Richard III

Well it's been an interesting Friday, starting with a seminar on what's new in mobile at 7.30 this morning in Nottingham, then filming for a piece which will be on air on East Midlands Today tonight talking about the benefits that could be brought to tourism in Leicester if 'the bones' really do turn out to be those of Richard III.  That was closely followed by an interview with Ben Jackson on BBC Radio Leicester for his drivetime show tonight on the same subject.  So now back in the office wading through emails!

I was put on the spot about how much a Richard III visitor centre could bring in revenue to Leicester - I'm sure far more brilliant financial minds than mine will be modelling just that, all I could do really was look at what another city-based historical visitor centre might turn over.  Somewhere like the Jorvik Centre in York for example, which has seen more than 16 million visitors in the 28 years since it opened might be able to help with some real life stats and of course there are all the add-ons like benefits to local hotels, restaurants and shops.  This is where joined up marketing thinking will be really important, partnerships between Leicester businesses could double or triple the revenue made on pure ticket sales alone - I would love to see a visitors centre and then go to a performance of Richard III at Curve.  Fingers crossed the bones do indeed turn out to be those of the last Plantagenet King.