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VCM
Partners Extranet
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In this issue:
CONNECT
with Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
2010 Legacies
Now Luncheon & Tour
Reminder: 2007 Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Travel Guide
Trade Report
Why didn’t the chicken cross the road? Because he
thought he needed a passport.
Free Internet Marketing Tool
Abbotsford Airshow 2007
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CONNECT with Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
VCM is pleased to introduce the newest member
of our team … CONNECT! CONNECT is a facilitator who will
enable the staff to reach out to tourism and marketing partners
for input and guidance. OK, so CONNECT isn’t an actual
person, but it is doing the work of a team of people!
CONNECT is essentially a virtual office. It’s
on-line area that will enable Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
to keep the staff connected to partners by creating secure community
areas where they can share links, files and discussion forums.
Now, don't let these technical words frighten you. Using CONNECT
is so basic and easy you will wonder how we lived without it.
These online community areas will allow groups to engage in “any-time” online
discussions. Over the next month, VCM staff will be inviting
groups of carefully selected partners to participate in CONNECT
Advisory groups. The groups will be focused on different areas
including co-op marketing, e-strategies, travel trade, media
relations and golf, where participants will be asked to provide
feedback and guidance in the creation of our 2007/2008 Marketing
Plan. Each advisory group can be divided into different topics,
thus allowing staff (and partners) to create discussion forums
around particular subjects. Participants will be able to add
new and reply to existing discussion threads, and upload or download
files for viewing and/or discussion. There’s even a Live
Meeting utility for conducting on-line meetings that we will
likely use in the future!
Benefits:
- Offers marketing partners a chance to express
their ideas & concerns.
- Connecting staff with partners to create
a strong organizational network
- Provides a secure discussion area that is available
24/7 for you to use at your convenience
- Marketing plan feedback; program suggestions.
- Decreases the number of face-to-face meetings
required
- Contributes to the generation of new ideas and
maintains valuable contacts
- Offers you access to relevant, useful information
If you would like to participate in one of the groups,
please contact Mary Ann Bell and
she'll "connect" you with the leader of appropriate group!
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2010 Legacies Now Luncheon & Tour
The 2010 Legacies Now Tour presented by Bell
is coming to Richmond from Thursday, August 31st through Monday,
September 4th.
The exhibit's opening ceremony will be on
Thursday August 31st at 11:00AM at Richmond Centre. The displays
will inspire citizens to learn more about the legacies leading
up to and beyond 2010. For more information, visit the 2010 Legacies
Now website located at www.2010legaciesnow.com.
Following the launch of the event, Tourism
Richmond in partnership with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce,
City of Richmond and Richmond
Spirit of BC, will be hosting a luncheon with guest speakers
the Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sports & the
Arts and Madleine Rab, General Manager, Business Development
and Olympics - Bell Canada.
Where: Best Western Richmond Inn - 7551 Westminster Hwy
Tickets: $30.00 (Inc GST) for both members and guests.
Time: 11:45am - 1:30pm
To register for this event, please fill out the registration
form found here and fax back to the Richmond Chamber of Commerc's
office at 604-278-2972, or sign up online at www.richmondchamber.ca
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Reminder: 2007 Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Travel Guide
***Advertising Deadlines approaching!***
As the summer season begins to wind down, now is the time to
ensure you have all of your advertising plans in place for
2007! There is still time to participate in the 2007 Vancouver,
Coast & Mountains Travel Guide - one of the most visitor
requested British Columbia Travel Guides!
Click here to read more
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Trade Report
New and Improved Travel Trade Centre
Phase 1 has been completed on the revamped Travel Trade Centre
of www.vcmbc.com. Along with
an overall design change, the layout has been designed to provide
the trade with easier access to the
information they require to learn and make decisions about our
region.
As part of the upgraded and expanded section, Phase 2 will include
opportunities for marketing partners to purchase space on the Experiences
page. Watch your inbox for the details and rate information coming
soon.
To view the site, go to: www.vcmbc.com/traveltrade or
contact Jason Knibbs - Sales Manager, Travel Trade: jason@vcmbc.com for
further information.
Motorcycle Touring Ideas Needed
In response to a request from an Australian Tour Operator, we
are considering developing a “motorcycle touring” itinerary
specifically for the Trade. The itinerary will include all destination
areas and be focused on off the beaten path routes for the visiting
motorcyclist. We are looking for accommodations, restaurants,
points of interest and events that would be appropriate for this
market.
If you currently cater to the motorcycle enthusiast, would like
to reach this market or have some ideas about routing in your
area, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Jason Knibbs-
Sales
Manager, Travel Trade: jason@vcmbc.com
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Why didn’t the chicken cross the road?
Because he thought he needed a passport.
Travel requirements for cross-border trips between
Canada and the U.S. are not well understood.
As the political rhetoric regarding Canada-U.S.
border security continues to escalate, there is considerable
confusion on both
sides of the border regarding the identification required to
travel to the other country. Currently, about three-in-ten of
those on either side of the Canada-U.S. border mistakenly believe
that they must present a valid passport. While drivers’ licenses
and birth certificates are currently acceptable forms of ID,
32% of Americans and 29% of Canadians believe that a passport
is required for travel across the border. In the U. S., another
24% indicate that they are not sure what is required, suggesting
that more than one-half of Americans do not have a clear understanding
of what is required to visit Canada.
In the U.S., the misconception that a passport
is required is surprisingly high, even among those who have recently
travelled
to Canada. A full one third (35%) of Americans who have travelled
to Canada for an overnight pleasure trip within the past two
years believe that a passport is currently required.
Click
here to download report summary
Source: TIAC Report Summary – TNS Canadian
Facts
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Free Internet Marketing Tool
Get Your Coupons on Google Maps
August 15, 2006 Edition of Internetnews.com
By Nicholas Carlson
Everybody wants a piece of the Sunday papers.
While Craigslist takes on the classifieds, Google (Quote, Chart)
today announced it will soon be displaying printable coupons
for local businesses in its Google Maps search results and business
listing pages.
Local businesses that want to add their own coupons
to Google Maps can do so for free in Google's Local Business
Center, according
to a statement. There they can also add and update their business
listings for Google Local.
Click here to keep reading
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Abbotsford Airshow 2007
Many of the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
staff had the opportunity to check out the Abbotsford Airshow
which ran from August 11 – 13, 2006. It was a fabulous
show and we extend our warmest thanks to everyone at Tourism
Abbotsford for their warm hospitality!
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Your feedback is most
welcome on any subject – please e-mail kevan@vcmbc.com. |
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