Presidents Report and
Newsletter
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President's
Report
The 2003 tourism season in Prince Edward County got off to a
very slow start. The accommodation business has reported it
is down approximately 40% to date.
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce in partnership
with 4 other event organizers has submitted an application under
the “Culture Tourism and Marketing Fund” (CTMF) to garner advertising
and marketing dollars to promote fall events in Prince Edward
County. This initiative will lengthen this year’s (and hopefully
future years) tourism season by increasing our marketing and
promotion, target marketing the 35 plus age group who have an
appreciation of the arts and culture. In order to make these
events on-going for future years a much broader advertising
and marketing campaign must occur.
A big thank you to all the partners who have helped to put together
the application: Peter Blendell (Cinefest Picton), Willi Fida
(Angelines), Studio Tour Participants, Lynne McMullen (SamLyn
Enterprises) and Dan Taylor, Economic Development.
If you stopped by the Tourist office over the summer you probably
noticed the wonderful flowers planted on our front porch and
along the side of the house. For the past several years the
Horticultural Society has supplied and planted the flowers at
the Tourist Office. On behalf of the directors and members I
want to say thank you to the Horticultural Society for making
this very public area just that much prettier.
Lawrie Ackerman - President
Bike Maps!
A big thank you to Lynne McMullen (SamLyn Enterprises) and the
Bloomfield Bicycle Company for the terrific job they did to
produce this map. Many hours were put into this project and
the results are a 4-colour glossy bike route map that is available
to the numerous bicyclists that are coming into the County.
The bicycle maps have proved to be a big hit this summer.
The maps can be purchased at the Tourist office for: Members:
$0.75 each Non-members: $1.50. each
Shift in Information Sources!
In the first 5 months of 2003, inquiries to 1-800-ONTARIO were
down by 25.1% compared to the same period of 2002. Meanwhile,
during the first five months of 2003, users sessions at www.ontariotravel.net
(Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation’s consumer
website) increased by 12% over the same period of 2002. Sessions
in 2002 as a whole increased by 59% over 2001 The above statistics
reinforces the need to advertise and market on the web!
Come Join Us!
Come out for an evening with your fellow business members. PECCTAC
is looking to book Majesty Charters for an Evening
“Full Moon” Cruise on September 10th. The
cruise departs at 7 pm and returns at 10 pm. Refreshments are
available on-board. Call Babbs for further details. RSVP by
27th August.
Advertising 2004
Hard to believe but it is time to look at advertising for 2004.
PECCTAC is participating in the advertising opportunity offered
through our affiliation with the Bay of Quinte Tourist Council
and Ontario East by placing full-page advertisements in each
of the publications:
+ Ontario East 2004 Travel
Guide
+ The Bay of Quinte 2004
Travel Guide
Bay of Quinte Tourist Council will be printing 80,000.00 Bay
of Quinte 2004 Travel Guides that will be distributed at the
Travel & Trade Shows throughout Ontario, parts of Canada
and U.S.A.
In addition they are distributed at information centres along
the 401 corridor, throughout Canada, U.S.A. and Europe.
120,000.00 Ontario East 2004 Travel Guides will be published
and distributed at Ontario Travel Information Centres, CAA’s
and AAA’s and recognized travel information centres in Canada
and overseas.
Understanding PECCTAC’s Group Insurance
Plan
As a PECCTAC member an excellent group insurance plan is available
to you, your family and business. Wendi Stinsen of Empire Life
will be available in September to provide information about
PECCTAC’s group insurance plan.
Please call Babbs at 476-2421 if you want to be notified about
this information session.
Take Advantage of Your Membership
Benefits!
As a member of PECCTAC your business can receive the
same discounted rate to send your mail via courier. County Courier
Service will pass on this special courier rate to all PECCTAC
members, you just have to say you are a member and be sure to
display your PECCTAC decal! Call County Courier at 969-8811
to inquire about their discount rate to PECCTAC members.
RESULTS OF THE PECCTAC SURVEY
How members want to be informed:
| e-mail: |
46% |
| Fax: |
6% |
| Mail: |
63% |
Key Issues Facing Our Members:
LABOUR
Shortage of skilled Labour/trades people
GOVERNMENT
Taxes & Tax assessments
Closing of walleye fishing in Bay of Quinte
Water Resources Act
Maintenance of roads
MONEY
Operational costs increasing
Adequate funding/cash flow
Developing Quality Faculties
Upgrading property
MARKETING
Building a good reputation
Filling vacancies
Target marketing – high end
Attracting buyers
OTHER CONCERNS
Parking
Time management
Some businesses not maintaining a high standard of service
Membership Benefit Participation
| Visa/MasterCard: |
10% |
| Group Insurance: |
7% |
| PECCTAC Website Link: |
50% |
| Advertising: |
50% |
| Online Payroll: |
3% |
| Advocacy: |
17% |
| Customer Referral: |
63% |
| Access to local Business Owners: |
43% |
| Networking: |
37% |
| PECCTAC Newsletter: |
53% |
| Courier Service: |
13% |
| PECCTAC Events Golf Tournament: |
10% |
| Networking: |
23% |
| Seminars/Workshops: |
20% |
| Gala Business Awards: |
10% |
| General Meetings: |
27% |
| Events: |
10% |
| No Answer: |
47% |
| Educational Seminars & Workshops Time Management: |
10% |
| Taxation: |
10% |
| First Aid: |
10% |
| Performance Management: |
13% |
| Occupational Health: |
6% |
| Holistic Healing: |
3% |
| Other – Tourist Trends: |
3% |
| No Answer: |
67% |
A big thank you to those who took the time to fill
out our survey.
Membership Benefits!
This is just to remind you about the two newest Ontario Chamber
of Commerce (OCC) discount program offerings. First, is the
Global Payments joint Visa and MasterCard merchant discount
rate offering, which was introduced at the convention in May.
It offers a one stop shopping credit card solution for your
members who accept Visa and MasterCard; the rate for both cards
is 1.82%. (This is in addition to our longstanding TD Visa only
merchant discount rate offering at 1.8%/1.75% and our Global
Payments (formerly National Bank) MasterCard only merchant discount
rate offering at 1.85%. Second is our latest offering, an automated
payroll solution for Chamber members from market leader Ceridian.
It offers 10% off regular listed pricing. For further information
on the payroll processing services go to www.occ.on.ca
Login: PECCC
Password: 1057
Welcome New Members!
Angelo's Restaurant
By Chadsey's Cairns Winery & Vineyard
Carruther's Chocolates
Claramount Inn & Spa
Hummingbird - Aromatherapist
MCL Consulting
Phyllis Miersma
The Miller's House B&B
Vision Computers
Thank you for your support! |
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