Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/1150172
Economic Development Winnipeg | Tourism Winnipeg 23 CrowdRiff CrowdRiff is the leading visual marketing platform for travel and tourism, growing in significance as an influencer as more and more travellers turn to user-generated visuals for discovery and decision-making. Tourism Winnipeg will leverage CrowdRiff's user-generated imagery to power and update its website. The platform provides further engagement with the authors of posted photos to increase conversation and grow Tourism Winnipeg's social media platforms. TripAdvisor Tourism Winnipeg will continue to build Winnipeg's profile on TripAdvisor and other online travel-related communities to engage users in an open forum, generating reviews and third-party endorsements of city tourism products and services. Tourism Winnipeg will also continue to monitor TripAdvisor forums, build trip itineraries and offer help as required. Pinterest Pinterest continues to be a significant social media platform, being widely used by bloggers and influencers. Tourism Winnipeg will develop a content strategy to capitalize on search traffic to generate visits to the website and blogs. Social media influencers Tourism Winnipeg will continue to engage and host social media influencers with niche audiences. They will be asked to generate content with the hashtag #OnlyInThePeg to help promote Winnipeg through culinary, architecture, fashion, arts, culture and family. Community relations Tourism Winnipeg will bolster its community relations initiatives to enhance cohesion of the tourism industry and the visitor experience. This will position the organization as the central force within one of the city's most important economic generators. Community engagement Tourism Winnipeg will collaborate with stakeholders to promote a culture of participation and action regarding Winnipeg's tourism landscape by continuing to host tourism-related workshops and industry forums for experiential product development. Stakeholders will be highlighted during the Winnipeg Tourism Awards of Distinction event and Winnipeg's tourism industry will be celebrated during National Tourism Week and the annual holiday industry event. Winnipeg Tourism Awards of Distinction Tourism Winnipeg will host the ninth annual Winnipeg Tourism Awards of Distinction gala during National Tourism Week to recognize success, leadership and innovation within the local tourism industry and to acknowledge those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer a superior tourism experience to travellers. Be an ambassador! www.mywinnipeg.ca is a snapshot of what's happening in the city that highlights Winnipeg in the news, major investments and great places to eat and play. The website provides tools for community members to become ambassadors and great hosts and it also provides fodder and bragging rights about all of the exciting things happening in Winnipeg. New additions to the website include an ambassador toolkit and a Factoids video. Industry ambassador program Tourism Winnipeg will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to enhance the visitor experience by providing guest services staff presentations, tool kits, weekly What's Happening updates and familiarization tours that provide firsthand experiences of local attractions. Tourism Winnipeg will continue to promote its Bring It Home program to attract sports, corporate business and meetings to Winnipeg through professional and personal associations. Workforce development Tourism Winnipeg will collaborate with the Manitoba Tourism Education Council and St James Assiniboia Continuing Education to identify specific training and educational requirements, which will result in an enhanced curriculum for the hospitality industry and taxicabs. Tourism Winnipeg will also partner with post-secondary colleges and universities to support the development of a professional tourism workforce. Tourism Winnipeg brought together the Manitoba Tourism Education Council and Rainbow Resource Centre to deliver an LGBT training program for frontline staff. Boards and committees Tourism Winnipeg participates on the following boards and committees as part of its community engagement and tourism industry support: › Canadian Society of Association Executives Young Professional Committee › Culture Days Board › Design Quarter Board › Destination International's Certified Destination Management Executive Board Mike Peters