Keith Thomas Email & Phone Number

Chief Executive of leading leisure business consultancy, Petersham Group, Keith is widely known for his experience and knowledge of project development and operational management in the Experience Economy. A career spanning hands-on visitor attraction management through to development and international consultancy, Keith has served as a director at Vardon Attractions (now Merlin Entertainment) and at leisure consultancy, Grant Leisure Group before co-founding Petersham Group,Keith possesses a comprehensive understanding of strategic planning, management and development of businesses in the leisure, entertainment and tourism sector accumulated over 30 years working in the UK and internationally. Principle areas of expertise include development of new leisure sector projects and start-ups, where his knowledge of planning and assessing the feasibility, of projects, together with his hands on experience of managing successful destination leisure attractions has proven to be invaluable and in great demand from clients.Keith has a track record of developing and managing profitable leisure projects, and delivering complex capital projects. Recent projects have included a leisure master plan for IL Monte Galala, a new resort being planned and built in Egypt; carrying out a feasibility study for the new reefLIVE Aquarium Belfast and assessing the options for development of a national visitor centre for the world-famous Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. More details can be found at www.petershamgroup.com His goals are to continue to maintain Petersham Group's position as the first port of call for developers and operators of attractions, leisure destinations, museums and cultural heritage projects in both the public and private sector and to promote it as the centre of a network of specialist companies able to bring together and lead teams to deliver projects and advise clients right across the Experience Economy. He is particularly interested in exploring how the introduction of high quality leisure experiences can enhance destinations, including shopping malls, resorts, towns and cities. Regularly invited to speak at leisure industry conferences, his views are much sought by colleagues in the sector and he regularly blogs on leading industry websites such as @Blooloop, and is a jurist for their Innovation Awards . Keith is a guest lecturer for the postgraduate MA Tourism Business at the University of Exeter, teaching the consultancy module of the course.

Listed skills include Tourism, Business Planning, Leisure, Event Management, and 46 others.