How do you have fun with data and planning about the local visitor economy? That was the question that guided an event co-hosted by Raglan Business Chamber (RBC) and Whaingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO).
Both groups are keen to see a visitor economy that provides year-round business, benefits locals and the environment, and aligns with the community plan ‘Raglan Naturally’.
Planning for the event was a participatory process in itself, with the dynamic WRDMO team generating inspired, out-of-the-box ideas. At times it felt more like an improv exercise than a method-driven process! Yet, at the heart were always the three purposes we design for in Technology of Participation:
- the ‘why’ (rational aim),
- the ‘what’ (practical result/ takeaway from the event) and, very importantly,
- the ‘vibe’ (experiential aim)– the experience we wanted for participants – in this case a very high energy one.
Our STEPS for staging events were also relevant – for example the space, Wyld Café and close-of-business timing (aka cocktail hour) were both chosen to attract business and community group members.
The co-designed process featured:
- A mihi that acknowledged the place and people of Whaingaroa
- Data about the visitor economy turned into a ‘did you know’ guessing game for groups at tables, MC’ed by extroverted characters, with local sustainable products as prizes.
- A ‘world café’ process – playing on the idea of ‘destination management’, where each table was a distinct destination from around the world, with corresponding cuisine snacks. Participants toured the ‘Wyld world café’, while table hosts asked questions and scribbled answers on the ‘tablecloths’ (paper) to get input into visitor management planning.
- A large brown paper calendar featuring a colourful display of known annual events - participants were invited to add others to liven up off-peak visitor periods.
Katie Lowes from RBC reflected:
“The Lemon Spritz mocktail on arrival, made with local lemons, set the tone for the meeting; a hui with local experience at the core, and an energy that filled the cups of those that run businesses and Not for Profit organisations in Raglan.
We enjoyed connecting over tourism statistics, and realised that what we ‘thought’ was true about our local economy was often not! We laughed, we picked apart goals for the future, and shared challenges and problems.
To see so many cross-sections of Whaingaroa’s community come together on the collective mission of positive and collaborative growth was the real gift...”
Facilitator Helen Ritchie reflected:
“I can facilitate a topic that I really don’t anything much about. The group knew plenty! about it. My job was to design processes that would work with what they had, what they wanted, who they were and the vibe they wanted to create.”
Contributor: Helen Ritchie