Thanet Tourism and ITTA Memorandum of Understanding: January 2008

Shared Objectives:
Working together:

• To bring visitors to Thanet for the economic benefit of all.
• To promote the importance of the visitor economy in general and in Thanet in particular across
  all sectors on a national, regional and district level.
• To work together to ensure that Tourism has a high profile with Thanet District and Kent
  County council.

The Thanet Tourism Team (TDC, its’ agencies and consultants) will :

Overall:

• Recognise and promote the ITTA as the officially recognised and independent voice for the
  tourism, leisure and hospitality industry in Thanet.
• Put forward the ITTA for strategic and tactical consultations at a district and county level when tourism industry input is requested on broader issues.

Consultation and Involvement.

• Consult with ITTA on the annual Visitor Economy plan, encouraging industry input within the parameters of TDC Corporate Plan, resources available and the need of the visitor. The Thanet Tourism Team will then deliver plan
• Establish working groups in agreed areas where liaison will be mutually beneficial.

Communication.

• One senior tourism officer to attend Executive meetings.
• All officers to attend general meetings
• Send regular communication and updates on Thanet Tourism progress as well as other
  regional and national tourism items
• To include a section on the Thanet Tourism communication for ITTA news.

Promotion

• Actively encourage new membership through industry communication and referrals
• Assist with providing content for the ITTA communications to its members including ITTA's
  newsletter and website
• Where possible negotiate special rates for ITTA members in relation to advertising in marketing material
• Mention and link on the website.

Reporting and Measurement.

• Provide Business Barometer information on a quarterly basis with support from the industry in supplying the information
• Offer to do feedback presentation at ITTA meetings
• Conduct an annual Industry survey
• Provide an annual report on performance of the Visitor Economy Plan
• Provide feedback from DPUK and Cambridge Model reports.

The ITTA will:

Overall.

• Recognise the Thanet Tourism Team as being responsible for destination management in
  marketing, visitor information, research and development
• Recognise the Thanet Tourism Team as being the strategic representative of the destination at regional and national level.

Representation.

• Provide a representative, unified and constructively challenging industry voice
• To actively encourage new membership and retain existing membership
• Provide one point of contact for the Thanet Tourism Team for each agreed areas of common interest which is representative of the whole industry across all the sectors and all the geographic area
• Encourage participation and support in Thanet Tourism consultation process
• Encourage a wide range of members to become involved in a range of Thanet Tourism working groups.

Communication.

• Have a clear communication plan for members which identifies key meetings in advance and other regular means of updating
• Include Thanet Tourism news in ITTA newsletters and Website with reciprocal links
• Circulate minutes of Executive and General meetings to Thanet Tourism.

Best practice.

• Keeping members informed of national, regional and district standards and raise awareness of external opportunities
• Invite external guest speakers on areas of interest
• Encourage members to attend appropriate training and skills workshops and participate in the Pride in Thanet initiative
• Encourage members to monitor their business, complete industry surveys and provide
  feedback
• Encourage members to be ambassadors for the Thanet tourism industry and promote a
  constructive dialogue around the issues might, or do, affect the destination and industry
• Encourage members to take part in national schemes e.g. for Accommodation the National
  Quality Assured Scheme and for attractions the National Code of Practise.

Review of the Thanet Tourism Team and ITTA relationship

• We need to agree on a mechanism and communication channel for positively handling any
  issues and concerns that are raised by either side
• We need to review the Memorandum of Understanding at least once a year with it being a
  flexible agreement that can react to changes in the market and/or resources etc
• The first official review will be in June 2008.

Review of the Thanet Tourism Team and ITTA relationship

• We need to agree on a mechanism and communication channel for positively handling any issues and concerns that may be raised by either side
• We need to review the Memorandum of Understanding at least once a year with it being aflexible arrangement that can react to changes in the market and/or resources
• We need to agree on a mechanism and communication channel for handling positively any issues and concerns that are raised by either side
• The first official review will be in June 2008.