VANCOUVER BC, February 27, 2009 – The newly created British Columbia Destination Marketing Organization Association (BC DMO Association or BCDMOA) held their first Annual General Meeting on February 13, 2009. The overall goal of the BCDMOA is to improve organization and industry performance in the BC communities where Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are active. The association believes that through mutual exchange and collaboration BC DMOs will achieve enhanced professionalism, accountability and performance.
“The BC DMO Association is positioned to support performance growth for existing Destination Marketing Organizations; but more importantly to support the effective initial formation of new DMOs,” states Dan Stefanson, Executive Director of Tourism Abbotsford and the inaugural Chair of the BCDMOA. “Through effective exchange and collaboration, DMO senior executives and boards of directors can discover the best way to operate their organizations resulting in program delivery that maximizes revenue opportunities for their business partners and tourism operators”.
The primary action items for the group moving forward are to: identify solutions for issues and challenges facing DMOs; distribute and recommend the adoption of the 2007 Best Practices Study; collaborate with government and industry stakeholders to define benchmarks and standards for effectiveness and raise the awareness of the resources and opportunities available through Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). The BCDMOA strongly recommends that all DMOs adopt the core principles of DMAI, consider membership in DMAI and work toward DMAI Accreditation as a long term corporate goal.
The BCDMOA membership is open to all municipal DMOs with no cost to join. The Board of Directors will meet quarterly going forward and will begin their effort by providing information about the goals of the BCDMOA to the broader tourism community and ensuring that all DMOs have copies of the British Columbia Destination Marketing Organization Association constitution & bylaws as well as the membership application form.
During the February 13, 2009 meeting the inaugural Board of Directors was elected to guide the BCDMOA. The 11-member Board is made up of a diverse group of talented professionals and DMO representatives including
- Dan Stefanson (Chair) - Executive Director, Tourism Abbotsford
- Robert Gialloreto (Vice-Chair) - President & CEO, Tourism Victoria
- Lee Morris (Secretary/Treasurer) - President & CEO, Tourism Kamloops
- Miro Micovsky - Marketing Director, Tourism Golden
- Tracy Lakeman - Executive Director, Tourism Richmond
- Nancy Cameron - Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Kelowna
- Bruce Wishart - Executive Director, Tourism Prince Rupert
- Brian Coombes - Executive Director, Tourism Chilliwack
- Deborah Kulchiski - Executive Director, Tourism Langley
- Blain Sepos – Executive Director, Oceanside Tourism
- Gladys Atrill – Coordinator, Tourism Smithers
Please note that copies of the study “Best Practices for the Effective Use of Additional Hotel Room Tax Revenue in British Columbia” and the Constitution & Bylaws of the BCDMOA are available upon request.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Local Students Get A Chance To Market Victoria!
Tourism Victoria is partnering with organization members, the University of Victoria, Camosun College and Royal Roads University to offer their students in business and tourism programs a unique opportunity. Beginning today, Tourism Victoria invites qualified students to submit concepts and ideas for sixty second web commercials about Victoria. The top four students will see their concepts come to life on the World Wide Web and win a cash prize.
“This is a great opportunity for business and tourism students to let their creative juices flow,” said Robert Gialloreto, President and CEO of Tourism Victoria. “With this marketing campaign we hope to stand out in a crowded online market and really showcase Victoria from a dynamic perspective.”
“We are delighted to have our students participate in the competition,” says Pat Elemans, Assistant Dean, UVic Business. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their creativity, sell our community to the world; and hopefully have their web commercial produced.”
“This is a great opportunity for our learners to demonstrate their creative talents as web marketing innovators,” says Dr. Brian White, Director of the School of Tourism and Hotel Management at Royal Roads University. “We commend Tourism Victoria for providing this opportunity and for building bridges with future industry professionals.”
This program is open to business and tourism students at Tourism Victoria members: the University of Victoria, Camosun College and Royal Roads University, all submissions are due no later than March 4, 2009.
“This is a great opportunity for business and tourism students to let their creative juices flow,” said Robert Gialloreto, President and CEO of Tourism Victoria. “With this marketing campaign we hope to stand out in a crowded online market and really showcase Victoria from a dynamic perspective.”
“We are delighted to have our students participate in the competition,” says Pat Elemans, Assistant Dean, UVic Business. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their creativity, sell our community to the world; and hopefully have their web commercial produced.”
“This is a great opportunity for our learners to demonstrate their creative talents as web marketing innovators,” says Dr. Brian White, Director of the School of Tourism and Hotel Management at Royal Roads University. “We commend Tourism Victoria for providing this opportunity and for building bridges with future industry professionals.”
This program is open to business and tourism students at Tourism Victoria members: the University of Victoria, Camosun College and Royal Roads University, all submissions are due no later than March 4, 2009.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tourism Victoria Receives Best Tourism Marketing Campaign Award
Victoria, B.C., February 13, 2009 – Tourism Victoria’s promotion, Set Sail on Us was named Best Tourism Marketing Campaign of 2008 at the Tenth Annual British Columbia Tourism Industry Awards. Announced last night at the British Columbia Tourism Industry Conference, this award recognizes a tourism company, city, region, or sector association for their success in launching an innovative marketing campaign to increase business and enhance the tourism industry in British Columbia between January 1 and October 31, 2008. The Set Sail on Us promotion, offered complimentary ferry fare between Vancouver and Victoria and sold out in less than three days.“Our organization is grateful to be recognized by Tourism BC,” said Robert Gialloreto, President and CEO of Tourism Victoria. “The program was unique in that the concept emanated from Tourism Victoria Board Chair Randy Wright, was refined and implemented by Vice President Marketing Helen Welch and the entire marketing team, and all of this was accomplished in a short time frame to respond to the needs of travellers. Our partnership with BC Ferries was instrumental in the success of the program and serves as a promotional model for Tourism Victoria going forward into 2009.”
About the promotion:
Tourism Victoria paid the ferry travel, including vehicle and reservation, to and from Vancouver (BCF Swartz Bay-TSW) when the visitor booked a minimum of 2 consecutive nights in Victoria;
The package was booked through Tourism Victoria’s reservation system;
Package based on 2 adult travellers, any additional travellers paid full fare on the ferries and any additional accommodation charges;
This offer became available for booking at 8:30 a.m., July 28, for travel August 5 to 28, 2008 inclusive.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2008 Tourism Victoria Environment Awards
Tourism Victoria is now accepting nominations for the 2008 Environment Awards to be presented at the Annual General Meeting on March 31, 2009.
These awards recognize the efforts to preserve the environment for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, and for seeing the future through the eyes of tomorrow's children.
The Environment Awards are presented in three categories:
Individual - Recognizes a Greater Victoria resident for their outstanding effort in developing and leading environmental practices.
Corporate - Recognizes a business or company in the Greater Victoria community for outstanding effort in leading and developing environmental practices.
Organization - Recognizes a society, non-profit, or association in the Greater Victoria community for outstanding effort in developing and leading environmental practices.
If you're interested in nominating an individual, company, or organization visit our webpage here and return the form to Executive Assistant, Amber Bonner at amber.bonner@tourismvictoria.com or fax to 250-361-9733 by February 23, 2009.
These awards recognize the efforts to preserve the environment for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, and for seeing the future through the eyes of tomorrow's children.
The Environment Awards are presented in three categories:
Individual - Recognizes a Greater Victoria resident for their outstanding effort in developing and leading environmental practices.
Corporate - Recognizes a business or company in the Greater Victoria community for outstanding effort in leading and developing environmental practices.
Organization - Recognizes a society, non-profit, or association in the Greater Victoria community for outstanding effort in developing and leading environmental practices.
If you're interested in nominating an individual, company, or organization visit our webpage here and return the form to Executive Assistant, Amber Bonner at amber.bonner@tourismvictoria.com or fax to 250-361-9733 by February 23, 2009.
2009 Call For Committee Members
Tourism Victoria is currently in the process of forming the following Board Committees for 2009:
Strategic Issues
Membership
Finance
Governance
Details on each committee can be found by clicking here. Your time commitment would involve approximately three hours per month, including monthly committee meetings and time for material review and special projects.
If you are interested in applying for a seat on one of these committees, please contact Executive Assistant Amber Bonner at amber.bonner@tourismvictoria.com as soon as possible. Nominations close February 17, 2009.
Committee selection will begin at the end of February with inaugural committee meetings for 2009 occurring in March.
Strategic Issues
Membership
Finance
Governance
Details on each committee can be found by clicking here. Your time commitment would involve approximately three hours per month, including monthly committee meetings and time for material review and special projects.
If you are interested in applying for a seat on one of these committees, please contact Executive Assistant Amber Bonner at amber.bonner@tourismvictoria.com as soon as possible. Nominations close February 17, 2009.
Committee selection will begin at the end of February with inaugural committee meetings for 2009 occurring in March.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Victoria - A Top 10 Romantic Destination
Victoria has been named one of the Top 10 Romantic Destinations for 2009 by Gayot.com, a consumer website which provides the latest information on food, wine and travel.
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