Panel Discussion Notes 2008
Notes transcribed from Town Hall Session, Yukon Tourism Fall Round-Up
At the Old Fire Hall, Whitehorse, Yukon
October 30 from 3-5 pm
Panelists included:
• Accommodations/Food & Beverage - Heather McIntyre, Westmark Whitehorse
• Adventure – Neil Hartling, Nahanni River Adventures/Canadian River Expeditions
• Canadian Tourism Commission - Roger LaPlante (ED, Research with the Canadian Tourism Commission)
• Culture and Attractions - Art Webster, North End Gallery
• Culture and Attractions - Michael Brandt, White Pass and Yukon Route
• Meetings/Conventions - Stephen Dunbar-Edge, YCB
• Transportation – Melanie Meins, Fraserway RV Rentals and Sales
• Travel Trade/Services - Robin Anderson, Yukon Alaska Adventure Company
…and with moderator Dee Enright, 2nd Vice Chair and Partner in Outside the Cube
Initiating Dialogue…Questions for the panelists:
1. What were your key challenges this season?
2. What are some positive trends you are noticing in your business?
3. Are there any specific services or infrastructure that you believe are requires to take Yukon tourism and your business to the next level?
4. What role do you see TIA Yukon playing in the future success of your business?
Answers:
Adventure Sector – Neil Hartling
Challenges – fuel prices and impact to flight charter, guides and pilots are aging/ retiring and newer pilots don’t bring the same breadth of experience
Positive or Opportunities – there seems to be an increase in visitor spend and WTAY and Nahanni both have new office managers.
CTC – Roger LaPlante
Challenge – no sufficient budget to do marketing, fuel prices are high, the US economic crisis and exchange rate fluctuation – no certainty,
Positive or Opportunities – Mexico has the highest awareness of Canada and most emerging markets are resilient to the unstable economies. If fuel prices turn around, predicting a growth surge by the FIT US market.
Transportation Sector – Melanie Meins
Challenges – staff, housing, shoulder seasons expanding – all impacting service and hours of operation, as fuel goes up, margins dropping
Positive or Opportunities – New customers coming from New Zealand, Australia, with consistent 2009 bookings, the Yukon’s internet presence is working for Fraserway
Meetings, Conventions, Incentive Travel – Stephen Dunbar-Edge
Challenges – staffing, insufficient budgets and limited resources to do effective marketing.
Positive or Opportunities - strongest year ever for meetings and great commentary on infrastructure from clients.
Travel Trade – Robin Anderson
Challenges – staffing is difficult, when they have money, they didn’t have time to train and when they didn’t have money they needed staff, seasonality of their business, inconsistent supplier reliability, 2008 weather was bad with scarfs and umbrella’s
Positive or Opportunities – 2009 looking very good, EU still very positive for high-end travelers, weekend travelers from gateway markets is really good, new markets from Czech, Hungary, Russia, and Kluane National Park product very strong.
Accommodations – Heather McIntyre
Challenges – Housing for staff
Positive or Opportunities – Occupancy is up and surpassing Canada’s national numbers year over year – comparing 2005 through to 2008, MCIT primary driver
Attractions/Culture – Michael Brandt and Art Webster
Challenges – staffing challenges reduce profitability, weather, fuel prices, ship capacity changes to bookings, shoulder season is eroding, new industrial activity and sharing the road with trucks and other increased traffic, regulations and repairs but making progress
Positive or Opportunities – bursting records, growth in loads, Carcross is working well, the Hiker services are good, shooting for all Canadian product establishment, more want made in Yukon, local product, sales are up despite reduced hours, increase in repeat visitors, bundle product, enhance product with more bundling
Specific Needs in industry either generally or directly from TIA Yukon:
• Housing for staff and more labour suppliers
• Capacity in industry to handle four seasons
• Properly resourced sales and marketing strategy
• Perspective to Yukon that higher tides raise all boats
• Shoulder season services available
• Better cell service
• More certainty in regulations – YESEAA
• Immigration – and ability to compete
• Airport – get resolution
• Marketing budget – reflect similar strategies to the CTC
• Advocate
• Commercial Land disposition – for wilderness lodges
• Networking is great
• Umbrella and restructuring is great but not done yet
• Panel this year is fantastic
• Get more marketing money
• TIA Yukon – be strong and forceful
• Collaborate with industry sectors more – two way partnership communications
• Be leaders and support leadership – for strong advocacy
• Define yourself TIA Yukon – quickly
• More prominent place in advocacy
• Great networking
• Remain a vigilant advocacy group
• Have a great website, that is full of information
• Celebrate or do PR for new products and news
• SLVA – redefine SME in Yukon vs Canada – doesn’t match and is a stumbling block
• Dempster Hwy – is in rough shape and needs attention
• Wildlife viewing – develop this, Yukon can do better
Closing…
These notes are intended to record the dialogue and to share information directly to the Board and membership about how 2008 was and to help TIA Yukon strategize programs, services and advocacy priorities for the next 12 months.