(Originally published in TOURISM)
About 400 tourism industry stakeholders met September 24 and 25, 2007, in Regina for the first-ever Saskatchewan Summit on Tourism, organized by Tourism Saskatchewan at the request of Provincial Premier Lorne Calvert. Calvert and Tourism Saskatchewan president and CEO Lynda Haverstock were co-hosts of the event, with Senator Larry Campbell, a former Mayor of Vancouver, serving as master of ceremonies. The keynote address was delivered by Saskatchewan-born Pamela Wallin, senior advisor on Canada-US relations to the president of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas in New York.
Haverstock feels the initiative was long overdue. "The number one reason for this summit was to bring people together in a way that would lead to the tourism industry being perceived as significant in Saskatchewan, not just by the players who are well aware of its significance, but also by government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders in the room. We want the public to know how meaningful our contribution is to the overall economy of the province."
Brad Lawrence, general manager of Government House, a Regina heritage attraction, certainly felt the summit hit the mark: "Anytime you can get the operators and the decision-makers in the same room, it is a huge benefit."
Private sector tourism operators like Janis Cousyn, owner and operator of Calories Bakery and Restaurant and Souleio Foods Incorporated in Saskatoon, was equally satisfied. "It was very worthwhile. It brought enough people together to have an influence through creating awareness of tourism as an industry which creates jobs and has a value-added impact on our province."
"That recognition has been lacking in the past," notes Cousyn. "This summit has helped create some credibility for us as a tourism industry and it might bring some positive change and some additional funding for our industry so we can start to move forward."
Larry Hiles, president and CEO of the Regina Regional Economic Development Authority, believes the opportunity for dialogue far outweighs any differences people may have: "It is really important to start speaking with a unified voice about who we are, what we want to be and then to develop a plan to get there."
Jim Kilkenny, general manager of the Delta Regina, looks forward to some measurable achievements stemming from this tourism summit, and he hopes these will occur within a very short period of time. "Many of the topics and issues raised here are not insurmountable," he says. "Saskatchewan is leading the nation in economic growth, and we can expect that to continue."
Kilkenny acknowledges his province is faced with issues just like the rest of the country, such as coming to terms with labour shortages and the strength of the Canadian dollar. "But the economic engine of the country is slowly moving west," emphasizes Kilkenny, "and now, perhaps, we are starting to see what some of the other parts of the country have enjoyed - in some cases for many years."
About 400 tourism industry stakeholders met September 24 and 25, 2007, in Regina for the first-ever Saskatchewan Summit on Tourism, organized by Tourism Saskatchewan at the request of Provincial Premier Lorne Calvert. Calvert and Tourism Saskatchewan president and CEO Lynda Haverstock were co-hosts of the event, with Senator Larry Campbell, a former Mayor of Vancouver, serving as master of ceremonies. The keynote address was delivered by Saskatchewan-born Pamela Wallin, senior advisor on Canada-US relations to the president of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas in New York.
Haverstock feels the initiative was long overdue. "The number one reason for this summit was to bring people together in a way that would lead to the tourism industry being perceived as significant in Saskatchewan, not just by the players who are well aware of its significance, but also by government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders in the room. We want the public to know how meaningful our contribution is to the overall economy of the province."
Brad Lawrence, general manager of Government House, a Regina heritage attraction, certainly felt the summit hit the mark: "Anytime you can get the operators and the decision-makers in the same room, it is a huge benefit."
Private sector tourism operators like Janis Cousyn, owner and operator of Calories Bakery and Restaurant and Souleio Foods Incorporated in Saskatoon, was equally satisfied. "It was very worthwhile. It brought enough people together to have an influence through creating awareness of tourism as an industry which creates jobs and has a value-added impact on our province."
"That recognition has been lacking in the past," notes Cousyn. "This summit has helped create some credibility for us as a tourism industry and it might bring some positive change and some additional funding for our industry so we can start to move forward."
Larry Hiles, president and CEO of the Regina Regional Economic Development Authority, believes the opportunity for dialogue far outweighs any differences people may have: "It is really important to start speaking with a unified voice about who we are, what we want to be and then to develop a plan to get there."
Jim Kilkenny, general manager of the Delta Regina, looks forward to some measurable achievements stemming from this tourism summit, and he hopes these will occur within a very short period of time. "Many of the topics and issues raised here are not insurmountable," he says. "Saskatchewan is leading the nation in economic growth, and we can expect that to continue."
Kilkenny acknowledges his province is faced with issues just like the rest of the country, such as coming to terms with labour shortages and the strength of the Canadian dollar. "But the economic engine of the country is slowly moving west," emphasizes Kilkenny, "and now, perhaps, we are starting to see what some of the other parts of the country have enjoyed - in some cases for many years."
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