Destination SW Nova News

Destination Southwest Nova Association Newsletter
Your Connection to what's happening in the Tourism Industry

Charting our Course for the Future - online form, deadline for submissions June 11th

In This Issue:


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DSWNA Special General Meeting - June 14th, 7pm, Digby
Follow up from DSWNA AGM & Conference May 12 & 13
Press Release: Charting a New Course for Tourism
Congratulations to award winners & Thank you to sponsors!
DSWNA Marketing & Media Plan 2010/2011, booking form
President's Report, General Manager's Report
Visit the DSWNA website for session presentation
Southwest Nova Familiarization Tour - Thank you!
Grand Opening of Town & County Welcome Centre
Workshops & Learning:
Training courses offered by DSWNA, contact abartram@dswna.com for more information or to register your staff
June 12 - SuperHost, Best Western Liverpool, 9am-5pm
June 13 - First Aid, Barrington VIC, 9am-5pm
June 15 - Service 1st, Oak Island Resort, 8:30am-12:30pm
July 3 - SuperHost, Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa, 9am-5pm
July 7 - Service 1st, Old Orchard Inn, 8:30am-12:30pm
Emerit training - online learning for supervisors
Collaborative Strategies in Community Development
Product Development Day presentations
Brochure Distribution at regional/local visitor centres - deadline Mon June 7th
Provincial Visitor Information Centre Opening Dates
Upcoming Tourism Events:
June 7-13: Tourism Awareness Week, send your events to abartram@dswna.com
June 8: Tourism Cafe - Queens County
2010 Culinary Tourism Thought Leadership World Summit
Funding Programs:
Translation Assistance Program
Small Business Internship Program
Advertising Employment Opportunities on www.dswna.com
Festivals & Events Submissions
2010 Visitor Exit Survey
Resources
Experience Nova Scotia: A Toolkit
Congratulations are extended to:
Windbag Company who is being nominated for a Mobius Award!
Welcome to New Partners:
Turizm Inc.
Twin Cities Air Service

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DSWNA Special General Meeting - June 14th, 7pm, Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa
There will be a Special General Meeting for all DSWNA partners on Monday June 14th at 7:00pm at the Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa. As there was not a quorum of partners at the Annual General Meeting at White Point on May 13th this Special General Meeting has been arranged to conduct the usual AGM formalities, select a new DSWNA Board of Directors and approve changes to the DSWNA By-laws. Please RSVP to jbalser@dswna.com, (902) 645-2307 by Friday June 11th.

If you would like to book accommodations for the evening please contact Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa at 1-800-667-4637 and reference the DSWNA Special General Meeting, the industry rate is $95 + hst.

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Follow up to DSWNA AGM & Conference, May 12 & 13
The Southwest Awards banquet on May 12th recognized several industry partners throughout the region. Congratulations are extended to: the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens who won the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley Award, Wedgeport Sport Tuna Fishing Museum & Interpretive Centre winner of the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores Award, and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society winner of the South Shore Award. The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve won the Sustainable Tourism award and the Partnership Award was extended to the Municipality of Kings.

DSWNA would also like to thank all of the Sponsors, speakers and supporters of the AGM: Bay Ferries Limited, CAA/AAA, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Office of Acadian Affairs, Saltscapes Magazine, The Chronicle Herald, UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association, VERB Interactive, White Point Beach Resort, Annapolis Highland Vineyards, Bear River Vineyards, Domaine de Grand Pré, Gaspereau Vineyards, Jost Vineyards, Lunenburg County Winery, Muir Murray Estate Winery, Cynthia Bragg from Colour, Neal Alderson with Events Nova Scotia, Emily Haynes representing Taste of Nova Scotia, Maegan Power-Noble with UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, Chris Morrissey from Canada Games 2011, Stacey Jones-Oxner with Nova Scotia Come to Life, Michelle Sears and April Hannah from Nova Scotia Tourism Culture & Heritage and Fred Whalen with the Municipality of the County of Kings. Thank you all for making the event a success!

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Southwest Nova Familiarization Tour - June 15-17 - thank you!

On behalf of Bay Ferries and DSWNA, thank you to the many, many partners who have been working with Donna Hatt and Pam Wamback to prepare the itineraries and experiences for the upcoming Southwest Nova FAM Tours taking place June 15 - 17. There are 2 tour routes each of which showcase the unique experiences of our region. Invitations have been sent to media and freelance writers along with AAA/CAA agents in Atlantic Canada and New England as well as Call Centre staff for Bay Ferries. In the days leading up to, during and following there will be a media awareness campaign around the many experiences awaiting visitors within Southwest Nova Scotia. For more information, please contact the DSWNA office at info@dswna.com or (902) 634-8844.



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Brochure distribution at regional and local Visitor Information Centres
Current partners of DSWNA are able to have their brochures delivered to the 25 visitor information centres in the region. You'll notice on the partnership form that the deadline for the first distribution (June) is Monday June 7th so please arrange to have your brochures at the Kentville VIC/DSWNA satellite office (341 Main St. Kentville) or at the Lunenburg office (18 Dufferin St) by this date. The second distribution deadline is Tuesday July 20th. The cost for partners is $25. Please contact abartram@dswna.com or call (902) 678-1728 if you have any questions.

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Provincial Visitor Information Centres - Opening Dates
Halifax Stanfield International Airport - Open Year Round / 7 days a week
Amherst VIC - Open Year Round / 7 days a week with a 24 hours self serve area
Digby VIC - Opens May 9 / 7 days a week
Halifax Waterfront VIC - Open Year Round / 7 days a week
Peggy's Cove VIC - Opens May 9 / 7 days a week
Pictou VIC - Opened May 2 / 7 days a week
Port Hastings VIC - Opened May 2 / 7 days a week
Yarmouth VIC. - Opens May 17 / 7 days a week

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Advertising Employment Opportunities on DSWNA website
Destination Southwest Nova Association would like to help you advertise your employment opportunities, email abartram@dswna.com to have your job ads posted on the Employment Opportunities page on DSWNA.com.

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Festivals & Events Submissions
Destination Southwest Nova Association showcases the unique and exciting Festivals & Events the area offers to visitors. Promote your festival or event by filling out this online form! Please call: (902) 645-2307 or jbalser@dswna.com if you have any questions.

Also put your Festival or Event on novascotia.com, click here for their tutorial.

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2010 Visitor Exit Survey
The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage has conducted Visitor Exit Surveys in Nova Scotia since 1966. These studies provide key information essential to the measurement of tourism activity to the province, such as economic impact, activities participated in, trip purpose, and community visits. In 2010, travellers exiting Nova Scotia are provided with cards inviting them to participate in the survey online or by phone when they return home. For the first time, the Visitor Exit Survey will be in field for 12 months of the year, providing information for the non-peak traffic seasons.

If you have any questions about the 2010 Visitor Exit Survey, please contact the Tourism Research Section at 424-7299.