Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
AWARDS RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION
A total of nine awards were given out at the 12th Annual BC Tourism Industry Awards on October 25th, 2011 at the Victoria Conference Centre to recognize excellence, innovation and foresight in supporting B.C.'s tourism industry. Presented by the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) and the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, the evening event paid tribute to some of B.C.'s best and brightest as it honored individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on the provincial tourism industry.
The Aboriginal Tourism BC Cultural Authenticity Award recognizes an Aboriginal tourism business that has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring cultural authenticity in business activities. The recipient of the second annual Cultural Authenticity Award is U'mista Cultural Centre, which is one of the longest-operating First Nations cultural facilities in B.C. and houses the world-renowned Potlatch Collection of Kwakwaka'wakw's most treasured masks and ceremonial objects.
This year's TIABC Sport Tourism Community Legacy Award was presented to Penticton & Wine Country Tourism. This award recognizes a B.C. community that has illustrated the mutually beneficial partnerships between sport and tourism. Through a coordinated approach with sport organizations, local governments and the tourism industry, Penticton & Wine Country Tourism's sport tourism program assists in developing, attracting and staging sport tourism events.
The TIABC Tourism Media Award recognized Castlewood Production Inc.'s 'Best. Trip. Ever.' This award recognizes a journalist or media outlet from British Columbia or around the world whose exceptional coverage of British Columbia helped entice more people to visit the province. Founder and President Andrew Burnstein has a reputation for creating a broad spectrum of quality factual entertainment. Best. Trip. Ever. features gold medalist Jon Montgomery and his favorite group of elite athletes challenging themselves in spectacular surroundings of British Columbia.
The Delta Hotels Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award was handed out to the Refinery Market.Style.Eatery, a popular Vancouver restaurant. This award recognizes a tourism business that has demonstrated innovative efforts to prevent and reduce the environmental impacts of their business operations through planning and practice. Designed with the environment in mind, the owners have used sustainable materials, led lighting and energy efficient equipment. Committing to a sustainable work environment, staff education, waste reduction and management, transportation plans and taking a sustainable pledge, are some examples of how they are trying make a difference in the sustainable hospitality industry.
The Employees First Award, sponsored by go2, was presented to Panorama Mountain Resort. This award recognizes a British Columbia tourism industry employer who has upheld high standards of excellence in human resources and people management practices. At Panorama Mountain Village, they believe that success in creating exceptional guest experiences and delivering superior tourism programs stems from dedicated and passionate employees. Recognizing the tremendous value employees bring to the resort, Panorama works hard to ensure HR practices provide continual support and opportunities for new, seasonal and core employees.
Tourism Vancouver was presented with the T4G Limited Technology in Tourism Award. This award recognizes a person or company that has implemented technology in an innovative way to enable their tourism business to succeed in British Columbia. Tourism Vancouver's newest innovative platform, the Vancouver Specialist Program, educates the travel trade with an educational, interactive, online tool designed to help travel agents and sales staff world-wide sell Vancouver more effectively. With this enhanced knowledge, agents can better service their clients, even if they've never actually visited the city.
The Vancouver Sun and Province Best Tourism Marketing Campaign Award was given to Capilano Suspension Bridge for their newest attraction, CLIFFWALK. This award recognizes a British Columbia tourism organization for their success in launching an innovative marketing campaign to increase business and enhance the tourism industry in British Columbia. CLIFFWALK follows a granite precipice along Capilano River and has a labyrinth-like series of unobtrusive narrow cantilevered bridges, stairs and platforms, where guests enjoy stunning river views and travel through rainforest vegetation to previously unexplored areas of the park. The successful integrated marketing campaign was developed to create awareness about the new CLIFFWALK and to increase paid admissions as Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Erik Graff was honored with the WorldHost® Customer Service Award. This award recognizes frontline employees whose exceptional customer service contributed to outstanding travel experiences for visitors in 2010/11. Erik volunteers with Hostelling International providing tours of the Vancouver area. He has led his twice weekly, nine hour tour for the past 17 years, has led over 16,000 guests, and has received recognition in high profile guide books such as Lonely Planet.
Tourism Abbotsford won the 2nd Annual simpleview Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Professional Excellence Award. This award recognizes community DMOs for outstanding performance, accountability and commitment to the tourism industry in British Columbia. Tourism Abbotsford demonstrated innovation in marketing partnerships with adjacent communities, utilizing comprehensive tracking and performance reporting tools, with an executive leadership that is extremely active in leadership roles at the provincial level.
Congratulations to all winners and nominees!
The British Columbia Tourism Industry Awards presentation takes place at the annual BC Tourism Industry Conference, during an evening celebration that attracts the best and brightest of the province's tourism industry. For more information on the Tourism Industry Conference, visit http://www.bctourismindustryconference.ca/awards.html
Contact Information
Kitka Neyedli
Membership & Industry Relations Coordinator
Tourism Industry Association of BC
604 685 5956
kneyedli@tiabc.ca
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