February 27, 2007
In this issue:

Launch of an Innovative Virtual Travel Guide
Shoestring Marketing
What's new with Travel Trade?
Consumer Show Update
Foreign workers can now remain longer in Canada
Write a Review!
Don’t Miss the Vancouver AM Wake-Up Awards

Launch of an Innovative Virtual Travel Guide

This week welcomed the launch of the latest in innovative travel guides for visitors to Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. The Virtual Travel Guide enables visitors to customize, personalize and create a travel handbook designed specifically for their own interests and vacation needs. The guide is available for viewing online at www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/vcm/travelguide07 or by clicking the icon below.

Flipping through the digital pages, the Virtual Travel Guide allows “readers” to click on links directly related to the places they would like to visit. Readers are able to bookmark pages, add notes, and send the guide or portions of the guide to friends and family, thereby personalizing their very own travel manual. And if a reader sees an advertisement they want to check out? They simply click on the link and head right to the website of the advertiser.

The guide is created with the technology of NXTbook Media™, a digital publishing service who optimizes print materials for use on the Web. The user-friendly format, and interactive page turner, is perfect for tour operators and travel agents to forward to clients, in addition to travel journalists and vacationing visitors who may be writing about or just enjoying a holiday in the region.

Shoestring Marketing

A limited budget does not mean your marketing ideas have to be limited. Shoestring marketing is about making more money with less effort; it’s about growing your business without spending unnecessary dollars by looking for unique communication opportunities. Every interaction you have provides an opportunity to build public relations and business growth. The key is to focus on ensuring that each interaction is consistent with your brand and provides value by making meaningful contributions to the lives of those you communicate with. The following are 10 ways to create meaningful connections and leverage your marketing investment:

Read more ...

What's new with Travel Trade?

Addison Travel Shows
Jan 31 - Edmonton & Feb 1 - Calgary
Feb 13 - Toronto & Feb 14 - London, ON

On your behalf, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains attended the annual Addison Travel Shows in Alberta and Ontario. Aimed at the professional travel agent, Addison Travel Trade Shows are an effective way to meet face to face with hundreds of travel agents and promote what's new and what's hot in our Region. In all, over 400 travel agents attended each show in Alberta, while close to 700 in Toronto and 350 in London Ontario braved the cold and blizzard-y conditions. The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains booth received visitation from roughly a third of all attendees. The main sales piece distributed was the Great Getaways Travel Agents Guide with the VC&M Travel Guide also provided for those looking to learn more about the Region.

The next series of Addison Travel Shows we will be participating are Manitoba & Saskatchewan in March.

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Consumer Show Update

It is that time of year again – when Vancouver, Coast & Mountains is busy promoting the region to consumers across Canada and the United States. Here is a summary of what we have attended so far:

Florida RV Show: January 16 - 21, 2007
RV enthusiasts filled the aisles at the annual Florida RV Show in Tampa Bay. 49,000 RVers turned up to take a look at the latest and greatest in RVs and to find out where they are going to take their “baby” next. BC is always one of their top choices! Doleen Dean spent a lot of time assisting RVers with trip planning for this summer. All six regions joined forces at the show to make the “BC Presence” a spectacular one.

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Foreign workers can now remain longer in Canada
The Associated Press
Friday, February 23, 2007

Temporary foreign workers looking to come to Canada to tap into one of the many sectors short of employees can now stay for up to two years, the federal government announced.

Nannies and others who come to Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program, for example, will be able to stay for three years and three months, up from a year, the government said Friday.

The announcement was cheered by groups who say the Canadian economy will benefit and booed by labor groups who say the government should be doing more to train Canadians for the jobs.

The application process will also be simplified, with application forms becoming available online starting April 1. The process used to be completed through mail-in applications.

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Write a Review!

Matthias Morel is involved with an online project at www.HotelGymReview.com - a website that rates the quality of hotel gyms based on user reviews. It's a great resource for those of you travelling on business or leisure and would like to stay at hotel with adequate fitness facilities. Once you find a hotel that fits your criteria you can book it online through their booking affiliate or by calling the toll-free number. They’ve also set up an online store with some handy fitness / travel related products.

Read more ...

Don’t Miss the Vancouver AM Wake-Up Awards

PAUL LeBLANC, PRESIDENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS of
Vancouver AM Tourism Association
Invite you and your guests to the
23rd ANNUAL WAKE-UP AWARDS

Where:	Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre at Canada Place Parkview Terrace - M Level
When:	Friday, March 16, 2007 6:45 am - Coffee and meet past Wake-up Award Recipients 7:00 am sharp - Breakfast
Award Recipients:	Initiators of the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Bid in 1997 Bruce MacMillan (then VP, Sales & Marketing, Tourism Vancouver) Mark Andrew (then Chair, Board of Directors, Tourism Vancouver) Rick Antonson (President & CEO, Tourism Vancouver) Arthur Griffiths (Sports Entrepreneur; Chair, Domestic Bid) Sandra Stevenson (then incoming President & CEO, Sport BC) Barrett Fisher (then VP, Marketing & Sales, Now President, Tourism Whistler)
Keynote Speaker:	John Furlong, President & CEO, VANOC
Ticket Cost:	$35.00 Member $45.00 - Non Member
Reserved Tables (of 10):	$400.00 (includes corporate signage)
Contact:	Randy Vannatter - randy@citypassports.com
RSVP: Register online at www.vancouveram.ca