Urban icons and city branding development

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Rey Castillo-Villar
Keyword(s):  
Local Context ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how future urban icons can effectively contribute to the development of an authentic city brand linked to local identity. Urban icons have been one of the main tools of city branding to promote a unique and distinctive image of the city. However, the rising of the globalization reflects a series of strong dilemmas regarding the contemporary urban icons because these have been reproduced in a standardized way around the world without any connection to the local context. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study consisted of 30 in-depth interviews with visual aids of urban icons conducted with local residents of the city of Monterrey, Mexico. Findings The results demonstrate that the acceptance of a contemporary urban icon by local residents depends on their relationship with the most representative aspects of the local identity and their ability to generate positive experiences. The outcomes of the research suggest that future urban icons should favor the local identity and the free coexistence between local residents over the attractive visual design and the private space. Originality/value The article discusses the dynamics between urban icons and the city brand from a new theoretical approach supported by empirical evidence. The novelty of this approach consists of the vision of the urban icon as an element capable of linking the city brand with the values and ideals of local residents.

The role of leadership and communication in internal city branding

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rico Piehler ◽  
Ayla Roessler ◽  
Christoph Burmann
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Branding ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Commitment ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Brand Communication ◽  
Internal Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
The City

Purpose This study aims to investigate the brand-oriented leadership of a city’s mayor and city online brand communication as brand management-related antecedents of residents’ city brand commitment. It thus examines if city brand managers can apply internal branding concepts from the corporate branding domain in a city branding context. Design/methodology/approach The relationships between the brand management-related antecedents and the internal city branding (ICB) objective are tested through structural equation modeling using cross-sectional survey data of 414 residents of a German city. Findings Both the brand-oriented leadership of the mayor in terms of acting as a role model by living the city brand and its identity and by showing commitment to the brand and the city’s online brand communication in terms of its quality have positive effects on residents’ city brand commitment. Moderation analyses reveal no significant differences between the path estimates for age, place of birth, duration of residency and education. However, the results differ significantly for gender. Research limitations/implications As this study’s sample is limited to only one city in Germany, further research needs to investigate the relationships in different cities and other countries to ensure the generalizability of the results. Future studies might also include other aspects of city brand communication, as well as cognitive and behavioural ICB objectives. Practical implications To increase residents’ city brand commitment, city brand managers should ensure that a city’s online brand communication is adequate, complete, credible, useful and clear. Furthermore, through creating awareness for the importance of a mayor’s brand-oriented leadership and through educating and training the mayor to engage in this specific form of brand-oriented transformational leadership, city brand managers can increase residents’ emotional attachment with the city brand. Originality/value This study integrates internal branding research from the corporate branding domain with place and city branding research. It confirms that certain aspects of internal branding (i.e. brand-oriented leadership, brand communication and brand commitment) are applicable not only in the corporate branding domain but also in other branding contexts such as city branding if adapted properly.

scholarly journals Intra-organizational brand resistance and counter-narratives in city branding – a comparative study of three Danish cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1001-1018
Author(s):  
Marianne Wollf Lundholt ◽  
Ole Have Jørgensen ◽  
Bodil Stilling Blichfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Political Support ◽  
The Political ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Counter Narratives ◽  
The City ◽  
Competition For Resources

Purpose This study aims to contribute to an increased understanding of intra-organizational city brand resistance by identifying and discussing different types of counter-narratives emerging from the political and administrative arenas. Design/methodology/approach The empirical material consists of secondary data as well as six in-depth semi-structured interviews with Danish mayors and city managers in three different municipalities in Denmark. Findings Intra-organizational counter-narratives differ from inter-organizational counter-narratives but resemble a number of issues known from extra-organizational resistance. Still, significant differences are found within the political arena: lack of ownership, competition for resources and political conflicts. Lack of ownership, internal competition for resources and distrust of motives play an important role within the administrative arena. Mayors are aware of the needs for continued political support for branding projects but projects are nonetheless realized despite resistance if there is a political majority for it. Research limitations/implications This study points to the implications of city brand resistance and counter-narratives emerging from the “inside” of the political and administrative arenas in the city, here defined as “intra-organizational counter-narratives”. Practical implications It is suggested that politicians and municipality staff should be systematically addressed as individual and unique audiences and considered as important as citizens in the brand process. Originality/value So far little attention has been paid to internal stakeholders within the municipal organization and their impact on the city branding process approached from a narrative perspective.

Green city branding: perceptions of multiple stakeholders

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ju Wang
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Associative Network ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Associative Network Theory ◽  
Brand Concept Maps ◽  
Green City

Purpose With society’s growing environmental concern, developing a green brand identity provides cities with opportunities to enhance their competitiveness. Nevertheless, few studies have explored green city branding and specifically considered the diverse perceptions of multiple stakeholders. Accordingly, this study aims to explore green city branding from the perceptions of multiple stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Based on associative network theory, the study uses brand concept maps and network analysis approaches to construct and analyze the content and structure of mental models among local residents and foreign tourists for a green city brand. This study further seeks empirical support for the findings via a survey, using the sample case of Yilan County in Taiwan. Findings The results of this study reveal that foreign tourists possess a more diverse and heterogeneous brand perception than local residents. Additionally, the study uncovers significant green city brand associations regarding their influences on the behavioral decisions of local residents and foreign tourists. Originality/value This research is the first attempt to advance the knowledge of green city branding by empirically exploring the green city brand perceptions of multiple stakeholders based on associative network theory. The results provide brand researchers with different analytical perspectives on the existing knowledge about city brand perceptions and offer strategic information for city managers.

scholarly journals City branding and museum souvenirs: towards improving the St. Petersburg city brand

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iuliia Trabskaia ◽  
Iuliia Shuliateva ◽  
Rebecca Abushena ◽  
Valery Gordin ◽  
Mariya Dedova
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
The City ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify ways to develop museum shop product, which will possess competitive advantage, and to recommend what should be done to develop such product so that it has a positive impact on the city brand of St. Petersburg.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 76 museums have been studied through the observation method to describe their shops’ inventory in terms of percentages of each product. Mostly St. Petersburg museums were included in the analysis. The observation method enabled the researchers to analyse the inventory of the museum souvenir shops. The findings of the analysis enabled the researchers to reach conclusions about museums’ strategies of product development.FindingsThe research allowed to make the conclusion that although the museum shops in St.Petersburg demonstrate positive tendencies in the development of competitive stores’ products a lot of work is still to be done. Not all museums are characterised by availability of clear strategy for product development. They offer souvenirs (if any) which do not differ from those existing on the market according to topics and functions which are characteristic for them. Recommendations on how to make the product of museum shops more competitive were proposed.Practical implicationsCities need new and fresh ways to create and promote their brands. Museums can contribute to this significantly with the help of souvenirs production. This research will provide insight into the process of how museums can do this by developing their shops’ inventory strategies. Recommendations to improve strategies for creation of competitive product were offered in the paper.Originality/valueIn today’s competitive conditions, museums are creating augmented products and create museum shops. Nevertheless, the role of museum shops in brand creation is underexplored. Museum shops have a high potential for creating high-quality products that may influence the museum and city brand in a positive way, as souvenirs and visual images of museum artifacts play an essential role in making an impression on tourists.

Major event and city branding

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-De Liu
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Major Event ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Visitor Perceptions ◽  
European Capital Of Culture ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
The City

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of a key branding campaign, based on a case study of Liverpool as the 2008 European Capital of Culture. Branding is a popular practice adopted by many cities in the context of intensified tourism competition. Design/methodology/approach – This study looks at quantitative data collected from an on-street face-to-face survey in 2008. In total, 611 questionnaires were distributed to and collected from local residents, visitors from the immediate hinterland, domestic tourists and overseas visitors. Findings – The analysis is done, first by investigating respondents’ impression on the Liverpool 08 brand and the branding campaign, and then by exploring the effects of the campaign. The positioning of Liverpool compared with other similar cities is addressed in the end. Originality/value – Event marketers need to be aware that visitor perceptions of the event’s branding are unlikely to be homogeneous. This could have significant implications on the design of brand and branding campaign and, then, affect whether the city could be effectively marketed.

The identity change of rural–urban transformational tourism development in Chiang Mai heritage city: local residents’ perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanapa Wanitchakorn ◽  
Kaewta Muangasame
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Identity Change ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Chiang Mai ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Identity Changes ◽  
The City

Purpose This paper aims to develop an empirical understanding of the local identity changes of Chiang Mai heritage city from residents’ perspectives from when the city was pushed forward to inscription on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites during a period of transformation in tourism development. The indicative themes of identity change are proposed in a conceptualised model of the multiple stages of identity change in transformational tourism development. Design/methodology/approach This study applied the qualitative approach to gain insight on local residents in Chiang Mai. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with local residents who underwent transformational experiences with the city, including life-changing tourism experiences with mixtures of senior citizens who were born in the city, migrants and local experts. Site observations and secondary data supplemented the interviews were used in triangulation with identity changes during the transformational tourism period. Findings This study’s findings revealed identity changes in locals’ way of life regarding tradition and culture and the increased urbanisation. The indicative themes that caused local identity changes included tourism demand, national policy and new critical emerging issues of capitalism and education are underlined. The way of life in local community transition, tradition and culture has been distorted by effective destination marketing, However, the positive perspectives of identity changes were explored in this study. Originality/value This study fills a research gap, given that few scholars (Gu and Ryan, 2007; Lean, 2009; Lemmi et al., 2018; Reisinger, 2015; Robledo and Batle, 2017; Willson et al., 2013; Xue et al., 2017) have conducted in-depth studies on identity change problems that are caused by rural to urban transformational tourism development.

Understanding resident city brand disengagement

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Insch ◽  
Menique Stuart
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Brand Awareness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resident Participation ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors underlying residents’ lack of involvement and engagement with their city brand. This paper addresses the gap in understanding residents’ disengagement from their city brand. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews with 14 residents of Dunedin City, New Zealand, were conducted to identify and understand the factors that underlie residents’ disengagement from their city brand. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings – Four major themes or factors that influence residents’ disengagement were identified: lack of brand awareness/knowledge; lack of brand identification; disapproval of local government actions; and cynical attitudes towards involvement. Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on one city brand, with its unique history and institutional context, and the thoughts and experiences of a limited group of residents, thus limiting the applicability of the findings. A longitudinal study would be helpful to identify if residents’ engagement with their place brand change over time and the underlying reasons for such changes. Practical implications – Extant research highlights the importance of a participatory, co-creative process between citizens and local governments for building city brands. Despite this, this study’s findings demonstrate that there might be several formidable barriers to resident participation in their city’s branding process. Originality/value – This paper represents a first step in understanding what might trigger or contribute to residents becoming disengaged from their city’s brand. Therefore, this paper considers the “hidden voices” of residents who have become largely disconnected from the city brand.

The green branding of Hong Kong: visitors’ and residents’ perceptions

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Shing Chan ◽  
Lawal M. Marafa
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Working Definition ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Comparison Of The Results

Purpose This paper aims to connect green spaces with city branding by introducing a proposed Green (Resource) Brand Hexagon (GBH). Design/methodology/approach This study empirically tested the principles of the GBH with samples of Hong Kong residents (n = 301) and visitors (n = 395). Surveys were carried out to investigate the perceptions of the 23 elements in the GBH by both respondent groups. Findings A comparison of the results via factor analysis identified two green brand structures preferred by local residents (a brand pentagon) and by visitors (a brand square). The findings suggest different associations of green resource elements in their brand perceptions, which were partly reflected in the governmental Brand Review exercise in Hong Kong in 2008. Inter-group differences in the ranking of GBH’s elements also indicate a knowledge gap between visitors and residents. Research limitations/implications The modification process of the GBH from Anholt’s City Brand Hexagon framework involved researchers’ interpretations and understanding of green resources in Hong Kong; it inevitably produced some degree of subjectivity. The working definition of “green resources” in this study perceptually excluded certain features in public parks, such as the geological landscapes and beaches that are, in principle, part of the Hong Kong Geopark. Originality/value The findings of this paper offer an indicative green brand framework for destination marketers and brand managers whose cities enjoy attractive green resources. The ratings of GBH’s elements provide useful references for local brand management through an understanding of strong green brand attributes and structures by local residents and visitors. The inter-group comparison of the green brand structures also informs policymakers and city marketers about the divergent associations of brand elements for possible brand extension. Finally, the results are also very beneficial because they provide an opportunity for regional green brand development.

Developing the eventful city in Sibiu, Romania

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Richards ◽  
Ilie Rotariu
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Growth Coalition ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose – Cities are increasingly using events as an instrument for economic and social change and cultural and urban regeneration. Major events help cities to distinguish themselves, and attracting event-related tourism generates income and jobs and increases atmosphere and “liveliness”. Many cities have therefore positioned themselves as “eventful cities” or “festival cities” by adopting event-led strategies. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The effects of the 2007 European Capital of Culture (ECoC) in Sibiu, Romania were evaluated through a decade of longitudinal research including surveys and depth interviews with local residents, stakeholders and tourists to monitor the sustainability of event-related regeneration strategies. Findings – The impacts identified include increased cultural activity, tourism growth, image improvements and increased pride among residents. These impacts have been facilitated by a local growth coalition, and the increased linkage of the city to flows of investment, skills and talent through EU membership. The city has taken some important steps to becoming an “eventful city”, in which events are utilised to sustainably increase the quality of life. However, the momentum of eventfulness developed in 2007 has been difficult to maintain, and there are difficulties in separating the effect of event-related activities from wider cultural, social and economic development factors. Originality/value – The research indicates that the Sibiu ECoC in 2007 and the programme of cultural development leading up to it had substantial impacts on the city both in the short and longer term. The ECoC certainly met most of its short-term aims, as there was a significant economic boost from tourism and an improvement in the external image of the city.

Attributes of the Blumenau (Brazil) brand from the residents’ perspective, and its influence on the decision to stay in the destination

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrícia Durieux Zucco ◽  
Clóvis Reis ◽  
Sara Joana Gadotti dos Anjos ◽  
Samara Jane Effting ◽  
Melise de Lima Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Positive Relationship ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Brand Building ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Decision To Stay ◽  
The City

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the attributes of Blumenau city brand, from the residents’ perspective and its relation to their intention to remain living there. Design/methodology/approach This is a quantitative study using survey data collected from a sample of 417 subjects, stratified by neighborhood, income class, gender and age. The theoretical and methodological framework is the scale developed by Merrilees et al. (2009) and the FOCUS (2014) report about the self-image of the residents of Blumenau. Findings There is a positive relationship between the assessment of the attributes of the municipality and the residents’ attitude toward Blumenau brand. The study also verified a positive relationship between Blumenau brand assessment and the residents’ intention regarding their own future. In fact, the relative satisfaction of the respondents with the attributes of the city, as well as the positive socio-economic indicators, influenced the intention to stay in the municipality. Originality/value This work presents a methodological combination of the evaluation of city branding and the intention to remain living in a certain place. The study adds important information on the role of the residents on the process of city brand building, showing that besides the transient assessment, the intentions to remain in a place should be considered, given that such intent is linked to the image that residents have of the city.

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