Consultancy Services

Strategic Planning

TTC provides a wide ranging service of strategic planning and master-planning for tourism destinations across the world – at national, regional and local level. Recent work includes a strategy for tourism related to the proposed UN Annan Peace Plan for Cyprus, a cruise tourism strategy for Southampton and Masterplans for Tourism in for the Caribbean islands of St Maarten and Antigua. In England we completed an Equine Tourism Strategy for Cumbria and currently are working on strategies for six European Islands under INTERREG.

Clients range from EU and other donors to governments, local authorities, private corporations and communities.

Market Research & Analysis

TTC provides a comprehensive market research approach to the tourism and transport sectors. Whether it is a new project in the tourism sector or a new air route or aviation service TTC can examine the proposition and with a professional and detached eye provide realistic and understandable assessments and recommendations for clients. TTC's recent clients include private corporations examining the feasibility of holiday resorts in Ireland; government departments seeking advice on the success of potential air routes to the viability of events. With partners TTC can provide consumer research to enhance the effect of the research process.

Marketing Strategy

TTC assists a wide variety of clients at home and abroad in developing and implementing marketing strategies that bring results in tourism and transport. From the recent noted success of Kenya's Tourism Recovery Programme funded by the EU to the marketing strategy for the Lough Neagh or destinations as varied as Ayia Napa in Cyprus and South Armagh, TTC has gained reputation for down to earth workable plans. The company was pleased to have provided Tourism Ireland support for its first marketing plan, following on TTC's tradition of having marketed Ireland as an island under the Overseas Tourism Marketing Initiative. TTC developed Tourism Ireland's North American Marketing Strategy and prepared a review of barriers to tourism in Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland. We are currently carrying out a Strategic Review of the European Markets for Tourism Ireland.

Land Use Planning & Management

TTC has developed a specialist expertise in land use planning. From the feasibility of major golf course developments and associated hotels to recreation use of lands to the planning of country parks and estates a first class advice service is provided including valuation and costing of both development and ongoing care and maintenance. TTC can also provide specialist advice on estate management and the evaluation of agriculture versus recreational or tourism use. We were instrumental in delivering the first Ritz Carlton Hotel in the British Isles at Powerscourt and in preparing a management plan for the Historic Hillsborough Castle Gardens.

Transport Analysis & Planning

TTC has long term experience of a variety of transport issues - notably in route planning and analysis of the wide aviation and ferry access scene. The company provides monthly analysis of air access to Ireland to Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. An annual state of access report is available on subscription which is considered the authoritative commentary on air route issues to the country. TTC's database of air and sea routes and of airport capacity is considered unique for the island. The company is currently developing a marketing support scheme for air routes for the North West Air Access Consortium and prepared a new approach for the operation of the Rathlin Island Residents Pass Scheme used on the Caledonian Mac Brayne Ferry Service. In 2008 TTC prepared an Air Route Marketing Support Scheme for Cyprus which is currently being implemented.

Policy Review

TTC has an enviable reputation in policy review largely for governments. The company has reviewed the effectiveness of Irish tourism marketing and marketing organisations at national and regional level. In 2003 TTC reviewed the effectiveness of a bid for European Capital of Culture and reviewed the effectiveness of environmental improvement schemes and other environmental initiatives. On a wider scale EU Programmes have had evaluations of effectiveness carried out. The company recently completed a review of Iomairt Cholim Coille for the Irish, Scottish and Northern Ireland Governments and is carrying out reviews of INTERREG schemes such as the Green Box, Blackwater Sustainable Tourism Project and the Celtic European Festival of the Sea.

Economic Appraisals & Impact

TTC has a long track record of economic appraisals and economic impact studies. Ranging from the impact of tourism in the Caribbean and Kenya to the economic appraisal of major events in Ireland such as the Circuit of Ireland Rally, the North West 200 motor cycle races and the World Rally Championship, the company provides a detached view of economic impact in tourism. TTC recently completed a ground breaking carrying capacity study of an island in the Caribbean to assess what future level of tourism development should take place. Recent work included appraisals of cross border road schemes using a Transport Economic Efficiency model.

Project Management

TTC has project managed some notable tourism developments in Ireland such as the Powerscourt Estate Golf development in Wicklow and the National Conference Centre in Dublin. At Powerscourt the first Ritz Carlton Hotel in the British Isles is under construction and TTC's client Treasury Holdings is the preferred bidder for the NCC.

Community Development

TTC has a specialism in community development at local level for tourism and for group development. Clients are usually cross community groups wishing to improve their skills in tourism marketing and product development or develop their capacity. TTC has worked in Sixtowns County Tyrone and has completed capacity building with the group in Learmount County Londonderry. The 'Green Box' initiative based in County Leitrim is now being reviewed. The ISLA on my Island INTERREG project involves community groups on a range of North European islands.