am on hand to work with tourism businesses both in improving their knowledge and quality of IT provisions, and also in taking forward any creative or innovative ideas they have about utilising technology within tourism. I follow such blogs and websites as Geek, Mashable, and TechCrunch as well as tourism specific sites such as eyefortravel.

If you want to know more about me, or have an idea you want to discuss, check my profile and drop me a line. Or you can follow me on Linkedin.

And in the Back Room ...

Barrie's Introduction

Hello. I'm Barrie Foster, Editor of Share Wales under the Digital Tourism Business Framework Programme as of March 2012. I've worked as an independent tourism marketing specialist for almost thirty years and have been based in North Pembrokeshire since 1987. A Fellow of the Tourism Society and a  Chartered Marketer, I've been a member of the judging panel of Canmol: The Wales Marketing Awards since they were introduced by The Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2008.

My main function is to produce content for the Share Wales Blog and help moderate the Forum. A significant part of my remit is 'horizon scanning': examining the implications of digital developments for the tourism trade in Wales... This begs an important question: whose horizons are we talking about?  Even the largest companies have difficulty in finding their way around the rapidly changing digital environment. For many of the small enterprises that make up more than 80% of the Welsh tourism industry, the Internet and digital technologies are only partially visible. Every business has its own viewpoint, its own degree of familiarity with the Internet and its own individual 'horizon'. So that I see my role as offering something for everyone who is embarked, or embarking, on a journey into the world of digital marketing, from absolute beginners to tech-savvy whiz kids. To help me find my own way, my Google+ 'Circle' includes many sources, including Mashable, Social Media Examiner, Jan Klin and Tnooz. I subscribe to several professional journals and am a member of a number of Linked In Groups relevant to marketing and tourism.

There is no doubt in my mind that tourism marketing is entering a new paradigm, especially with the shift from desk-based to mobile Internet access. Part of that paradigm is the potential for businesses and communities to co-operate creatively in the development of new solutions for attracting and retaining visitors. And part of that paradigm, too, is the ability of the trade as a whole to share knowledge and experience, and push towards collective new horizons. This is the core concept of Share Wales. As a wise man once said: "Marketing is about what might happen tomorrow, not what happened yesterday".

If you want to know more about me check my profile or connect with me on Linked In.

Jon's Introduction

Hi, I’m Jon Munro.  I head up the Visit Wales digital team (a great team they are too) and I am responsible for developing and implementing Visit Wales' digital marketing strategy across UK and international markets. I’m all about integrated digital strategy, making it happen and proving return on investment.

One thing I have been acutely aware for a long time is that whilst not impossible it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve things on your own. In my mind that is what Share Wales is all about.

There is a real opportunity, through better collaboration, to get what could be a whole country behind creating, sharing and distributing great content about Wales. Imagine that! The potential to leverage a hugely valuable content network to help everyone achieve their marketing objectives from raising awareness to driving sales is a huge and exciting one.

Outside work my interests lay firmly in the outdoors – paragliding, windsurfing, snowboarding and biking being pretty much top of the list. Weather nerd at heart it all depends on the time of year and which way the wind is blowing.

If you want to know a bit more about me check out my profile.

Bryn's Introduction

Hello, I’m Bryn Halliwell, Content Integration Manager on the Digital Marketing Team at Visit Wales. I also work under the Digital Tourism Business Framework Programme.

My main role is ensuring that the content on all the various Visit Wales websites is up to date and supports our work on the Search & Social and Campaigns sides of house. My team also look after the various Social Media platforms Visit Wales is involved in, like Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. My role on the DTBFP is to lead on the Share Content project, encouraging Tourism businesses, organisations and tourists to tag and share their brilliant Wales content online.

I subscribe to many digital marketing, social media, web 2.0 and technology blogs including TechCrunch, Mashable, copyblogger, Smashing Magazine and The Verge.

If you’d like to find out a bit more about my background, check out my profile.

Amy's Introduction

Hi, I’d like to introduce myself, I am Amy Cromwell, Search Engine Integration Executive at Visit Wales and I also work under the Digital Tourism Business Framework Programme.

I work on sourcing and collating inspirational content for Visit Wales’ consumer website visitwales.co.uk, the Visit Wales blog and social media channels Facebook and Twitter. I also ensure the website is optimised for our non branded keywords including UK holidays, UK weekend breaks, UK activity holidays, UK family holidays, romantic breaks, Easter holidays, half term holidays and bank holidays etc.

I follow digital marketing and SEO blogs such as the Content Marketing Institute, SEOmoz Daily SEO and The KISSmetrics. I also follow tourism blogs from the different marketing regions in Wales and various Welsh tourism products. I like to keep an eye on other DMO's too such as Visit Britain and their blogs the UK Curiosity Blog and Visit Britain Super Blog.

If you want to know a bit more about me check out my profile.