Handbook

2. A Review Of Main Street Initiatives

Part of our project’s research involved investigating a wide selection of main streets to expand our understanding of what is currently being done and what might be possible. In this section, we have provided brief summaries of key initiatives that we felt were relevant in developing the handbook. The theories, concepts and approaches in these various examples will be used throughout the handbook. We also present the results of the work of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Institute at Ryerson University.

• 2.1 UK High Street Task Force
• 2.2 The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program
  
• 2.3 The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) Bring Back Main Street Program
  
• 2.4 City of Toronto’s Response to the Main Street Issue
  
• 2.5 BIA Study Carried Out by the for Hospitality and Tourism Management Institute, Ryerson University
  

3. Introducing the Visitor Economy

An important mandate of many main streets is to attract and welcome visitors from outside their immediate area for the added economic and vibrancy value they bring. In this section, the visitor economy is defined and explored as the potential and actual value add activities for main streets.

• 3.1 What Is the Visitor Economy
  
• 3.2 The Benefits and Challenges of Visitors
  
• 3.3 What Is the Product in the Visitor Economy
  
• 3.4 The Visitor Journey
  
• 3.5 Key Questions in Considering the Visitor Economy
  
• 3.6 Conclusion
  

Main Street Storytelling Manual

• 4.1 Foreword
• 4.1.2 What is storytelling?
• 4.1.3 Understanding the audience
• 4.1.4 Planning for storytelling
• 4.1.5 Storytelling media
• 4.1.6 Summary

'After 6'

• 4.2.1 Foreword
• 4.2.2 Starting to Understand Main Street ‘After 6’
• 4.2.3 Advantages of the ‘After 6’ Economy
• 4.2.4 Does Your Main Street Have What It Takes?
• 4.2.5 What Can Happen ‘After 6’
• 4.2.6 Achieving Your Main Street’s ‘After 6’ Potential
• 4.2.7 Making It Happen
• 4.2.8 Conclusion

Main Street Residents and their Visitors

• 4.3.1 Introduction
• 4.3.2 Residents attract visitors and affect their behaviour
• 4.3.3 How does hosting visitors affect residents?
• 4.3.4 Possible applications, messaging and channels
• 4.3.5 Conclusion

Visitor Led Main Street Strategies: Developing Partnerships for Visitor Economy Engagement

• 4.4.1 The benefits of partnerships and collaboration
• 4.4.2 Types of partnerships
• 4.4.3 Practical examples
• 4.4.4 Considerations and tips
• 4.4.5 Conclusion

4.5 Visitor Led Main Street Strategies: Mapping your Main Street

• 4.5.1 Introduction
• 4.5.2 Objectives of a mapping exercise
• 4.5.3 Who should do the mapping?
• 4.5.4 Putting yourself in the visitor’s shoes
• 4.5.5 Possible visitor related 6 resources and experiences
• 4.5.6 Possible data sources and data 7 gathering techniques
• 4.5.7 Accessing and using the data
• 4.5.8 Key takeaways

Visitor Led Main Street Strategies: Creating Experiences and Mitigating Risks

• 4.6.1 Understanding the relationship between main streets and their community
• 4.6.2 Why aren't businesses building new visitor experiences on our main street?
• 4.6.3 Is your main street ready to welcome visitors?
• 4.6.4 So how can my community be more open to tourism development?
• 4.6.5 Conclusion
• 4.6.6 Key takeaways

Visitor Led Main Street Strategies: Curating Main Street

• 4.7.1 Introduction
• 4.7.2 Research your main street
  
• 4.7.3 Forming a Task Force & Cooperation
  
• 4.7.4 Creating incentives
  
• 4.7.5 Conclusion