In this issue:

Successful Fall Road Shows
Discover the Tourism Brief
Media Relations / Event Coordinator Position Available
Good Luck Gus!
Established Walking Tour Company for Sale
Are You Part of a Tourism Community?
eMedia Update
Staff / Board Profile
The Board on Bowen

Successful Fall Road Shows

Presentations have been concluded in eight communities within the region to a receptive audience of tourism and marketing partners. The road shows were started last year to present the FY 2008 marketing plan before final Board approval and submission to Tourism BC.

The content focused on new projects for the year, such as increased attention to the influence of women in the travel decision. The 2007-08 Tourism Partner Opportunity Booklet we distributed included all projects available on a cooperative basis with our marketing partners. We extend a special thank you to Kristi Wilson for working nights and weekends to ensure that this was ready, at the same time as ensuring that the 2007 Travel Guide was ready to go to press.

Complete information on the FY 2008 plan (as well as the 2007-08 Tourism Partner Opportunity Booklet) can be found at www.vcmbc.com/marketingplan.

Please remember that this is a living, breathing working plan, and you are invited to share your thoughts and ideas at any time during the year. It really is based on the input that you provide throughout the year, not just during this intensive planning period. The plan is research-based, and we thank our partners at the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism British Columbia, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Whistler for sharing their research information with us.

Our plans are also subject to tracking and measurement during the year, and we are constantly looking for new ways to ensure that our tactics are effective for you, our marketing partners. We do hire an external research company to complete a conversion study of enquiries handled in our office (see http://www.vcmbc.com/pdf/VCM05ConversionSummary.pdf for complete report). We also, in partnership with the other Regional DMOs in the province, work with Tourism BC to complete research on our behalf. Their most recent project was on consumer shows (see http://www.vcmbc.com/pdf/TBC_Inquiry_Conversion_Study_Final_Jan31_05.pdf for results).

Thank you to all who attended a road show, and/or participated in an advisory group through our CONNECT communication tool.

Discover the Tourism Brief

Tourism BC is pleased to provide their regular e-newsletter aimed at providing stakeholders with useful information about initiatives and trends in the tourism industry. In addition, you will find updates on Tourism BC's programs and activities, including up-to-date research. Visit http://www.tourismbc.com/tourismbrief/issue0610/email0610/tourism_brief_oct06.html for this month’s issue!

Media Relations / Event Coordinator Position Available

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains is currently looking for a new Media Relations Assistant/Event Coordinator. The position requires 2 years minimum media relations/marketing previous experience or equivalent education in communications, marketing or tourism. The ideal candidate will possess excellent writing skills and demonstrate competencies with creative writing, researching, and Internet and PC software applications. Of course, this person is also media savvy, someone who loves to mix and mingle, but also understands the value of creating and maintaining a sense of urgency. The new Media Relations Assistant / Event Coordinator must be flexible as there is some travel required, as well as occasional evening and weekend hours. Previous experience working in a team environment and coordinating events is an asset, in addition to understanding and experience with not-for-profit organizations. Please send resumes and inquiries to Jennifer Rhyne via email only (jennifer@vcmbc.com).

Good Luck Gus!

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains would like to wish our warmest regards and good luck wishes to Gus Abel on his upcoming retirement from Tyax Mountain Resort. Here is a note from Gus that we wish to share with you all:

How time flies! It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since we opened Tyax back in 1986. It’s been a great experience for me – being able to build and operate my dream resort, and I have many fond memories.

I am contacting you now for two reasons – the first is to thank you for all your support in helping me realize this dream and bringing your guests to Tyax. The second reason is to let you know that I am retiring as of the end of this month to join my family at our new home in the Okanagan Valley of Super, Natural British Columbia.

Running a wilderness resort has been wonderful, but I am getting older and the milder winters (and wineries) will serve me well during my retirement. I have begun to write a book on the story of Tyax, and will sink my teeth into this in the new year!

Once again on behalf of Tyax, thank you very much for your support over the years. You can rest assured that I am leaving the resort in prime operating order. Our fiscal position is solid and our key management - including Robin James, your contact – is still here to ensure that Tyax delivers the same quality of guest experience that your company and clients expect.

All the very best,

Gus Abel
President/Founder

Established Walking Tour Company for Sale

Enjoy a piece of Vancouver's booming tourism industry!

• Website (www.streethike.com) and logo already created.
• Noticeable web presence already established.
• (Yahoo search 'Vancouver Walking Tours', we are on the first page, sixth listing.)
• (Google search 'Vancouver Walking Tours', we are on the first page, ninth listing.)
• Web link exchanges with other walking tours in the world are already set up.
• Advertising in European travel guides directed at the cruise ship market is in place for 2007.
• Three walks that include Gastown/Downtown, the West End and Yaletown are already researched and written.
• Absolute minimal overhead and easy profit.
• Huge growth potential.
• You can keep this business as simple as possible, or expand it into something much larger, it is very versatile.

Requesting $3000 for this great business.

There is no better way to get in on the Olympic excitement, while meeting great people and getting to walk outside in this beautiful city of ours everyday!

For more information please contact Heidi Burns:
604-609-9642
info@streethike.com

Are You Part of a Tourism Community?

Is your community thinking of embarking on tourism marketing? The funding options report created by Tourism BC provides an overview of the different funding models that BC communities might consider. It examines the different funding options including hotel tax, municipal funding, business levies, memberships, earned revenue, funding through Tourism British Columbia, and other sources of funding. The information in this report is intended to help communities make informed decisions on the best funding options for their particular community.

Follow this link www.vcmbc.com/enews/pdf/CTF_FundingOptions.pdf for a summary of the funding options and the advantages and disadvantages of each, based on interviews with fourteen communities.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Shawna Leung, Director, Community Relations at 604-484-5360 or shawna@vcmbc.com.

eMedia Update

www.vcmbc.com - Site Statistics for Jan 1 – October 31, 2006

Unique Visitors – 687,997 (increase of approx 41.5% over Jan – October 2005)
Page Views - 1,333,914

Demographics
1. US
2. Canada
3. China
4. France
5. UK

Most requested Editorial Pages (October)
1. Home Page
2. General Information
3. Arts, Culture & Attractions
4. Accommodation
5. Search Results
6. Road Trips

Most requested Partner Pages (October)
1. River Rock Casino
2. Metropolis at Metrotown
3. West Jet Airlines
4. Delta Vancouver Airport
5. General Motors Place

Top Search engine referrals (October)
1. Google
2. Yahoo
3. MSN
4. MyTelus

Top Search Terms (October)
1. (other)
2. River Rock Casino
3. West Coast Air
4. Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel
5. Orca Bay
6. Crystal Lodge Whistler

Enhance Your Presence on www.VCMBC.com!
Every day potential visitors to our region see messages from destinations all over the world inviting them to visit. Once they've made the decision to visit Vancouver, Coast & Mountains don't you want to make sure that they visit your business when they arrive? Visitors use www.VCMBC.com to plan their trips, and while they're planning their trip, make sure that your business is highlighted!
Did you know that...

• The majority of consumers (83%) use the Internet for researching and/or booking summer travel plans. And 67% of respondents indicated that they use the Internet as their primary resource for summer travel-related information. (Prospectiv CPI poll)
• " ...over half (56 percent) of Canadian internet users have researched travel plans online and a large majority, 87 percent, will likely use the Internet to research a trip or vacation in the future..."

www.VCMBC.com - the official website for the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region:

• receives over 150,000 page views and 70,000 unique visitors per month
• has over 500 pages of information about what to see and do in the region
• many visitors spend up to 30 minutes looking for information on the site
• due to the rich content on the site we regularly rank higher in search engines than many individual business sites

Feature pages are available to promote your tourism business on www.VCMBC.com and start at $96 + GST. If you have more questions, or wish to enhance your presence on www.VCMBC.com, please click here (http://www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/9680) or feel free to contact Mary Ann at 604-638-6927 or by e-mail at maryann@vcmbc.com.

Staff / Board Profile

Meet Kristi Wilson. Kristi moved to Vancouver from the sunny Okanagan in the fall of 1996 eager to begin her education in BCIT's Tourism Marketing Management program. After graduation in the summer of 1998, she joined Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region. Kristi had worked previously at a popular tourist attraction in Kelowna, and learned (as we all do) that tourism was the best industry in the world! She began her career at VCM as the Information Coordinator, fulfilling consumer inquiries and answering the phone, and is now a marketing machine - completely responsible for all of Vancouver, Coast & Mountains' Print Advertising initiatives, including our in-house publications. From advertising campaigns in magazines, newspapers, and even radio, Kristi brings together groups of Tourism Partners for co-operative marketing campaigns throughout the year, chosen to reach our key visitor markets.

When she's not singing the praises of VCM's tourism industry, Kristi spends a lot of time at the park or the beach with her 'best friend', an energetic Dalmatian named Sydney. And when her pup gives her time off? Look for Kristi at Universal Mixed Martial Arts, where she belongs to a boxing club that meets three nights a week.

The Board on Bowen

Bowen Island was the site of our most recent Board Retreat. We extend our warmest thanks to Murray Atherton (President, Bowen Island Chamber of Commerce www.bowenisland.org) for arranging exceptional venues for our meeting and social events. It was a pleasure to be there!

During the two days of meetings, staff presented their FY 2008 marketing plans for review and comment. These covered our functional areas of media relations, cooperative advertising, publications, e-marketing, travel trade and community tourism foundations. The Board reviewed the allocation of flexible marketing dollars to these areas, plus some special projects.

The Board approved a move to larger offices at 210 West Broadway effective January 1, 2007. Work is now underway on minor renovations to prepare the space to optimize our operations. Our current space (1508 West 2nd Avenue - 1750 sq. ft.) is available for a two year sub-lease or new 5 year lease. If you are interested in this space (the proximity to Granville Island is a definite perk!) or wish to acquire more information, please contact Kevan Ridgway at 604-638-6930.

During the evening of the board retreat, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains hosted a reception for Bowen Island business and community leaders interested in the tourism industry. An excellent exchange of ideas and information flowed smoothly, as, of course, did Fraser Valley wines.

Overall, the retreat provided a focused opportunity to review where the organization is planning to go in the next year and beyond. Thank you to all Board members and staff who were able to participate!

Left to Right: Randy Loor, Ian Hobbs, Mary Ann Bell, Kevan Ridgway, Debbie McKinney, Ian Maw, Irene Sturzenegger, Rosemary Cook, Rick Sair, Anna Smith, David McKenzie.
In front: Rudolf Tize