Alberta spent $14 million promoting itself at the Vancouver Olympics, but officials say the money was well spent and predict it will attract enough business to the province to recoup the full amount several times over.
Cindy Ady, minister of tourism, parks and recreation, said Tuesday that the money the province spent on the three-year promotional campaign will be more than recouped through new business and tourism deals for Alberta. Read the full story
Alberta has reserved a luxury train during the Vancouver Olympics as part of a $7- million marketing plan meant to woo tourists and business executives.
The province has exclusively booked the Rocky Mountaineer for runs between Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., between Feb 12 and 28. Read the full story
Revelstoke steams into Railway Days this weekend, which is our annual celebration of all things railway. The Revelstoke Railway Museum, located right next to the CP Rail line, hosts the event. James Baring, 6th Baron Revelstoke, was the guest of honour at the 2009 Revelstoke Homecoming due to his historical connection with the completion of the the CP Rail line, which was arguably a significant factor leading to the creation of Canada. CP Rail is a major employer in Revelstoke, with a proud history stretching back over a century.
Yet, despite these and many more connections our community has to the railway, you can’t take the train to Revelstoke. This despite the fact that many Third World countries enjoy better point to point passenger rail services than Western Canada — or Canada in general for that matter. Concerns about reducing greenhouse gases, treacherous winter road conditions and provincial goals to increase tourism in B.C. all support the concept of improving rail service to Revelstoke.
This lack of service to his namesake community did not escape the attention of Lord Revelstoke, who penned a letter of thanks published in the Aug. 5 issue of the Revelstoke Times Review. In the letter, he expresses his hope that he can arrive by train for the next homecoming event in Revelstoke. “I have been studying the Internet booking system which is succeeding in filling every seat on the EuroStar express that runs between London and Paris by balancing supply, demand and price,” writes Baring. “A package offering to the world a skiing break at Revelstoke, arriving by train from Toronto, Calgary or Kelowna, advertised and bookable online all over the world, would be fully subscribed.”
He isn’t the only one with that goal in mind. At their June 30 meeting, the Revelstoke Economic Development Commission discussed the matter, saying it was a “high priority” and asked that Director of Community Economic Development Alan Mason follow up on the item when he meets with CPR officials at a regularly scheduled meeting in September.
Mason says the matter comes up every couple of years and he will pursue it further at the September meeting.
By Aaron Orlando, Revelstoke Times, >>> continue reading
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A perky brunette’s quest to find the sweetheart of her dreams on an American reality television show could translate into a multimillion dollar windfall for Alberta’s struggling tourism industry.
On tonight’s episode of The Bachelorette, Vancouver interior designer Jillian Harris rides the rails aboard the Rocky Mountaineer to Lake Louise and Banff, where the iconic scenery will share prime-time exposure with a bevy of hunky contestants.
Fans can expect to see Harris nosh on fondue in Lake Louise and frolic on the region’s famed alpine slope before heading to Banff, where one of her suitors will be handed a rose and eliminated from the game in the Cascade Ballroom of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
It’s the sort of exposure money can’t buy, say local tourism officials, who hope the show will bring awareness to Alberta at a time when bookings are down during the normally busy peak summer season.
“That kind of endorsement is critical in our economy today,” said Lori Bayne, a spokeswoman for Banff-Lake Louise Tourism.
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By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald, >>> continue reading
Source Link: Easier.com
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) owes much of its success to the unspoiled scenery, fresh air and abundant wildlife of Canada’s West. As a result, the company continues to develop innovative sustainable tourism policies and programs that support all three pillars of Sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, Economic Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Established by the organisation in 2003, the Caretakers program is designed to promote the development and implementation of sustainable operating policies and practices throughout RMV.
Waste Reduction
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations has set a target to reduce its waste by 50% by the end of the 2009 operating season. The plan involves increasing the level of recycling on all Rocky Mountaineer routes and the Whistler Mountaineer train by implementing new policies and partnering with recycling operators in the various communities through which it travels. In 2008, RMV recycled over 82% of its meal trays and reduced rubbish diverted to landfill by 10%.
Cutting edge technology has also been installed on all locomotives, significantly reducing fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and noise pollutions. The company also dreams of becoming the first passenger rail service in North America to operate a hybrid locomotive.
Salmon – A Dying Breed
The Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer routes follow some of the most important salmon habitats in North America. Facing the pressures of climatic change, warm water and unpredictable flows, some of these once abundant populations of salmon have declined to the point that they are swimming a fine line between survival and extinction.
In a bid to help sustain and protect the natural environment in which they operate, RMV has entered into a long-term eight year financial partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to rebuilding sustainable and naturally diverse Pacific salmon stocks. The eight-year commitment is the equivalent of two salmon lifecycles.
Local Community Initiatives
In addition to these environmental initiatives, RMV is dedicated to building strong community partnerships and enhancing economic sustainability in the local communities in which the Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer trains operate. The company uses local businesses and suppliers whenever possible and RMV guests contribute to local economies through accommodation, dining, shopping and by visiting local attractions. For example, since opening up its route to Quesnel, the region has seen an economic benefit of $1.5 million.
Armstrong Group donates more than CAN$250,000 annually to support local charity fundraisers and community initiatives. One such venture is fostering the growth of Olympic champions. RMV has offered to sponsor a local British Columbia (BC) athlete by investing £7,500 over a three-year period, which goes towards training and competition costs. The athlete is Christopher Campbell, from a small settlement in the Cariboo Chilcotin region in BC.
Commenting on the importance of their sustainable strategy, Ian Robertson, RMV’s Executive Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Communications commented: “Sustainable development has always been a key priority for RMV and a recent customer survey shows that our guests agree. Findings were that 68% of our guests rate Rocky Mountaineer’s sustainable practices as ‘extremely important’.”
Testament to its social, economic and environmental dedication, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations recently won Tourism British Columbia’s ‘Foresight and Sustainability Award’ for leadership in sustainable tourism policies and programs.
RMV is a member of the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective which was founded on the vision that travel within BC can foster appreciation and stewardship for the natural environment, regions and communities.
For more information on Rocky Mountaineer Vacations’ sustainable tourism and development activities, log on to Rockymountaineer.com.
