New Sudbury tourism association to provide power to the people; Arm's length non-profit organization will let local business guide tourism marketing.With the influx of new hotels and a growing commercial sector, Sudbury city officials are looking to help bolster the tourism economy by giving the power to the people - or in this case, local business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The city will be hosting a Sept. 26 tourism summit to fine-tune the city's tourism strategic plan. On the agenda is creation of an arm's-length Sudbury tourism association, managed and overseen by the participating businesses. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "As always, the city would be a major player, but management would be left to the group," says Rob Skelly Skel´ly v. i. 1. To squint. n. 1. A squint. , the city's tourism manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skelly says the association would allow them to have more authority in determining how tourism and marketing funds are spent, but also raised. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Local hotels would be asked to voluntarily add a three per cent fee to room rates earmarked for a destination marketing fund. Ultimately, the goal is to turn Sudbury into the fourth-largest centre for tourism in Ontario, behind Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls Niagara Falls, waterfall, United States and Canada Niagara Falls, in the Niagara River, W N.Y. and S Ont., Canada; one of the most famous spectacles in North America. The falls are on the international line between the cities of Niagara Falls, N.Y. , according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Doug Nadorozny, the city's manager of growth and development. These types of efforts to enhance the city's tourism profile will be particularly key in the coming year or two, as a minimum of 400 extra hotel rooms will soon be floating into the city. "With that much new capacity coming online, it's our job to try and keep occupancy up," says Skelly. "It's going to be a bit of a challenge given the high percentage of rooms that is being injected in·ject·ed adj. 1. Of or relating to a substance introduced into the body. 2. Of or relating to a blood vessel that is visibly distended with blood. injected 1. introduced by injection. 2. congested. , but we think Sudbury is up to it." One aspect of the city's new strategy involves the pursuit of sports tourism. It's been a particular point of interest, after having recently won the bid for the 2010 Ontario games, as well as hosting the 2011 National Francophone Games. The economic benefits are undetermined, but 3,500 athletes are expected to attend the 2010 games, while roughly 1,200 young athletes in 2011. Local sports facilities See:
tr.v. re·vamped, re·vamp·ing, re·vamps 1. To patch up or restore; renovate. 2. To revise or reconstruct (a manuscript, for example). 3. To vamp (a shoe) anew. n. of the Laurentian University Laurentian University, main campus at Sudbury, Ont., Canada; bilingual, coeducational; founded 1960. Among its faculties are those in astronomy, commerce, computer science, education, engineering, law, mathematics, music, native studies, nursing, physics, and social track. The track will be resurfaced and new equipment purchased through a funding partnership between the university, local school boards and government agencies. Upgrades will also be made to the aging buildings. The city is creating a buzz with some new 'legacy project' proposals which are being touted as a way of enhancing tourism efforts. With a combined price tag of $165 million, a performing arts centre An art center or arts centre is distinct from an art gallery or art museum. An arts centre is a functional community centre with a specific remit to encourage arts practice and to provide facilities such as theatre space, gallery space, venues for musical performance, and multi-surface recreational complex are viewed as adding to the city's image as a top-tier destination. Though still in the design stage, the proposals go to city council this fall for approval. The $95-million recreational complex, with its multiple NHL-sized ice pads, an indoor pool and four multi-use playfields, would stand to push the sports tourism envelope to a higher level, says Skelly. Despite the rise in city-organized tourism package sales, with 2008 totals on pace to exceed last year's 555, Nadorozny acknowledges the city also needs a stronger, more cohesive experience for tourists. He points to the use of the city's numerous lakes as a strong draw for visitors, but there is no direct tourism connection with activities like boat rentals. The city's geology and geography should be better integrated into the local tourism product, says Skelly. These are best embodied by the likes of Dynamic Earth, which recently completed its final phase of expansion, and Science North, which celebrates its 25-year anniversary this year. The state of Nevada, with its expanses of ruddy rud·dy adj. rud·di·er, rud·di·est 1. a. Having a healthy, reddish color. b. Reddish; rosy. 2. desert, has capitalized on its surroundings by turning it into part of their tourism branding. Cultural branding might also play a part in the overall strategy, he says. The city's strong Francophone population and its associated appeal, such as the 6,000 tourists among the 27,000 attendees of the recent literary festival Salon du Livre li·vre n. 1. See Table at currency. 2. A money of account formerly used in France and originally worth a pound of silver. , may provide some in-roads into the largely untapped Quebec market. www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca www.sudburytourism.ca By NICK STEWART Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion