Tourism Winnipeg

6 2020 Destination Marketing Plan and Partnership Opportunities Introduction Tourism outlook Mission To promote and influence economic growth in Winnipeg. Purpose To operate the foremost economic development agency by successfully competing to win jobs, capital investment and to attract tourism in and around Winnipeg. Vision To ensure Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is recognized as a leader, nationally and internationally, in stimulating economic growth for the city of Winnipeg. Mandate EDW strives to lead, facilitate and promote Winnipeg's economic and tourism development efforts. Corporate strategy › Facilitate the growth of Winnipeg's economy by leveraging our expertise on Winnipeg › Gather, curate, analyze, and communicate data to promote Winnipeg › Promote and broadcast the Winnipeg story › Lead and influence to promote Winnipeg on the national and world stages › Compete strategically and intelligently to win jobs, investment, talent and visitors In its Travel Markets Outlook: National Focus - Autumn 2018/ Winter 2019, the Conference Board of Canada is forecasting a two per cent annual growth in overnight visitation for the Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in 2019, and out to 2022. Related expenditures from overnight visits are estimated to reach $954 million in 2019 (up 5.2 per cent over 2018) and average annual growth of five per cent out to 2022. The domestic travel market is projected to see visitor growth averaging under two per cent between 2019 and 2022. Domestic business travel is forecasted to show stronger visitor growth in average above two per cent between 2020 and 2022, whereas domestic leisure travel is projected to post slower visitor growth averaging around 1.7 per cent annually during this period. Visitation from the U.S. is projected to increase 3.2 per cent in 2019 and average around 2.8 per cent out to 2022. Overseas visits could increase 5.5 per cent in 2019 and rise between five and six per cent between 2020 and 2022. The tourism sector in the Winnipeg CMA employs approximately 48,000 people, and tourism spending supports more than 4,000 business establishments. The local tourism industry is expected to benefit from Manitoba being chosen by Lonely Planet, a leading travel guide publisher, as one of the 10 top regions in the world to visit in 2019. In 2020, tourist activity is expected to get a boost as Manitoba celebrates › Align with stakeholders and partners to create consistent messaging, common priorities, research efforts, resources and the city's strategic focus Tourism Winnipeg The Tourism Winnipeg team of Economic Development Winnipeg is the city's official destination marketing organization and leads all efforts to attract visitors, special events, sports, meetings and conventions to Winnipeg. Tourism Winnipeg helps drive the local economy and showcase the city's star attractions, festivals, events, arts, culture, restaurants and services to provide residents and visitors the best possible experience. Tourism Winnipeg's core services and initiatives include: › Lead destination sales and marketing › Attract meetings and conventions, sports and special events, travel trade and leisure travel › Leverage partnership opportunities › Collaborate with industry, acting as an industry advocate and liaison › Provide visitor services › Maximize information and research management › Deliver effective communications and media relations its 150 th anniversary of joining Confederation. Additionally, business travel to the Winnipeg CMA is projected to achieve stronger visitor growth than leisure travel thanks to a diverse and growing economy. Meetings and convention activity in 2020 is pacing on par with 2017 and 2018, and will be strengthened by Winnipeg hosting eight citywide conventions for a total of more than 8,000 delegates. Due in part to higher gas prices, the conference board is forecasting travel prices could increase by nearly five per cent annually over the next few years and impact overall visitation; primarily domestic and U.S leisure travel. Total visitor spending in the Winnipeg CMA during 2019 is estimated to reach a record $1.2 billion; growth of 6.2 per cent over 2018 spending. Looking out to 2022, visitor expenditures are projected to increase annually around five per cent. New developments over the medium term will benefit future tourism and continue to raise Winnipeg's profile as a travel destination. These developments include the Winnipeg Art Gallery's $65-million Inuit Art Centre, Assiniboine Park's $98-million Canada's Diversity Gardens (the final phase of its 10-year, $200-million Imagine a Place redevelopment) and the $400-million True North Square, which includes a hotel and retail space.

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