Jonathan Sykes is Whanganui and Partners' new brand and events strategic lead. Photo / Abe Leach
Jonathan Sykes is Whanganui and Partners' new brand and events strategic lead. Photo / Abe Leach
We've got great stories to tell, now it's about getting them out there.
That's the stance of Whanganui and Partners' strategic lead for brand and events, Jonathan Sykes, who started the role on Monday.
The new position based solely around marketing was keenly backed by former Whanganui and Partners Boarddirector Jonathan Russell, who died in April.
Sykes joins Whanganui and Partners after spending just over two years working in marketing for UCOL, mainly working in Palmerston North but often visiting the Whanganui campus.
He also has marketing experience working for insurance firm AXA.
Sykes indicates putting an emphasis on Whanganui's uniqueness will be important to get eyes on the district and possibly change some people's opinions of the city.
"From some conversations I've had, there's a lot of talk about a perception challenge with Whanganui, but when you really get under the skin of what it actually is, it's that people just don't know what's here.
Brand and events are the focus of Jonathan Sykes who has joined Whanganui and Partners.
Photo / Abe Leach
"It's about giving them more reasons to come here and reaching out to the broader region that may include Taranaki and Palmerston North.
"People love living here, maybe that doesn't permeate out as widely as we might like but there's some absolutely fantastic things going on here."
Whanganui's heritage and the legal status of the Whanganui River is what Sykes identifies as key to marketing the district.
"It's great we've got those two credible things to give a sense of the quality of the place.
"Those are some core aspects of Whanganui to hold on to as we grow the number of people who live here and businesses that are based here."
Sykes says there's room to grow in terms of events, especially when it comes to getting businesses to give Whanganui a try.
"The airport is so near, there's definitely some facilities we just need to make sure people are aware of and that they understand what's available."
Sykes said the Labour Party conference, which will bring in hundreds of delegates to Whanganui in November, will give businesses an idea of how compact the city is, and will highlight the cost effectiveness of Whanganui compared to other destinations.
While Whanganui and Partners is looking to lift the district to the next level, Sykes says it's the city's residents that also play a big role in marketing.
"Everyone's got a role to play and when there is good news we need to make sure we let people know.
"Everyone in Whanganui are advocates and really it's about the people telling Whanganui's story."
