Canadian Tourism Sector Compensation: What Are Your Competitors Paying?
Marketwire.com
OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 27, 2011) - The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) has released the results of the 2010 Canadian Tourism Sector Compensation Study. This biennial study gathers and analyzes data on human resource practices, compensation, and benefits in the tourism sector in Canada. The study contains valuable information on salary and wage trends, gratuity splitting practices, perquisites, benefits, attraction and retention trends, employee turnover, and minimum wage rates. Included in the study are national, provincial and territorial wage tables that show the median annual salary and/or hourly wage for 31 tourism occupations by industry group, region, and employment status.
The report found that participating tourism businesses had focused their human resource efforts on initiatives such as providing competitive wages, basing employee advancement and recognition on job performance rather than seniority, and investing in job coaching and training for employees. In fact, compared to the 2008 results, the study details a significant increase in participants reporting that they offer a training and development program to employees.
Measuring the impact of festivals on tourism
Snapshot of visitors to 13 festivals adds to local economic development strategy debates
Almost one-third of visitors to a selection of Ottawa festivals came from out of town, according to a survey conducted last year.
Elizabeth Howell, Ottawa Business Journal
The information adds hard data to an ongoing debate surrounding how much emphasis the city should put on tourism – and festivals in particular – in its economic development strategy, which some feel has traditionally focused on supporting the tech industry.
Although Ottawa Festivals said tourism was not the main focus of its research, the organization’s executive director Barbara Stacey noted tourists are a part of every festival, whether they had come to town specifically for that reason, or not.
Read more information on the Ottawa Business Journal website: Measuring the impact of festivals on tourism
Watson Heading to China to Encourage Ottawa Tourism
Josh Pringle, CFRA
Mayor Jim Watson is set to leave on a trade mission to Beijing.
Watson is leading a Tourism-focused Business Mission to promote Ottawa tourism, encourage economic growth and promote the Capital’s tourism assets.
The Trade Mission has three goals: to work with Ottawa Tourism to promote the Nation’s Capital, highlight the Ottawa Airport’s goal of strengthening its relationship with the China-Canada Market and direct foreign investment from China to Ottawa.
The Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association, Ottawa Tourism, the Ottawa Convention Centre and several hotels will be among the organizations and companies on the trade mission.
The delegation will visit the Beijing International Tourism Festival which runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
Tourism Week Begins
Tourism Week kicks off this week highlighting some of the economic and social roles Canada’s tourism sector has in areas such as government, the media and the public. It also offers tourism industry members a chance to discuss its state on a national, provincial and territorial level, as well as help to generate buzz about its economic benefits with various organized events.
David Goldstein, Tourism Industry Association of Canada(TIAC) President stopped by A Morning to discuss Ottawa’s bustling tourism sector and its affects on the economy.
Source: A Morning Video
Watson, tourism groups target China in trade mission
OBJ Staff, Ottawa Business Journal
A delegation of tourism officials, led by Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, will go on a trade mission to China in June.
The group will go to the Beijing International Tourism Festival from June 15 to 19. Delegates will come from organizations including the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, Ottawa Tourism, the Ottawa Convention Centre, the Ottawa Airport, the Delta Hotel, The Westin Hotel; and the Lord Elgin.
“China is a critical market for Ottawa’s future prosperity, and our sister city relation with Beijing will only further strengthen our cooperative relationship,” stated Mayor Jim Watson.
Read more on the OBJ website: Watson, tourism groups target China in trade mission
Hoteliers investing millions to capitalize on increased convention business
Elizabeth Howell, OBJ
Although the Ottawa Convention Centre underwent the most visible signs of construction in the downtown core, hotels in the area also received a facelift – from the inside.
At Novotel, the owners “totally renovated” the lobby with eye-catching couches in red, and an accent pillar with decorative silver chains to soften the lines, said spokesperson Kimberly Wilson.
Partnership was a vital element for the Westin Ottawa – attached to the Rideau Centre along with the Convention Centre – which found itself with the most to gain or lose.
At least one hotel foresees a younger audience coming into the capital. At the Marriott Courtyard, renovations since July of last year refreshed the guest rooms, and now are targeting the lobby, restaurant, and front desk.
Full story on the OBJ website: Hoteliers investing millions to capitalize on increased convention business
Building the iTourism experience
Krystle Chow, Ottawa Business Journal
The emergence of tourism apps is something that will help reinforce the message of Ottawa’s “active urban vibe,” says Dick Brown, executive director of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association.
“It’s exciting because it speaks to the fact that Ottawa is a contemporary and leading-edge city and destination; we’re not rooted in the past with just handing out paper maps and directories to visitors,” says Mr. Brown. “This sort of initiative is very, very good as we move to let the world know that there are many reasons to visit beyond the traditional institutions and the fact that it’s the government seat here.”
Mr. Brown says it’s important for cities to understand the role of the web and mobile technology in presenting themselves to the world at large, with the apps being a key part of enriching the visitor services aspect of tourism and making it easier to access the myriad activities a destination offers.
Read the full article on the OBJ website: Building the iTourism experience
Minister of State Rob Moore Highlights Harper Government’s Commitment to Growing Canada’s Tourism Industry
MARKHAM, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – March 3, 2011) – The Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), demonstrated his support today for the festival and event industry at an annual Ontario conference where he addressed over 250 participants.
“On the heels of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the securing of Approved Destination Status with China, we are supporting the tourism industry’s great potential and helping to create jobs,” said Minister of State Moore. “The economy remains the top priority of the Harper Government.”
Ontario’s festivals and events are both culturally enriching and economically important and draw visitors from all over the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, the Festival & Events Ontario Conference is the largest of its kind and welcomes more than 200 delegates each year. Conference participants attend presentations and workshops led by some of the industry’s most experienced professionals.
“With Canada’s economic recovery still fragile, we are concentrating on creating jobs and economic growth for Canadians,” said Minister of State Moore. “That is why we are focused on the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.”
In his remarks, Minister of State Moore highlighted the government’s significant investment in tourism through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, including short-term stimulus funding of $150 million to enhance the visitor experience in Canada’s national parks and historic sites, $100 million to the Marquee Tourism Events Program, and $40 million for tourism marketing through the Canadian Tourism Commission. Minister of State Moore embarked on a highly successful tourism mission to China in October 2010 to maximize the opportunities presented by Canada’s Approved Destination Status.
Ontario’s festivals and events, such as the Stratford Festival and Toronto’s Winterlicious Festival, provide domestic and international visitors with unique travel experiences. Tourism makes a significant impact to Canada’s economy overall, representing 2 percent of gross domestic product and generating approximately 617,000 jobs.
Bye-bye to beer tents? Ontario to consult on possible liquor law changes
National Post Staff
Could Ontario be saying good-bye to beer tents? The province’s government announced on Wednesday that it would be asking for public input on a series of possible liquor law changes.
Some of the changes considered would include relaxing the liquor laws at events and festivals, meaning drinkers would no longer be sequestered in beer tents, but could wander with a drink in hand.
Finally, the proposed changes could allow the province’s tourism operators to sell all-inclusive vacations.
Source: Bye-bye to beer tents? Ontario to consult on possible liquor law changes
Tourism fund destination: tory ridings
Tourism events in Conservative ridings were significantly more likely to receive funding than events in opposition ridings through a $100-million federal program designed to stimulate the economy, government records show.
Among events deemed eligible for funding by the Marquee Tourism Events Program, 76% of those in Conservativeheld ridings were approved for funding, according to an analysis by Postmedia News and the Ottawa Citizen.
That means such projects had a better than three-in-four chance of being approved. They did not, however, obtain nearly as high a proportion of the total money allocated. The analysis shows they received under 30% of funding allocated to-date.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com
