During the Spring Conference Snow Sports Schools Workshop, Ryan Staley of Left Coast Insights Tourism Development Consulting will be speaking on: Developing Forecasting Methodology for Whistler Blackcomb Snow School at the spring conference of the Canada West Ski Areas Association.
http://cwsaa.org/images/CWSAA_2013_Spring_Conference_Agenda_updated_May_12013.pdf
CCSBE 2013 Conference “Entrepreneurship Developing Communities.”
Hosted by the Eric C Douglass Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Royal Roads University.
Ray Freeman of Left Coast Insights Tourism Development Consulting will be speaking on: Mountain Bike Tourism and Community Development in British Columbia: Benefits of Collaboration Presentation
http://ccsbe2013.org/programme/
The development of a local community or regional cluster promotes local competition while simultaneously “encouraging…innovation, growth and productivity” of organizations; therefore enhancing the overall quality of products within the cluster. Porter asserts that by participating in a cluster, organizations and stakeholders can take advantage of economies of scale and maintain autonomy without expending significant individual resources (Porter, 1998). However, overcoming traditional competitive tendencies and building trust across disparate stakeholders within a cluster is a significant challenge, not to understate the point. Stakeholder education and awareness should be the first strategy initiated towards overcoming stakeholder conflict. As a part of this process, highlighting the benefits of collaboration to stakeholders may enlighten those with disparate perspectives. Chinyio & Akintoye (2008) advise that among the many benefits of stakeholder integration, gaining commitment, facilitating empowerment, improving communication, resolving conflicts, and developing trust towards building community social capital are prominent.
Jackson & Murphy (2002) provide a comparison of the traditional industrial districts framework with Porter’s 1998 competitive cluster theory, exemplified through the introduction of seven new characteristics making up Porter’s theory. While the industrial districts framework provides a foundation for building destination competitiveness, Porter’s new characteristics identify the need to recognize and emphasize the competitive advantage that may be realized by creating interconnections between heterogeneous actors within a defined geography. This may be exemplified in the tourism sector through the promotion of “local heritage and sense of place distinctiveness as market attractions” (p. 38). Keeping in mind Porter suggests that it is dissimilar but complimentary product and services vendors which differentiate a cluster from a homogenous group of similar competitors located in an industrial district. Furthermore, in order to avoid the ubiquity of global commoditization, Jackson & Murphy highlight Porter’s assertion that “Cluster development efforts must embrace the pursuit of competitive advantage and specialization, rather than attempt to imitate exactly what is present in other locations. (p. 39)”
Chinyio, E., & Akintoye, A. (2008). Practical approaches for engaging stakeholders: findings from the UK. Construction Management & Economics, 26(6), 591-599. doi:10.1080/01446190802078310
Jackson, J., & Murphy, P. (2006). Clusters in regional tourism an Australian case. Annals of Tourism Research, 33(4), 1018-1035. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2006.04.005
Porter, M. (1998). Clusters and the New Economics of Competition. Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 77-90.
- Progressive themes and engaging speakers ready to help mountain biking sector grow -
Vancouver, BC – March 21, 2013 – The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Tourism British Columbia, International Mountain Bicycling Association Canada, Royal Roads University, and District of Sooke is proud to present the BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium at the Best Western Premier – Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC, May 26-28, 2013. British Columbia has gained much attention worldwide for its significant role in mountain biking. The program of the Symposium is entitled “Progression”. It speaks to the opportunity for stakeholders and experts to gather and share insights and knowledge about how to progress toward a more sustainable and viable mountain bike tourism sector.
The event officially opens in Sooke, BC with a welcome reception at the Sooke Regional Museum on the evening of May 26th. The following two days of sessions will cover topics related to product and tourism development. Sub-themes and topics for each day include the following:
Trails for All – Monday morning’s session will be introduced by keynote Scott Jewett – Red Bull Canada. A Trails Panel Discussion involving some of BC’s top trail builders and planners will look at what makes a trail significant and best practices for sustainable trails. Other presentations include:
Partnerships and Community Building – Monday afternoon’s keynote is Dean Payne – BC Bike Race. The afternoon session features a ground breaking panel discussion titled “Aboriginal Rights & Title, Mountain Biking & Reconciliation” involving First Nations representatives and the mountain biking community. Other presentations include:
Caroline Depatie – Capilano University; Trust building, community engagement and the creation of healthy municipal land manager partnerships.
Storytelling – This innovative networking social event on Monday evening will capture the narrative behind mountain biking in BC. Communities and groups are invited to share their stories and current projects in a poster board session followed by a number of new media projects highlighting stories from different locations around the province.
Strengthening the Brand – Tuesday morning will open with keynote Darren Kinnaird – Crankworx Whistler, setting the stage for topics related to branding and marketing mountain bike tourism destinations and experiences. Presentations will include:
Tourism and the Bottom Line – The Tuesday afternoon session will be opened by Martin Littlejohn – Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association, and will introduce presentations that support the growing economic benefits associated with mountain biking.
Wrap-up Visioning Session – Facilitator, Susan Rybar – Vardo Creative, will draw from the discussions and presentations to help delegates see the long term potential for mountain bike tourism in the province and identify the key issues and opportunities to address in order to get there.
To register or to find out more details visit www.mtbtourismsymposium.ca
Symposium location and date: Best Western Premier – Prestige Oceanfront Resort, Sooke, BC, May 26-28, 2013
For more details or media enquiries, please contact:
Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director, Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association
martin@mbta.ca
About Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA)
The MBTA is a non-profit tourism sector marketing organization that works with government, industry, and stakeholders to increase awareness for British Columbia’s mountain bike tourism opportunities under two marketing brands; Mountain Biking BC and Bike Parks BC. www.bikeparksbc.com features BC’s top lift access mountain biking resorts, attracting downhill riders from around the globe. www.mountainbikingbc.ca was launched in 2011 with the goal of having British Columbia recognized as the best and most diverse mountain bike destination in the world. The website contains information about riding destinations’ signature trails and riding opportunities, and is maintained by active, progressive and supportive riding communities located in British Columbia’s six tourism regions.
- A symposium to progress mountain bike tourism in the province -
Vancouver, BC - February 13, 2013 – The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Tourism British Columbia, International Mountain Bicycling Association Canada, Royal Roads University, and District of Sooke is proud to present the BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium at the Best Western Premier – Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC, May 26-28, 2013. British Columbia has gained much attention worldwide for its significant role in mountain biking. The program of the Symposium is entitled “Progression”. It speaks to the opportunity for stakeholders and experts to gather and share insights and knowledge about how to progress toward a more sustainable and viable mountain bike tourism sector.
The Symposium is geared towards community leaders, land managers, trail advocates, adventure tourism operators, and government and industry representatives and will present lessons learned from BC and other parts of the world. Key initiatives will be highlighted that represent new opportunities for communities throughout the province. Topics will cover marketing mountain biking experiences, land use and product development considerations, environmental and risk management issues, partnerships and funding, as well as developing bike friendly communities and services. Our goal is to unify the voice of the BC mountain bike tourism industry, and discuss the opportunities we have to drive more tourism to the province.
The symposium offers:
To register or to find out more details visit www.mtbtourismsymposium.ca
Symposium location and date: Best Western Premier – Prestige Oceanfront Resort, Sooke, BC, May 26-28, 2013
For more details or media enquiries, please contact:
Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director, Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association
About Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA)
The MBTA is a non-profit tourism sector marketing organization that works with government, industry, and stakeholders to increase awareness for British Columbia’s mountain bike tourism opportunities under two marketing brands; Mountain Biking BC and Bike Parks BC. www.bikeparksbc.com features BC’s top lift access mountain biking resorts, attracting downhill riders from around the globe. www.mountainbikingbc.ca was launched in 2011 with the goal of having British Columbia recognized as the best and most diverse mountain bike destination in the world. The website contains information about riding destinations’ signature trails and riding opportunities, and is maintained by active, progressive and supportive riding communities located in British Columbia’s six tourism regions.
Calling all tourism and hospitality educators!
Join us in Victoria this May for your chance to Rejuvenate your understanding, Rebrand your knowledge base andReboot your learning as we gather together for the latest tourism and hospitality updates, success stories and teaching techniques.
Preceded by the tourism, and hospitality articulation meetings, this year’s conference will feature dynamic talks, terrific networking opportunities and ghost tours, garden excursions, gastronomy walks and golf games in British Columbia’s beautiful capital city.
Who can resist May in Victoria, The City of Gardens?
For more information use the links on the left and check back often. New information will be added as the program develops!
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! EARLY BIRD DEADLINE MARCH 31. REGISTER EARLY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
For more information contact Tanya Aindow
For sponsorship or partnership opportunities contact Theresa Mackay
The Tourism Educators Conference 2013 is hosted by the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Royal Roads University, and is produced in partnership with:
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST
In response to the popularity of the Tourism Business Essentials’ guide and workshops in Online Reputation Management, Tourism BC will be holding a FREE condensed version of the workshop in online webinar format.
Facilitator: Daniel Edward Craig, Reknown (www.reknown.com)
An early adopter of social media, Daniel launched the first-ever hotel blog in 2006 as General Manager of Vancouver’s Opus Hotel. Today, as founder of Reknown, he specializes in social media strategy and online reputation management. Daniel authored the Online Reputation Management guide for the Tourism BC Tourism Business Essentials series and has delivered over 30 workshops to communities across BC.
Webinar Outline
As more travelers turn to review sites and social networks for trip information and advice, Online Reputation Management (ORM) has become a critical function for the tourism industry. ORM is the process of monitoring and engaging on the social web to build awareness, shape impressions and strengthen your business.
In this one-hour webinar we discuss:
1. How travellers use social media to research trips, make decisions and share experiences
2. Managing business listings and content on TripAdvisor, Google+ Local and Yelp
3. Time-saving tools for monitoring reviews and social media commentary
4. Best practices for responding to reviews
5. Using customer feedback to guide decisions
6. Building reviews and advocacy on social networks
Download the free Online Reputation Management guide from Tourism Business Essentials:
Sponsored by Tourism BC
There have been a number of stories emerging in the media recently that highlight the disconnect between the unemployed, underemployed or those who wish to change jobs… and employers struggling to find qualified and motivated employees. Paradoxically, indicators show that the tourism sector in Canada is facing a pending labour shortage. Some employers and levels of government have been supporting the introduction of immigrant labour to address the dichotomy of these shortages with mixed responses from the public and stakeholders. One solution may be to enhance training and resources for the resident workforce. However, there are many complicating factors in the mix which may require more comprehensive intervention at many levels. One potential solution which has shown some promise in Northern Europe is the concept of Flexicurity, which “attempts to reconcile employers’ need for a flexible workforce with workers’ need for security“. I wrote a research brief on the topic of Flexicurity in 2010 (I provided an update from the 2011 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report)…have a look:
Flexicurity and Competitiveness – Left Coast Insights
Trends in innovation and destination development are emerging in some leading-edge research coming out of Europe. A couple of examples include ‘Storytelling and Destination Development’ from Nordic Innovation and ‘Conceptualising technology enhanced destination experiences’ by Professors Buhalis, Neuhofer, and Ladkin of Bournemouth University in the UK.
While coming from different perspectives, these research examples highlight some key indicators for the sustainability of destinations and DMO’s. First, the development of a strategic and collaborative ‘storytelling framework’ may assist stakeholders and partners in a tourism network to engage in more efficient promotional initiatives in a concerted fashion. Essentially, by agreeing on a suitable ‘theme’ or regional story-line, tourism marketers may present a united front and common messaging to build a unique brand impression of a region and, hopefully, create an emotional connection with tourists. While marketing toolkits exist to facilitate this approach, a storytelling framework may more effectively draw out unique messages and stories from tourism operators and their visitors.
Supporting this, Buhalis and Zorge suggest that “(a) tourists are co-creating their own experiences, and (b) technology can be used to co-create enhanced experiences.” Expanding on the story-telling concept, the use of mobile and social media vehicles delivered through a reciprocal story-telling communications framework by DMO’s may create collaborative ownership of messaging between tourists and their destinations. Buhalis and Zorge further state “The successful destination of the future will therefore be the one that strategically and effectively integrates ICTs in all structures, communications and interactions to dynamically cocreate technology enhanced destination experiences with tourists in all travel stages”. A North American example of an initiative moving in this direction comes from the Canadian Tourism Commission: http://35milliondirectors.com/ Engaging in collaborative, symbiotic story-telling exercise with tourists may assist DMO’s in differentiating their destinations in an increasingly hyper-competitive global marketplace.
Ray Freeman
I attended the Hospitality and Tourism Leadership Conference hosted at Royal Roads University and organized by Hospitality Management students from Camosun College. This inaugural event brought together future sector leaders from these two fine institutions and also included visiting students from Vancouver Island University. I was honoured to have the opportunity to make a presentation on Community Champions, Collaboration, and Leveraging Partnerships. In this time of growing global austerity, local stakeholders and community leaders are finding that funding sources from upper levels of government are drying up and are challenged to build local capacity and effectively market their destinations. Building trust with salient stakeholders through strong facilitation and careful planning are the keys to local and regional sustainable tourism management.
Community Champions, Collaborations, and Leveraging Partnerships Presentation
Ray Freeman