master banner

February - Table of Contents

Quick Links
2009 Board of Directors
PRESIDENT:

H�l�na Katz
Media, Northwest Territories

 

VICE-PRESIDENT:

Judy Hammond


[email protected]

CLEAR Communications, Conference Co-Chair



TREASURER:

Ted Flett  


Tourism Hamilton

 

SECRETARY:

Irene Knight

[email protected]

CN Tower

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Sandra Phinney

[email protected]

Media, Atlantic Chapter Chair

 

INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:

Liz Fleming


[email protected] 

Media, Ontario



MEDIA MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:

Josephine Matyas


[email protected]

Media, Ontario



NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR:

Dale Dunlop


[email protected]

Media, Nova Scotia



CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR:

Joanne Sasvari


[email protected]

Media, B.C. Chapter Chair



DIRECTORS:

Margaret Mackenzie

[email protected]

New Brunswick Tourism



Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

[email protected]

Media, British Columbia



Jessica Harcombe Fleming

[email protected]

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts

Alberta Chapter Co-Chair




Marty Rice

[email protected]

London Tourism
Industry, Ontario Chapter Co-Chair


New Members
New_MemberIndustry



Jan Zandboer

Colorado Tourism Office

Toronto

[email protected]

 

Deanna Davis

Tourism Kingston

Kingston, Ont.

[email protected]



Media



Peter Wilson

Saskatoon Star Phoenix

Saskatoon

[email protected]



Pamela Cuthbert

Toronto

[email protected]



Veronica Sliva

Silva Communication

Toronto

[email protected]



Mariellen Ward

Toronto

[email protected]

Contributors to This Issue


applause



Lola Brown




Michael DeFreitas



Jessica Harcombe Fleming



H�l�na Katz




Josephine Matyas




Rob Maurin



Sandra Phinney



Marty Rice




Joanne Sasvari



Greetings!  
It seems as though TMAC members are out of the 2010 "starting gate" with a swoosh! Between the Olympics, media trips and preparations for the upcoming conference and AGM in Wales, people have been busy, busy, busy.



Speaking of Wales - look forward to seeing you there!



- Josephine Matyas, TMAC Travels editor

[email protected]

Message From the President

applauseBe part of the change you want to see



It always starts with an idea. Then discussion follows as we bounce our brainwave off other people to see if it has merit. Sometimes we tweak the idea after we get feedback, sometimes we don't. After we've finished kicking the tires, we stop and think: should we pursue it or not? That's where the rubber hits the road - or the idea is kicked to the curb.



Unlike Santa's workshop, volunteer organizations are not populated by hundreds of elves to do the legwork of taking something from idea to implementation. If a project is to move forward, someone has to roll up their sleeves to make it happen. The best person is usually the one who proposed it in the first place.



If you have a chapter chair, bring your idea to them first since they may have some insights on how to shape and present it. Or bring it to the chair of the committee to which it pertains. They, too, may have some helpful information to share. Committees are a great place to propose ideas and help move them forward. Some changes are easier to implement than others. But whatever we do has to be consistent with our legally binding bylaws, which are approved by the federal Minister of Industry under the Canada Corporations Act. And, with all things of a legal nature, there's a process that needs to be followed. Although it's not complicated, it does take elbow grease.



I hope that after the Wales conference you will roll up your sleeves and join one of our committees to be part of the change you would like to see.



Cheers!



H�l�na



- H�l�na Katz, TMAC president

[email protected]



Chapter News

Chapter_BCBRITISH COLUMBIA - Recent events:



As of Jan. 16, the B.C. chapter of TMAC has been ready to face the challenges of the future with renewed verve and vigour. That was the date of our most ambitious event to date, a one-day conference called the Business of Doing Business, which featured sessions ranging from the inspirational to the practical to the visionary.



Our members and guests walked away with a whole new set of practical tools and interesting concepts to mull over. We also got some great story ideas, thanks to a lunch provided by local restaurants and hosted by North Shore Tourism, as well as the venue itself, the brand new Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier.



The board has since had numerous requests to make this an annual event, and we will certainly look into that in the future. In the meantime, we want to thank everyone who helped make this such a successful day. Organizing this over the holiday season and just weeks before the Olympics was no mean feat, and our hats are off to you all!



Meeting in Wales:



Don't forget that during the TMAC Conference & AGM, we'll be holding a B.C. chapter meeting, which will be your opportunity to raise any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have. It's planned for Monday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. See you there!

- Joanne Sasvari, British Columbia chapter chair

[email protected]



Chapter_ABALBERTA - January was a quiet month in Alberta as TMAC members recovered from the festive season and tried to fit in as many days at the ski hill as their schedules would allow. The group anxiously anticipated the next Munch & Mingle at Il Sogno, one of just three four-Diamond restaurants in Calgary, on February 9th. Members and new prospects gathered for an evening of upscale Italian-inspired appetizers, a wonderful welcome and introduction from Il Sogno owner Patricia, and glasses of delectable Italian wines. The building that houses this Calgary favourite celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2010; an anomaly for such a new city.

 

The Alberta chapter board also met to put together a calendar of events for 2010 to entice potential members to join and continue the tradition of experiential learning and professional development that has been established in recent years. Be sure to mark your calendar for the next Munch & Mingle at the soon to open CHARCUT Roast House on April 13th. A June event is also in the planning stage and ideas are being brought forward for the annual Professional Development Weekend in the early fall. Keep your eyes on the monthly newsletter for details of upcoming events!

Feb 2010 Alberta

- Jessica Harcombe Fleming, Alberta chapter chair  

[email protected]

Chapter_ONONTARIO - The Ontario chapter of the Travel Media Association of Canada held a very successful Munch & Mingle in Toronto at the Delta Chelsea Hotel on January 26. We had 43 media and industry guests attend the event hosted by the Delta Chelsea and their Director of Sales Tracey Ford. This is the second year in a row that the Delta hosted our M&M. We also had four guests attend this meeting and hopefully they all will consider joining TMAC.



We will squeeze in another M&M in February, just before the AGM, at Sassafranz in Yorkville in Toronto, hosted by Travel South USA. The Ontario chapter is gearing up for elections that will take place in the spring upon our return from the AGM in Wales. There seems to be a strong contingent of Ontario media and industry attending the March conference and AGM in Wales.  



We have sent Clear Communications a variety of pictures to put in the annual report.



We will be scheduling a couple of PD sessions for 2010 to take place in the spring, summer and fall.



Any media members interested in receiving information on Tourism London's Travel Writers contest that closes August 31, 2010, please contact Marty Rice at 1-519-661-6385.

 
- Mike Keenan (media) & Marty Rice (industry)

Ontario co-chairs

[email protected] and [email protected]

 
Chapter_NSATLANTIC - No report at this time. Sandra Phinney is recovering from a scheduled operation - best wishes for a speedy recovery, Sandra!



- Atlantic chapter



Conference Committee Report

ConferenceTHE WORD ON WALES IS . . . CYWAIR*!  (*READY.)



With only one month to go until TMAC's 2010 Conference & AGM, the city of Cardiff, Wales, is ready to welcome you! But are you ready for the experience?



Over the next couple of weeks, the conference committee, Visit Wales and Visit Britain will be sending out all the final details for the conference. But you can get prepared in the meantime by making sure your passport is in order, your travel documents are ready and you have all the gear you need - and none of what you don't need.



Remember: Air Canada and other airlines have newly enforced weight restrictions for luggage that can cost you big time if your luggage is only a couple of pounds overweight. Remember, too, that carry-on restrictions are changing all the time, so check them before you fly.



We will be sending you a full list of what to bring, but keep in mind that the Welsh climate is temperate but rainy, which means it may feel colder than it is. Be sure to pack warm layers and lightweight, waterproof outerwear. And, because the hotels are all within easy walking distance of the main conference facility, we'll be walking lots, so be sure to bring good walking shoes as well.



Aside from that, we still have sponsorship opportunities available; if you're interested, please contact Tina Hutchinson at 416-934-0599 ext. 315 or [email protected]. And although our pre and post tours are fully booked, TMACers can still sign up for the conference and take advantage of the 25 per cent Air Canada discount right up until events begin on March 7.



You won't have a better opportunity to catch up with your TMAC friends and colleagues all year. We can't wait to see you there!



TMAC's 2010 Conference & AGM: The Word on Wales runs March 7 to 11 in Cardiff, Wales. Visit www.travelmediaevents.ca for more details. And keep reading TMAC Travels for the latest Word on Wales.



- Joanne Sasvari, TMAC conference committee co-chair

[email protected]



Member News

Member_NewsAtlantic chapter member Dale Dunlop just finished updating Exploring Nova Scotia for a 6th edition. This guidebook has been very popular and the new edition will be on the shelves this spring.



Ontario media member Judy Eberspaecher has published a new book for scallop lovers. Totally Scallops - the first and only single-subject cookbook on scallops - features recipes from every corner of the world, little known facts, and stunning photographs. It's a natural fit for Judy (www.eberimage.ca), who grew up close to the sea. For media inquiries or to order online, please contact KiMagic Publishing at www.totallyscallops.com.  



Martha Chapman is pleased to advise TMAC members that her company, Tourism Marketing International, will again be handling the seasonal (winter/spring) public relations for Maxxim Vacations. Headquartered in St. John's, Nfld., Maxxim is the expert in Atlantic Canada travel and features a host of independent and escorted tours of the region, in cooperation with over 700 suppliers, from whale-watching expeditions to boutique hotels. All delivered with that famous down home hospitality!  Find out more at www.maxximvacations.com. Martha can be reached at [email protected].



Call for Photographs
call_photoTo All Media Members:

 

TMAC would like to feature YOUR work on www.travelmedia.ca.

 

If you are interested, please send low resolution images of your favourite travel pictures, taken by you, to: [email protected].

 

Please include a brief description of where the photograph was taken.

 

Images will be part of the website rotating banner to ensure a variety of members' work is displayed.  If your photograph is selected, you will be notified.

 

Image Spec:



- Low resolution (72 pixel/inch)

- Maximum six images

- Jpeg format

- Landscape

- Minimum 768 pixel by 154 pixel



If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].

To Market, To Market

To_MarketCOLUMN EXPLORING MARKETS

by TMAC media member, Lola Augustine Brown



In this month's column, markets columnist Lola Augustine Brown interview Natasha Mekhail, editor of Westworld Alberta to find out what kind of freelance material she was interested in.



Please click here to read the article.



Ask an Expert

ask_expertFeb 2010 Ask ExpertASK AN EXPERTFeb 2010 Ask Expert



This month, TWO experts are featured. Learn about search engine optimization and about travel photography.



Please click here to read the articles.







TMAC Travels - Newsletter Submission Guidelines
Submissions should fit into one of the following categories:



MEDIA MEMBER NEWS

Professional news about you: books published, awards won, new markets obtained, positions attained, requests for travel-related information (story-specific requests ONLY), contact/profile information updates/changes.

Social notices about you: weddings, babies, non-industry awards and so on (at the editor's discretion and with a 50-word limit; these must be things directly connected to the member).

NOT allowed: requests for comps (airfare, accommodation, tickets, etc.), assignment requests, promotion of stories already written.



INDUSTRY MEMBER NEWS

Professional news about you/your company: announcement ONLY of new products, new clients, travel-related info requests, contact/profile updates/changes.

Social notices: as per Media, above.

NOT allowed: press releases, promotion of anything beyond new products, new clients or awards. (For information on distributing electronic press releases to all media members for a fee of $75, please contact TO Corp at [email protected]).



The newsletter also seeks chapter news and info on press trips (short descriptions with dates, rough itineraries, requirements - e.g. assignment letter) as well as tips, news and updates submitted by members.



Items must be sent, with "TMAC TRAVELS" in the subject line, to Josephine Matyas at [email protected]. Items may be edited for length, grammar or clarity. The newsletter will be delivered to members by e-mail by the middle of every month.  Material should be sent by the 1st of each month unless the editor gives prior approval.


Travel Media Association of Canada | 55 St. Clair Avenue West - Suite 255 | Toronto | M4V 2Y7 | Canada