Saturday 23 April 2011

New Beginnings with Destination Cape Breton’s 2011 Industry Day

On April 21st, Destination Cape Breton Association hosted Tourism Industry Day and Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon. This remarkable event was held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Membertou where members of the tourism industry and guests gathered to hear more on the new direction Destination Cape Breton Association was taking in marketing this marvelous island of ours, and to celebrate the achievements of Cape Bretons top tourism leaders. The morning session was opened with a performance by the Sons of Membertou, then followed with the DCBA 2010 Highlights Recap Resentation by Mary Tulle, CEO of Destination Cape Breton Association. Tulle went on to introduce Harvey Sawler, of Forerunner Creative, who did a Product Development Presentation. The morning's agenda continued with a presentation on Savour & Culinary tourism with Gordon Stewart of RANS, with a slight break for those in attendance to do some networking and discuss the great and innovative points of the morning session.

Next on the agenda was the celebration of Cape Breton's elite, with the best of Cape Breton's tourism leaders being recognized for their achievments in promoting our industry. The celebration began with entertainment by Cape Breton's own Dawn and Margie Beaton and friends. This was followed by a delicious meal prepared by the excellent chefs at Membertou's Convention Centre and then an awards presentation. Ian MacNeil, emcee of the presentation, introduced guest speaker Michele McKenzie, who has worked to present the best of what Canada has to offer in tourism to the world. She presented a graph chart showing what tourism markets are looking for in a destination and how Canada fits into that. She explained that Canada in 2006 held a world rating of 12th as a travel destination and how it has gained strength to become the number 1 rated destination in 2010. McKenzie went on to clarify that Canada has reached this designation not because it is the best in all categories, but because it is in the top ranks of most of the categories the are looked at. McKenzie is the President & CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission. The second guest speaker was one of Cape Breton’s own, Dr. Ruth (Schwartz) Goldbloom, O.C., C.M.. Goldbloom, a native of the New Waterford/Glace Bay area, was the driving force behind the re-opening of Pier 21 as a National Historic Site and tourism attraction which draw thousands of visitors each year. Dr. Goldbloom talked about her life in Cape Breton where she lost her dad at a very early age, a fact that left her mom to raise a family of small children. Watching her mom cope and overcome and remain strong while enduring these hardships led to her understanding from a young age of the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. She captivated the audience with stories of her involvement with the many charitable organizations throughout her adult life as well as her youth when she would dance at a fundraiser to help out for a community cause in her hometown; She spoke of her involvement with Pier 21 in Halifax. Listening to Goldbloom's enthusiasm, left the audience with new motivation and enthusiasm, as they stood and gave her a standing ovation. Awards were presented to the Baddeck Business and Tourism Association (BABTA), The Cape Breton Centre of Craft and Design in Sydney, Scott MacAulay of Cape Breton Resorts, Max MacDonald and Joella Foulds for their work with the Celtic Colours International Music Festival. Following the presentations the music group the RAT Pack gave a heart wrenching rendition of The Island by Kenzie MacNiel. The afternoon session then continued with a presentation on the 2011 Marketing Agenda with Dan Coffin. Coffin gave insight into the new and inovative plan to market Cape Breton Island and the importance of making our presents felt at the Travel Shows around Canada and the United States. It presented the new Promotional Cards used at the travel shows and explained what they hoped to achieve from the cards and their website. Next the audience heard from DCBA's new promotional designers. And finally Dan Coffin gave the closing remarks to a very imformative day of events.

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