Top 10 things to consider when selecting or hiring a tourism or interpretive consultant!

1. Don’t automatically assume that they know more than you – depending on their actual academic training in interpretation and length of real field experience – they may not.
   
   
2. Ask to see sample of products – photos of exhibits, trail guides, or Interpretive Plans. Do they Provoke, Relate, and Reveal? Are they outcome or objective based?
   
   
3. Ask for references – and actually call them.
   
   
4. Ask for information on their actual training in interpretation – where did they learn how to do it “correctly”? Anyone can call themselves a interpretive consultant – but do their academic and professional credentials back them up?
   
   
5. Projects will probably cost more, and take longer than you think they will - How will your project costs be estimated by the consultant? How will you know that that is a fair fee to be charged?
   
   
6. Selecting a consultant should be based on their skills and demonstrated experience – not on “low bid”. While you get what you pay for, you also don’t get what you don’t pay for!
   
   
7. Ask how they might have their products “evaluated” – pre and post test evaluations, etc. You don’t want to buy something that looks nice but doesn’t work. But be prepared to pay for the evaluation work.
   
   
8. Do interviews with perspective consultants – at least the top three. Here is your chance to see samples of products, and ask about their approach to developing your interpretive products, their training and experience.
   
   
9. Is the consultant professional and confident? – does your perspective consultant have an air of confidence and self-assurance about them? Do they have years of successful projects to back up that confidence?
   
   
10. Do you like them? What does your gut feeling tell you? Selecting a consultant is like selecting a doctor – you have to be able to work together.
    
    
    
    
    
    

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    Heritage Destination Consulting Ltd.
    heritage interpretation & tourism consultants
    www.heritagedestination.com
    www.heritagedestination.co.uk