April 2019

New Executive Director takes over the reins

After three and a half years, Ann Worth is leaving the organization to pursue her consulting business full time. As Executive Director, Ann instilled into the Board, Executive and her team the spirit of collaboration, networking and always demonstrated how our organization and the Island punched above its weight against the country and other MC&IT organizations.

Ann, in partnership with Board, her team, members, and stakeholders, delivered on a three year strategic plan that has been our road map to success, including increased membership and engagement, delivered on key metrics and raised the presence and awareness of M&CPEI throughout the Island and off-Island to the benefit of members and operators. We wish to thank Ann for her enthusiastic and upbeat approach to moving our organization forward over the past three and a half years.

Please join us in congratulating Susan Freeman as she moves into the Executive Director role here at M&CPEI.  Many of you will have already met  Susan since she joined us in 2018 as Business Development Manager.  She has more than 24 years of experience in the PEI tourism industry.  In addition to her wealth of product and sales knowledge, she also brings great enthusiasm and a strong and strategic intent to build on the organization’s current strengths.

 

Focus on the Ontario Market

Tête-à-Tête & Destination Direct

Each year, CSAE Ottawa-Gatineau hosts its Tête-à-Tête, bringing people together to connect, discover and build partnerships – benefiting both participants and exhibitors alike. Tête-à-Tête was once again held at the EY Centre in Ottawa and was a full day of tradeshow, networking, and education. M&CPEI put on a splash this year, with an interactive trade show booth and good member attendance.

M&CPEI brought one of our newest members Mind’s Eye Creative Consulting. To increase our presence and delegate engagement during the show, Ashton also graphically recorded the keynote speaker Roger Haskett from Engagement Unlimited! As the must-attend Association “Show of the Year” it was wonderful to have members attend with us and have the opportunity to meet potential clients face to face.

Thanks to attending members:

• Ashton Rodenhiser from Mind’s Eye Creative Consulting
• Janet Higgins with Rodd Hotels and Resorts
• Kirk MacDonald with the Delta Prince Edward by Marriott
• Michelle Westaway with Great George Properties

Another popular annual event germane to our work, Destination Direct is a unique Hosted Buyer program showcasing the value of Canada’s convention destinations.  Treena and Margaret represented M&CPEI, one of more than 20 Destination Marketing Organizations participating.

Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance

From March 19-21, 2019, the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance held its Sports Event Congress — and our own Susan Freeman was there.  The Congress is the largest annual gathering of everyone connected to the $6.8 billion sport tourism industry in Canada. Held in Ottawa this year, the event brings together sport organizations/event rights holders, destination tourism professionals, event suppliers, event management firms, hoteliers and elected officials.  Susan attended the 400-delegate event as a guest of SCORE!, Charlottetown’s organization responsible for bringing national and international sports events to the city. Susan partnered with SCORE! in a number of speed-dating style meetings; her focus was on drawing sports meeting business, in conjunction with major sporting events or on their own.

Sales Activities in Ontario

From March 25 – 28, we were proud to accompany nine of our members to Ontario to sell the Island as a prime meeting and convention destination. Each year, in preparation for this sales trip, we pre-qualify Toronto- and Ottawa-based meeting planners who have real potential of bringing their meetings business to the Island. Then we invite them to meet with us in a networking format so we can court them with information about what we offer and some good old Island hospitality.

This year we hosted three events: a client lunch at the Culinaria Restaurant in Mississauga and client receptions at Rodney’s Oyster Bar in Toronto and Ottawa’s Lowertown Brewery.

Thanks to these members who contributed greatly to our sales mission:

Delta Prince Edward by Marriott	Rodd Hotels & Resorts
The Great George	Olde Dublin Pub & Claddagh Oyster House
City of Charlottetown	Beaumont & Co. Exhibits & Displays
Mill River Resort	Freeman Audio Visual
Holman Grand Hotel

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Atlantic Canada Road Show

Hot on the heels of the Ontario sales trip, we hit the road on our annual Atlantic Canada Roadshow to woo business closer to home. This tri-city tour, sponsored by Coach Atlantic Group and Murphy Hospitality Group, featured client receptions ripe with food, beverages and one-on-one sales pitches.

Receptions were held in Frederiction at The Gahan House – Riverside, Moncton at Gusto Italian Bar & Grill, and Halifax at Barrington Steakhouse & Oyster Bar.

As a bonus, we were thrilled to network at MPI Atlantic’s Global Meetings Industry Day sessions at Pier 21 in Halifax.  This annual event brings together leaders from across the meetings and events industry to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows, and exhibitions have on people, businesses and communities.

Thanks to these members who joined our Atlantic Road Show:

Stanley Bridge Country Resort	Rodd Hotels & Resorts
Fairways Cottages	Delta Prince Edward by Marriott
The Great George	DP Murphy Hotels
City of Charlottetown	Coach Atlantic Group
Hotel on Pownal	Beaumont & Co. Exhibits & Displays

 

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“Big Fish” Conferences

First Big Fish of the Season – Holstein Canada

The first Big Fish of the 2019 season is … a Holstein?  Well, actually, it is Holstein Canada which is bringing 700 delegates to the Island in April for its National Holstein Convention.  The planning committee has put together a program to showcase the Island’s food, entertainment, the beautiful Island and, of course, local Holstein breeders and cow families. The event will also feature a show and sale as well as farm tours.

Acadian Congres

Acadians, francophones, and francophiles from near and far will gather for 15 days in Prince Edward Island and Southeast New Brunswick this summer, providing these locations with the opportunity to prove they are attached to Acadian culture yet open to the world. This is the first time the Island has hosted the Congrès mondial acadien. The event, which will take place from August 10 -24, 2019, is expected to draw nearly 100,000 people. Each of the 20 host municipalities, including eight on PEI, will have its own action-packed, diversified program with activities relating to culture, folklore, history, food and arts.

For more information on the CMA 2019 go to: https://cma2019.ca/

GEBIS + GWBI – Drawn to natural beauty and tranquility

The Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society and the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute are both well established in PEI, providing a place of great beauty and tranquility for monks and nuns, respectively, to learn and live the Buddha’s teachings. These organizations, at points throughout the year, welcome thousands of visitors to the Island:  primarily lay practitioners to participate in learning retreats and meditation workshops, family members to visit Island-based parishioners.  The visitors also tour and learn about the Island’s history and culture. From the early days, M&CPEI has played a role in these group visits, welcoming participants at the airport via the Big Fish program as well as providing tourism materials and coupons. The organization is also a good resource to the meeting planners, which tend to change from year to year.

 

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New Members

We are always excited to introduce our new members from the past quarter:

 

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Take a bow

We are proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of these members:

Ray Murphy
Owner of the Murphy’s Community Centre and founder of Murphy’s Pharmacies
Inducted into the Order of Canada for his “excellence in business and community leadership in Prince Edward Island, notably as an advocate for healthy communities.”

Kevin and Kathy Murphy
Murphy Hospitality Group
Inducted into the Junior Achievement PEI Business Hall of Fame, recognizing them as “dynamic leaders in the PEI hospitality industry.”

Deep Roots Distillery
Awarded 2 medals by Artisan Distillers Canada in their 2019 Canadian Artisan Spirit competition.
BEST IN CLASS WINNER – Absinthe: Deep Roots Distillery Absinthe
SILVER MEDAL – White Spirit: Island Tide spirit

 

Laurel Lea
Tourism Officer with the City of Charlottetown, and a representative of SCORE!
Recognized by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance as an emerging “next-gen” leader in the industry, taking home the Sport Tourism Rising Star of the Year Award.

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Member Services

The Exchange

In February, we partnered with Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI) to offer our combined members a forum to meet with one another in a structured and efficient format to discuss partnerships, cross-marketing and business opportunities. Businesses interested in offering their products or services to PEI visitors were invited to this networking event and participated in a series of a one-on-one meeting with other members. Many new partnerships were made between the 36 members in attendance.

 

Promoting Services and Referrals

Did you know that we provide supplemental services to our members? Think off-site dinners, A/V services, and experiential tours.  We have been meeting with hotel members lately to discuss how we can collaborate with them to help things run smoothly for groups they are hosting.  We also encourage them to refer business to other operators if they are unable to accommodate groups themselves.  Some already have referral partnerships established.  Ultimately, accommodations operators can work together to ensure the business comes to the Island rather than looking for space elsewhere.

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2019 Pace Year-to-date

 

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Membership partnering opportunities are now available