April 2007
Gearing up for a Great Summer!
It's hard to believe that the summer is upon us. This year we are ramping up for a busy visitor season. Last year Northern BC Tourism launched the "Northern BC Signature Series" to highlight festivals and events taking place throughout our region. This series encourages visitors to spend more time in the region and communities there within. This year the program will be offered again to all festivals and events who want to participate.
This spring we launched an advertising campaign targeting the lower mainland to get people planning their summer vacations. Also new this year is an improved festivals and events calendar that allows leaders of these events to submit dates and details directly on to the calendar (beginning on May 4th). This ensures that no event will be left out, to add your event visit www.northernbctourism.com/fun.*
MV Northern Adventure sets Sail
The replacement vessel for the Inside Passage route is now in service. The MV Northern Adventure set sail on its inaugural voyage on March 31st 2007 from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.
Among the passengers aboard the MV Northern Adventure’s inaugural voyage were the Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, and a host of community and tourism industry leaders including Anthony Everett, CEO of Northern BC Tourism.
The vessel itself has been completely modified and upgraded giving tourists and locals a northern travel experience unlike anything they have known before. Among its many amenities, the ship offers comfortable lounges with LCD TVs, spacious outer decks, 74 cabins, a licensed cafeteria and an outdoor café. As the season progresses, it will feature a variety of First Nations art displays, interpretive programs, enhanced food service menus and on-board tourist information staff. For more information visit www.bcferries.com.
New Interactive Northern BC Travel Guide
A new exciting version of the Northern BC Travel Guide is now available! Last month we released the interactive version of our 2007 Northern BC Travel guide. This new way of viewing the official guide to Northern BC allows people to flip by page or click on the table of contents to go directly to a region of interest. Along with that, any advertisements or email addresses are now live links.
This means that if you advertise in this year's Northern BC Travel Guide, visitors can click directly to your site for more information!
This innovative and effective guide will allow visitors an additional and convienient way of learning of the immense opportunities awaiting them in Northern BC!
Media, Media and More Media
This winter and spring has been a flurry of media attention (no pun intended) in Northern BC which is a sign that this year will be a great year for media coverage of Northern BC. There have been some major visits and many more are in the works. Already this year we have seen writers from Australia, the US and Canada. We have also seen strong interest in Skiing and have hosted a group from Ski Canada Magazine and participated in hosting Warren Miller for his newest movie. Articles featuring Northern BC and its operators have been in BC Business, the Vancouver Sun and Province, and the Globe and Mail to mention a few. The value of media exposure in the second half of the year was over $650,000, with the future looking even brighter. Make sure that you keep us up-to-date on what’s new and unuiqe with your operaton or area.
Click here to get more information on Media OpportunitiesHaida Heritage Centre
The new $26 million Haida Heritage Centre at Qay’llnagaay in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii is opening summer 2007. The Centre consists of the Haida Gwaii Museum, a gift shop, restaurant, canoe house, performing house, carving shed, Bill Reid Collection, artisans’ workshops and the Bill Reid Teaching Centre, all under one roof. Fronted with six traditional totem poles, the Centre is a series of longhouses connected by interior walkways and giving the feeling of a traditional Haida seaside village. It has been a dream of the Haida for over 40 years and the Centre is their gift to the world.
From the CEO
Wow! What an amazing region that we are blessed to be in. I am continually in awe of the sheer beauty and amazing touism products and experiences that there are for visitors to enjoy in Northern BC. This year has already been a very busy and productive time for all of us at Northern BC Tourism; we have developed a new strategic plan, hosted many media trips, promoted our region at consumer and travel trade shows, welcomed the MV Northern Adventure, not to mention some exciting new advertising programs!
This summer we are excited to offer the opportunity for festivals to take part in the Northern BC Summer Signature Series, which proved to be a great success last year! I will also be traveling our vast region this summer trying to reach as many communities as possible. If you have any questions or comments for me, please do not hesitate to contact me at Anthony@nbctourism.com.
Rocky Mountaineer offers New Packaging Option
On March 7, 2007 Rocky Mountaineer Vacations announced a new rail package for 2008 through the Cariboo and North Central region of BC entitled Gold Rush, Rails and Rockies Adventure. The package will offer guests the opportunity to break up their two day rail experience by stopping in Quesnel at the end of the first day and exploring the best of the region for three nights or more. Click Here for more Information
Trade Show Report
Wow, the interest in Northern BC continues to grow. This year at ITB in Berlin operators were increasingly interested in unique off the beaten track experiences. Inquires ranged from wildlife viewing to touring and everything inbetween. Northern BC Tourism will be representing the region again at the end of April at Rendezvous Canada and based on preliminary appointments it will be the best show of the year. To get more information in regards to Travel Trade Relations please Click Here.
Tourism BC Visits Northwest
Representatives from Tourism BC visited the Queen Charlotte Islands, Prince Rupert and Smithers at the end of March. Visits to Terrace and the Nass Valley were thorted by a late snow storm that closed the highways to these communities. The trip was a huge success and provided the opportunity to see first hand what there is to offer visitors to our amazing part of the province. Representatives will be rescheduling visits to the communites that were not visited shortly.
In this issue
Current Marketing Opportunities
BC Hunting Regulations
Snowriders West
Vancouver Sun/Province Community Spotlights
Go Camping Park Guide
Inside Golf Magazine
Travel Trade Sales Sheets
Festivals and Events Program
www.northernbctourism.com Advertising and Webpages
For Information contact Clint Fraser at our office
250-561-0432
Upcoming Marketing Opportunities
2008 Northern BC Travel Guide
2008 The Milepost
2008 Tourism BC Vacation Guide
2008 Tourism BC Outdoor Adventure Guide
Bells Alaska Travel Guide
Meeting Places Magazine
Snowriders West
For Information contact Clint Fraser at our office
250-561-0432
What is NBCTA?
The Northern BC Tourism Association (NBCTA) is a not for profit organization that is governed by an industry - elected Board of Directors. We are contracted by Tourism British Columbia as the official marketing organization for Northern BC. In so we are able to assist the tourism industry take part in innovative and relevant marketing opportunities in a cost effective manner. For more information about our organization please visit our Stakeholder website by Clicking Here.
Invitation
2011 Western Canada Summer Games Selection Committee Luncheon & Presentation
Wednesday May 2nd, 2007
Prince George Civic Centre
RSVP to Virginia Sprangers
