News and Events
For DSCTA Members
Greetings fellow members to this part of the web site that is created
especially for you! Below you will find everything you need to know
about what is going on in Shelburne County Tourism. If you have any
questions about what is posted please refer to the contact information
given in the announcement. If you would like to make an announcement
please e-mail me at bouldercove@ns.aliantzinc.ca
January Meeting Minutes
February Meeting Minutes
Discover
Shelburne County AGM
It is that time of year again! Membership dues are due and
another year of planning must begin! Our meeting will be Thursday April
12 at 6:00pm in Lockeport. Please contact Allan Nelson for more info at
875-2331.
Destination South West Nova Trade
show was a success!
The Destination South West Nova (DSWN) Trade show went on this past
Saturday March 24 and was quite a success! Discover Shelburne County
co-ordinated with Queens County to promote the Lighthouse Coast.
Lighthouse Coast is the designation Destination South West Nova has
given the two counties in their promotional guide. Parts of our booth
included a slide show, brochures, large picture display and THREE free
draws of Lighthouse Coast Vacation packages. Most of the patrons
to the show were from the Halifax area. After counting the ballots of
our free draw we estimated over 300 people visited our booth in the 5
1/2 hours we were at the show. As it was the first DSWN Trade show, we
consider that number to be a success.
The slide show began with pictures of Barrington and
moved through the county through to Queens, ending with Kedji. It was
quite extensive and lasted for about 10 minutes until it looped again.
All members who paid $25.00 to have their business promoted at the show
had pictures in the slide show. The $25.00 went to cover the costs of
reserving the booth, which totaled $400.00.
A major highlight of the booth was our vacation prize
package. Each package included an overnight stay, gift certificates to
a restaurant and a gift from a local museum or tickets to visit that
museum. All the winners were form the Halifax area. The first 50
entrants to our draw were also asked to fill out a short survey for
their entry. Questions on the survey included information about what
type of traveler they were, where they had been and what type of
activities they were looking for when traveling. Lexie DeMings, who is
student of the the business course at the Nova Scotia Community
College, and worked the booth with us, will be analyzing the findings
of the surveys and making a report. The prizes where a great addition
to the booth as it drew the patrons into our booth. And when others saw
the crowd around our booth they became curious and wanted to see so
they came over too. Another bonus to having the free draw was that it
allowed me to hand out brochures to each entrant, who would have
otherwise just look at our display and moved on. At first I noticed
people taking the time to enter our draw but them walked away not
taking any info with them. So I soon started handing each entrant to
our draw brochures which included general information on Shelburne and
Queens County and information on each prize which was featured in the
draw. After each ballot was filled out I said, " And here is some
information on the prizes so when you win, you will know what you are
getting." Each entrant gladly took the stack of info I handed them.
The Trade show itself was full of
entertainment and prizes for the participants. All day there was
someone performing, which included Cathy Cook, Robie Smith and Shelley
Meisner of Lockeport. The crowd loved them. Every hour there were at
least two door prizes given away and many included over night
accommodations at various places around Destination South West Nova.
The new Destination South West Nova guide was also handed out to each
participant as they entered the show. It cost $2.00 to get in.
Unfortunately we did not have our new Discover
Shelburne Count travel
maps ready in time for the show. But they will be ready for the
Saltscapes Show in April. I did distribute the Discover Shelburne
County Walking Tour brochures. If anyone would like to participate in
the Saltscapes Show please contact me, Shannon Van Buskirk at 875-1542
or through e-mail
at bouldercove@ns.aliantzinc.ca.
Jill Cruikshank of Queens Municipality dressed in her Privateers Days
Costume
Announcements!
FAM Tour
Provincial
FAM Tour is Coming to Shelburne May 29
This May
29th the annual provincial VIC FAM Tour will be coming to Shelburne.
Participants will have a limited amount of time to tour the area and
see what our beautiful county has to offer the traveling public.
Discover Shelburne County has decided to put together a "Tour Bag" of
goodies to give the participants to take back with them. This was done
last year and participants were very impressed. So this year we would
like to ask members again to help make our "Tour Bag" by giving us
something to promote your business with. Examples include postcards,
small gifts, pens, treats (participants love getting food), business
cards with discounts for your services, or anything small we can put in
the bag. The bag will help participants learn and remember what
they saw as they tour our county. The participants will be representing
VIC's from around the province, so we need to impress. Please contact
Lydia at 875-1308; e-mail rusty2lite@ns.sympatico.ca or Shannon at
875-1542; e-mail boudlercove@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Trade show
April 27-29
Sponsored by Saltscapes
Exhibition Park, Halifax, NS
Discover Shelburne County , along with Queens County has booked a booth
at the Saltsscapes Trade Show in Halifax this April. If
any members would like to have their business promoted they can contact
Shannon Van Buskirk by phone, 875-1542, or e-mail,
bouldercove@ns.aliantzinc.ca . The fee is $25 and Shannon will need
brochures of the business and digital pictures of the business to put
in the slide show. With the success of draw at the Destination South
West Nova Trade show we will again be offering a free draw for
participants to fill out. I found this was a great lure for
participants to our booth and "forced" those who filled out ballets to
take our information, which we handed to them. So Discover Shelburne
County is offering to take your business brochures for the above fee OR
a donation to our draw. Saltscapes has become the most important
travel trade show for Nova Scotians so it makes a great opportunity for
you promote your business. I encourage all members to participate. The
more we have to offer the better our area looks to visit! Please click here to learn
more about Saltscapes
WorkShop
"Your
Competitive Strategy" Workshop Series
Did you know that it costs six
times more to attract a new customer than it does to keep an old one...
Elizabeth Rhuland will be doing a
presentation on "Customer Service - How to Keep Them Coming Back!" at
the next session in the "Your Competitive Strategy series". So mark your calendars for Tuesday, April
17th., 11:30 a.m to 1:00 pm. at Shelburne CBDC and join us for this
lunch and learn opportunity.
Please call Ardith at 875-1133 to
register.
Nova Scotia Master Class Series
Spring and Summer 2007 Events
The Nova Scotia Masterclass Series is a series of workshops designed for
owners, managers and senior executives within tourism businesses. The
workshops will provide leading edge skills and quality training to
enhance
current management practices.
This innovative workshop series consists of four unique sessions - join
us
for one or all four!
The Masterclass Series will address how to identify quality gaps within
an
organization; how to acquire the necessary skills for Internet
competitiveness
and how to grow your business through strategic planning. You will
also hear from the world renowned Ritz-Carleton, a leader in quality
tourism
operations during a keynote luncheon.
The Masterclass Series has been scheduled at various locations
throughout
the province, as we strive to provide you with convenient, quality
training
options.
Join us for these premiere training opportunities. Register today to
take
your business to the next level!
April 17- Yarmouth, NS
Banff Executive Leadership specializes in the development
and facilitation of learning experiences for senior
leaders. General managers, vice presidents, and heads
of organizations have unique developmental needs, demands
and contexts for their learning approaches. Banff
Executive Leadership offers expertise in executive leadership
development, coaching and strategic retreats.
This full-day session will equip managers and directors
with innovative processes to effectively lead their organizations
in becoming more competitive in the global market.
These processes include developing innovative tourism
options, business differentiation, and strategic thinking.
For
Nova Scotia Masterclass Series information,
inquiries or to register by email or
phone, please contact Michelle Sears at:
Phone: (902) 496-7481
Fax: (902) 422-0184
Email: Michelle_Sears@tians.org
Tourism Product Development Day
Workshop
The Department of Tourism Culture and Heritage and the Nova
Scotia Tourism Partnership Council are presenting the 5th annual
Tourism Product Development Day on April 25, 2007 at the
Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. This year's workshop, "Delivering on
the Promise", is an excellent opportunity for you and the tourism
destination leaders in your regions to learn more from Bill Baker, one
of the world's most popular public speakers on the subject of regional
branding and destination development. Click here to find further information on the
workshop and details on how to register.
Membership
Opportunities
FREE
Marketing and Promotion with DSWNS!
Attention
Tourism Industry Stakeholders throughout Southwest Nova Scotia;
Join now
and receive FREE
marketing and promotional credit equivalent to your membership.
Call
or email at bdeon@destinationsouthwestnova.com and join or renew
your membership with Destination Southwest Nova Scotia before March 31st
2007
and we will give you matching credit in marketing and promotion. For example: if the cost of your membership is
$125, you will receive an automatic credit for the same amount. This credit can be applied against a wide
range of marketing and promotional initiatives including upcoming trade
shows and website promotional opportunities until March 31st
2008 (some restrictions
apply). You can even put it toward the
first ever DSWNS travel
showcase coming up on March
24th 2007!
With
credit towards to marketing and promotion, it’s like getting your
membership for free! A membership brochure is attached for your
convenience.
There
has never been a better reason to join! Call today
Betty
d'Eon, Membership Director
Destination
Southwest
Nova Scotia
P.O.
Box 416, Kentville, NS B4N 3X1
Phone:
(902) 742-5355 or (902) 762-2910
Cell:
(902) 740-6347
Toll
Free: (866) 850-9900
Fax:
(902) 742-1967
www.destinationsouthwestnova.