CHARLOTTETOWN—Selling culinary experiences plays a major role in Prince Edward Island’s 2010 Tourism Strategy.
The plan was outlined in early March at the annual conference and trade show put on by TIAPEI, the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island.
The Island has deemed 2010 the Year of Culinary, as part of its overall marketing strategy to boost tourism numbers.
Don Cudmore, TIAPEI’s executive director, said tourism businesses in the province, like those across Canada, have had their rough patches, but operators are expecting a good summer season.
PEI’s Fall Flavours festival, showcasing the province’s food and food producers, is to become the umbrella marketing program, which will be expanded in scope, with the participation of all regional tourism associations.
The Flavours Trail is the branding used by the province as it looks to establish the Island as the top culinary destination in North America, as well as boosting food industries and exports. PEI’s main exports of potatoes, oysters, lobster and mussels are its best known “food ambassadors.”
A number of awards were handed out during the conference’s gala awards dinner, including the top honour, the Lieutenant Governor’s Tourism award, which went to the late Albert Dow, a PEI restaurateur and entrepreneur. Dow started Fisherman’s Wharf Lobster Supper, Canada’s largest, in North Rustico in 1970. In 1996, Dow opened the 300-seat Friendly Fisherman restaurant in Cavendish. The restaurant was destroyed in a fire last year. Dow died in 2008.
The Hospitality award for Queens County went to Shirley Campbell from Chez Yvonne. Kelly Campbell from Rodd Mill River Resort took the Hospitality award for Prince County, while Joel Short and Dawn Sadoway from the Georgetown Inn won the award for Kings County.
Operator of the Year went to Murray MacPherson from Brackley Beach North Winds, which also won the Tourism Technology and Innovation honour. Audrey and Walter Wyand left with the Kent Ellis Quality of Excellence award. The Premier’s award went to COWS Inc and Nancy Pierce representing the Links at Crowbush Cove won the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism award.
The Tourism Advisory Council Brand Essence award went to David Wilmer from Inn at Bay Fortune and Inn at Spry Point.
Tourism businesses on Prince Edward Island employ more than 13,000 people and generate more than $372 million in revenue annually.
Pacrim works with Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia
TRURO, NS—Pacrim Hospitality, in partnership with the Millbrook First Nation, have unveiled plans to build a combined $30 million hotel, restaurant and retail complex.
The development includes an Atlantic-themed restaurant, the first of many planned for the site, a 100-room hotel, complete with a 30,000 square foot indoor waterpark called Splash! Universe, and retail stores.
Roger Rowsell, VP of development with Pacrim, said the project is in its earliest stages, with no banner or design elements decided as of yet.
“It will start construction when we finalize financing arrangements. We’re hoping to get underway with design work and construction by the end of the year,” he said.
Rowsell said the hotel would be in the mid-range segment, so as not to compete with the 50-room Super 8 hotel located on the same property. That hotel will remain open.
“We want the waterpark addition to make this a destination facility. It is the first indoor waterpark of its kind in Atlantic Canada.”
Work on the 150-seat restaurant began in March, and it is expected to open in June of this year. Its interior décor showcases an Atlantic Canada theme and features East Coast cuisine on the menu.
The type of restaurant, the menu or a franchise partner have yet to be decided, Rowsell said.
Pacrim is exploring a number of new hotel options in Atlantic Canada, but there are no concrete plans in place, according to Rowsell.
Good news in Ontario budget
TORONTO—There was good news for merchants in the March 4, 2010 federal budget, which clearly addressed concerns voiced by the national StopStickingItToUs Coalition regarding the fees charged to merchants for credit card acceptance and the imminent entry of Visa and MasterCard into Canada’s debit market.
In addition to promising a final Code of Conduct for the payments market, provincial Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced a number of other steps that will be taken to ensure merchant protection, including
