Thunder Bay's marketing efforts bearing fruit. (Special Report: Thunder Bay).

It will be a banner year for conventions and meetings in Thunder Bay, says Derik Brandt, tourism and economic development manager for the City of Thunder Bay. "Conventions and meetings are up considerably this year," Brandt says. "We've been investing some money in marketing the community so we're seeing some return on that investment."

The year 2003 will see the completion of a waterfront development at Marina Park and a major refurbishment of Chippewa Park, Brandt says.

His department is working to develop a new tourism marketing strategy for Thunder Bay, expected to ready by the fall. "We've purchased some software to be used with the toll-free line to better track our advertising. We also have surveys in each of our fulfillment pieces (brochures, etc.) and we'll be doing a study to measure the economic impact of our marketing."

A tourism industry meeting is planned for the end of May "to get some feedback from the industry regarding the direction they want us to head in," says Brandt. Interested individuals can call 807-625-3960 for more information.

One topic of discussion at the meeting will be public/private sector partnershipss.

"(There are) all sorts of ideas we'd love to pursue,"

Brandt says. He adds, however, that these kinds of part nerships need to be driven by the private sector.

"If the private sector doesn't have that passion for it, it just will not succeed."

Thunder Bay is hosting the Outdoor Writers of Canada conference, an event for journalists who cover outdoor travel, from June 11 to 15.

"We anticipate that we'll receive at least half a million dollars in publicity from their writing."

"The conference is part of a new aggressive strategy we're pursuing," explains Brandt. "We've gone through a reorganization (in 2002) where we've combined Tourism Thunder Bay with (Economic) Development Thunder Bay."

Since last December the department has had a position dedicated to the travel media component of tourism marketing and has witnessed some successes in that area, he says. "This year we had the Weather Network come up: They did a whole series of features on Thunder Bay."

"We'll be redoing our Website this year, as well," Brandt says; and his department will continue to court American tourists.

"We haven't given up on the U.S. market" despite American displeasure over Canada's position on the Iraq war. Brandt and his staff expect a short-term hit to tourism, but anticipate a quick recovery.

He sees American overseas travel affected significantly by recent world events though.

"Most of their travel will be redirected to the tire trade because they'll still be anxious about flying."

This presents a huge opportunity for Thunder Bay, he says. "Within a day's drive of Thunder Bay there is a market the size of all of Canada."

A special publication is planned for June, targeting the near-border market for day trips and short getaways.

Discussions are underway to create a small-scale attraction that will draw Americans within a day's drive.

"It's been brought up through the master planning process, and we'll proceed to a feasibility stage and public consult stage within six months to a year."

www.visitthunderbay.com

www.developthunderbay.com