Lookout! conference focuses on technology

Terry O’Reilly

GANDER—Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lookout! Tourism Summit 2010 returns to Gander Feb. 18-21 for four days of information sessions and guest speakers.

The conference and trade show is also the location for HNL’s annual general meeting, election of officers for 2010 and the closing gala reception and awards banquet.

Keynote speaker for the event is Terry O’Reilly, host of the CBC Radio show, The Age of Persuasion. He will be talking about the business, the craft and the promises made in advertising, why it is important and why it makes a difference.

Also making an appearance at the Tourism Summit is Jonathan Foster, executive director of the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism, in Rocky Harbour, NL. He will be discussing the benefits of sustainable tourism for the province’s hospitality sector.

Eva Gutsche’s presentation focuses on creating tourism packages that sell. She has more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, in the areas of sales, reservations and revenue management.

Stan Cook Jr., chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Board, will bring attendees up to speed on the province’s Uncommon Potential program and its seven strategic directions to create a vision for tourism in the province.

HNL chair Bruce Sparkes, now in his third year in the role, will deliver the chairman’s message to delegates at the association’s annual general meeting.

Technology is main focus of the summit, everything from Google Maps to global positioning systems and social media, according to Lynn Taylor of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. She said online tools have become a favourite method for travellers looking to book and research travel.

“The (summit) focuses on smaller operators right through to the largest operator. There is a nice mix of practical sessions on the schedule,” Taylor said. 

“The outlook for tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador has never been brighter,” Sparkes said. 

“However, we are not without our challenges. While it is easier to focus on the success stories, it is important to address the challenges to determine how we can continue to move forward. We hope this session will allow us to do just that.”

One of the province’s largest hurdles is a lack of rental cars in the prime travel months of July and August. 

Results of a 2009 study on rental car availability will be delivered and discussed during the Tourism Challenges session. 

Taylor said Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism operators managed to hold their own in 2009 compared to other provinces. 

“Newfoundland and Labrador has been an anomaly in Canada this year. There hasn’t been as much growth as previous years, but there has not been a decline either,” she said. 

Travel among residents was up last year, as more people stayed close to home. Visits among non-residents also saw an increase, thanks to the province’s aggressive marketing strategy. 

The Tourism Excellence Awards Gala wraps up the final night of the summit. Categories include Restaurateur of the Year, Tourism Business of the Year, Cultural Tourism, Sustainable Tourism and Innovator of the Year, among others.