Meaford & District Chamber of Commerce Tourism Update November 21, 2007

Tourism – Who Does It?  Community Level: Private business, Not-for-profit org., Chambers, Municipalities,  Sub-regional level: eg., Georgian Triangle Tourist Assoc., Saugeen Country  County level: Grey County, Bruce County  Sub Provincial level: RTMP (Regional Tourism Marketing Partners - Grey Bruce), Georgian Bay  Provincial: Ministry of Tourism  Federal: Canadian Tourism Commission.

Grey County Tourism - Our Vision: “Welcoming Destinations and Great Experiences make Grey County the natural place to visit and to live.”

Grey County Tourism Committee Membership: Warden Bob Pringle– ex-officio Three County Council Reps: Alan Barfoot, Wally Reif, Dan Sullivan Chair of Heritage Committee – Delton Becker Five Tourist operators/industry reps from across Grey County: Philip Allanson (Chair), Kate Russell, Val Stimpson, Gail Ardiel, Don Braden Four year Term – Five meetings/year or more as needed Tourism Staff Bryan Plumstead – Tourism Coordinator Amanda Warwick – Tourism Assistant Heather Molnar - Part-time contract Sarah Sales – Tourism Vehicle - Summer Patrol / High School Co-ops

Grey County Tourism Activities Research – Track visitors and expenditures, economic impacts, inquiries and requests Marketing – Annual Marketing Plan & Tactics Product Development – adding “new” things to do, improve market readiness of existing products Visitor Services- Respond to inquiries and send out packages, newsletters, liaison with Grey Roots Visitor Services Annual Budget – Tourism Budget: $360,000 & administer Georgian Bay Project & RTMP Beautiful … Naturally

Tourism in Grey County –1,663,000 visitors to Grey County in % of our visitors came from elsewhere in Ontario. 1% from elsewhere in Canada, 4.5% from the USA and 1.5% from overseas. –$138 million in visitor spending in –170 accommodation establishments, plus another 85 attractions, golf courses, marinas and trails/CAs. –1590 jobs, total taxes=$47.8 million including $2.8 million in municipal taxes

Reasons for Travel Overnight Visitors to Grey County – 2004 (830,768) 52% 43% 2.1% 3.3%

Average Spending pp/night Overnight Visitor Grey County $49 Ontario $84

2004

Consumer Marketing Grey County Experience Guide Tourism Vehicle Getaway to Grey campaign Print Advertising TV Shows: Great Getaways PBS (Fall, Winter, Summer) Grey County Tourism

Why A Contest? Celebrate Grey County’s 4 Seasons ! Engage our Visitors and Residents to: - Discover new activities and unique destinations - Explore backroads and hidden gems Partner with our tourism industry businesses, large and small to help grow tourism in Grey County

Ontario Getaway ad Fall

Travel Trade (Group Tour) OMCA Marketplace –Toronto (November) Group Tour Guide ( Tour Itineraries: Spring Blossom, Waterfall, Agricultural, Ladies Tour, Fall Harvest, Rural Gardens ) E-newsletters 2x/year Motor Coach - friendly website

RTMP - A Consensus-based network of Tourism Partners across Grey Bruce Our Mission Statement To facilitate and support the effective use of collective partner resources to enhance the Grey Bruce tourism economy through; product and service development marketing and promotion strategies Regional Tourism Marketing Partners

RTMP Product (Experience) Development o “Stamp” Program o Signage & Mapping oGeorgian Bay Touring Route Regional Tourism Marketing Partners

Integrated Marketing Campaign To encourage Grey Bruce as a riding destination

ride grey bruce winner “Best Marketing Campaign under $25, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation 2006 Tourism Awards

Ontario Discoveries - Summer Motorcycle Touring Map Print Media

Combined effort of Bruce & Grey Counties GIS/Planning, Tourism and Sign shop 90,000 copies printed 2007 Accepted as part of ESRI 2007 Map Gallery Calendar from submissions across Canada Grey Bruce Map

Joint project between Grey & Bruce Counties and local food producers, processors, restaurants to increase awareness of and access to local food, support a premium brand for local foods, increase profits for the local food chain. Grey County has committed $20,000 to match $20,000 from Bruce County to start the project Local Food Project Coordinator hired for initial 6 month contract to develop inventory of producers and commercial consumers, to investigate and recommend a viable distribution system and to develop a B2B e-commerce system. Grey Bruce Agri-Culinary Project

Grey Bruce Agri-Culinary Project

Goal and Objective To develop, position and communicate Georgian Bay as an ICON tourism destination in Ontario; thereby enhancing economic and community benefits while respecting local traditions and environment.

Who is involved? DMOs Bruce County Tourism Grey County Tourism Georgian Triangle Tourist Association Town of Wasaga Beach Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce Georgian Bay Country Sudbury Tourism Rainbow Country Travel Association Manitoulin Tourism Association Industry Scenic Caves Nature Adventures Blue Mountain LAMBAC Owen Sound Transportation Co. (Chi-Cheemaun) Parks Canada Ministry of Tourism Ministry of Northern Development & Mines

Strategy for Expanding the involvement of communities and partners around the Bay Further developing Georgian Bay products and experiences Readying the product for market, and Marketing planning and implementation $60,000 from MTR & $50,000 from FedNor & $22,000 from partners

Thank You ! Looking forward to a Grey’t Fall & Winter!