From the Manager’s Desk
Bryan Plumstead Tourism Manager
This is always an exciting time of year as we head into summer (which still leads our other three seasons in visitor volume) and for many tourism businesses it is the make-it or break-it season. Most businesses I’ve talked to are very optimistic about the bookings and outlook for this summer, and the weather hasn’t hurt either. We are also optimistic as we formally adopt our new Tourism Action Plan and start working on some new directions. We heard very clearly throughout this process that our industry partners would like more engagement and education and training opportunities, and look forward to working with BruceGreySimcoe, our Business Development Corporations, the Owen Sound Enterprise Centre and other partners to deliver a range of these. To better serve our industry, we are also realigning and building capacity to give our staff more clearly defined roles and we will be switching our reporting relationship (along with economic development staff) to the CAO’s office. Kim Wingrove’s extensive background in economic development and tourism at both the provincial and municipal levels are a huge leadership asset to our department as we go forward. With this change we also want to acknowledge and thank Sharon Vokes for her leadership over the past 15 years in which our tourism department has grown from a fledgling part-time endeavor to a staff of 3 + summer students and a Tourism Advisory Committee that is active across Grey County and beyond through all four seasons. Have a Grey’t summer all!
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Tourism Action Plan
Grey County’s Tourism Action Plan received final Council approval July 5th. There were no changes to the draft plan which was circulated to tourism partners in early June, and the final plan is available on VistGrey.ca. Here’s a quick update on what we are doing under the plan’s four pillars:
- Community Engagement – We are relaunching Tourism Talks. Our first Let’s Talk Tourism is scheduled for September 20, 2016, so please mark the date. Also, getting information out to you as quickly as possible means updating the Stakeholder Database. Amanda Pausner is working to ensure we have the most current information for all tourism stakeholders.
- Destination Management – Staff have been busy working on our marketing plan and brand development. You will see this reflected in our fall marketing campaign. Heather Aljoe is leading our summer and fall campaign efforts with a digital-first approach.
- Market Research and Tracking – We want to track key quantitative and qualitative metrics that are of most interest to our industry partners. By building on the action plan survey information you provide, at September’s Tourism Talk we will confirm your top priorities and talk about how best to share this information. Bryan Plumstead leads this effort.
- Resource Allocation – We are reorganizing staff functions to improve our service to you. Feel free to contact any of our staff if you have questions, and we’ll see you on September 20th.
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 Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s summer familiarization tours. Two days were spent tasting, experiencing and hiking our way through Grey County. We appreciate all of the businesses who opened their doors to the industry, told us their story and allowed the attendees to try out their offerings. Here is a rundown of what you missed if you didn’t attend, we hiked the Bruce Trail, cycled the Georgian Trail, sipped tea shots at The Barn Coop in Meaford and sampled at Thornbury Village Cidery, refueled on wheely pops from Pom Pom Treat Hut, rejuvenated on volcanic rock at IWA Spa, toured local galleries and studios, indulged on culinary creations at Andrew’s Roots Restaurant in Meaford and Fire & Ice Restaurant in Markdale, posed at McGowan Falls for a group photo, took a coaster ride down Blue Mountain and did A LOT of networking! Thanks Allison Kennedy Photography for capturing our adventures and creating a montage of our experiences, we invite you to take a visual journey of the days. https://youtu.be/gJCT9VYRums
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Summer Marketing
Stay tuned for our social media summer blasts including Facebook advertising as well as themed posts, photos & stories. We will be using consumer research & previous campaign data to target the family market in Ontario to promote our summer activities and attractions. Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter so you can share our posts and take advantage of our content.
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Waterfall Signage Kiosks
In partnership with BruceGreySimcoe, we have designed and installed six signage kiosks at waterfall access points and trail heads to enhance visitor experience. We worked with Grey Highlands Secondary School to have the signs made and erected. Each sign will offer trail information, nearby community mapping and businesses, historical significance and fire numbers for emergencies. The six locations are Walter’s Falls, Holstein Dam, Old Baldy, Indian Falls, Eugenia Falls, and McGowan Falls.
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Time to Update Your Free Listing on visitgrey.ca
Summer is here and vacation planning has begun. Now is a great time to ensure your free listing on visitgrey.ca is up to date, reflects your business accurately and has lots of pretty pictures! Log in here with your username and password. If you can’t remember your password retrieve it here. For further queries or assistance email amanda.pausner@visitgrey.ca. If you host tourism events within the region we invite you to add them to our website, here’s how.
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 Saints & Sinners Trail
On June 12, the 2016 Saints & Sinners: Bootleggers Run passport map was officially launched with the Taste of the Trail event at Grey Roots Museum & Archives. The inaugural event featured sampling from 13 of the 17 beverage producers on the map and included food vendors, live music, a book launch, vintage car parade, costumed interpretation and more. A review of exit surveys from the event have led to it being designated an annual partnered event at the museum.
Taste of the Trail also served as the launch for a Saints & Sinners contest that encourages travellers to visit locations and collect stickers on their passport map for a chance to win prizes. The contest began June 13 and runs through October 9. People are also encouraged to bring limited-edition Saints & Sinners growler jugs to participating member locations for refills of beer and cider.
Work continues on the Saints & Sinners website and project partners are busy creating related content and events to compliment the Saints & Sinners brand. Awareness continues to build on social media channels with brisk interest in Saints & Sinners branded merchandise and expressed interest from members and potential partners in the creation of themed packages.
For more information, maps or merchandise, contact Philly Markowitz at philly.markowitz@grey.ca or 519-376-3365 x6125.
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Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) Opportunities
Don’t miss early bird registration for the Ontario Travel Information Services Conference. Register before August 29 and save! The website, www.oticsconference.ca is live beginning July 11. Mark your calendar to attend from October 17-19 at the Toronto Congress Centre. Sign up for the OTMPC newsletters to learn more as it is unveiled and released.
To view OTMPC advertising opportunities, click here or call OTMPC Partnerships and Sales at 1-888-365-4422.
While posting on your social media channels this summer remember to share your posts with Ontario Travel's thread, using the hashtag #DISCOVERON share information on our hidden gems and local events with viewers on their channels.
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BruceGreySimcoe Update
Festivals Implementation Program
The Festival Implementation Program is designed to help well established and regional/emerging festivals to coach and support organizers to develop of a new component (please see program criteria for definitions). For example, this could be a new experience at the festival or a marketing plan to target a different geographic area. If a festival can demonstrate a financial outlay of at least $1,000 towards a new component, they may be eligible to receive $1,000 from RTO7 towards a digital advertising campaign. DMO’s, BIA’s or Chambers may also apply for a cluster of festivals within their area (min 2, max 5). Deadline to apply is December 31, 2016.
For more information please visit: http://rto7.ca/Public/Resources/Festival-Implementation-Program
Kim Clarke,
kclarke@rto7.ca 519-379-2506
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Experience Implementation Program
Have you got a great idea for a new product or experience, but don’t know where to start? The Experience Implementation Program helps stakeholders to develop new products and experiences at their business or within their region to help differentiate BruceGreySimcoe from the other places in Ontario. The Program opportunities include:
• Coaching/support
(approximately 10 hours per project)
• Funding development and marketing
(1:1 with a minimum buy in of $500)
for new products and experiences
Deadline to apply is December 31, 2016. For more information please visit: http://rto7.ca/Public/Resources/Experience-Implementation-Program
Kim Clarke
kclarke@rto7.ca 519-379-2506
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RTO7 Partnership Funding
There are still partnership funds (1:1) available for eligible partnership projects, but get your applications in soon! All the info you need is available on the RTO7.ca Partnership Program page: http://www.rto7.ca/Public/Resources/Partnership-Program
Alex Hogan
ahogan@rto7.ca 705-441-2931
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Operator Listings
Have you updated or added your listing on BruceGreySimcoe.com? Visit the Operator Login page on the website to get started.
Have a tourism event you’d like to promote? Check out the BruceGreySimcoe Festivals & Events microsite and click on “Submit Your Event” to add your info – no login or registration is required.
Ginny Henry,
ghenry@brucegreysimcoe.com
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Customer Service Training
Remember to train your summer staff using BruceGreySimcoe’s FREE Service Excellence Training, to learn more and register, http://rto7.ca/Public/Resources/BGS-Tourism-Service-Excellence-Training
and use code G125.
BruceGreySimcoe Tourism Conference
*Save the Date - Wednesday, December 7, 2016 more details to follow!
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Celebrating Local Business Excellence
We would like to highlight some of our businesses who have recently received acknowledgement and awards. Congratulations on your success in the industry! If we missed you we apologize… (Send us your good news as we can always share in your successes on social media)
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IWA Spa situated in the Village at Blue has recently been awarded “LUXURY SPA OF THE YEAR – ONTARIO, CANADA ”. This award is presented by the Luxury Travel Guide , which represents the pinnacle of travel and tourism achievement. In addition IWA Spa has been awarded Collingwood Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Services, Industry and Trades.
MacLean’s Ales in Hanover has won gold for their Armchair Scotch Ale and bronze for their Luck & Charm Oatmeal Stout at the 2016 Canadian Brewing Awards held in Vancouver.
Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery in Annan has recently won gold with their Riesling, Bone Dry, and Back From the Dead Red at the All Canadian Championships.
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Casero Kitchen Table’s Co-founder and chef Emily Leonard was recently featured in Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance’s social media campaign which showcases newly appointed FeastON designated locations across Ontario. Catch her story and feature here https://ontarioculinary.com/kitchen-party-emily-leonard/. Learn about other locally FeastON designated businesses in Grey County.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventure and Scandinave Spa both situated in the Blue Mountains have recently received Certificates of Excellence by TripAdvisor for consistently receiving great reviews from their visitors.
Beaver Valley Cidery in Kimberley was awarded gold for their Flagship Cider and bronze for their Dry Pear, Bumbleberry and Cranberry Ciders at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) held in Grand Rapids Michigan in April.
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Brewery Discovery Routes
Festivals Implementation Program
Saints & Sinners, Grey County Economic Development and Tourism departments have partnered with the Greenbelt and other industry leaders across Ontario to leverage and promote our shared agri-culinary assets. The Brewery Discovery Routes map lists members of Ontario Craft Brewers, Ontario Craft Cider Association, Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance Feast ON restaurants, Farmers Market Ontario members and Ontario cheesemakers on one comprehensive map. Points of natural interest like waterfalls and scenic lookouts are also featured on the 5 self-guided routes.
The Saints & Sinners branded route includes 31 stops. In total, 225,000 copies of the map are being distributed across southern Ontario and an active online campaign can be found on Twitter. #breweryroutes2016
For more information, contact Philly Markowitz at philly.markowitz@grey.ca or 519-376-3365 x6125.
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