June 27, 2008
In this issue:

Another Successful RTLF
New Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts – Hon. Bill Bennett
Listings Program with Tourism BC
Border Travel with a New Twist
Media Relations Clippings Activity
VCM Is Still Going Green
Accessible Tourism
Trivia Answer

Another Successful RTLF

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains would like to thank all of our Tourism Partners who came out to make the 2008 Regional Tourism Leaders Forum in Tsawwassen a huge success. A big thank you also goes out to the staff of Tourism British Columbia who came out and explained the changing relationship with Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region and cleared up any confusion that may be around in the industry.

Much was learned about tourism packaging, on-line marketing, and COTA initiatives (lots of cat lovers at COTA!), and of course we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the success without our terrific sponsors. Follow this link (http://www.vcmbc.com/tourismforum/presentations_08.html) to download the presentations from the RTLF. Enjoy this sampling of photos and stay tuned to future eNews issues for a Flickr gallery of images of the event.

If you have any questions about the RTLF or about the changing relationship with Tourism British Columbia, please contact Kevan Ridgway at 604-638-6930 (kevan@vcmbc.com) or Jennifer Rhyne at 604-636-9046 (jennifer@vcmbc.com).

Kevan Ridgway Sharing the Love with "A Couple of Chicks"


Cheers to Deborah Kulchiski, Tourism Langley; Kathleen Campbell, Vancouver's North Shore Tourism Association; Randy Loor, Hyak River Rafting and Chair of Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region

Jim Storie, Vancouver Trolley Co. Surrounded by the Ladies, including VCM Staff Doleen Dean, Rebecca Vossepoel, Frances Ratcliffe, and Kelly Miller with Darlene Tandon, West 2 Design and Leah Nyhus, Historic Lund Hotel. Go Jim!

New Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts – Hon. Bill Bennett

Premier Gordon Campbell realigned the provincial cabinet to provide more integrated services across government. The changes include five new ministers and new portfolios for seven of the current ministers.

“Our government will continue to work as a team, concentrating on the issues that all British Columbians have told us are important to them,” said Premier Campbell. “New ministry portfolios will enhance programs focused on training and skills development and provide new and ongoing opportunities and supports for children, seniors, women, new British Columbians and those most vulnerable. They will also directly respond to British Columbians’ call during the Conversation on Health for government to focus energy on healthy living.”

New ministers appointed include:
·        Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations – Hon. Joan McIntyre
·        Minister of Community Development – Hon. Blair Lekstrom
·        Minister of Healthy Living and Sport – Hon. Mary Polak
·        Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services – Hon. Iain Black
·        Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts – Hon. Bill Bennett

Ministers with new portfolios include:
·        Minister of Agriculture and Lands – Hon. Stan Hagen
·        Minister of State for Mining – Hon. Gordon Hogg
·        Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Olympics – Hon. Colin Hansen
·        Minister of Forests and Range – Hon. Pat Bell
·        Minister of Housing and Social Development – Hon. Rich Coleman
·        Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Deregulation – Hon. Kevin Krueger
·        Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative – Hon. Ida Chong

Ministers retaining existing portfolios:
·        Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Michael de Jong
·        Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development – Hon. Murray Coell
·        Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism – Hon. Wally Oppal
·        Minister of Children and Family Development - Hon. Tom Christensen
·        Minister of State for Childcare – Hon. Linda Reid
·        Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy and Deputy Premier – Hon. Shirley Bond
·        Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources – Hon. Richard Neufeld
·        Minister of Environment – Hon. Barry Penner
·        Minister of Health Services – Hon. George Abbott
·        Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. John van Dongen
·        Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Kevin Falcon

New members of cabinet were sworn into office by the Lieutenant-Governor in a ceremony June 23, 2008.

“This new cabinet will continue to enhance partnerships and services that build strong, safe communities in both rural and urban British Columbia by providing supports in key areas of housing and homelessness; economic development; transportation and infrastructure; and multiculturalism,” said Premier Campbell. “These changes will allow us to continue to seize on the economic opportunities of being Canada’s Pacific Gateway; ensure a healthy environment; strengthen the New Relationship with First Nations; and make ongoing improvements to health care and education.

“I want to thank the former ministers who have decided not to run for re-election for their dedication and their service to all British Columbians,” said Premier Campbell. “Every one of them brought unique skills, abilities and insights to their portfolios and every one of them has had a positive impact on our province.”

For more details on Hon. Bill Bennett, please follow this link: http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/38thParl/bennett.htm

Listings Program with Tourism BC

With the evolving relationship between Tourism British Columbia and the regions, the shift to move tourism partner listings from www.vcmbc.com to www.hellobc.com is beginning. If you have questions about this process, or about your listing, please contact Kelly Miller (kellym@vcmbc.com) at any time. As part of this process Tourism British Columbia’s 2009 Approved Accommodation Program is currently underway, so here is a little information (and a reminder!) about it!

Tourism British Columbia will soon be contacting you to enroll for the 2009 Approved Accommodation component of the HelloBC Listings Program. 

The Approved Accommodation Program includes a listing on HelloBC®.com and in the full colour 2009 Approved Accommodation Guide delivered in early 2009 and available to visitors who come into the Visitor Centre. 

Why Enroll?
Say hello to over 9 million consumers.  Enrolling in the HelloBC Listings Program gives accommodation properties exposure to consumers in the planning and purchasing stages of their trip – via an online listing at HelloBC.com, and a printed listing in the 2009 Approved Accommodation Guide, distributed through Tourism BC’s Call Centre and the provincial Visitor Centre network:

1. Over 6.4 million consumers visit HelloBC.com annually
2. Over 3.25 million consumers drop in annually to one of the 120 Visitor Centres located throughout the province
3. 500,000 copies of the Approved Accommodation Guide are distributed annually
4. Over 119,000 consumers dial into the Call Centre annually

One GREAT Reason to Enroll Now – This year, Tourism BC is offering a special reward for those enrolling by July 20, 2008.  Complete your enrollment and check out of the shopping cart no later than midnight, July 20, 2008, and get two free online photos and one free online web link.

Enrollment Deadline – To ensure your property is included in the 2009 Approved Accommodation Guide, you must enroll by August 31, 2008.  Why wait until August 31st, when you can get two free online photos and one free online web link if you enroll by July 20, 2008?
Get started today at www.tourismbc.net.

Visit www.TourismBC.com/hellobclistings, or contact Tourism BC’s Product Services Coordinators directly at 1‑800‑822‑7899 or email productservices@tourismbc.com, if you have any questions about enrollment in the 2009 Approved Accommodation Program, or are looking for information about topics including:

• You have a new property to enroll
• Your property has undergone a name change
• You have forgotten your username (if you know your username but forgotten your password, you can reset the password when you enter www.tourismbc.net)
• You are a new contact for your property
• or any aspect of the Approved Accommodation Program

Border Travel with a New Twist

If you are a gadget guy or gal, be prepared the next time you cross the border! Follow this link: http://technology.canoe.ca/Columnists/Gazin/2008/05/30/5721826.html for a recent article outlining some of the latest items that Customs is cracking down on, and to read about a free service offered by Canada Border Services Agency to get you through the border quickly and efficiently. Follow the link for more information, or visit the CBSA website, or do a search for Y-38 and Memorandum D2-6-5, and let the iPhones keep on coming!

Media Relations Clippings Activity

It’s that time of year again, the time when every moment you round a corner you bump into a travel writer! Press trip season is in full swing, keeping Laura and Jennifer on their toes and busy in the media department.

One face you may or may not be familiar with is Frances Ratcliffe, Media Assistant Extraordinaire who, over the past few months, has been busy cataloguing all of Vancouver, Coast & Mountains received clippings into a searchable Excel document. We would like to share this document with you, to give you an idea of what is going on in your community or with your particular business.

To view the document, you will need to have Excel loaded on your computer. If you don’t have it, download a copy of the Free Excel Viewer. Once you are ready to go, follow this link (VCM Media Coverage April 08 - June 08) to view the collected media articles from April 2008 until now. To search, simply select from the drop down menu in the column you wish to search, select “Contains” and type in your business, community, product, travel writer name, or whatever item you are searching for. If you have any questions about this form, or any trouble searching, please contact Jennifer Rhyne at jennifer@vcmbc.com.

VCM Is Still Going Green

Over the past year with the guidance of our on-staff Going Green Expert, Rebecca Vossepoel, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains has been working on adding green initiatives to the office.
Here is a little sample of some of the Great Green Goals VCM has achieved:
• Turning off lights, computers and monitors at night
• Printing double sided
• Using the Company Car
• Recycling in kitchen and print room
• Green story starters
• Green tips/articles in eNews
• Printing all guides on FSC, recycled paper
• Using a local printer
• Green sponsor/speaker for the RTLF
• Printing less - using USB sticks at the RTLF instead of printing
• Green section in the new Travel Experience Guide

If you have any questions about sustainability issues or making your office greener (of if you have any more tips!), please call Rebecca Vossepoel at 604-484-5362 or email rebecca@vcmbc.com. 

Accessible Tourism

2010 Legacies Now, the Province of BC, Tourism BC, and numerous partners are working to help make BC a premier travel destination for people with disabilities. 

With one in eight people worldwide living with a disability, accessible travellers make up one of the fastest growing tourism market opportunities. In North America alone, people with disabilities spend more than $13 billion each year on travel.

Accessible Tourism Strategy

Using the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as a catalyst, the Accessible Tourism Strategy aims to establish BC as a global leader in accessible tourism, and help to create lasting legacies in BC communities.

Accessibility Rating

Tourism businesses can determine how accessible they are for people with disabilities by participating in an accessibility assessment. 2010 Legacies Now and its partners can then recommend steps to improve accessibility. Often, it only takes simple, inexpensive changes to make businesses accessible for thousands more travellers.
Businesses rated accessible for visitors with mobility, visual or hearing impairments will receive icons displaying this information. These positive ratings can will be used in marketing the businesses to travellers worldwide.

Wheelchair Accessibility - Partially Accessible

Business has no physical barriers limiting entry into the business; however, barriers are present in or around the business limiting access for people using wheelchairs.

Wheelchair Accessibility - Fully Accessible

Business has no physical barriers into or around the building, or to key amenities and services, which would limit access for people using wheelchairs.

Visual Accessibility

Business has appropriate emergency alarms and plans, and offers communication material in alternate formats accessible for people with visual impairments.

Hearing Accessibility

Business has appropriate emergency alarms and plans, and offers communication material in alternate formats accessible for people with hearing impairments.
Visit http://www.2010legaciesnow.com/accessible_tourism/ for more information on the Accessible Tourism Strategy or email inclusion@2010LegaciesNow.com to arrange an accessibility assessment.

Trivia Answer

Answer to the trivia question: Where was Western Canada's first roll of newspaper made? Powell River, BC!