Exploring the Rhythms of Change: The 36th International Live Music Conference (ILMC)

Written by Sherin Chandy, student on MSc International Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University, whose visit to this event was sponsored by the Tourism Research Centre.

In the dynamic domain of live entertainment, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) stands as a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and growth. The 36th iteration of this prestigious gathering, referred to as ILMC’36, brought together the brightest minds and most passionate hearts in the live music industry. The conference, renowned for shaping the future of live events, provided a platform for both the celebration of music and the critical discussions on the industry’s trajectory.

ILMC’s 36th conference was held in London. The multi-day event was a curated confluence of panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities each adding a unique note to the expansive melody of the conference.

ILMC 3D Letters in front of a window People gathered sitting at a conference

Key Themes and Discussions

A central theme for the discussions was ‘Adapting to an Evolving Industry’. The panels and keynotes focused on how the live music sector has pivoted in response to recent global challenges, such as the ongoing recovery from the pandemic, the sustainability imperative, and the integration of cutting-edge technology. Prominent industry figures such as Jim King (CEO, AEG Presents, UK), Barrie Marshall (Chairman, Marshall Arts), Marsha Vlasic (President, IAG, US), and numerous others led these sessions.

5 people talking on a conference panel

A highly discussed session focused on gender equality and the challenges faced by women in the industry. In a recent report the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK government concluded that misogyny is pervasive in the music industry and offered several recommendations for the live music industry. During the discussion of the report, industry leaders offered their perspectives on how the live music industry can implement measures to counteract workplace misogyny and sexual harassment. Eunice Obianagha (ENSPIRE Management, UK), Jen Smith (CIISA, UK), John Shortell (Musicians Union, UK), Christina Hazboun (PRS Foundation/Keychange), and Louise Halliday (Royal Albert Hall, UK) were the panellists for this session.

Panel discussion

For many, the panels on the business aspects, including booking strategies, sponsorships, and brand partnerships, were critical in understanding the monetary and operational underpinnings of the industry. These discussions bridged the gap between art and commerce, highlighting innovative models and practices that can help the live music ecosystem thrive.

Networking and Collaborations

Networking is the soul of ILMC, and this year was no exception. The conference provided ample opportunities for professionals to connect, from agents and promoters to festival directors and ticketing innovators. The event encouraged the emergence of possible partnerships against the backdrop of industry-specific talks, as attendees mixed amid the lively atmosphere of the conference’s renowned Arthur Awards, informal meet-ups, and during the excellent lunches served by the venue.

Showcasing Talent

ILMC’36 included several showcases across Soho that put emerging artists in the spotlight, offering them a chance to perform in front of some of the industry’s most influential figures. The showcases were not only a testament to the rich diversity of the global music scene but also a reflection of the conference’s commitment to nurturing talent. The delegates were treated to new music by numerous up-and-coming performers, like August Charles, Lala Hayden, Freekind, and many more. These performances punctuated the dialogue-heavy event with bursts of creative energy at the end of the day, reminding everyone of the passion for live music that lies at the heart of the industry.

A Look to the Future

On the last day of ILMC’36, it was all about creating a path for the next generation to succeed in this dynamic industry. The conference concluded with forward-looking sessions in ‘Futures Forum’ that encapsulated the collective support and encouragement for the emerging professionals in the industry. All junior ILMC delegates had access to mentorship sessions and an opportunity to receive career guidance from senior industry figures throughout the day.

ILMC’36 proved once more that the international live music industry is a resilient and ever-evolving landscape. The interactions and ideas exchanged have set the stage for a new era of live events—one that is more sustainable, technologically advanced, and inclusive than ever before.

Picture of panel discussion taken from audience

Along with business cards and brochures, attendees left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to take on the challenges of a dynamic industry. The 36th edition of ILMC, which has always been about breaking down barriers and forming connections, was a powerful symphony that will reverberate throughout the upcoming live music year.

ILMC’36 was more than just a conference; it served as a powerful reminder that live music is a universal passion that cuts over boundaries of distance, time, and culture and lives in the hearts of industry professionals everywhere. The rhythms of change will continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of all involved until ILMC’37, indicating an exciting future for live music globally.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance Autumn Conference 2023 – PhD Student Perspectives

On 31st October 2023, five PhD students (Jack Pedersen, Christopher Barnes, Mahendrran Selvaduray, Homa Rahimi and Judith Spaargaren) from the Tourism & Languages Subject Group attended the Scottish Tourism Alliance Autumn Conference. This blog contains our reflections on the event.   Exploring the conference through the lens of academia from PhD student’s perspective as this blog sheds light on the vibrant discussions and insights shared at this noteworthy event. In approaching this blog, we found the focus to be the intersection of sustainable tourism and digital marketing, vital topics in our ever-evolving industry. In discussing what topics and presentations we found notable, we hope to share some of the experience with you, the reader.

Sustainable Tourism – Bridging the Gap, Mahendrran Selvaduray 

The vision for sustainable tourism was inspiring, emphasising the fusion of practices with unforgettable experiences. This session not only enlightened attendees but also highlighted the transformative power of responsible travel. Another compelling talk by Stephen Whitelaw centred on digital marketing in the tourism landscape. The speaker, an expert in the field, shared groundbreaking strategies to engage travellers authentically. In the era of social media dominance, their insights into digital storytelling and online engagement were invaluable, resonating strongly with our tech-savvy audience.

The new traveller segments discussed by Caroline Bremner of Euromonitor explain that people seeking luxury are known for wanting fancy experiences. In the social aspect, 72% of luxury seekers choose to travel with their partner, perhaps to feel more comfortable. This choice may stem from their desire to share these fancy experiences with loved ones and create special memories together. While a smaller 4% opt for solo journeys, the reason could be to enjoy a relaxing session on their own. This suggests two groups implies the presence of based on spending preferences. Some priorities personal enjoyment and independence, while others emphasis shared family experiences, reflecting diverse values and priorities.

Scotland’s Tourism Strategy, Jack Pedersen

Sustainability plays a prominent role in the national tourism strategy. Marc Crothall (MBE), the conference host, examined the Scotland Outlook 2030 strategy which looks to position Scotland as the world leader in 21st-century tourism and has at its core “responsible tourism for a sustainable future”.

Set up in November 2022, the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group (THILG) is the leading industry body for this strategic plan. As the co-chair, Crothall reflected upon the THILG’s first year of operation. Its evidencing endeavours, including stakeholder and activity mapping and international best practice guidelines, have uncovered common themes which he proposes will impact the national strategy. Sustainability, technological advances, transport infrastructure, and Scotland’s communities and people were at the heart of much of Crothall’s presentation. The THILG now looks to develop its missions in supporting recovery, driving investment, and growing a sustainable tourism sector.

The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, and Trade, Richard Lochhead, (MSP) also co-chairs the THILG. His enthusiastic and effusive ministerial address at the conference asserted that the Scottish government is taking the industry seriously. Notably, amid recent Commons debates on the King’s Speech, this support was corroborated by Drew Henry (SNP Economy Spokesperson) who lamented the absence of measures to support the tourism and hospitality industries at a Westminster level.

During his address, Lochhead reiterated the government’s commitment to growth deals of £150 million, further to the £250 million already invested, and praised its impressive economic figures: Scottish tourism and hospitality accounts for 8% of employment and 4% of the country’s GDP. Despite the challenges of the financial climate, skills shortages, and wider geopolitical instability, he reminded us that the growth of the industry is outstripping the growth of the Scottish economy as a whole and that there is a case for optimism.

Our Proud and Passionate People: Tourism Rising Stars and Hospitality Heroes, Judith Spaaragen

 Sustainability was a word which came up often, but to me, no presentation made it a more tangible concept than Kelly Johnstone’s. It can be easy, as an academic, to overlook the actual people involved in the industries we write about.

Tourism is often spoken about in figures and faceless masses, but Kelly, COO at the Springboard Charity, placed people front and centre. The Springboard Charity provides opportunities for young and disadvantaged people to develop hospitality and tourism careers, and in her presentation she made clear exactly how important this was not just to the people the charity helps, but also the industry to which they contribute. If Scotland is to be the sustainable tourism destination of the world, then we must make sure that sustainability flows reaches the people working in it. This talk was thus a welcome look at that how that future might look.

Deciphering Communication Codes in Hospitality, Homa Rahimi  

Embarking on the intricate journey of personal and professional well-being, the recent Scottish Tourism Alliance Conference brought to light a compelling discourse spearheaded by Cathy MacDonald, centred around addressing fundamental emotional concerns. Amidst the formidable challenges posed by market competition and workforce scarcity in the dynamic tourism and hospitality sector, the recognition and fulfilment of employees’ emotional needs emerge as a strategic imperative.

Organizations finely attuned to the emotional well-being of their workforce yield substantial returns in terms of commitment, heightened productivity, and talent retention. Nurturing a culture of transparent communication, where employees authentically feel acknowledged, not only mitigates turnover but also lays the groundwork for organizational justice, serving as a potent talent attraction strategy. This approach, particularly pivotal in the aftermath of the Covid-19 era, acts as a linchpin in cultivating a resilient and contented team.

In an industry where reputation and word of mouth wield considerable influence, prioritizing employee well-being becomes a cornerstone of an effective human resource strategy. By fostering a workplace culture that places a premium on its staff, organizations not only elevate their sector reputation but also optimize return on investment, thereby fostering a positive and efficient work environment.

Edinburgh Napier University’s Aspiring Tourism Alumni, Christopher Barnes 

After previous years of online conferences, where morning networking sessions were mere button on the edge a computer screen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee from Leith’s Catering in the EICC foyer, on the morning of, The Scottish Tourism Alliance Autumn Conference, was a welcome reminder that the days of our industries face to face restrictions, are slowly becoming a thing of the past! Tourism and hospitality in Scotland, is ready, and is about to thrive! Inspiring visions of industry officials and testimonies of young rising stars were only a fragment of the exciting and news put forward in a day of collective industry buzz!!! One thing is certain, Edinburgh Napier and more importantly the Tourism and Languages Subject Group, plays a significant role in producing emerging industry talent, in both the tourism and festival and events sectors. Both inspiring and motivating, were the testimonies of Edinburgh Napier University alumni of recent years, projected on the screens for a conference suite filled of Scottish Tourism Industry Officials. The hall witnessed how Edinburgh Napier University’s Tourism Research Centre, produces highly qualified tourism management personnel and offering degrees, both at undergraduate and post-graduate level, filled with both academic and practical content relevant for an everchanging and immersive tourism industry!

Closing Thoughts:

This blog serves as a testimony to the impactful ideas exchanged and the collaborative spirit that defines our tourism industry. With each presentation, we found inspiration and motivation, underscoring the potential for positive change within our tourism community.

Once again, thank you, the TRC, for this opportunity to share our unique perspective on the TRC webpage. As PhD students, we stand at the intersection of academic inquiry and practical innovation, embodying the spirit of continuous learning and growth. Let us continue this journey together, shaping the future of tourism one insightful conference at a time. Hope we can attend more conferences in the future.

Festivals Sustainability Symposium 29 June 2023

In late June 2023, 70 people gathered at Craiglockhart to discuss the thorny issue of Festival sustainability, writes Dr David Jarman, Lecturer.

There has long been an intricate relationship between festivals and the various ways that sustainability themes affects their actions, impacts, and the ways audiences and stakeholders relate to them. The Festival Sustainability Symposium was an opportunity to discuss a variety of these topics, with attendees from academia, government, the festival sector, and freelancers. It was particularly good to see a number of Edinburgh Napier graduates at the event.

The variety of papers presented at the event reflected the wide range of perspectives and areas of interest under the sustainability banner. Attendees heard about the Edinburgh Deaf Festival, and how it is enabling and supporting a community of eager participants and their audiences to engage with Edinburgh’s festival economy. Environmental sustainability was covered from a range of different angles, including case studies reflecting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Other work presented practical and tangible lessons for those applying environmental sustainability in a festival context. A number of contributors spoke about community in relation to festivals, whether that be supporting underrepresented groups within society, or reflecting on the relationship between seasonal festivals and the established communities in which they take place.  Festivals are a representation of the contexts in which they are planned and delivered, and they carry meaning and symbolism that reflects this.

This was also an opportunity to reflect upon Edinburgh Napier’s interest in festival and event sustainability. Some modules on our programmes focus specifically on sustainability, while others highlight the importance of community, the environment and related themes. Our students and graduates are therefore equipped to consider the types of discussions that featured at the symposium. As such, we are playing our part in the ongoing development and evolution of the sector as it tries to grapple with a wide variety of challenges in relation to sustainability. Resources are used at festivals, people travel a long way to attend them, and often there is little of tangible evidence to demonstrate their having taken place. However, festivals are also a platform on which to discuss good practice and to demonstrate the potential value of these kinds of events. Ultimately, as was discussed by the closing keynote speaker, there are opportunities for festivals to play a positive and enhancing role in the sustainability of environments, places, and organisations.

Edinburgh Napier’s Tourism Research Centre, and everyone involved in our Festival, Event, Tourism and Hospitality programmes, continues our work into research, industry enhancement and policy development in sustainability. For more information about what we do, including future events, research opportunities and student projects, please get in touch.

Festivals Symposium audience

Revolutionising Travel: ChatGPT and Generative AI Usher in New Era of Automation

There’s a new poster child for generative AI – ChatGPT – that is taking travel and the world by storm. With travel highly digitalised, where 66% of all bookings are conducted online in 2023, disruption from generative AI is already rife, writes Caroline Bremner, Senior Head of Travel Research, Euromonitor International.

Balancing privacy and personalisation

Consumers are comfortable with new technology such as voice assistance providing personalised product information. However, how much will they embrace AI that depends on sharing ever more private data to enable personalisation? According to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer: Digital Survey, there is resistance: 45.1% of consumers agreed that they are concerned about how much data companies hold on them in 2023, while 21.8% are not willing to share any personal information.

Generative AI goes mainstream

Released in November 2022 by OpenAI, the speed of adoption of ChatGPT4, a natural language model, has been record-breaking, reaching 100 million users within two months. This is leading to an accelerated phase of automation across operations, communications, marketing, promotion, sales, coding and sustainability.

Leap forward in personalisation

Expedia announced in April 2023 its collaboration with OpenAI, offering in-app trip planning powered by ChatGPT, as well as offering a plug-in to ChatGPT Plus users. The Expedia ChatGPT experience provides personalised recommendations and facilitates bookings, delivering relevant results for hotels, flights and activities.

Other travel brands like Kayak, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide and Klook followed suit. Hotels and airlines are turning to generative AI for customer service, whilst automating menial tasks. More integration is expected for ChatGPT into the search and booking process. Generative AI is only at the beginning of its journey.

AI creates controversy

 However, the path of adoption will not run smooth as there are concerns over consumer privacy with countries like Italy temporarily banning ChatGPT. There are also concerns about the models being reliant on out-of-date knowledge. However, access to real-time data has been enabled for ChatGPT thanks to a new plug-in with Microsoft Bing.

The risks of amplifying misinformation, bias and inequality are major threats. Tech leaders like Elon Musk recently demanded a pause on AI development to avoid risks to humanity, stating that time was needed to enable governments to play catch-up.

Quality control will be required to ensure that there are no disconnects between trips crafted by AI, but not fulfilled to the necessary standard, leading to consumer dissatisfaction and personal risk.

AI unleashes new era of work

There are alarm bells for what an era of mass automation will usher in for the future of work. Travel agents faced mass disruption due to the rise of online travel three decades ago that led to mass store closures and job losses. Now, more travel agents face more disruption as generative AI accelerates automation across every stage of the customer journey. With Microsoft planning to integrate generative AI into its Microsoft 365 Copilot software, it will become ever more prevalent in consumers’ daily lives, work and travel.

 

#FestivalsConnect tackles diversity, equality, inclusion and social cohesion

A picture showing the #FestivalsConnect audience at event

Dr Afiya Holder – 25 April 2023

What do events, festivals and sports have in common? – the power to connect, celebrate and inspire change.

Last week Professor Jane Ali-Knight and I attended the launch of #FestivalsConnect- an initiative of  USW’s Centre for Culture, Sports and Events. The hosts Professors David McGillvray, Gayle McPherson and Sandro Carnicelli curated a gathering space in the rich cultural and historic town of Paisley for key industry practitioners, policymakers, and academia to discuss the role of events, festivals and sports in DEI and social cohesion.

The golden thread (pun intended) running throughout the discussions: “there is much being done but more support, structure, empirical work and practical impact are still needed”.

Amy FinchSpirit of 2012  showcased numerous practical case examples of #MomentstoConnect, the power of inclusivity and engaging traditionally excluded social groups such as the British Futures Windrush 75 Project aimed to acknowledge the significant cultural histories and contribution of the Windrush generation and Caribbean community.

Panelists Craig BurnUCI Cycling World ChampionshipsMarie ChristieEventScotland, Sodhi Deerha- Glasgow Mela  also shared their roles in fostering DEI and social cohesion in #events, #festivals, and #sports.

Craig highlighted the local and national impacts of cycling events that changed the socio-economic landscape of remote towns, developed purpose-built facilities in communities, and inspired active lifestyles among youth. In a side chat with Dr Holder, he also shared the impact of their involvement in developing the popular Scotland cycling course for eSports, a popular option and favourite of disabled international players.

Marie offered a holistic take on Event Scotland’s approach to inclusion and actions to ensure equality based on setting the #PerfectStage for all regarding age, ethnicity, religion, gender, and disability. Key action points included examining and ensuring equity in event funding and support. Marie also called for all to be actively involved in the upcoming series of consultation workshops aimed to address some of the gaps in the state of Scotland’s event industry and future- DEI being a main item for discussion.

Sodhi presented a unique perspective speaking from a supplier’s perspective as Producer of Mela multicultural events that showcase Indian music, dance, as well as interactive arts and culture. Sodhi shared the significant and lasting impact these events had on Glasgow’s cultural fabric, artists’ cultural pride and sense of self-determination as well as community social cohesion and acceptance of multiculturality.

On the topic, it’s safe to say Festivals, Events and Sports in Scotland are in capable hands. Yet, as I reflect on my work in this contested space, careful consideration is needed to avoid virtue signalling and ‘DEI-washing’ which is unsupportive when creating an inclusive and equal environment. Therefore, in this multi-layered and complex space it is imperative:

  • To achieve a deeper understanding from multiple socio-cultural lenses to achieve a comprehensive outlook;
  • To foster more engagement and empirical work to examine DEI impacts and social cohesion outcomes from events, festivals, and sports; and,
  • To determine clear indicators of success and practical impact

As I noted in my research on socio-cultural aversions, socio-cultural and economic ramifications for individuals, businesses and communities can be considerable if left unaddressed.

For more interest on this topic connect with Dr Afiya HolderProf Jane Ali-Knight  or Tourism Research Centre   for research, collaborative or PhD opportunities.

Getting ready for Web3: Edinburgh Tourism industry workshops a TravelTech future

Last week Dr. Afiya Holder joined key tourism and hospitality professionals in a workshop hosted by Traveltech for Scotland,  Orange xdLab and the University of Edinburgh’s ‘DeCaDE’ Centre. The session aimed to explore how Edinburgh’s tourism stakeholders can leverage digital transformation and the possibilities of Web3 to unlock new opportunities and enhance transactional experiences for tourists and suppliers.

The tourism sector is constantly evolving with one of the most recent advancements emerging at the intersection of travel technology and Web3. This reality has prompted the event hosts to send a call out for Edinburgh’s experts to share insights on future possibilities for the region. However, one key question sparking the curiosity of all attendees was: What is Web3 and how is it used or could be used among the different stakeholders?  Some stakeholder opinions revealed: 

“I am just here to poke my nose in as I am really curious about it all….” 

“I am curious and a bit sick, to be honest, people fear for their jobs, people fear that we may lose the human touch in hospitality… but I challenged myself to come after attending Joshua Ryan-Saha’s [Traveltech for Scotland] webinar introducing this phenomenon”. 

Unanimously, attendees admitted being in a conundrum battling between, ignorance, curiosity, fear and eagerness for digital preparedness and readiness. Nonetheless, the collective curiosity and desire to position Edinburgh’s tourism as a prime contender for innovative practice created the right recipe to combine talents, knowledge and expertise to leverage digital transformations occurring in Traveltech and Web3.

Dr Holder mentioned some benefits during the discussions: “Digital transformation in tourism is inevitable and leading the trail has significant benefits for tourists, operators and residents alike. For example, megaevents such as the Olympics are already exploring Web 3 e-ticketing solutions that have positive implications for secure identity management, tokenisation and sustainable waste management.” 

Web3 in a Nutshell

Often referred to as the “Decentralised Web”, Web 3 encompasses blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, privacy and security in an equitable and fair online environment that is more user-centric. To date, we have seen Traveltech and Web3 revolutionize seamlessly how we search, compare and book multiple travel transactions, for example, utilising one platform to book hotels, airfare, car rentals, and tours encouraging more transparency in pricing and available options. Other examples include the use of AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to enhance user experience with capabilities for customisation and real-time immersion.

Getting Web3 Ready

In true innovative style, the hosts moderated a creative, design-thinking, roundtable-style workshop. This approach encouraged a cross-section of Edinburgh’s tourism, hospitality and event experts to explore creative solutions and potential use value for Web 3. The top 3 reflections from the discussions include:

  • The importance of understanding the tourism ecosystem, its Stakeholders, Pressures and Collective Goals to exist, thrive and compete in an evolving Web 3 landscape.
  • Delving deeper into Prioritizing Relationships and how decentralised possibilities can benefit each stakeholder based on their assets and capabilities.
  • Leveraging key Capabilities of primary and secondary stakeholders for enhanced tourist experience, increased economic benefit and consideration for sustainable and efficient operations.

Towards an Innovative Future

The day of discussions ended on a positive and hopeful note. The partnerships and connections cultivated in the room were essential. Tourism academics left with a stronger appetite for further collaborative research explorations. Edinburgh’s tourism industry practitioners expressed satisfaction, and greater awareness and felt more prepared to embrace and leverage the future possibilities of Web 3 and Traveltech in a decentralised tourism ecosystem.

The Tourism Research Centre has tourism scholars who specialise in research on Digital Transformations in Tourism, for more insights on the topic or collaborative opportunities see link for more information.

Revenue Management Crossover

By Dr Angela Chu

Revenue Management (RM) originates from airline Yield Management (YM). Many people think that American Airlines (AA) was the first to adopt YM. However, YM was actually started by British Airways, with an employee of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, Ken Littlewood, who had established the idea of fenced prices and forecasts on seat inventory.

Littlewood proposed the revenue maximisation model by making use of the historical booking information obtained from the reservation system. AA took Littlewood’s rule on pioneering true yield revenue management a step further. And seeing their success, many other industries followed, including hotel and cruise lines.

In December 2022, I attended the RevME conference in Amsterdam, organised by the Revenue Management and Pricing in Service Sectors (REMAPS). The conference sees many internationally acclaimed academics and industry professionals sharing RM insights and best practices.

At the conference, Maarten van der Lei, Senior VP from Air France KLM, talked about their team set-up, the impact of COVID, the value propositions, and the competitive and commercial airline value chain. Sigrid Geldermans, previously employed by Marriott Europe and currently an advisor to the VP at FedEx, focused on airline cargo in her talk. Geldermans explained a shipment’s journey: hub & spoke, from the point of parcel pickup to the destination, covering all means of transportation, not limited to air but the ground network too. Her talk reminded me of my current research project on cruise RM and the complexity of the network system of a “moveable resort hotel on the sea”, a combination of hotel accommodation, F&B, transportation, and artificial theme park (in the case of mega-ships).

Of course, there is much more research about various forecasting methods, the difference between available and accessible data, and how we can understand our customers better. This is a step further in opening the Blackbox.

If you want to know more about RM, join my Hotel Revenue Management short course this spring! Click here to learn more and apply.

Festivals as networked communities, and a PhD journey to Tilburg University

By Dr David Jarman

In the world of festivals and communities, relationships matter. Festival managers and producers understand the overlapping links, both professional and private, amongst their colleagues. Freelancers and graduates developing their careers appreciate that opportunities may come by way of personal connections. The future success of entire festival organisations can depend on forging, maintaining and exploiting associations with collaborators, suppliers and allies.

Academic literature in the field of festival studies has sought to better understand the interpersonal dimension of these events, from different conceptual standpoints, in a range of contexts. However, in this festival environment there remains an opportunity, if not a need, to establish the place of network-based research methods and perspectives in the development of academic and industry understandings of social relationships. Networks underpin these connections and communities, from simple ties between pairs of people, to complex webs spanning hundreds of individuals, venues, performing companies, supply chains and audience members.

Earlier this summer, just before the beginning of term, I headed over to The Netherlands to complete my doctorate. The research is a response to the question: “What can social network analysis, and a network-orientated perspective, contribute to understanding the relationships within festival and creative communities?”

My PhD was with Tilburg University, where I had been a student for three years through the period of Covid lockdowns. The empirical work that contributed to it was built up over a number of years though, through a range of different journal articles, conference presentations and book chapters. It has been a privilege and an interesting journey over that time to complete this range of different projects, and to work with different people along the way. Taking this “by publication” route meant that I was able to focus on different projects, involving an array of primary data types, and various research methodologies. I was also able to find different homes for my work, with the support of many editors and colleagues along the way. Presenting my work at different conferences and events allowed me to tell people about my work and generate some interest in the network approach that I’ve been taking.

Throughout my work I’ve been focusing on different types of social network analysis. SNA is a growing area of academic research, partly driven by the opportunities that it presents, but also because of the interest in networks that has developed over the past 20 years. This interest is partly driven by widespread use of social media and communications technologies, but also through the shared experience of the Covid-19 pandemic and its spread across the globe. I was able to take this interest and apply it to the context of festivals and events, showing that there is a lot to be learnt and concluded from a network focused approach.

Going through the Dutch system was very interesting and rewarding, and very different from the experiences of colleagues who went through a UK system. My trip to Tilburg in late summer was primarily for a public defence of my PhD: I was given an hour on stage in which to present my work, and then to answer questions from a panel of assembled professors. It was a good experience, and my supervisors were confident that I would get through it, so I was happy to have my family with me to see it! I also produced a public publication so to speak: this took the form of multiple copies of a printed book with a shiny cover, that people who attended the event were free to take away with them. It has been an interesting journey to turn my PhD thesis into something which can quite comfortably sit on a bookshelf in a library, or in someone’s study.

The publication of the book in this form, and also as a PDF freely available from the Tilburg University repository, means that the various publications that I collected over the years are now in one place. If anyone wants to know what I’ve done over the past 10 years or so, they can head to the Tilburg University website and there it will be.

The journey to Tilburg was fantastic, and the good weather really helped. I was also very happy that one of my colleagues at Napier, Professor Jane Ali-Knight, was one of my supervisors, and therefore also at the public defence. Working with her, and my director of studies Professor Greg Richards, has been a really rewarding and valuable experience in itself. Greg and I, for example, published a special issue of the Event Management academic journal in 2021. We also collaborated on some events through the ATLAS group of academics, and we shall continue to build on this.

Final thanks from me must go to two groups of people. One is my family, my partner and young son who came out to the Netherlands with me. We enjoyed some lovely days in Amsterdam, Tilburg, and nearby Breda. The other group of people are the various administrators, support staff and Beadles who helped me at Tilburg University. They are a fantastic team, and I was really lucky to work with such great people through the six-month journey from thesis submission to public defence and book publication. The Tilburg campus is beautiful, the atmosphere is lively, and I was very well looked after by everyone I met.

In terms of my work as an academic at Edinburgh Napier, I am now in a position to tell anyone that there is a collected body of my work in that book. I’m also very happy that I can now call myself Dr. This will open up future opportunities to me in terms of research and other work, with additional freedoms to treat each project on its own merits rather than being part of a bigger endeavour. I will, of course, retain my interest in festivals, networks, and communities, and I will continue to share this with people at every opportunity that comes my way.

Introducing Lynn Minnaert, our new Head of Subject

We sat down for a chat with Professor Lynn Minnaert, who has recently joined Edinburgh Napier University as the Head of Subject for Tourism and Languages. In this post, we find out more about her background and aspirations.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I am originally from Belgium. I have worked in tourism education for the past 20 years, most recently as the Academic Chair at the Tisch Center of Hospitality at New York University, and before that at the University of Surrey and the University of Westminster. I have also worked on projects in range of other countries, including Kazakhstan, Finland, Sweden, Dominica and Brazil.

What is your area of research interest? 

My research interest and passion is social inclusion in tourism: I have worked on studies about social tourism for low-income groups, family tourism, event legacies and DEI in the event sector.

Why did you decide to join Edinburgh Napier University?

I was excited about joining ENU because of its strong reputation in tourism, hospitality, events and intercultural communication. The teaching team is creative and dynamic, and has strong industry networks, which benefit students in and outside of the classroom. We have subject specialists who are world-renowned in their fields, and are one of the oldest providers of tourism, hospitality and event education in the nation. Also, Edinburgh is an amazing location to learn about and research these topics!

What are your aspirations for the subject group?

My aspirations are to strengthen our position and reputation as a centre for teaching and research excellence, and as a hub for industry innovation. The objective is that by delivering student-centred, applied and rigorous programmes, as well as producing cutting-edge research, our students, alumni and staff will play leading roles in their industries and communities, as a force for good.

Thank you, Lynn, for your time taking this interview. We are delighted to have you in the team and look forward to working together.

Where are they now? ENU alumnus, Brianna Wyatt, gives an overview of her career so far

Dark tourism is an increasingly popular subject nowadays. It implies the idea of visiting tourist attractions that are associated with death and suffering.

Edinburgh Napier alumnus, Brianna Wyatt has been researching dark tourism for many years, and is now a senior lecturer at Oxford Brookes University. She gave us an overview of her career and an update on where she is now.

Originally from California, I moved to Edinburgh in 2014 to undertake the MSc programme in Heritage and Cultural Tourism Management. After graduating, I was awarded Edinburgh Napier University’s 50th Anniversary Scholarship to undertake a PhD study in tourism.

Although initially I sought to explore ‘dark’ World Heritage Sites, which landed me in an internship at UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris (2015), I completed my PhD in 2019 focusing on the influences of interpretation at lighter dark visitor attractions. This effort was supported by my part-time work as a guest services staff member at The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh and a Duty Manager for Edinburgh Dungeons, and later London Dungeons.

Supported by my previous awards (MA Humanities-History, California State University of Dominguez Hills, 2015; MA Museum Studies, Oklahoma University, 2012), and a PGC in Business Research Methods from Edinburgh Napier University (2017), I quickly became employed after graduation (2019) with Bath Spa University, as a Senior Lecturer in tourism at their sister campus in London.

I later made a transition to Oxford Brookes University, where I am now a Senior Lecturer in tourism and events and the PG Subject Coordinator for the Hospitality, Tourism and Events programmes. I am also an active academic with a research interest in interpretation design of dark tourism experiences.

In addition, I have an interest in experience design for heritage tourism, as well as events and festivals. I have acted as a consultant for a Horrible Histories workshop, providing insight into interpretation of dark histories, and have taken up two separate External Examiner posts for tourism and events programmes at two universities in Scotland.

Most recently, I have been exploring defunct penal institutions, on a global scale, and their conversion into places of accommodation, which will be shown in forthcoming publications. I had the opportunity to showcase my research relating to edutainment interpretation within lighter dark tourism at Edinburgh Napier University’s dark tourism symposium on 5 May 2022.

Congratulations, Brianna, on all your achievements, we couldn’t be more proud!

If you too have an area of interest you would like to research whilst undertaking a PhD with us, please email Tourism Research Centre Lead, Prof. Anna Leask.