Mark of success advice offered to tourism operators
Gregg Chamberlain, Édition Andre Paquette
Calypso’s market branding strategy fits in well with the efforts of Ottawa Tourism to create more concrete images in the minds of potential visitors that will encourage them to consider Eastern Ontario in general and the National Capital Region (NCR) in particular for their next vacation destination. Building a strong tourism sector as part of the regional economy, noted Noel Buckley, Ottawa Tourism president, demands more than just building hotels and restaurants.
“Development isn’t only bricks-and-mortar,” Buckley said. “It’s also ‘soft development’, with events and programs.”
Acting on recommendations in a recent report, the provincial tourism ministry decided to create 13 primary “tourism regional organizations” (TRO) in Ontario. Ottawa and Prescott-Russell were amalgamated into TRO 10 and since then Ottawa Tourism has made an effort to involve the PRTA in its strategic planning for the rural tourism sector of the region. Buckley noted that Ottawa Tourism’s own studies indicate that arts, culture, and heritage are bigger economic drivers for the NCR than even major-league organized sports.
Full article: Mark of success advice offered to tourism operators
NCC chief proclaims Winterlude a success despite thaw
Tony Lofaro, Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Jean Levac, The Ottawa Citizen
Winterlude enjoyed a successful run despite the closing of the Rideau Canal for a few days and a top Canadian chef’s pulling out of one of its high-profile events, the NCC’s chief executive officer said Monday.
She said the NCC is moving toward partnerships with more government department and private sponsors to help with programming costs for Winterlude. On board this year were the Museum of Science and Technology, Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada, National Research Council and the Canadian Space Agency, she said.
“The shift to the new delivery model of Winterlude has started and we’re excited about the results of these partnerships. We hope to add more public and private partners next year,” said Lemay.
In an interview after the press conference, Lemay said that, based on past years, attendance at the 2011 Winterlude was expected to top 600,000 visitors. Final figures were not yet available, she added.
Read the full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: NCC chief proclaims Winterlude a success despite thaw
Is festival facing its Waterlude?
“We’ve been planning Winterlude for 33 years and Canadian winters are unpredictable, so we’re not going to speculate on what the weather holds for the rest of the week, because it could change,” said National Capital Commission spokeperson Denise LeBlanc.
No matter how unco-operative the weather, she said, indoor activities like Cool Science Saturday at the Science and Technology Museum and performances of the Snow Queen at the Museum of Civilization will go ahead.
“We’re looking forward to providing a really fantastic Winterlude weekend and we’re going to work as hard as we can to have as many activities on and open and enjoyable as possible,” LeBlanc said.
Is festival facing its Waterlude?
Royal newlyweds are coming to Ottawa for Canada Day
Bruce Campion-Smith, Ottawa Bureau chief | The Star
The world’s most famous newlyweds will be travelling to Canada this summer on their first official trip abroad as a married couple.
Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit five provinces, including a Canada Day visit to Parliament Hill, Governor General David Johnston confirmed Wednesday.
It’s the second year in a row that the royal family has paid a visit to mark Canada Day. A crowd of 100,000 turned out last July 1 to watch as the Queen visited Parliament Hill to take part in celebrations.
Full Story at thestar.com: Royal newlyweds are coming to Ottawa for Canada Day
Winterlude: Japan/Canada duo create winning ice carving
Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Photograph by: Pat McGrath, The Ottawa Citizen
A duo from Japan and Canada took top honours at Winterlude’s annual international ice-carving competition.
Junichi Yakamura of Japan and Hideshi Terada of Canada won first prize for their piece, Life in the Balance. It features a school of tropical fish rising out of an intricately-sculpted sea.
Full story: Japan/Canada duo create winning ice carving
Ottawa Tourism appoints Vice President, Sales
Ottawa Tourism is pleased to announce that Glenn Duncan is the new Vice President, Sales for the organization, effective February 14. This position reports directly to the President and CEO and oversees the organization’s sales roles in the Meetings and Conventions, as well as Travel Trade (packaged travel), realms. Approximately 10 full-time staff will report to him.
“I am pleased to see someone of Mr. Duncan’s calibre in this position as we approach the opening of the magnificent Ottawa Convention Centre in April,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “The importance of the new centre meant the time was right to update the way we sell our destination. Glenn’s background and reputation were impressive and just what we needed to move forward.“
Mr. Duncan’s most recent position was as Managing Director of Tourism Development with the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, focussing on the areas of MC&IT (Meetings, Conventions and Incentive Travel), sport events, leisure travel and film.
Ottawa Tourism provides industry leadership and destination marketing to service the travel media and attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Visit Ottawa Tourism at www.ottawatourism.ca
Ottawa Has the Scoop on Indoor & Outdoor Activities for Winter 2011/2011
This press release from our friends at Ottawa Tourism outlines a number of the winter activites that will take place this season. And don’t forget, for three weekends in February, Winterlude is a great celebration of Canda’s Capital in Winter.
Source: Zone5ive on Flickr, used under Creative Commons
Visitors to Ottawa have plenty of choice this winter whether they want to stay inside or outside. This December, the Ottawa region will be energized by the lights of Christmas, outdoor skating, the Nutcracker and, of course, hockey! And if you book your hotel or getaway package before March 31, 2011 , you can enjoy a 3rd night free at participating hotels. Visit www.ottawatourism.ca for full details on this as well as the other special offers and packages available.
Over the coming weeks, Ottawa will play host to Christmas Lights Across Canada; performances of The Nutcracker and Nativity: a Coyote’s Christmas at the National Arts Centre, The Bell Capital Cup hockey tournament and the 41st skating season on the Rideau Canal Skateway where visitors can skate, for free, on the world’s largest outdoor rink.
Winterlude needs private funding: NCC chief: Festival won’t move forward unless outside help is brought in, Lemay tells lecture crowd
Kristy Nease, The Ottawa Citizen
National Capital Commission CEO Marie Lemay warned Friday morning that the popular Winterlude festival is no longer sustainable — unless private business moves in to take part.
“If we want to continue to have a Winterlude and if we want to get it to where we think it should be — better, vibrant, exciting — then we need to have partners and we need to involve the private sector and we need to do it differently.”
“As we’re trying to move the event from a celebration of winter in the capital to a celebration of the capital of winter … we have to move out of the sole producer role. That’s very evident for us. OK, we can’t do it all. We’ve got to share this, we’ve got to share this brand.”
Full story: Winterlude needs private funding
O Ottawa. When did you get so hip? Discovering Canada’s cool capital
Michael Kaminer, Special to The Washington Post
In fact, if anything now characterizes the city, I’d say it’s an unselfconscious cool. There’s a proudly indie aesthetic in its neighborhoods, but without the hipster posturing of Toronto. Unlike language-obsessed Montreal, the city has a relaxed attitude toward bilingualism — everything here comes in both official languages — that lends Ottawa an easy cosmopolitanism.
Oh, yes: Ottawa also boasts Canada’s Parliament, along with the National Gallery, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian War Museum, Rideau Hall, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Children’s Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They’re all gleaming, serious attractions, with collections often lauded as some of the world’s best.
They used to be the reason for a visit to Ottawa, with restaurants and shopping an afterthought. These days, don’t be surprised if you find the opposite to be true.
Read the full article in the Washington Post: O Ottawa. When did you get so hip?
NCC WELCOMES THE CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL TO ITS CAPITAL PARKS
Visit the NCC’s Tulip Legacy Exhibit in Commissioners and Major’s Hill parks
The National Capital Commission (NCC) is pleased to welcome the Canadian Tulip Festival to Commissioners and Major’s Hill parks, from May 7 to 24, 2010, and to provide the colourful displays of tulips found throughout the Capital Region.
NCC’S TULIP LEGACY EXHIBIT
Commissioners Park, May 7 to May 24, 2010
Major’s Hill Park, May 14 to 24, 2010
The NCC’s Tulip Legacy Exhibit recounts the history of the Dutch Royal family’s refuge in Canada during the Second World War and the contribution of Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1944-45. With panels, photographs and a discovery cart*, NCC interpreters can help visitors discover how the tulip has become a symbol of peace and freedom shared by Canada and the Netherlands. (*discovery cart available at Commissioners Park, Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Friday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm)
65th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS
This year, 22,000 tulips, donated last fall by the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, will bloom in a special commemorative flowerbed at Commissioners Park to pay tribute to the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. The design of the bed represents, in red and white tulips, the two countries – Canada and the Netherlands, and in blue hyacinths both the Netherlands’ flag and the ocean that unites us.
While touring the Capital, visitors can pick-up a free copy of the “Experience the Beauty! The National Capital Commission’s Tulip Beds” brochure, which provides information on the tulip legacy story, maps out the location of key gardens and designated photo sites in some of the Capital’s most beautiful tulip displays, and recommends walking and cycling routes, with distances, to best enjoy the flowerbeds.
TULIPS AT THE NCC’S CAPITAL INFOCENTRE
May 7 to 14, 2010, from 9 am to 5 pm / May 15 to 24, from 9 am to 9 pm
Tulip lovers will also want to visit the NCC’s Capital Infocentre, one of the Festival’s official sites located across from Parliament Hill. The gallery on the second floor offers an impressive view of the 28,000 red tulips planted by the NCC each year on Parliament Hill.
TULIPS AT THE NCC’S HISTORICAL MACKENZIE KING ESTATE IN GATINEAU PARK
Beginning May 15, weekdays from 11 am to 5 pm and weekends and statutory holidays from 10 am to 5 pm
William Lyon Mackenzie King was Prime Minister of Canada when Princess Juliana of the Netherlands sent a gift of thousands of tulip bulbs to the Canadian people to be planted in Canada’s Capital. Each spring, tulips also bloom at Mackenzie King Estate located in the Capital’s Gatineau Park. The historic buildings of the Estate, set among a unique collection of ruins and stunning gardens, will be open to the public beginning May 15, 2010.
ABOUT THE NCC’S FLORAL PROGRAM
Each spring, over one million tulips and 200,000 annuals planted by the NCC bloom on Parliament Hill, in Major’s Hill, Commissioners and Jacques-Cartier parks, as well as along Confederation Boulevard, the historic Rideau Canal, the Capital’s scenic parkways and recreational pathways, and in front of national museums and institutions. As the official gardener of Canada’s Capital, the NCC is responsible for the design and maintenance of many of the public gardens and the 90 flower beds found throughout the region. The most impressive display of tulips is found in Commissioners Park, where some 300,000 tulips bloom each year.
For more information on tulips, the public can contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800 465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/tulips.
For information on the Canadian Tulip Festival, the public can visit the Festival’s website at www.tulipfestival.ca.
