Retired Northern Development Advisor, Mark Vincent is presented with the 2nd Annual Ted Day Tourism Award by Angela Johnston at the 33rd annual meeting of Ontario’s Near North Wednesday. Photo provided.
Retired Northern Development Advisor, Mark Vincent is presented with the 2nd Annual Ted Day Tourism Award by Angela Johnston at the 33rd annual meeting of Ontario’s Near North Wednesday. Photo provided.
Almaguin-Nipissing Travel Association News Release
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Mattawa - It has been a record breaking year in many ways for the Almaguin-Nipissing Travel Association (Ontario's Near North). On September 24, the association held its thirty-third Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Canadian Ecology Centre, Mattawa, in honour of that facility’s 10th year anniversary. The meeting played host to key tourism stakeholders and municipal leaders in the Near North Travel Region.
Laurie Ypya, Executive Director of the association said “despite the challenges which faced the tourism industry this past year, the marketing initiatives conducted by the association have proven to be very successful, resulting in an impressive increase of inquiries for information about the region. In a multi year comparison, the Near North website realized an increase of 21,337 site hits but, more importantly, increased the length of time consumers stay on the site from an average of 57 seconds in January, 2007 to 2.25 minutes in January, 2008.” The association has incorporated a new tracking system on its website this past year.
The organization coordinated a record number of media familiarization (fam) trips for the region. A fam trip is a term used by the travel industry to describe a low cost or complimentary trip provided by suppliers of tourism products to familiarize the media with their destination and services. From April 1st 2007 to March 31, 2008, the association coordinated 14 such trips for some of the most renowned outdoor writers in North America, including writers and staff from Canadian Geographic Travel, Ontario Out of Doors Magazine, Powerboat Television, GoRiding TV, Supertrax International, and Snowtrax Television. “Our region has been showcased to the writers, exposing them to a broad scope of experiences. The resulting articles will be published in virtually every major outdoor experience based magazine in Canada and significantly influence those planning vacations to travel to our region for their next holiday” stated Ypya.
She went on to note “one of our local industry’s biggest challenges is to get the service sector more involved. While the economic benefits of tourism are obvious to operators in the accommodations sector, it is important to note that tourism provides a substantial economic benefit to a broad range of businesses in the region. Businesses such as retail, restaurants, gas stations, insurance and banks, experience significant positive results arising from tourism spending in the region. The development of tourism cannot be the sole responsibility of accommodation operators.”
The association is the marketing arm of the tourism industry for Ontario’s Near North. Its area boundaries are Novar on the south, Temagami to the north, Mattawa on the east to Warren on the west.
Meanwhile, recently retired Northern Development Advisor, Mark Vincent, had been honored by the local tourism industry by being presented with the 2nd Annual Ted Day Tourism Award at the 33rd annual meeting of Ontario’s Near North.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a passion for and dedication to Northern Ontario and its tourism industry.
“Mark is a most deserving recipient” stated Near North Executive Director, Laurie Ypya. “Northern Ontario tourism has always been so much more than a career to Mark. For decades, he ensured that tourism in the north remained front and centre as part of the overall government agenda.”
The organization’s vice president, Bunny Tucker, added “anyone who has been in the business for any length of time in this region has, at one point or another, sought out Mark’s advice and assistance. His hard work and passion have truly made a difference to every community in the Near North and to every person who depends upon tourism for their livelihood.”
Mark Vincent recently retired from public service but he continues to share his wealth of knowledge, expertise and vast experience for the betterment of the tourism industry. He is a member of the Ontario Public Service Quarter Century Club and has 35 years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.
