Why I Always Come Back to Gibraltar
I’m very lucky. My work has taken me all over the world. I’ve met some amazing people and worked with some amazing brands across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and I can honestly say I’ve never been to a country I didn’t like. But there are very few places that feel like home. Gibraltar is one of those places, and that’s just one of the many reasons why I don’t need any excuses to visit the Rock.
The Changing Face of Gibraltar
I’ve been visiting Gibraltar for business and pleasure for more than 30 years now.
During that time, I’ve seen many changes. Can you believe you used to be able to drive down Main Street? I remember my first visit as if it were yesterday. I arrived early on a GB Airways flight, took a taxi to The Bristol Hotel (I would walk now), found my way to a cafe (the name of which escapes me) for a bacon roll, a coffee, a quick read of the Gibraltar Chronicle and watched the world go by. The noise and smell of an endless stream of scooters along the narrow, hectic road felt exotic but strangely familiar.
Of course, many other things have changed since that first visit. Victor Chandler came to town just before the Internet started to re-invent how the Rock does business. Ocean Village and many other developments sprung up, dramatically altering the skyline. Meanwhile, the Caleta Palace at Catalan Bay disappeared from sight, as did much of the military presence. Despite these changes, Gibraltar has remained the bustling but friendly place I’ve always recognised — a global community with a local feeling.
The Content Marketing Bootcamp
Gibraltar was one of the first international destinations where I took The Content Marketing Bootcamp after publishing my book Becoming THE Expert: Enhancing Your Business Reputation through Thought Leadership Marketing in 2012.
I booked a small meeting room, posted about the event on LinkedIn, and was utterly blown away by the response. I quickly sold the event out before adding two additional events. Following my initial success, I returned to the Rock every year until 2020, when COVID-19 stopped play.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
With in-person events largely on hold for the best part of two years, I’ll admit to worrying if my Content Marketing Bootcamp in-person events had run their course. I was worried that people had become more accustomed to Zoom meetings and webinars. I’ll also admit to somewhat losing my confidence during lockdown. Public speaking doesn’t always come easy to me, and I began overthinking how the lack of practice would impact my ability to engage an audience.
Thankfully, I didn’t have anything to worry about. The Gibraltar business community had my back and I was enthusiastically welcomed back to the Rock by a wonderfully engaged audience in 2023. In short, returning to Gibraltar helped me re-discover my confidence and put myself out there again. Thank you, Gibraltar.
My Commitment to Gibraltar
With such strong support from the Gibraltar business community, I’m always keen to return to the Rock. That’s why I’m delighted to announce that my next Content Marketing Bootcamp event will be hosted at the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) on September 17th, 2024. Here’s to catching up with old friends, meeting new people, and enjoying the ever-changing but reassuringly familiar place I have enjoyed visiting for so many years.
For more information or to book your tickets, visit: https://contentmarketinggibraltar2024.eventbrite.com.
