Transcript Document
Tourism Planning at the
Community Level
HOST Saskatchewan Conference
2012
Watrous Manitou Marketing Group
March 2009, the Long Lake REDA was closed with the
formation of Enterprise SK and the Enterprise Regions
The area lost its Economic Development Officer
In Spring 2010, An agreement was made between the
Town, Village, and RM of Morris to form the
Marketing Group and hire a Community Development
Officer (CDO)
Commitment from all 3 municipalities in the promotion of
Tourism and Economic Development
Watrous Manitou Marketing Group
Mission:
To create an environment that attracts sustainable
population growth where citizens will take pride in
calling the entire area their community. A community
where natural and historic resources provide
recreational and business opportunities for citizens
and visitors.
Watrous Manitou Marketing Group
Ran by a board of 7 Directors which includes
representation from each one of the councils
Others members include residents and business
owners
CDO is currently the single employee
Membership based – currently over 50 businesses and
local organizations hold memberships.
Perfect “storm” of 2010
Our flagship attraction – Manitou Springs Hotel and
Mineral Spa – had fallen in disrepair and was closed in
April by the Health Region
A very wet spring and summer and heavy snow fall saw
lake levels rise, nearly eliminating our beaches, wash
out local roads, and threaten nearly 80 years of
tourism infrastructure at Manitou Beach
But all was not lost…
(re)Building our Brand
(re)Building our Brand
Photo shoots (2010 & 2011)
Development of a yearly Visitor Guide
New messaging and slogan
Develop a comprehensive marketing plan
Exploration of new specific target markets
Solving a public relations problem
Developing a new Community Tourism Plan (last
completed in 1989)
Photography
Visitor Guide
Yearly
Full gloss and Colour
Local distribution
Source of Community
Pride
Keep it fresh!
A New Message
(From Roger Brooks - Destination Development International)
Take what makes you unique and market it!
“Sell the rapids not the river”
Market Experiences not Geography
What separates you from the rest?
Unsinkable…
Community Tourism Planning
With Spa re-opened, berm created along Beach shore
to prevent flooding, new pavement, new messaging
and brand, Regional Park expanding and seeing record
visitation…Community Plan needed to be revisited
Began Consultations with Tourism SK in January, 2012
Plan looks at Attractions, Businesses, Infrastructure,
Hospitality, and Promotion
Establishing a committee
Expand Planning Committee beyond WMMG (no
more than 12 members)
Can be controversial - Have thick skin!
Committee had representation from the following
groups:
RM, Past REDA President, Past Chamber President,
Town of Watrous, RV of Manitou Beach, Danceland,
Regional Park, Manitou Springs, past Marketing
Association, Local Arts Community, Communities in
Bloom, Four business owners
Community Tourism Planning Steps
Establishing the Committee
Develop a Tourism Policy
Tourism Markets and Profiles – who is travelling to the
area and where are they coming from
Listing your Primary and Secondary Assets
Listing your Concerns in the areas of Attractions,
Tourism Businesses, Hospitality, Tourism
Infrastructure, and Promotion
Community Tourism Planning Steps
(Cont’d)
Establishing Objectives based on your concerns
Develop Action Steps and rank them
Implementation
Evaluate and Re-evaluate (on-going)
Objectives
Tourism Attractions
Succession Planning
Tourism Businesses
Enhancing Business Partnerships
Tourism Hospitality
Building Exception Visitor Experiences
Tourism Infrastructure
Signage
Highways, directional, local interpretive
Objectives
Tourism Promotion
Meetings and Conventions Plan
Launching the Plan
June 20, 2012, held a luncheon to launch the plan to
the community
Travel Media
December, 2011, Vacay.ca named Manitou Beach a
Top 12 Destination to visit in 2012
Invited their top editor and photographer to the community
for a follow up story
MSN.ca named Manitou Beach a Top 10 Canadian
Beach
Sent news releases around the province to let the know
about the recent accomplishments
Local and provincial media outlets picked up the story
Thank you!
Brendan Manz
Community Development Officer
Watrous Manitou Marketing Group
(306) 946-3327
[email protected]