http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMF01q0UrZM

For some time now we have been busy with our colleagues at Marketing Manchester developing Culture Hosts – an innovative mix of tools designed to make better connections between culture and hospitality.

The digital element is a powerful listings engine that allows its users to upload event content which is then published in many places – from online magazines and DMO websites to e-newsletters for 100s of hotel reception staff. There’s even a possibility it will send what’s on information to an interactive bus-stop soon!

And then there is the low-tech counterpart. Culture Hosts is also a training programme aimed at developing culture product-knowledge with concierge teams in hotels and visitor centres. These are people who talk directly with 1000s of potential visitors each day, and this project has revealed some fascinating insights about how to deliver a better customer service and visitor experiences.

This is a project funded by Arts Council England, Grants for the Arts Lottery programme, managed by Marketing Manchester and shaped by the Manchester Cultural Destinations Group.