An upcoming conference is designed to focus on the challenges facing tourism in our region, as well as celebrating its achievements.
” Weathering the Economy ” is the topic of this year’s Grey-Bruce Regional Tourism Conference — taking place Wednesday at the CAW Famly Education Centre in Port Elgin.
Three speakers are being featured at the event, designed for members of the tourism industry.
Web Developer Gem Webb looks after Bruce County Tourism’s activities on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
He says he starts local business owners onto using Facebook and Twitter, and within a week, they usually contact him offering thanks for how it’s boosted their business.
However, Webb says the Grey-Bruce business community could benefit more from a stronger online presence.
Using contracting as an example, he says very few local ones show up in Google search results. But, he says if they highlighted Bruce County on their websites, they would become part of search results within months.
Georgian College Economist Norm Smith, and Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips will also be featured at the conference.
The conference also features the 2009 Grey-Bruce Tourism Awards.
Bruce County Tourism Manager Chris Hughes says (on Soundingboard) there are awards for the best websites and brochures, the best innovative tourism products, and the Charlie Kelly Award which recognizes the person who contributes the most to tourism in Grey-Bruce.
The Charlie Kelly Award is sponsored by Bayshore Broadcasting.
A trade show is also part of the conference.
Hughes says anyone who wants to cross-sell their products to others in the tourism industry, for 35 dollars they can have a space to display their products and services.
He says it will allow them to show what’s new, exciting, and hot in the area when it comes to the tourism industry.
The conference is presented by the Regional Tourism Marketing Partnership.