Ottawa Tourism reallocates resources to convention attraction: One-time provincial funding unlikely to be renewed
Elizabeth Howell, OBJ
A fund used to bring large-scale conventions to Ottawa is expected to remain intact even though the provincial government appears disinclined to put more money on the table.
However, its continuation will likely come at the expense of other programs at Ottawa Tourism as the local agency uses “funds from within (its) current resources” to top off the convention attraction program, according to CEO Noel Buckley.
“What it means is we have to find a way to make this a sustainable program from a local perspective … that would allow us to properly compete in this competitive market segment,” he says.
Full story is available on the OBJ website: Ottawa Tourism reallocates resources to convention attraction
Mayor touts ‘new way of thinking’ about economic development
OBJ Staff
Mayor Watson said the creation of Invest Ottawa is proof that economic development will be a top priority for his administration.
Among other achievements, the mayor pointed to the Major Events Office that will operate in partnership with Ottawa Tourism. The office will try to bring major events, such as the NHL All-Star Game, the 2012 Juno Awards and possibly the 2015 FIFA Women’s Cup, to Canada’s capital.
Along with the new Convention Centre, he said these major events can help grow the city’s tourism sector.
Full story on the OBJ website: Mayor touts ‘new way of thinking’ about economic development
Roll out the sidewalks: Horizon 2067 aims to give Ottawa more pizzazz
Kathryn Blaze Carlson, The National Post
When The New York Times profiled Ottawa in its Travel section four years ago, the newspaper went in with a dig: “Ottawa has always had image problems.”
More than 150 years have passed since Ottawa was chosen over Montreal, Quebec City, Kingston and Toronto as Canada’s capital — at the time the Queen’s representative said it marked an “exile to wilderness.” Today, the city is still challenging its reputation as a sleepy, overly civilized government town. Just this summer, the city’s own tourism office launched an online advertising campaign to assure Canadians and tourists that “we don’t roll up our sidewalks at 5 o’clock.”
Ottawa Tourism’s target audience probably included the creators of Facebook groups such as “Ottawa = Boring,” “Ottawa Sucks” and “Ottawa is the most boringest city on earth,” or the writer who defined Ottawa in the online Urban Dictionary as: “Home of the federal government and a great place if you want a job that doesn’t require you to do any work. Sadly lacking in variety in entertainment, although it is home to a quality NHL team, the Ottawa Senators, as well as the Ottawa 67’s OHL team.”
Read more on the National Post website: Roll out the sidewalks
Ottawa Tourism launches Bonus Booking Offers
Third night free offer coming soon!
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
OTTAWA, November 22, 2011—Ottawa Tourism has just launched Bonus Booking Offers, a program that gives visitors customized offers based on total hotel value at participating hotels. For example, a stay valued at $200 might offer free breakfast while a stay valued at $300 might offer free parking. Bonus offers are managed by individual hotels on the www.OttawaTourism.ca website’s booking engine and are available for new reservations at participating hotels.
Another enticing offer is just a couple weeks away from being launched: as of November 30, visitors to Ottawa can indulge in a Third Night Free at participating hotels for bookings and travel between November 30, 2011 and March 31, 2012.
Both options make it extra-easy to plan an Ottawa getaway to enjoy holiday cheer, skate on the Rideau Canal, attend the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game festivities or indulge in Winterlude activities.
“We strive to keep our offers fresh and enticing,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “By working closely with our hotel and attraction partners the new Bonus Booking Offers allow hotels to provide value-added options to consumers who, as a result, may end up staying longer for less and enjoying more, especially when combined with the Third Night Free promotion.”
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
Savour Ottawa brings farmers, chefs and retailers together Nov. 7
Sixth annual Networking Summit builds business and celebrates successes
[Source: Savour Ottawa press release]
OTTAWA, November 1, 2011—Local farmers, chefs, retailers and organizations will gather at the sixth annual Savour Ottawa Networking Summit on Monday, November 7 starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Restaurant International at Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality and Tourism.
This free event will kick off with a one-hour meet & greet event showcasing local farm products to chefs and retailers. The goal of this culinary speed dating is for chefs and retailers to order products for late 2011 and early 2012 at the event. A similar Meet & Greet event has been held in late winter for the past 5 years—participants asked for a second yearly event.
Attendees at this business-to-business event (not open to the public) will review Savour Ottawa’s 2011 successes, including
- The integration of seven retailer members into the program
- The opening of the Savour Ottawa Field House at the Parkdale Market, a cooperative of 10 Savour Ottawa farmers
- The Savour Ottawa promotions campaign, including videos, ads and @SavourOttawa Twitter feed
- Savour Ottawa’s first-ever public event, the Harvest Table, held on August 28, 2011.
- The inclusion of Savour Ottawa programming in the upcoming Ottawa Wine and Food Festival including a farm tour
- Significant media coverage of the initiative at home and around theworld
Mark Sutcliffe: Serve well in tourism, and Ottawa can lead
Mark Sutcliffe, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA — What makes Ottawa a great tourist destination? The sights are spectacular and there are many unique things to do. But ultimately it’s the people of this city that define whether or not visitors have great experiences and lasting positive memories that make them want to return.
And which people have the greatest interaction with visitors? Those who work in the tourism and hospitality industry and serve them throughout their visit.
It’s as simple as this: Terrible customer service can ruin a visit to the most beautiful destination on the planet. Excellent service can enhance a great vacation or even turn a nightmare into a positive memory that lasts decades.
That’s why the Stars of the City gala, at which I had the honour of presenting the awards on Wednesday, is one of the most important events in Ottawa. It doesn’t get as much attention as many other events, but it honours the people who go above and beyond the call of duty in the tourism sector.
Stars of the City shine at annual celebration of customer service excellence
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
Over 400 tourism industry insiders will gather tonight at an event at the Algonquin College School of Hospitality & Tourism to celebrate the achievements of front-line staff during the 16th annual Ottawa Tourism Stars of the City Recognition Evening.
DETAILS
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Main Dining Room, Building D, Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue
6:30 p.m. — Reception
7:00 p.m. — Dinner
8:30 p.m. — Awards presentation begins
Approx. 9:50 p.m. — Star of the City 2011 announced
A total of 1,052 nominations were received from residents and visitors to the region over the past year, nominating front-line staff from 89 businesses for their real-life examples of excellence in customer service. Everyone who is nominated as a Star of the City will receive a gold “star” lapel pin, a symbol of customer service excellence here in Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region.
An independent panel of judges comprised of industry leaders decided among 22 finalists to award the ultimate “Star of the City 2011” as well as winners in the following 8 categories.
Five Ottawa-area activities added to Signature Experiences Collection
OttawaStart
The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has named five Ottawa Tourism member organizations to the prestigious Signature Experiences Collection:
- Stimulating the Senses! – National Gallery of Canada
- Aboriginal Voyageur – Aboriginal Experiences
- Exploring Canada’s flavours in a unique culinary destination – Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa
- Lost Ships of the 1000 Islands Cruise – Gananoque Boat Line Ltd.
- The Grand Hall Tour – Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Signature Experiences Collection currently lists 115 activities that are authentic, that represent Canada’s nature, people and/or culture and that are immersive and engage a variety of senses. The Collection is used by the CTC to promote travel to Canada from its key foreign markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and India. The next round of applications will begin November 15 and end December 15, 2011.
Read more on the OttawaStart website: Five Ottawa-area activities added to Signature Experience Collection
Ottawa Tourism and partners win again at provincial marketing summit
OttawaStart
Ottawa Tourism and the National Capital Commission were victorious in two categories at the Ontario Tourism Awards gala held at the Hamilton Convention Centre on October 4. Ottawa Tourism accepted the award for Best Tourism Advertising and the National Capital Commission accepted the Tourism Innovator of the Year Award for their popular Mosaika Sound and Light Show.
“It is extremely gratifying to have the work of our Ottawa Tourism team and that of our agency of record, Mediaplus Advertising, recognized by the province in front of our peers,” says Noel Buckley, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Similarly, the accolades for Mosaika—a spectacular summer attraction in Canada’s capital that we heavily promote—are well-deserved.”
This is not the first success for Ottawa Tourism with these awards. In 2008 and 2010, they took home the gold award in the Best Tourism Advertising category, and silver in the same category in both 2006 and 2007. In 2009, they were a finalist for Best Interactive Marketing. In 2010, Savour Ottawa won the Culinary Tourism Leadership Award, and was a finalist in 2009, the category’s inaugural year.
Read more on the OttawaStart website: Ottawa Tourism and partners win again at provincial marketing summit
Finalists for the 2011 Stars of the City Recognition Evening!
[Source: Ottawa Tourism press release]
Between September 1st, 2010 and August 31st 2011, 1052 nominations were submitted to Ottawa Tourism, citing real-life examples of excellence in customer service. From these nominations finalists have been chosen in several categories. The complete list of finalists is attached and can also be found at http://www.starsofthecity.ca/recognition.htm or http://www.starsofthecity.ca/recognition_f.htm
Join the tourism industry in celebrating all the nominees, finalists and award winners at this year’s Recognition Evening on Wednesday, October 26th at Algonquin College.
STARS RECOGNITION EVENING TICKETS will go on sale early next week.
Thank you to all of the front-line staff for making sure that Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region shines as a destination.
