Executive Director Report 02 December 2016

Transcription

1 Town of Mono Schedule A Council Session # Headwaters Tourism - public profile & sector engagement On November 30 th, 2016, in Gatineau, QC, Headwaters Tourism was declared the WINNER in the following category: WINNER: Visa Canada s Tourism Innovator of the Year Headwaters Parade of Horses Headwaters Tourism was also recognized as a finalist for Marketing Campaign of the Year, in the company of the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador, and the Province of Ontario. The Ontario Where Am I campaign was named the winner in this category. On November 22 nd, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario, Headwaters Tourism was named the WINNER in the following categories: WINNER: Tourism Marketing Campaign Under $25K Headwaters: Where Ontario Gets Real brand launch WINNER: Tourism Print Collateral Award Headwaters 2015 Four-Season Visitors Guide WINNER: Tourism Innovator of the Year Headwaters Parade of Horses Headwaters Tourism has been named a finalist in the following categories by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario: Promotional Award Category Print Publication Headwaters 2016 Four-Season Visitors Guide Collaboration & Partnership Award Regional & Cross-Border Collaboration Headwaters: Evolution of a Centre of Equine Excellence Collaboration & Partnership Award Public-Private Partnership Headwaters Parade of Horses Winners will be announced on February 9, 2017 in Toronto

2 Spoke at Orangeville Senior s Expo about the role of Headwaters Tourism Presented keynote address at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Municipal Economic Development Agricultural Forum, hosted by the Town of Caledon. Topic: The Development of Headwaters as a Centre of Equine Excellence. (Presentation attached.) Attended Caledon Mayor s Luncheon (focus on local food sector). Product development Canada 150 Public art project, Real Ontario: Tradition & Transformation : Unfortunately, Headwaters Arts backed out of partnering on the submission of a Canada Council for the Arts funding grant just prior to the application deadline, leaving no opportunity for Headwaters Tourism to find another arts organization in time for the deadline. Headwaters Tourism will continue to explore opportunities for public/private partnership to move this initiative forward. Product development Fresh & Local Working with Town of Caledon on the development of a craft beer & cider festival, in conjunction with Caledon Day. Headwaters would be the presenter of Cheers Caledon: Craft Beer & Cider Festival taking place on Friday, June 15 th, Product development Arts & Heritage Participated in Headwaters Cultural Round Table meeting; group is looking to determine next steps following their Arts & Culture Breakfast Symposium. Headwaters Tourism has shared with them the terms of reference developed by the Headwaters Equine Leadership Group to review as a potential framework for their own work. Industry & municipal engagement: The 2016 Headwaters Tourism Awards took place on Monday, December 5 th at Adamo Estate Winery. Event sponsors included Adamo Estate Winery and Century Wood Products. The calibre of nominees is testament to the quality of tourism offerings in the Headwaters region. Congratulations to all the nominees & the winners.

3 Best ARTS & HERITAGE Visitor Experience Belfountain Music Festival Mark Grice Theatre Orangeville WINNER Tritone Music School Empty Bowls Alton (Ann Randeraad) Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival - WINNER Pickin in the Park Best FRESH & LOCAL Visitor Experience Black Birch Restaurant The Church Public Inn Everdale - WINNER Landman Gardens and Bakery Wild Mushroom Foraging Weekend Soulyve Carribean Kitchen Heatherlea Harvest Table Best FUN & FESTIVE Visitor Experience The Church Public Inn Grand River Rodeo The Hip on Mill Street Spirit Tree Wassailing Festival - WINNER RCMP Musical Ride (Erin Fairgrounds) North of 89 Studio Tour CaribFest (Soulyve Carribean Kitchen) Best NATURE & LEISURE Visitor Experience GO Adventure Co. Rawhide Adventures Plant Paradise Country Gardens - WINNER Snowberry Botanicals Best HORSE & COUNTRY Visitor Experience Little Creek Ranch Silver Fox Equine Dufferin Town & Country Farm Tour RCMP Musical Ride (Erin Fairgrounds) - WINNER Rawhide Adventures Caledon Equestrian Park

4 Best SEE, SHOP & STAY Visitor Experience Best Western PLUS Orangeville Inn and Suites Heatherlea Farm Shoppe - WINNER Molly s Retreat B&B More Than Just Baskets Best NEW Tourism Business The Church Public Inn Snowberry Botanicals Go Adventure Co. - WINNER Tourism INNOVATOR of the Year Landman Gardens and Bakery Mario Adamo - WINNER Tourism PARTNERSHIP Award Westside Secondary School Orangeville Home Hardware RCMP Musical Ride (Erin Fairgrounds) Alton Mill Arts Centre Pommies Cider Co Jamie Stam Tour de Headwaters Empty Bowls Alton - WINNER Tourism CHAMPION of the Year Terence Cutts John Church Susan Powell - WINNER Gary van Bolderen - WINNER Gail James Sigrid Wolm Nick & Lindsay Sutcliffe - WINNER Leading With the Best Partnership Program Welcome to our newest Leading With the Best partners. The program now boasts over 50 active partners. Adamo Estate Winery Annual municipal council delegations: Headwaters Tourism will delegate to partner Councils to provide updates on organizational undertakings. Town of Erin December 6 th, 2016 Dufferin County General Government Services Committee January 25 th, 2017 Still need to schedule delegations to Town of Shelburne & Town of Mono.

5 Industry Development & Liaison Attended the annual Ontario Tourism Summit in Ottawa (November 21 st and 22 nd ). Slide decks & presentations will be shared as they become available. Attended the Canadian Tourism Congress in Gatineau, QC (November 29 th & 30 th ). Slide decks & presentations will be shared as they become available Overall goal of attendance at both conferences was to learn and develop a stronger understanding of provincial and federal initiatives to support tourism development in Headwaters. Also had a goal of increasing awareness of the Headwaters region among industry leaders at both the provincial & federal level. Met with many industry leaders and will foster those connections as we move forward into During time in Ottawa/Gatineau also held a number of meetings with industry colleagues including: Ottawa Tourism & Ottawa Hotel Association representatives re destination marketing fees & other opportunities to support destination marketing capacity; Meetings with tourism & economic development colleagues in the County of Renfrew; discussed rural/urban tourism development (vis-à-vis their geographic positioning relative to Ottawa); tourism economic impact data development partnership; RTO alignment; DMO modelling Humber College School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism s Academic Advisory Committee Bi-Annual meeting major issue around the table still continues to be workforce development & labour shortage issues. Central Counties Tourism: Headwaters Tourism is developing a partnership with Central Counties Tourism to support an industry engagement strategy of near-market ready tourism businesses in the Headwaters region. This program will support objectives of both Central Counties and Headwaters Tourism to engage businesses into the tourism marketplace in a more active way, and ultimately encourage the development of quality tourism experiences throughout the region. Partnership is currently in draft format and awaiting approval from Central Counties. Marketing: 2017 Headwaters Four-Seasons Visitors Guide: advertising sales currently underway; early-bird pricing to 2016 advertisers is now over and regular pricing is in effect; photography has also been started focusing on the faces and finds for Digital engagement statistics: October 1 st to October 31 st, October 2016 Sessions 14,295 Page views 35,553 Facebook October 2016 Total reach 13,268 Page impressions 40,734 Twitter October 2016 Followers 4,622 Reach 114,982

6 Digital engagement statistics: November 1 st to November 30 th, November 2016 Sessions 10,235 Page views 24,017 Facebook November 2016 Total reach 7,953 Page impressions 28,987 Twitter November 2016 Followers 4,683 Reach 117,068 Headwaters social media posts: October 22 nd to December 2nd, 2016

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19 Upcoming events/municipal updates: Town of Shelburne: EVENT NAME DESCRIPTION DATES Troupe Adore Music, arts and culture performances Jack Downey Park Times for the "Christmas Chorale in the Park" Saturday December 17th pm (possibly until 9pm ) Town of Erin: Erin Village BIA Christmas in the Country! Customers who make a purchase at any participating Erin Village Merchants during the promotion period, are entitled to collect a merchant stamp. Collect 5 business stamps and the customer is eligible to complete a ballot to enter the contest. Shop the Village Not the Box! This holiday season, we thank you for making the choice to shop and support your local merchants. We are here to provide you with the best, unique treasures for everyone on your gift list. In turn, we reinvest in our community! Participating Downtown Erin Village merchants will be OPEN EXTENDED HOURS to celebrate local shoppers. Free skating at Hillsburgh Community Centre 1-3 with free hot chocolate Free skating at Erin Community Centre 2-4 with free hot chocolate Fireworks at Erin Community Centre at 5 PM