Businesses create board to boost city
Make it York has established a Members’ Advisory Board which includes a number of the city’s businesses.
The Destination Management Organization invites its 800+ members to join the board.
The Board aims to support the organization’s activities, encourage membership and promote the city as the best place to live, work and stay.
It will also take on the role of providing constructive feedback, giving them insight into what they think Make It York could do better and what they think is most beneficial from their membership in Visit York.
After 75 expressions of interest, 15 individuals were appointed to the board, with representatives from many sectors including attractions, accommodation, retail, business services, tours, advertising, blogs and more.
The members of the voluntary board are: James Dickinson, Nettl; John Gallery, World of James Herriot; Martha Morley, Yorkshire Air Museum; Jay Commins, Pyper; Emily Pickard, York Mumbler; Matthew Greenwood, Exploring York; Alan Wellock, your creative source; Janet Scally, The Grand, York; John Wright, York Carriage Awaited; Neringa Didzgalvyte, The Star Inn the City; Polly Bennett, Little Vikings; Emma Godivala, York Gin; Lorraine Wilson, YorGuest; Stuart Jarman, The Potions Cauldron and Lee Miles, Mountain Goat
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director at Make It York, said: “We are launching the Members Advisory Board so that we can have a more detailed cross-industry insight into what we think our members are doing well and all the areas where we are doing our best In my opinion could further improve.
“We are incredibly pleased with the response and support we have received from members so far and we look forward to working even more closely together in the future. Thanks to Philip Bolson for helping us design and implement the board.”
Mr B Hospitality’s Philip Bolson said: “The purpose of the Members Advisory Board is to keep Make It York relevant and focus them on what matters to the city’s businesses and residents and keep it real by talking about what is actually happening and what is needed .
“Beyond that, it only endorses Sarah Loftus and the Make It York team. It’s a tough job promoting York around the world, so anything these consultants can do to help them succeed is a good thing.”
YorGuest’s Lorraine Wilson says the board would help her share visitor feedback to improve York as a city.
She added: “There’s a great diversity of people in the group and it’s really interesting to hear other people’s perspectives and I’m excited for the future of the group. There is so much potential and we could really make a difference.”
