Tides
PROMOTING AND ADVANCING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Tourism
MAY 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
TOURISM INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
To Attract the Best You Need to President's View.............................. 2 BE the Best! . .................................... 8 Executive Director's Report........... 3 Hundreds Visit Summerside Job Fair ......................................... 10 Resume Screening / Translate Social Media / Tourism Training / Your Website to French / New Members....................................4 June FAM Tours...............................11 Come Celebrate with FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Parks Canada . ................................ 5 Imageworks Communication Group 118 Sydney Street, 2nd floor Tourism Industry Attends Charlottetown, PEI C1A 1G4 Conference and Tradeshow.............7 (902) 894.7071 www.iwpei.com
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
PUBLISHED BY TIAPEI 25 Queen Street, 3rd Floor P.O. Box 2050, Charlottetown, PE Canada C1A 7N7 Phone: (902) 566-5008 Toll-free: 1-866-566-5008 Fax: (902) 368-3605 Toll-free fax: 1-877-368-3605 POSTMASTER: Publication Mail Agreement No. 40024264 3431657 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: TIAPEI, Box 2050 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N7
TOURISM TIDES - May 2011
PRESIDENT'S VIEW
GREETINGS TOURISM OPERATORS! Winter is finally behind us and across the Island, tourism businesses are preparing for the season ahead. While our members have been busy with the multitude of chores that are a part of opening for another tourism season, TIAPEI has been busy behind the scenes. It is an election year and, with both Federal and Provincial elections underway, TIAPEI has been working hard to raise the profile of tourism with the
parties and their candidates. During the winter, with the approval of the Board of Directors, an Election Readiness Taskforce was formed and began working on discussion papers and questionnaires designed to determine the tourism-related platforms of the political parties and provide tourism operators with information they could use when speaking to the candidates. The National parties responses to the questionnaires are posted on the TIAPEI website. Non-responses are noted as well. By the time this edition of Tourism Tides arrives in your mailbox the ballots will have been cast, counted and a new Government will be in office. We can only hope that the message of the importance of tourism to the economy is heard by the politicians and tourismrelated programs and issues are at the forefront in the days ahead.
Over the next few weeks the focus of the Election Readiness Taskforce will shift to the Provincial election. Using the same type of messaging, TIAPEI will focus on issues of importance on a provincial level and we hope that you will take the time to study the information and speak candidly with the candidates when you have the opportunity. The message that “Tourism Matters” must be loud and clear. TIAPEI will work hard to drive this message home and industry members need to ensure the candidates both hear the message and understand the importance of tourism to the PEI economy and workforce when they come to your door. The 2011 tourism season has gotten off to a strong start, thanks to events such as the Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest, Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and most recently the East Coast Music Awards. With events like the Cavendish Beach
With nonstop flights daily from Charlottetown to New York, you can experience shopping, theatre, dining, sightseeing, nightlife and all the sights and sounds of the City That Never Sleeps. *Flights operated by Delta Connection® carrier, Pinnacle Airlines. Delta flights nonstop daily from Charlottetown to New York, July 1-Sept 6/11
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Music Festival and many other festivals and events of all sizes and varieties still to come, we have every reason to believe it will be a good year for our industry. We are excited about the launch of the Island Fusion – a celebration of arts, heritage and culture on PEI and the return of Fall Flavours. The shoulder season has much to offer to visitors to our province and spotlighting the rich cultural history on the Island as well as the culinary delights that we have to offer will help to create a more vibrant offering for the travelling public. I wish all of you success in the season ahead and look forward to hearing from you throughout the summer months. Remember – when a candidate comes to your door during the campaign, make sure he or she leaves with the message “Tourism Matters!” Thom MacMillan President
T O U R I S M I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F P R I N C E E D W A R D I S L A N D
CORE STAFF: Don Cudmore Executive Director dcudmore@tiapei.pe.ca
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Colleen Bowes Co-ordinator Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership actp@tiapei.pe.ca Kelley Keefe Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership UK Program Manager kkeefe@tiapei.pe.ca Jamie Vander Kooi Technology Resource Coordinator jamie@tiapei.pe.ca Dianne Bishop Executive Assistant & Board Secretary dbishop@tiapei.pe.ca Lynn Dunphy Financial Administrator ldunphy@tiapei.pe.ca
TRAINING & EDUCATION: Kathy Livingstone Director of Training & Education klivingstone@tiapei.pe.ca Lori DesRoches Administrative Assistant ldesroches@tiapei.pe.ca Rod Clark Marketing Co-ordinator rclark@tiapei.pe.ca Andrea Boehner HR Advisor aboehner@tiapei.pe.ca Debbie Mol Tourism Employment & Education Coordinator dmol@tiapei.pe.ca
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President
Thom MacMillan
Vice President
Elaine Thomson
Secretary
Kevin Mouflier
Treasurer
Robbie Shaw
Past-President
Adam Doiron
Executive Director Don Cudmore Members at Large: Tyson MacInnis, Ed McKenna
BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Anderson Charlene Belsher Cathy Bullied Darcy Butler Susan Cameron George Campbell Roxanne Carmody Mark Carr-Rollitt Liam Dolan Maurice Gallant David Groom Barrie Harris Mary Kendrick
Leslie Kwiatkowski Amanda MacIntyre Oralie MacKay Rhonda Maillet Sheri Lee McKenna Pat Notman Don Reid Doreen Sark Glenn Saunders Erskine Smith Amanda Stewart Barb Trainor Darrin White
DEAR TOURISM OPERATORS: The winter of 2010/2011 has proven to be very busy, constructive and exciting for the tourism industry. Over the past few months we have had a highly successful Tourism Conference and Awards Gala with very good attendance numbers, great speakers and excellent discussion. The Conference was certainly enhanced by presentations to an excellent selection of 2010 award winners. I am also pleased that, during the first day’s luncheon, we were able to recognize 30 tourism employees who received certification in various tourism occupations. We also acknowledged this year’s worthy scholarship recipients, Casey Ford, Danielle Stewart and Keith Lawlor. These individuals will help shape our industry’s future. During the day-and-a-halflong Conference, industry had the opportunity to see the launch of the Tourism Advisory Council’s Strategy 2015: Momentum-InventionMobilization – a very ambitious but achievable roadmap to the future. I personally had the opportunity, as a member of the planning committee, to experience the input from the industry, Government partners and TAC members themselves and I can assure you that each
interaction was discussed at length and the final document is a reflection of this process. On the human resources side, to say the least, things have been very positive. Our Sector Council has just been granted another year’s funding and they have set ambitious targets for their activities with an eye on their goal of addressing labour market issues facing the tourism industry. During the past number of months we have successfully held two Tourism Jobs Fairs, two Employment Mixers for Newcomers to Canada and Mature Workers, three Passport to Employment through Tourism programs, a Ready to Work program, and delivered several shortterm training courses. These were all well attended and will lead to future employment opportunities within our industry for the participants. By now the ballots have been cast and a new Federal Government elected to power. I am pleased with and proud of the work TIAPEI’s Election Readiness Taskforce has produced, with a full roll out of tourism policy positions priorities including a questionnaire for candidates and the parties and outreach
to the members of the tourism industry and the general public. The message to all parties was simple yet direct – “Tourism Matters”. I feel the ultimate goal of raising awareness of the tourism industry and its value to the economy has been achieved. Your Election Readiness Taskforce is very excited about presenting a position paper on tourism issues specific to PEI during the upcoming provincial election campaign and sharing the responses from the political parties and the candidates with tourism operators in the days ahead. These are just a few of the exciting initiatives that your Association – under the direction of the Executive and Board of Directors – has been undertaking on your behalf, since my last report. Remember, it is important that you participate in the ongoing development of this very important sector by becoming more involved. I trust you will all enjoy a successful summer and I look forward to another great season for tourism across PEI. Respectfully submitted, Don Cudmore, Executive Director
NEWLY
CERTIFIED
Judy Burrows Front Desk Agent
Janell Poulton
Front Desk Agent
Josh Murnaghan Front Desk Agent
Sarah Condon
Food & Beverage Server
Brenda Chaisson Sales Manager
Lori MacKinnon Sales Manager
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TOURISM TIDES - May 2011
Resume Screening – What Should You Ignore? Job applicants will include anything on a résumé or application if they think it will give them a competitive edge. But hiring managers need to be aware of what they can and can’t take into account when making a hiring decision. Federal and Provincial laws prohibit employers from discriminating against job applicants based on their age, color, creed, ethnic/national origin, family status, marital status, physical or intellectual disability, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or source of income. Even if the applicant includes information about these “protected” characteristics in a résumé or interview, it doesn’t give you an opening to ask more details. Ignore the info
and move on. Another legally dangerous trend: Recognizing the high cost of health insurance, more applicants these days are adding a “Health Profile” section to their résumés to show off their great health condition. The message: “Hire me, I won’t raise your premiums.” But, again, hiring managers should ignore these comments. Instead, focus strictly on job skills, work experience, education and career progression. Rate the résumé strictly on the answer to this question: “How well could this person perform the stated job description?” Reason: Basing hiring decisions on medical information could easily
invite a disability or age discrimination lawsuit by applicants who didn’t get the job. Some specific résumé stats to disregard: • Age/birth date • Health status
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ASSOCIATION TOURISTIQUE EVANGELINE LTEE CALEB’S OUTLOOK HAPPY GLASS
• Marital status
CANADIAN HOTEL GUIDE
• Political affiliation • Race/ethnic background • Religion
CANADIAN HOTEL GUIDE
• Social Security number For more information visit http://www.gov.pe.ca/ humanrights/ or contact Andrea, HR Advisor at 5665008 or aboehner@tiapei.pe.ca
25 Oxley St. W, Suite 1508, Toronto, ON M5V 2J5, Canada Website: www. CanadianHotelGuide.com Email: feedback@ CanadianHotelGuide.com 24hr Hotel Reservations: 1-800-359-6279
Translate Your Web Site to French material into one of Canada's two official languages. Included in these programs is the translation of Tourism web sites into French. Businesses wishing to take advantage of this program may receive up to 75% of the costs of translation (to a maximum of $5,000). Several PEI tourism businesses have already taken advantage of this program by creating a French version of their web sites. Web developer, Sea Breeze Consulting, has gained experience and expertise in this area and is
Welcome New TIAPEI Members
• Height/weight
Expand Your Markets and Attract New Clients
It is important that your PEI tourism business be accessible to as wide a market as possible. By making it easier for French language customers to learn about the products and services you provide your business can have an edge in attracting new clients. NB Translation and Tourism PEI are offering translation assistance programs. These programs are aimed at increasing market access to small and medium enterprises. Financial assistance is available to companies who wish to translate their promotional
New Members
available for additional clients who wish to take advantage of this program. While there may be additional costs beyond the actual translation fee, it is well worth the investment to have your web site available in both official languages. For more information or to arrange a consultation, contact Allan Clark at Sea Breeze Consulting, 161 St Peterís Rd, Charlottetown. Telephone 902-367-3330 or email info@ seabreezeconsulting.com.
The Canadian Hotel Guide is a trusted resource for consumers who are looking for accommodation information or to book a hotel in Canada. Online since 2002, their website attracts two million visitors annually who rely on their hotel reviews and guest ratings. If you’re a hotel, motel, B&B, a tourism supplier or operator, or otherwise looking to promote your business online, you should get in touch with them at feedback@ CanadianHotelGuide.com.
T O U R I S M I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F P R I N C E E D W A R D I S L A N D
Come Celebrate with Parks Canada! Parks Canada is getting ready for another great year at Prince Edward Island National Park and National Historic Sites and we look forward to working with our tourism industry partners to welcome the world to Prince Edward Island again this year. As we prepare for the busy summer ahead we would like to share with you some of the exciting programs and events that are planned for the spring and summer. In 2011, Parks Canada is celebrating 100 years of the first national park service in the world. We’re planning many special events to celebrate and we invite you, our partners, and visitors to join in the celebrations! Special events will take place in Prince Edward Island National Park on Canada’s Parks Day (July 16), during the St. Peter’s Wild Blueberry Festival and Homecoming (July 31 to August 7), and during the month of Fall Flavours as the park once again hosts Play in the Park in Cavendish Grove (September 23-25). Watch for more info on these and other special events including bike hikes, campfire concerts and Greenwich Greats. Parks Canada is introducing several new and exciting programs to the long list of things to do in Prince Edward Island National Park this summer: Xplorers Program Adventurous? Curious? Love to eXplore? Parks Canada’s new Xplorers program offers children ages 6 to 12 a variety of hands-on, engaging and fun activities that will help them experience Prince
Edward Island National Park or Green Gables Heritage Place. Kids can challenge a friend, their family or just themselves to complete a series of activities to earn their PEI National Park Xplorers certificate – and they may even win a great prize. Get out there – it’s time to Xplore!
GPS Heritage Quest and Cyclocaching Visitors can pick up clues and rent a GPS to take part in the GPS Heritage Quest, a 2 to 4-hour, car-based scavenger hunt that takes you into stories of the past 100 years (or more!) of Prince Edward Island National Park and the province’s north shore. Cyclocaching offers a GPS quest designed for travel by
bike. Visitors can bring their own GPS and bike or rent them from Dalvay-by-theSea Hotel before they set off on this hi-tech adventure. More new GPS program coming this summer! Parks Canada looks forward to welcoming you, your family and our many visitors to Prince Edward Island National Park, Green Gables Heritage Place and our National Historic Sites so that you can help us celebrate 100 years of the world’s first national park service. Check the PEI National Park 2011 Visitor Guide or the Prince Edward National Park website www.parkscanada. gc.ca/pei for more information on when and how to participate.
Be sure to check out one of PEI National Park’s first-class interpretation programs this summer! Beaches and Dunes Mi’kmaq People Salty Tales Beach Finds! Exploring Pond Life Habitats are Homes Park After Dark Sturdy on Stilts Wild Edibles Walk Greenwich Dunes Walk Discovery Activities Daily Roaming Rovers: Find our helpful program staff at beaches and on trails. They can help you make your own exciting discovery! Programs take place in Cavendish, Brackley-Dalvay and Greenwich from July 1 to September 2. Check the 2011 PEI National Park Visitor Guide or visit our website for the program schedule! www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pei
Photo: BARRETT & MACKAY 5
OUR 2011 LINEUP:
july 7-10, 2011 avonlea village, cavendish, pei brad paisley
get in on the tradition...bring your family and friends, and don’t miss the beach!
toby keith
taylor swift lady antebellum keith urban reba mcentire tim mcgraw big & rich little big town emerson drive go to our website for a complete list of 2011 performers!
trace adkins
johnny reid
T O U R I S M I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F P R I N C E E D W A R D I S L A N D
Tourism Industry Attends Conference and Tradeshow On March 2 & 3, 2011 the Tourism Industry Association of PEI (TIAPEI) held the 30th Annual Tourism Conference and Award Gala at the Rodd Charlottetown in Charlottetown. “Building Tourism Strategies for 2011” was the theme of this year’s Conference. Day one guest speakers included Roger Jamieson, Vice Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, who discussed global competitiveness; Judy Pye of the PEI Gay Tourism Association, Positioning PEI as a Gay Friendly Destination – The Next Steps; and Robert Swick from AlphaSearch who provided timely advice on online branding and improving online presence. The afternoon concluded with the Semi-Annual Business Meeting. The evening of March 2nd featured the 30th Annual Awards Gala
which saw twelve awards handed out to individuals and groups for outstanding achievement in tourism. Those honored were: Greta Pike, Gary Craswell, Clara Jordan, PEI Potato Board, Aaron and Kendra Wedge, Friends of the Farmer’s Bank of Rustico, Carol Livingstone, Cavendish Maples Cottages, Victoria Playhouse, the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival and Jeannette Arsenault and Don Maxfield. TIAPEI President Thom MacMillan said, “We are very pleased to have such a diverse group of operators recognized by the industry for excellence in their sectors. It is especially gratifying to highlight the close relationships and partnerships existing between tourism and the other major industries on Prince Edward Island.” During day two, conference participants enjoyed a media panel
discussion featuring Gary MacDougall, Managing Editor, The Guardian; Donna Allen, Executive Producer, CBC News, PEI; and Paul MacNeill, Publisher, Island Press Ltd. The Tourism Advisory Council launched their Strategy 2015: Momentum – Invention – Mobilization; a session by Nicole Rioux of the Translation Assistance Program; launch of Tourism & Culture PEI’s 2011 Marketing Campaign; and concluded with a “Bear Pit Session” which saw industry leaders Elaine Thomson, Westmont Hospitality, Thom MacMillan, TIAPEI President, and Gerry Gallant, Enterprise Management Consultants and former TIAPEI President lead a discussion on the issues facing the tourism industry today. Don Cudmore, TIAPEI Executive Director stated “The sessions at
the Conference provided tourism operators with wonderful information on tools for success in today’s market and an opportunity to take part in meaningful discussions on the relationship between the media and the tourism industry as well as the major issues facing our industry.” The tradeshow, which operated throughout the day, featured 27 vendors from a wide variety of businesses and agencies, offering goods and services of benefit to both tourism operators and the general public. The fundraiser held to benefit the TIAPEI Scholarship Fund was very successful. For further information, contact Don Cudmore, Executive Director at dcudmore@tiapei.pe.ca or (902) 566-5008.
Wishing you a successful summer season
O
n behalf of the Prince Edward Island government, I’m pleased to wish everyone an enjoyable and successful 2011 summer tourism season. Already 2011 is off to a great start, thanks to several keynote events held during our shoulder seasons, including the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and East Coast Music Week. The Island’s warm hospitality was on display during both events and it was clear that we know how to host a fantastic show. Visitors offered rave reviews of our Island, on everything from the tasteful accommodations to our culinary delights and unique attractions. In partnership with industry, we’re going to build on these successes with a great lineup of activities this summer. We will promote our rich culture and arts offerings with the new Island Fusion Festival and the new Arts and Heritage Trail. Other popular events are returning, bigger than ever, including the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and the Flavours Trail. Tourism is built on partnerships. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in building a stronger industry for all Islanders.
Hon. Robert Vessey
Minister of Tourism and Culture Province of Prince Edward Island
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TOURISM TIDES - May 2011
To Attract the Best You Need to BE the Best! Are you having trouble recruiting and retaining good employees? Is your turnover higher than usual? If so, perhaps you should take a look at what you could be doing better to ensure your organization is branded as a great place to work. Where do you start? Take part in the Employer of Choice Program!
What is it The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Sector Council (CTHRC) developed The Employer of Choice (EOC) Program to recognize tourism sector businesses that had exemplary HR practices in place and to provide feedback to businesses wishing to develop their HR strategies. Employees at EOC businesses
know that their actions and opinions matter, which inspires excellent performance in the workplace. The Nitty Gritty The Employer of Choice Program is based on results derived from an online assessment tool that assesses employers against established employee satisfaction standards in
today’s workplace. Company employees and managers complete the online questionnaires and rate their employer based on nine criteria. The evaluation is quick, easy and provides a basis for improvement in the areas of attraction, retention and employee development. Employer of Choice assessment responses generates a report that rates the company on its overall performance and provides specific ratings within four factors: 1. JOIN : Assessing Your Company’s Capacity to Attract and Recruit New People 2. STAY : Assessing Your Company’s Capacity to Retain Employees 3. PERFORM: Assessing a Company’s Capacity to get People to Perform 4. ADAPT. Assessing a Company’s Capacity to get People to Adapt to Change Why Become an EOC Today’s workforce issues affect all employers: • Skills shortages • Pending retirement of baby boomers • Recruitment, attraction and retention issues • Productivity challenges As an employer, you cannot change economic or labour market trends, but you can change the way you respond to these issues. If you want to attract, recruit and retain skilled workers for peak performance in your workplace, becoming an “Employer of Choice” will give you a key competitive advantage. To learn more visit www.choosetourism.ca or contact Andrea, HR Advisor, 566-5008 or aboehner@ tiapei.pe.ca today to help guide you through the process and get you started!
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T O U R I S M I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F P R I N C E E D W A R D I S L A N D
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TOURISM TIDES - May 2011
Hundreds Visit Summerside Job Fair Summerside, P.E.I., April 12, 2011 Hundreds of eager job seekers jumped at the chance to network with potential employers on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at the Summerside Job Fair. Over 600 attendees visited the job fair to network with potential employers, industry representatives, organizations and government agencies. New Glasgow Lobster Suppers, Brothers Two Restaurant, D.P. Murphy Inc., Swept Away Cottages, and other tourism operators joined in the fair that featured over 35 exhibitors. Attendees came to search for employment, learn about new careers and discuss training options. “This was both an effective and efficient recruitment opportunity for us,” says Thom MacMillan, owner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium® and Wax World of the Stars in Cavendish, and president of the Tourism Industry Association of PEI (TIAPEI).
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“We were able to accept resumes, screen candidates and interview all in one day.” MacMillan interviewed a number of qualified candidates and was able to fill several positions. TIAPEI hosted two job fairs this year: the Summerside Job Fair as well as the Tourism Job Fair, which was held in February in Charlottetown. The East Prince Youth Development Centre and Holland College were partners in these events, respectively. The job fairs are just two of the many human resource based initiatives that TIAPEI is involved in. TIAPEI advocates and promotes the tourism industry sector on behalf of its members and the entire tourism industry. For more information, contact TIAPEI (902) 566-5008 or www. tiapei.pe.ca. The job fairs are funded in whole or in part by the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement.
T O U R I S M I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N O F P R I N C E E D W A R D I S L A N D
Thinking about social media? Don't forget your website! The internet and social media are great tools to effectively market your business online and capture the power of the online consumer. Social media helps your business to be found on the internet, allow consumers to assess your products, leave reviews, comment on your business, etc., but is your website up to the task of handling the potential new traffic that you may get if you start using social media? And, if the whole point of why you want to use social media is to drive traffic to your website, you might want to consider the next sentence: Social media is a complete waste of time if your website sucks! Too many fonts, old outdated content, too much/little content, small useless photos, poor contact information. Many businesses get by with these fundamental problems in their website, some even get by using a Blog or Facebook page as their website, but most everyone loves a good solid attractive website with great content and most consumers expect a serious business to have one, especially for a tourism business. What a lot of people don't think about is getting their website ready so that the traffic that they will drive to it from Twitter, Blogger, and Facebook, might actually stay on it long enough to convert; whether that is a
booking, an email address, a phone call — but convert to something. The tendency is to jump on the social media bandwagon, and all your online marketing problems might get solved. If your website isn't at the level it should be, then don't put the effort into social media. Instead, monitor some social media channels and try to learn how you can use it within your business. A website is a reflection of you and your company, products or services, and shouldn't be inadequate. Work on getting your website in order first. Social media marketing and traditional print marketing are just different sources of water flowing into a bucket, and that bucket is your website. If that bucket (aka your website) is broken or full of holes, it will never work for you! Refrain from using Twitter, Facebook, and blogging until you have a professional website that you can constantly update with new valuable content that connects with your visitors, which leads them to your door. When you have that step completed, then social media will be ready to really work for you. If you would like a website evaluation to help you find and fix the holes in your bucket, contact Jamie Vander Kooi at jamie@tiapei.pe.ca and ask about the TourismTechnology.com mentoring sessions.
June 2011 Familiarization Tours (FAM Tours) TIAPEI will once again be offering FAM tours to front line tourism employees. The tours are designed to give tourism employees and operators the opportunity to experience first-hand the products and services the Island has to offer. These fun and informative tours will travel to various locations, across the Island,
to familiarize employees with various businesses, cultures and activities. Please visit our website www.tiapei.pe.ca for details and schedules as they become available. For more information call Kathy at 902-566-5008.
Tourism Training
Basic Cook Course Participants
Five short-courses were held in March and April this year including Food & Beverage/Wine Server/Bartender, Basic Computer, Conversational French, Basic Cook, and Housekeeping/Room Attendant. The Basic Cook and Basic Computer courses were held in O'Leary, while the remaining three took place in Charlottetown. Forty-three participants attended the courses this year and learned skills through a combination of classroom and hands on training. "I love to cook and bake so this course was really great for me. Chef Stephen Hunter gave us first-hand knowledge of the types of cooking/baking you would need in the Food Industry. He showed us how to prepare all types of food and everything we made was from scratch. For example, we learned how to make our own stocks, soups, pasta, wonton wrappers, breads, puff pastry, desserts, salads & dressings and much more. I really enjoyed the course and the added bonus we got to eat all the delicious food we prepared each day! I would highly recommend this course to anyone." — Norma J. Getson Basic Cook Course
The courses were designed to upgrade the skills of new and existing employees to find, retain or advance employment in the industry. TIAPEI recognizes the importance and necessity of having skilled and knowledgeable personnel in order to compete as a destination of choice in the global tourism marketplace. By providing short-term training programs, TIAPEI aims to build a skilled workforce and support and strengthen our Island's tourism industry.
Funding was provided by the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement and the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Agreement. For more information on tourism training, contact Kathy Livingstone at 902-566-5008 or klivingstone@tiapei.pe.ca
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