Developing place marketing pilot plans: The cases of Rostock and Kainuu

The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint the role of place marketing in the fields of tourism, culture, and business, through the development of place marketing pilot plans (PMPPs) for two places in northern Europe: the city of Rostock in Germany and the region of Kainuu in Finland. Specifically, the analysis is based on the combination of two basic marketing models, the Ashworth & Voogd (1990) model and the Kotler et al. (1999) model, aiming to present a methodological tool that could be effective for the successful promotion of a place's image throughout its external environment. The data are provided from the INTERREG IIIc Project CultMark. The paper contributes to research in two ways: (a) by displaying an integrated methodological approach with specific phases of planning and supporting the image of a place, and (b) by amplifying current views according to which place marketing implementation is not simply an occasional procedure. The case studies used support the above arguments. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC