September 2015
   
IN THIS ISSUE:
Daniel Craig, Founder, Reknown - hosted by Destination BC

Date: October 14, 2015 | Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Where: Crown Isle | Cost: FREE
 
Join Daniel E. Craig, Founder, Reknown  in the FREE 3-hour Advanced Online Reputation Management seminar - hosted by Destination British Columbia in partnership with Comox Valley Economic Development. Daniel will show you how to use social media to strengthen and leverage your reputation, by exploring additional social channels, discuss branding and visioning, and show you ways to build advocacy, resolve challenging situations and measure results. This seminar is best suited for tourism operators and destination marketing organizations that have participated in the Fundamentals of Online Reputation Management seminar, or have a solid understanding of social media and wish to take activities to the next level. This workshop is part of the Business Counts Fall Workshop Series offered by Comox Valley Economic Development.

Register Here

The Business of Restaurants in BC
Ian Tostenson, President/CEO, BC Restaurant and Food Services Association 

Date: October 21, 2015 | Time: 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Where: VIVC | Cost: $15
 
Ian Tostenson, President & CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Services, combines energy and integrity with proven achievement in all areas of business in this dynamicworkshop. Ian spent most of his career leading brands such as Cascadia Brands, Calona Vineyards, Sandhill Vineyards, Burrowing Owl Vineyards Granville Island Brewing, Grady Wine Marketing and Potter Distilling. He was appointed to the Premier's Permanent Small Business Roundtable and took on the challenge as a member of BC's Climate Team to chart out BC's carbon future. Ian was BC's second chairman for the BC Wine Institute, a finalist in the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a recipient of the Business in Vancouver Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This event will also discuss the launch of the 2016 Dine Around the Comox Valley and other 2016 Culinary Event Marketing Opportunities. 

Create a New Event, Expand Your Event in 2016 - Apply for Funding with the 2016 Sport & Event Attraction and Expansion Grant 
Grant

The Sport and Event Attraction and Expansion Grant Program offers financial support to festivals, associations and local sport organizations hosting new events or looking to expand existing events in the Comox Valley. The intent of this fund is to provide the stimulus and funds to assist organizations to bid on, create, expand, host, market, and administer events that can demonstrate attracting out of town visitors. Intake deadlines October 15 and November 15.

Click here for 2016 Submission Form
Discover Comox Valley 'Your Cure for Pumpkin Envy' October Marketing Campaign
 
pumpkin
 

Summer may have packed it in by October but your marketing efforts don't have to! The Comox Valley will stay at the top of visitor's minds as the best place to find "Your Cure for Pumpkin Envy!". With great events and tours throughout the fall, led by Coastal Black's popular Pumpkin Fest, this is an excellent opportunity to highlight your fall event and/or business. Included are targeted newsletter eblasts, social media posts on FB and Twitter, and co-op ads in the Victoria Times Colonist. The campaign will promote packages and event call-to-action throughout the month of October. 
 

To list your event for free, click here. For more details and co-op ad rates, contact Ashley Coulter, Comox Valley Economic Development

Discover Comox Valley Media and Communications Programmedia
 
The following media familiarization tours and earned media was generated to profile  and drive awareness to the destination since June:
 
Familiarization Tours
Shelora Sheldon, Writer, 2016 Eating and Drinking Guide
Julia Dilworth, Writer, Western Living Magazine 
 
Earned Media Coverage
Incredible coverage generated for the region in the following media outlets:
BC Magazine, Calgary Herald, The Province, Times-Colonist, CTV Morning Live, City Breakfast Television, Goodlife Vancouver, Shanghai Daily.com, Sing Tao, Asian Pacific Post, Westca.com, CNC TV (China), Panorama Acuicola, north American Aquaculture Magazine, FEAST, Edible Journeys, Essen Magazine (Korea);  Click Here to View Articles
  • Vancouver Island Visitor Centre surpassed 100,000 visitors in July
  • VIVC is the 3rd busiest on Vancouver Island
  • July saw 16% increase in true visitors compared to 2014
If you are interested in having the VIVC team visit your business for a Familiarization Trip email [email protected] 
2015 Largest BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival - Highlights
bcssf
  • Over 3,500 people attended the various events during the 10 day Festival 
  • Editorial media generation of print, online and TV for the Festival and the destination valued at over $1.4 million
  • The inaugural Fresh Fest was held at Comox Marina to kick off the Festival, and the new BC Seafood Expo attracted 30 speakers from Canada and the US, 180 delegates
  • 8 international media attended representing key media outlets with readers from the US, Korea, South America, and China. 
  • Unique visitors to discovercomoxvalley.com increased by 114.95% in comparison to the same time period in 2014
Save the date for the 2016 BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival! June 10th - 19th, 2016
News
In the News
Destination BC News - August 2015
Tourism Vancouver Island - Summer 2015