While the event was certainly divisive, with some people relishing its arrival and others outraged by its inconvenience, few people could honestly say they didn't find the whole experience interesting and even entertaining. On that point at least we can be mostly in agreement.
The most welcome surprise were the anti-NATO protests, which were modest and trouble-free, thanks to the overwhelming and well organised security and to concerted efforts by anti-NATO organisations. However, while inevitable bickering about numbers continues, I don't think the protest organisers could honestly be happy with the number of protesters that came. Was it a case of protester apathy? Were they put off by the scale of security? We can't be certain. But we can all be thankful that protesters were able to make their points and have their voices heard, all without a single window being smashed.
OBAMA-MANIA
The actual business of the Summit didn't appear to hold much interest for the people of Newport, and I doubt many Newportonians, if asked, could mention more than a handful of the world leaders in attendance or outcomes of any debates. Newport was understandably more interested in the spectacle - the huge police presence; the skies filled with helicopters and jets; the battleships; the protests; the occasional local political dramas; and of course the movements of the headline act - US President Barack Obama (who unfortunately appeared to have a David Cameron grafted onto his hip for the duration of his visit).
Mr Obama mesmerised Newport to such an extent that other world leaders didn't get a look in. It was all about Obama. Understandable perhaps, but if Newport's goal was to 'showcase itself to the world' we have to admit that in being so overwhelmingly lost in Obama-mania, we also lost focus.
While we were following every footstep of the American president did anyone notice where the other world leaders were or what they were doing? Was there any attempt to engage any other world leader about the benefits of Newport? I'm going to guess not. As a city we've clearly put all our eggs in the American basket. We're obviously not that bothered about Europe and I very much doubt (m)any of the other world leaders will have been particularly encouraged or enthused to 'spread the word' about Newport. After all, we blatantly ignored them.
PUTTING NEWPORT ON THE MAP (AGAIN)
Media coverage outside the region understandably focussed on the 'business' of the Summit, with very little space given to the nuts and bolts of how the event was organised or its impact on us locally. That was the remit of our local and regional media to keep us informed and engaged, and they did a sterling job. I can't imagine the editorial team at the South Wales Argus has had this much fun in years.
The business of the summit was of global interest, but the big moments for us - such as Mr Obama's visit to Mount Pleasant Primary School, the NATO Festival, and the military fly past - were really of local interest only. These were nice moments for Newport, but were not big news for the rest of the world. The school visit made a nice picture for the world's press and summed up in one image what a trouble-free event it was, but we'd be naïve if we thought it did much to actually promote Newport.
We need to keep some perspective here and not get too excited. While Obama's school visit was a huge and wonderful event for the school and for Newport in general, it was after all just another school visit by a President of the United States. They do it wherever they go. It's classic touchy-feely PR and we shouldn't start clutching at straws and thinking it's 'put us on the map' in any way.
In reality, Newport didn't really benefit at all from national and global media coverage. Yes, the name Newport was in there alongside Wales and Cardiff, but we really needed more than simply name placement if we were to seriously 'showcase' ourselves. As it is, the good people of Badiddlyboing (Odawidaho) and Duisberg in Germany might have noticed the Newport name in passing, but do they have any better understanding or awareness of the place? Probably no more than they have a better understanding or awareness of Enniskillen after it hosted the G8 Summit in 2013.
The Enniskillen G8 Summit has quite a few parallels with the NATO Wales Summit. Prior to the G8 there was much talk of 'putting County Fermanagh on the map' and David Cameron declared the summit would be a "brilliant advertisement" for Northern Ireland, and certainly Enniskillen. You will have heard similar words used in the run up to the NATO Summit in Newport. I've yet to hear of any huge input of tourism or business to Enniskillen, but that's probably just because it has yet to be reported [sarcasm mode off].
Unfortunately, as predicted on this blog, the overhyped influx of journalists failed to materialise or deliver. We were promised an army of international media who would all be eating, drinking and sightseeing locally, and then subsequently enthusing about Newport to the rest of the world. Did anybody actually see any of them wandering the streets of Newport, taking pictures and making notes? Of course they didn't. Mostly political and military correspondents, the journalists were tasked with covering NATO business and were never here with a remit to check out the local scenery or hospitality. Also, they were keeping to a very tight schedule and were shepherded around from event to event with no real spare time to visit the rest of the city.
Like the Ryder Cup, the actual event happened anywhere but Newport (with the exception of a school visit).
WE KEEP A WELCOME IN THE HILLSIDES
If there is one thing the world possibly did learn about Newport, it's that we are a happy, smiling, welcoming bunch on the whole. The people of Newport did the city proud. Regardless of whether they were for or against the event, people engaged with activities, were welcoming and polite, and tolerated the inconvenience in generally good spirit.
Of course there were benefits in the huge police presence. Crime was seemingly non-existent for the duration, and the roads were a dream as most of us heeded warnings about probable disruption. This made Newport generally a much more pleasant and laid back place. As @MikeCollins8 pointed out to me recently, if the NATO Summit proved one thing, it's that a visible police presence DOES have a positive effect.
The various police forces have been quick to thank the people of Newport for their hospitality, and the relationship between community and police was a good one throughout. It was nice to see a large party of police enjoying an evening meal at the Ridgeway Bar & Kitchen, and Caerleon also benefitted from their presence with lots of off duty police enjoying local hospitality. This was one area where Newport certainly did reap some rewards.
DELIVERING ON PROMISES?
As the Summit event was undoubtedly a trouble-free 'success' it was to be expected that people would waste no time in celebrating. That's not a problem in itself. But when the usual suspects get so excited they start to bang on about it heralding a golden era they need to be challenged.
On the second morning of the event, before President Obama had even finished his business, Will Godfrey, Chief Executive of Newport City Council tweeted excitedly...
#NATOSummitWales - truly showcased Newport to international audience - Newport unquestionably #cityontherise
— Will Godfrey (@WillGodfrey1) September 5, 2014
Mr Godfrey wasn't alone and many others have posted similar excited sentiments. Paul Flynn MP on his blog wrote "Thousands of very influential people will now be favourably disposed towards Newport. Large areas of the world are aware of our existence and the facilities that we have to offer."They may be aware of our existence Paul, but exactly what facilities did they see? The world saw the Celtic Manor, it didn't see Newport. The politicians, the delegates, the entourages, the journalists... none of them saw much outside the temporary and tightly controlled environment of the Summit itself. To say we 'truly showcased' anything is ridiculous.
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| President Obama's motorcade. The extent of Newport's 'showcasing' amounted to the US president being acquainted with the M4 and Brynglas Tunnels [ photo used by kind permission of www.space-events.co.uk ] |
The chance to showcase Newport has been the rallying cry in the run-up to the event with the suggestion that, by presenting the city in a positive light we will undoubtedly reap rewards of inward investment, more business, and an increase in tourists. I don't for a moment disagree that Newport needs to present itself in a positive light for the sake of economic regeneration, however, in response to Mr Godfrey and Mr Flynn (and others) I have to ask the simple question 'Just what exactly did we do to showcase the city and what we have to offer?'
The thing about opportunity is; it's nothing unless you do something to take hold of it. I can walk into a trade show of 1000 businesses tomorrow and see it as an 'opportunity' for my business, but if I just stand there looking I won't convert any of that opportunity into reward. I need to engage with the exhibitors and demonstrate exactly what I have to offer. This is where the powers-that-be failed Newport. They certainly saw the opportunity, but did little, if anything, to grab it. They collectively stood around smiling and hoping that reward would fall like fairy dust from the NATO flag.
The problem now is; the NATO Summit event is over and we are now entering the '...and?' phase. It's a familiar feeling for the people of Newport who expected much from the Ryder Cup. It came, it went, and little if any benefit was felt on the street. Unless a legacy benefit is felt soon, people will have the same resigned disappointed view of the NATO Summit as they have of the Ryder Cup.
The Celtic Manor did a great job of providing the host facilities, and in doing so has further climbed the ladder of international venue credibility. And the UK Government has done a sterling job of organising the NATO event and the security. Other international events will decent upon the Celtic Manor, and indeed there are already whisperings and rumours of another major event on the way in a few short years. The NATO Summit certainly showed that the Celtic Manor and UK Government could host the G8, so I wouldn't be surprised to see that heading our way.
From an opportunity perspective, G8 would be far more valuable to Newport. It's a summit about global economics, and so the attending journalists and delegates will be of more value. These are people we certainly should be looking to impress. We can only hope that Newport elders can look past the thrill of the event and make more of a concerted strategic effort if such an event did come.
Perhaps that's the real mistake made with the NATO Summit. It's an event about global politics and security, not about economic development and trade. It was probably a mistake to think it could ever be of any real major benefit to the city.
But should the day come when a G8 Summit is announced, Newport should waste no time at all at reaching out to every financial and business publication/journalist likely to attend and conceiving ways to truly showcase the city to them.
SO WHO DID BENEFIT?
There were businesses and organisations that certainly benefitted directly from the Summit, if only on local level. A number of businesses were invited to the Celtic Manor to demonstrate their wares, and although it's unlikely they'll suddenly find themselves deluged with international orders, they will have enjoyed a heightened local profile that they can hopefully build on. And as mentioned above, quite a few local eateries and hostelries will have benefitted from an influx of hungry coppers and even hungry protesters.
Nobody can begrudge any of these businesses their temporary spike in trade. However, we should be careful about hailing this limited success as an overall triumph for Newport when, for every business that enjoyed a spike there was a business that took a definite hit.
The manager of the Kingsway Shopping Centre has claimed in the South Wales Argus that the Summit 'depleted sales' for his retailers. With the roads empty for the duration of the event we can only presume many other business noticed a drop in trade. On top of this we need to factor in the businesses that were stretched when people took leave to look after children when schools were closed, or which were inconvenience in other ways. I doubt anybody will do any actual cost/benefit calculation, but it's safe to assume the actual cost to the local business community easily outweighed the benefit for the lucky few.
I sincerely hope I've hugely misjudged this and Newport will benefit directly from the NATO Summit. I really don't see how it can, and I'll put good money on the people of Newport viewing the event with resentment in a year's time after the thrill has faded. I suspect the big optimistic words of Will Godfrey et al will come back to bite them on the backside. For Newport's sake I hope mine do instead. But let's just say I'm not going to invest in thicker trousers any time soon.
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