Have you or your Webmaster mashed up your website? Or perhaps you are Wikiing with your peers?

Web 2.0, Tourism 2.0, Wikiing, Mashups - where does it end? Well, it ends where you want it to end. You could find something new on the Web every day. It appears as if every day someone comes up with something new that promises to increase your traffic, make your site more sticky or give your customers more control over your brand. Just don't forget your core business and, more importantly, how it's used or consumed by customers. And, while it may be convenient and professional to think of our customers as customers or guests or clients or travelers or tourists, it may be helpful to think of them as people and really try to put yourself in their shoes (or hire a mystery guest/customer you can trust). In my recent trip to Quebec City (see below) I had two not very friendly experiences with cabbies when I was by myself and another one when I was with my wife. Fortunately, we also had one very good experience with another cabbie so all was not lost in that arena (but how can destinations make sure cabs and cabbies are presentable and welcoming for tourists?) Some time ago, the now defunct TV show Venture had the great idea of inviting CEO's to go to the floor and do jobs "on the ground," so to speak. I remember watching the then (don't know if he's still is) CEO of Delta Hotels, who went through the experience and as a result made important changes in his organization for the benefit of his employees and his guests. The Web can be a very powerful tool for your business and your destination, but no website will ever serve you a wonderful capuccino (a real one) or cover you at night at your hotel when all you want to do is have a good warm sleep. As for Mashups and Wikis, check out these two sites for ideas: Wikispaces and Google Mania Maps

Cheers,

Jaime

Quebec City, a Canadian "must see" any time.

Enjoying a rainy, overcast day in Quebec City. After two days of perfect blue skies-sunny weather, I am having a relaxed, elegant, and romantic Saturday with my wife in this jewel of a city. Staying at the famous Fairmont Chateau Frontenac makes it all that much better, of course, even with some renovations and archaelogical digs outside the hotel (although there doesn't seem to be any work going on on Saturdays).

Las night I had a drink with Pierre Labrie, the indefatigable General Manager of Quebec City and Region Tourism. We had a very pleasant conversation about Quebec and Hispanic inbound markets. He also recommended some great restaurants for my wife and I to try. Restaurants in and around the old walled city are fantastic. On this trip we had the opportunity to have dinner at Laurie Raphael, probably one of the best cities in the entire province (and I would say, in Canada). Unfortunately, the restaurant Pierre recommended (Le Continental, Le Conti) was full last night so we walked a few steps farther (on Rue St Louis) and had dinner at Au Parmesan, an italian eatery that has been in business for over 30 years. And it was fabulous. The decor is a bit kitschy, but the food was very good and the ambience even better. I got Sergio, the accordion player to play Amapola, a favourite of mine and my wife's. He also played various Italian, Argentinian anf French favourites. We loved the place.

We've had two straight sunny days, but today it's overcast and rainy. So after a wonderful breakfast in the Café Terrace, we took a cab and went to the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, where we had the opportunity to appreciate several Picassos visiting the museum as well as the Riopelles. Now we're takinga break (I'm blogging, my wife is taking a nap) and later we'll visit the Rue St Joseph area to do some window shopping and perhaps have dinner at one of the restaurants in the area.

Cheers,

Jaime

www.quebecenespanol.com

www.demexicoaquebec.com

Visiting Quebec City - a conversation with Luzana R from Global International Tourisme

Paid a visit to the wonderful and ever friendly Luzana Rada (no picture - she's camera shy) from Global International Tourisme in Quebec City. Global is an important receptive tour operator serving Hispanic markets, particularly Mexico and Spain. We had a very pleasant conversation about where the markets may be going, how the high Canadian dollar may affect it or not and what the future may hold. Global specializes in groups and has been doing brisk business with Mexico this year. Spain is coming up strong and from what I gathered may continue to grow in the coming months. Abiega Operadora de Viajes S.A., from Mexico City, (see www.demexicoacanada.ca, www.demexicoaquebec.com ) is one of the Mexican Tour operators that works with Luzana and Global to bring Mexican tourists to Mexico. Susana Morales, a former CTC rep in Mexico, who is now in charge of Canadian product at Abiega has nothing but praise for Luzana and Global. Congrats Luzana and keep up the great work bringing Hispanic visitors to Canada.

Saludos,

Jaime

US visits down 4.2% in August - Mexico up 17.9% - Spain up 18.8%

Compared to August of last year visits to Canada from the United States were down 4.2% as the high dollar and other issues continue to erode our biggest market (visits by air were down just 1.3% , but being August we hoped the numbers would be at least flat).

Mexico continues its meteoric rise as an important market for Canadian tourism with an increase of 17.9% in visitors from that country compared to August last year.

But the star in August was Spain with a whopping 18.8% increase.

(source: Statcan -International Travel Advance Information)

More to come about Hispanic markets very soon.

Saludos,

Jaime

The Speech from the Throne - a New Direction or New Elections?

First, at the outset, let me say that here in Canada we have the most elegant, the most beautiful, the most poised and the most fashionable Governor General ever, here or anywhere. Truly, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean looked just radiant during the Speech From the Throne, and her delivery in both French and English was clear and objective.

As for the Speech - well, I am still thinking about it. If I recall correctly Tourism was mentioned (once, but it was mentioned): "Our Government will stand up for Canada’s traditional industries. Key sectors including forestry, fisheries, manufacturing and tourism are facing challenges. Our Government has taken action to support workers as these industries adjust to global conditions and will continue to do so in the next session." What this will mean for the industry in specifics remains to be seen. I don't think the government can do much to ameliorate the impact the high dollar will have in the coming months, but we'll see. As for the rest of the speech, I think there are some good things in there and some not so good. Clic here to download the full text in PDF.

Ciao,

Jaime

Fall is the Season to Remember. A Tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces.

The singer is my daughter Madison. We got this idea in the summer and shot in various places from Ucluelet to Ottawa. Obviously we would have wanted to include the Atlantic and the North, but we were on a tight budget (it's an amateur video after all).

Lest We Forget

For once Air Canada is making me Happy. Non-stop flights Toronto - Madrid starting June 2008

I was just reading the Tourism Exchange News (you can see the headlines on the left side of this blog), and was very pleasantly surprised that Air Canada is working on a direct flight from Toronto to Madrid and vice-versa (the picture on the left is actually from Sevilla and you can get there by taking the Ave high speed train from Madrid). This should help bring a lot more Spanish visitors to Canada, of course, provided that the airfares are competitive. I am really looking forward to seeing the Spanish inbound numbers grow. I am working on a strategy to expand my own business from Spanish online visitors and making new connections in the Tourism 2.0 space over there. "Subject to government approval, the service to Madrid will begin June 15,2008, with daily, non-stop flights between Toronto and Madrid using a Boeing 767-300. It will be the only non-stop service between Toronto and Madrid. Timed for convenient connections, AC836 will depart at 9:30 p.m. and arrive in Madrid at 10:55 a.m. local time. AC837 will depart Madrid at 12:30 p.m. and arrive in Toronto at 3:05 p.m. local time." I must admit as well that I am very excited to be able to fly directly to Madrid. Spain is one of my favourite destinations (after Canada, of course) to visit - I mean the food, the art, the culture, the people. Gracias Air Canada, esperemos que funcione.

Olé,

Jaime

www.canadaenespanol.ca

Premier McGuinty wins a second majority and starts his second term with a gift for Tourism.

Premier Dalton McGuinty cruised to what one may call a landslide victory in Ontario with a second majority government (the first time in 70 years that the provincial Liberals win a majority second term). Mr. McGuinty got back to work announcing today that starting February 2008 Ontarians will have a new statutory Holiday, called Family Day, every third Monday of that month. This is great for Ontario families and a good gift for Ontario's tourism. Skiing anyone? How about a long weekend of R&R and spa treatments? A visit to Toronto to attend a play or a symphony? Or Niagara in winter? I'm already planning and looking forward to my February long weekend. Thanks Premier, keep up the good work.

Jaime

www.ontarioenespanol.ca

Data, Data, Data - what to do with all of it - Ontario Tourism Marketing Summit

Today was a day chock full of data at the Ontario Tourism Marketing Summit. Several presentations dealt with the market segmentation, target markets, who (mostly in the US) may be interested in visiting Ontario. But, for my money, the award for best and most educational presentation of the day goes to Rod Harris, President & CEO of Tourism British Columbia. His presentation was a primer on marketing applied to a tourism destination. One of his main points (also a recurring theme of the Summit) is that currently there's been a shift of power from producers to consumers. Not necessarily news. However, the way his organization is approaching the challenges of marketing BC to consumers is very interesting. In the past, DMO's would use lures (some still are), such as brochures, inserts, mass media, etc. to attract visitors. Destination marketing has been moving away from these kinds of lures and 1800 services to a Web enabled, Web 2.0 model that is still developing. In the case of BC, Rod explain to us how their strategy looks on a curve, he called Attrition Curve that goes from generating awareness of the destination with consumers, through consideration, intent, purchase and the thre R's (relive, recommend, revisit). From a tactical point of view this is achieved by using current tools (most Web based) from Social Networks, SEO/SEM, User Generated Content (UGC) all the way to consumer blogs, not forgetting that it is also necessary to use more conventional campaigns as well as continuing to work with the trade.

The other very interesting and quite entertaining presentation was given by Don Tapscott, co-author of Wikinomics, which also focused on the changes ocurring in the value chains of products and services, i.e., the Wikiing of the economy something that is coming out of the convergence of Web 2.0, the Net Generation (youth), the Social Revolution and the Economic Revolution. Wikiing, as I call it, refers to the power of mass collaboration and self orginization that is taking place because of the Web's capabilities and people and companies taking advantage of it.

Ciao from Ottawa,

Jaime

The Summit - Ontario's Tourism Marketing conference

I'm in Ottawa attending the Ontario Tourism Marketing Summit, an opportunity to learn what's going on in the industry and what are the plans for the industry going forward. After a wonderful introduction by the very enthusiastic Bill Duron, the presentations began in earnest. Robin Garrett, President and CEO of the OTMPC, gave a good overview of what's happened in the recent past focusing on the success of the "There's No PLace Like This," campaign that focused on the domestic Ontario market. She also spoke about market segmentation and the three types of travellers Ontario wants to go after: Upscale travellers, families and Silver Streaks and Young Go Go's, each with its own distinct characteristics and challenges. In addition she spoke of opportunities going forward in 2008-2009, namely more international marketing, more ehnic marketing and increased use of Web and Web 2.0 tools.

Adding to Robin's presentation, Michelle McKenzie spoke of the CTC's efforts, recent research and plans in the future. One of her main points was to find more ways to leverage the Canada brand (Keep Exploring) and work in synch with the provinces' efforts in order to speak with one voice in international markets. She also spoke of the traveller segments identified by the CTC as the most beneficial to the industry, such as adventurers seeking authentic nature experiences and high end travellers who want the best of the best.

Richard Pound a guest keynote speaker and famous Olympic Movement power broker spoke very eloquently about the power (and need) for partnerships (the theme of the Summit).

More to come. Cheers,
Jaime
(beautiful day in Ottawa - great jog by the Rideau Canal)