Yukoner to co-chair national tourism conference

by Dean Swaykoski, TIA Yukon Staff

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has announced Patti Balsillie as co-chair of the Tourism Summit 2010. Balsillie who works as a Whitehorse based Management Consultant, will also be working with Louise Beauchamp who as a Senior Executive for VIA rail Canada, directs Marketing planning and Communications.

TIA Yukon will be sending representatives to the summit which is scheduled to be held in Gatineau, Quebec November 1-3. “It’s a big opportunity for the north,” said Balsillie.

“Keeping the north on the radar at a national event reinforces the Canadian tourism industry and includes north of 60 in a meaningful relevant way,” she said. “I love that the north has the opportunity to be represented.”

Ballsillie recently joined the Yukon First Nations 2010 team and helped showcase the best of Yukon’s First Nations talent and product to the world at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. The visiting delegation included 70 Yukon First Nations visual and performing artists, business leaders, youth and elders.

Balsillie estimates 60% of the conference’s registration value is the opportunity to build or align relationships. She also acknowledged TIAC has undertaken some content changes to the Tourism Summit which includes providing industry conference delegates with more insightful, relevant and timely information with an equal emphasis on networking opportunities.

“She (Louise Beauchamp) and I are going to represent the new energy of the National Tourism Conference”, she said. “It’s great to be a part of that new energy being brought to TIAC.”

Also on the 3 day conference agenda are the much anticipated National Tourism Awards of Excellence. TIA Yukon will again be seeking top honours and is sending its nomination entries from the winners of the TIA Yukon Awards of Excellence gala held back in April of this year. Yukon and the north have consistently placed as finalists at the national level for the past 7 years but have yet to take top honours home.

However, outside of the awards and the potential for national recognition are the benefits of tapping into business expertise and experience at the conference said Balsillie.  

“Even though TIAC is recognized as a predominantly corporate and large national organization,” she said. “I believe there’s a big opportunity for the Yukon and the north to make strategic connections with influential people and businesses within that organization.”

The nomination deadline for the TIAC National Tourism Awards of Excellence is Friday, August 6, 2010. 42 finalists will enjoy round trip airfare to the National Awards dinner and ceremony in Ottawa/Gatineau on November 2nd, 2010, compliments of Air Canada! Remember, organizations may be self-nominated or nominated by another party, and you do not have to be a TIAC member to submit a nomination.

For general guidelines and nomination forms Click Here