PhoCusWright’s Canadian Online Travel Overview – TIAC Members Receive 15% Discount on Leading Travel Research and Analysis

Through the 2010 edition of the Canada-e-Connect conference, TIAC forged an important partnership with PhoCusWright, the industry leader in travel research.  TIAC is pleased to continuing building on this partnership, and offer PhoCusWright's Canadian Online Travel Overview Second Edition, 2007-2011 at a special rate as an exclusive benefit to TIAC members.

About the Canadian Online Travel Overview

PhoCusWright's Canadian Online Travel Overview Second Edition, 2007-2011 delivers key data and analysis necessary for any travel company seeking to understand the unique nuances of the Canada travel marketplace and gain competitive advantage:

• Travel distribution trends across air, lodging, tours and packages, cruise, rail and car rental
• Consumer shopping and booking behaviour

PhoCusWright's Canadian Online Travel Overview measures and forecasts the size of the Canadian travel market and the growing online travel sector. The study assesses the impact of the global recession on the Canadian travel market and evaluates key findings in distribution and marketing including:

• The Canadian online travel market outperformed the overall market in the recession
• Online travel surpasses one-third of total bookings in 2009
• The Canadian travel and online travel marketplace has more similarities with Europe than with the U.S.
• The recession has benefitted online travel agencies (OTAs)
• Shopping behavior varies greatly between the summer and winter travel seasons in Canada
• 83% of Canadian travelers cite Internet websites as their usual travel shopping method
• Canadians are multi-channel purchasers; offline channels still play an important role
• Canadian OTAs differ greatly from global OTAs in their business model and focus

For a Limited Time - Special Discount for TIAC Members

Until September 30, 2010, TIAC members will receive a 15% discount off the price of the Canadian Online Travel Overview, a savings of more than $150. To receive this discount, click here to purchase the report on the PhoCusWright website, and use the code “TIAC” at the checkout.

Moreover, TIAC members can also apply this discount to the already discounted price of the Canadian Online Travel Series, a package of PhoCusWright resources, which includes:

• Canadian Online Travel Overview
• The Canadian Online Travel Traffic Analysis, by PhoCusWright & Experian Hitwise
• June 30 Online Event: An audio/video recording and presentation deck led by Douglas Quinby, PhoCusWright's senior director, research; and Heather Dougherty, director, research at Hitwise. This event delves into topics such as Canadian OTAs, social media, shopping/booking behavior, website trends/traffic analysis, packaged travel/tour operators, and more.

Click here for more information on how to order the Canadian Online Travel Series.

TIAC to Honour Outstanding Achievement in Canadian Tourism:
Seeking Your Input in 14 Categories

TIAC wants to recognize tourism champions from coast to coast – but it needs your help!

Help us track down the most exceptional businesses, organizations, events, and people in Canada’s tourism industry by nominating them today for the National Awards for Tourism Excellence, presented by the Globe and Mail.

In so doing, you can help us celebrate outstanding achievement and excellence in your tourism community on a national scale.

Why Participate in The National Awards for Tourism Excellence?

The awards encourage us to keep providing a diverse range of high-quality tourism products and services, so that our guests keep coming back year after year.

They push members of the tourism industry to strive to improve what are already some of the most outstanding tourism experiences in the world.

By nominating a business, an organization or a person in your community, you can help drive this process, by challenging yourself – and others – to reach new heights.

It’s simple to nominate, and it can be a rewarding process for both the nominee and the nominator:

• Put your local community or business on the map in a big way
• Spread the word about a new tourism product, service or experience
• Recognize the hard work and dedication of your staff and volunteers
• See how you stack up to similar nominees across the country
• Take advantage of a remarkable publicity opportunity

Better still, all 42 finalists will enjoy round trip airfare to the National Awards dinner and ceremony in Ottawa/Gatineau on November 2nd, 2010, compliments of Air Canada!

National Cultural Tourism Award Created for 2010

This year, there is a new award among the 14 categories: the National Cultural Tourism Award. The addition of a cultural tourism award to TIAC's National Awards for Tourism Excellence helps promote the long term strategic importance of culture for the economic stability and vitality of the tourism industry and strengthen networks and partnerships between Canada's culture and tourism stakeholders for their mutual benefit.

New Nomination Process Makes it Even Easier!

Just as we encourage you to improve your product offerings, we are making one of ours – the nomination process – even better.  This year, TIAC has refined the contest rules, criteria and nomination forms, making it easier on you to nominate a tourism champion in your community today!

It only takes a few minutes to apply, but the rewards can last a lifetime.

Remember, organizations may be self-nominated or nominated by another party, and you do not have to be a TIAC member to submit a nomination.

For all the information on rules, criteria, or to submit a nomination, please visit www.tiac.travel.

Best of luck, and we hope to see you in Gatineau, November 2, 2010.

For more information, please contact David Lauer, Manager, Communications, 613-238-9400 or dlauer@tiac.travel.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada / Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Scholarships are awarded annually to Canadian students in the upper-year of a full-time university or college program in hospitality or tourism with an academic focus or interest in sustainable tourism. The scholarships are designed to support the tourism industry’s future employees, entrepreneurs and leaders as they study how to improve and enhance the quality and sustainability of natural and cultural heritage-based tourism experiences.

Five $1000 Sustainable Tourism Scholarships are awarded annually each fall to students enrolled in qualifying academic programs from across the country. The recipients of the Sustainable Tourism Scholarships will demonstrate an academic focus or interest in sustainable tourism and an interest in the preservation of our natural or cultural heritage. The recipients will also show evidence of high academic achievement, leadership qualities and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Interested applicants should provide a covering letter of one to two pages. The letter should firstly describe the applicant’s program of study, academic interests, and career goals; and secondly should explain how the applicant meets the award criteria and why the applicant should receive the scholarship. The covering letter should be accompanied by the applicant’s C.V., and at least one supporting letter of reference from a member of the student’s academic faculty or department. Applications must be submitted by end-of-day, August 6, 2010. The applications will be judged by the committee and the recipients will be notified in early September, 2010.

The scholarships will be presented at the National Awards for Tourism Excellence Dinner in Gatineau on November 2nd, 2010. Applications may be submitted in either English or French. Applications should be addressed to the committee (e.g. “Dear Judging Committee Members”) and can be forwarded by the deadline to:

TIAC/Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Scholarship Judging Committee
c/o Mr. David Lauer, Manager, Communications
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
116 Lisgar Street, Suite 600
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0C2

Or

Fax: 613-238-3878 / E-mail: dlauer@tiac.travel

TIAC Welcomes New Member:  Merit Travel Group

TIAC is pleased to welcome Merit Travel Group as a new member of the association. Merit Travel Group is a privately held, owner-managed company established in 1991 by its current shareholders, Michael Merrithew and Louise de Grandpré. Since 1991, Merit has grown to become the largest independent specialty travel company in Canada. More than 400 Merit travel professionals located at more than 50 offices across the country provide advice and services to more than 500,000 travellers every year.

TIAC is excited to have Merit Travel Group join our membership ranks, and looks forward to working with them over the coming year. For more information on the benefits of TIAC Membership, or to have your business or organization join TIAC, please visit www.tiac.travel/english/membership_benefits.asp , or contact Andrea Labelle, Director, Business Development, 613-688-1454 or alabelle@tiac.travel