January 24, 2008
In this issue:

Are You Listed on VCMBC.COM?
Washington State Enhanced Driver’s License Available as of January 22
Sign Up Now for the Next RBC 2010 Legacies Now Speaker Series
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary – How Does Your Garden Grow?
Get Involved in Greater Vancouver's Tenth Annual Hotel &Tourism Blood Donor Challenge
Here is Some News from India – Literally!
Nominate Now For 2008 Aboriginal Tourism BC Awards
TIAC Report on Travel Between Canada and Other Countries – November 2007
The 7 Most Influential Travel Bloggers of 2007

Are You Listed on VCMBC.COM?

We love getting feedback from our Marketing Partners – especially when it is something great! We are thrilled to hear about the fabulous sale that Exclusively Canada enjoyed recently, and all from a customer who clicked on their listing on www.vcmbc.com.

By clicking on the Exclusively Canada link on our site, the customer went ahead to book a custom created package – a Coast and Mountain scenic holiday with an Alaskan small ship cruise. There were 2 travellers in total and the resulting vacation value was $16,953.70.

Way to Go Exclusively Canada (of course we are happy that they found you through our site!). For those of you who do not know Exclusively Canada, they are an inbound tourism destination specialist. They focus on promoting Canada as a vacation destination to both the travel trade and direct consumer market by offering customized FIT and group vacation packaging services, and can be found online at www.exclusivelycanada.com.

Washington State Enhanced Driver’s License Available as of January 22

Washington State residents can start applying for an enhanced driver license and ID card (EDL/ID) as of January 22, 2008 – creating an opportunity to increase visits to BC’s winter tourism season. The timing of the card is just in advance of the January 31, 2008 rule change which no longer allows oral declarations of US citizenship at the borders. The EDL/ID will securely denote identity and citizenship, and is an acceptable alternative to a passport for re-entry into the U.S. at land and sea border crossings. These handy cards can be obtained by taking proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate), along with an existing driver’s license, to a Licensing Servicing Office. There, the applicant will be interviewed, photographed and, if all is in order, have their licenses upgraded to an EDL. At the cost of only $15, these cards represent a much lower cost alternative to the passport. 

Sign Up Now for the Next RBC 2010 Legacies Now Speaker Series

Learn from the experts about tourism and business opportunities resulting from hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Join Mark Lewis, President, Jet Set Sports, and former head of Olympic sponsorship programs for NBC and General Electric, as he shares his experience with hosting programs and needs such as venues, transportation, and event planning and production. Jet Set Sports is a premier provider of corporate hospitality services, having worked on 13 Olympic Games. Mark Lewis will be in town the week of January 28, 2008. He will be doing a live interview style free webcast on February 1, 2008 at 12 noon, hosted by CTV's 2010 Reporter, Mike Killeen that can be viewed at www.2010LegaciesNow.com.  He will also be speaking in Whistler, Surrey and in Vancouver at a Vancouver Board of Trade Lunch.

Where can you catch Mark?

Whistler – Tuesday, January 29
In partnership with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce
Email: events@whistlerchamber.com

Vancouver – Wednesday, January 30
In partnership with The Vancouver Board of Trade
Visit www.boardoftrade.com, Events & Activities for tickets

Surrey – Thursday, January 31
In partnership with the Surrey Board of Trade
Call 604-581-7130 or visit www.businessinsurrey.com

Live Webcast – Friday, February 1, 12 noon
Log on to www.2010LegaciesNow.com
Visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com for more information

Learn what your business or organization can do to capitalize on these hospitality needs and the 2010 Winter Games coming to BC.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary – How Does Your Garden Grow?

Okay, so your name does not have to be “Mary”, but if you are a community partner, you love competition, and you have great gardens, why not enter into the BC Communities in Bloom 2008 competition? Two judges will visit your community, using National Grid to award a bloom rating certificate and evaluation report. 5 bloom winners may be invited to participate in the National Communities in Bloom program the following year.

For more information on Communities in Bloom, call Catherine at 604-576-6506 or visit the website at www.bccommunitiesinbloom.ca.

Get Involved in Greater Vancouver's Tenth Annual Hotel &Tourism Blood Donor Challenge

Did You Know? Every minute of everyday, in communities across Canada, someone needs blood.

This year’s Hotel & Tourism Blood Donor Challenge is running from February 1st – March 10th, 2008. Join your fellow tourism businesses for some friendly competition to help save lives!

The need for blood is ongoing and can affect all Canadians at some point in their lives. Your participation and involvement in the Hotel & Tourism Challenge will help Canadian Blood Services ensure that the critical needs of British Columbians are met.

Last year’s donations totalled 67; this year’s challenge is to reach 75!

Challenge Highlights

Recruit friends and family
Employees can earn donations for their organizations by donating blood themselves, and/or by recruiting friends and family to donate on their behalf. All donations made at any Lower Mainland blood donor clinic during February 1st – March 10th, 2008 are eligible to be included in the challenge.

Help save lives
Through just one blood donation, your unique and individual gift has the potential to save up to three lives, and make a direct, and positive impact on your community.

Prizes
Plaques will be awarded to the organization with the highest number of donors recruited throughout the challenge, and to the organization with the highest staff participation rate.

Where can I donate?
Donations can be made at any Lower Mainland blood donor clinic. Just remember to sign in at the front desk of the clinic as a Hotel/Tourism Challenge participant.

Downtown Vancouver Clinic:                                        Vancouver Clinic:
2nd floor, 888 Dunsmuir Street                                    4750 Oak Street (at 32nd Ave)
Tuesday   8:15 am – 2:45 pm                                         Monday & Tuesday   11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday   7:30 am – 2:00 pm                                    Wednesday & Thursday   1:00 pm -7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday   9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Sunday   10:00 am – 4:30 pm**
(**open every 2nd Sunday)

The Fairmont Airport Hotel will be defending their title this year. Of course all participating organizations are winners, helping to make sure that blood is available for all British Columbians who need it. Please call 1-888-2-DONATE for blood donor clinic information, eligibility information, or to book an appointment. For group bookings please contact Asha Nixon at 604-707-3440 or email to asha.nixon@blood.ca.

Here is Some News from India – Literally!

Check out this latest report on the evolving Indian market from The Economic Times, an Indian on-line paper:

“PUNE: Mere trips to Singapore and Thailand, or for that matter even London, Paris and Rome, are no longer good enough for the great Indian traveller who is now looking at specialized tours like music cruises, adventure trails, spiritual getaways and health holidays abroad. Toronto-based Allegro Holidays, for instance, caters to thousands of music buffs in India. It is offering luxury classical music cruises in 2008, bookings for which have already started.

Holidays, say tour operators, are changing across the country. Niche is the latest buzzword in the travel circuit this season and the profile of the traveller is FIT or free independent travellers. They are young, aspirational and upwardly mobile, and want to tailor-make their itineraries to suit budgets and individual tastes.”

“The number of Indian tourists who went abroad in 2006-2007 stands at a little over eight million and is expected to cross 15 million in another five years, predicts the Pacific-Asia Travel Association, a nodal travel monitor in the continent.

Outbound travel in India may soon overtake inbound travel, say industry watchers. Sunil Gupta, chief operating officer, SOTC, part of the Kuoni group, told media: Packages to southeast Asia are the most popular. Nearly 50 percent of the outbound travellers, especially first timers, opt for destinations in the region. Singapore and Malaysia sell well together. Industry experts say a budget trip to Bangkok, Singapore and Malaysia, which includes bed and breakfast, costs a mere Rs 12,000 per person with discounts and reduced air tariffs. Another destination that is attracting Indians this season is Disneyland in Hong Kong. A travel agent in Pune says: This season alone, nearly 7,000 to 8,000 people opted for leisure trips to overseas destinations.”

Nominate Now For 2008 Aboriginal Tourism BC Awards

The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (ATBC) is seeking nominations for exceptional Aboriginal tourism businesses for the 5th Aboriginal Tourism BC Awards. The awards recognize innovation, excellence and leadership in BC's thriving Aboriginal tourism sector.

Nominations are now open for the following nine award categories:

• Inspirational Leadership Award
• Coast Hotels and Resorts Ambassador Award
• Strength in Marketing Award
• Cultural Authenticity Award
• Tourism Conservation Award
• Excellence in Customer Service Award
• Power of Education Award
• Young Adult Achievement Award
• Industry Partner Award

Deadline for nominations is February 1, 2008. 

For complete nomination information, visit www.aboriginalbc.com/corporate and follow the links to the ATBC Awards or e-mail admin@aboriginalbc.com.

Award finalists will be celebrated at the 5th Aboriginal Tourism BC Awards gala on March 5, 2008 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. For tickets, call Katrin Harry, event coordinator, with
Ayjoomixw Concepts at 604-483-3532 or e-mail katrin@ayjoomixw.com.

TIAC Report on Travel Between Canada and Other Countries – November 2007

INBOUND TRIPS TO CANADA
In November, non-residents made 1.6 million trips to Canada, an 11.1% decrease compared to November 2006. Total overnight travel to Canada reached 879,000 trips in November 2007, a 0.6% increase compared to last year due to an increase in overseas visitation.

From the United States:

• The total number of trips to Canada from the U.S. declined 13.3% to 1.4 million trips.  The value of the greenback dipped below the Canadian dollar in November averaging $0.97 CAD, compared to $1.14 in November 2006.
• Compared to November 2006, total automobile travel from the U.S. fell to 1.1 million trips due to a 22.6% decline in same-day auto travel. In November 2007, prices for regular gas in the U.S. averaged $3.08/gallon nationally, up from $2.80 in October.
• In November, same-day auto trips from the U.S. fell to the lowest number since record keeping began in 1972, marking the tenth time this year that a new record low was set.
• Compared to last year, the total volume of overnight travel from the U.S. fell 1.2% in November 2007 as overnight auto travel remained stationary, while non-auto overnight travel decreased 3.0%.
• Travel modes other than automobile also registered declines in November compared to the same month last year as bus travel fell 0.4%, plane travel decreased 4.5% and trips by train, boat and other methods dropped 5.2%.

From all other countries:

• Compared to November 2006, the total number of trips from overseas destinations increased 7.2% to almost 345,000 trips. This represents the highest level of overseas travel to Canada in over three years.
• Trips to Canada from all but one of Canada’s six major overseas regions posted increases in November 2007: Oceania (26.5%); Central America including Mexico (19.1%); Africa (15.2%); South America (11.5%); and Europe (9.0%) while trips from Asia declined by 1.5%.

OUTBOUND TRIPS BY CANADIANS
Due to a very strong Canadian dollar, total outbound travel by Canadians reached 4.3 million trips In November 2007, a 21.9% increase compared to November 2006. Total overnight outbound travel by Canadians increased 25.2% compared to November 2006, reaching 1.95 million trips. 

To the United States:

• Compared to November 2006, the total number of trips to the U.S. increased 23.1% to 3.8 million trips in November 2007. The Canadian dollar averaged $1.04 US in value during the month.  
• Total overnight trips to the U.S. increased significantly in November 2007 due to a 48.0% rise in overnight auto and an 8.9% increase in non-auto trips.
• Compared to the same month last year, total automobile travel to the U.S. increased 27.0% to 3.8 million trips. Almost 2.3 million same-day auto trips were made, representing a 20.3% year-over-year increase.  Overnight auto travel increased 48.2% to reach the highest level in 15 years. Since the end of 2006, overnight car travel to the U.S. has increased 43.6%.
• The number of Canadians travelling to the U.S. by air increased 8.9% in November 2007, while travel by train, boat and other methods increased 10.5%. The number of Canadians travelling by bus decreased 1.4% compared to last year.

To Overseas Countries:
Continuing the growth trend, Canadian travel to overseas destinations registered a 13.6% gain in November 2007 compared to November 2006, reaching 472,000 trips. This represents the seventh consecutive month that Canadian overseas travel has set a new high.

The 7 Most Influential Travel Bloggers of 2007

While the quality of blogs vary and can be very subjective, Christopher Elliott, noted consumer advocate, journalist, and travel expert, offers a list of and comments on the seven most influential travel bloggers of 2007, including:

1. Mark Ashley (Upgrade: Travel Better). Mark’s blog is a must-read for business travelers. He has terrific news instincts and a good sense of humor about the biz, which serves him well.
2. Paul Brady (Jaunted). When it comes to travel blogging, can you be hip and influential at the same time? Many have tried. Paul and his crew of bloggers at Jaunted are one of only a few who have pulled it off.
3. Arthur Frommer (Frommers). The man who brought us Europe on 5 Dollars a Day is already a travel god. Now he’s a blogging travel god. You go, Mr. Frommer.
4. Holly Hegeman (PlaneBuzz). Holly writes the airline blog. There is nothing more to say.
5. Wendy Perrin (Perrin Post). Wendy and her friends over at Conde Nast Traveler deliver a nice mix of consumer travel news and destination reports. Plus, it’s a fun read.
6. Ben Popken (Consumerist). Granted, it’s not a travel blog, but when it covers the travel industry it does it very well, serving up an intriguing mix of insider news, firsthand reports from customers and solid analysis.
7. Rick Seaney (Rickseaney.com). Take a few supercomputers crunching fare data, an irreverent attitude and right-on blogging instincts and what do you have? The guy behind Farecompare and the only corporate blogger to make this list.

For more information, visit www.elliott.org.

Source: Tourism Industry Association of Canada TIAC Talk – January 17, 2008 Issue