Let’s Talk Tourism aims to spark ideas, boost business
Claire Bélanger-Parker hopes Thursday will mark a new beginning for tourism in Regina.
The longtime event organizer is behind Let’s Talk Tourism, a gathering to brainstorm about Regina’s tourism industry.
The meeting is open to representatives from restaurants, hotels, convention centres, transportation companies, events and tourist attractions, among others.
Prior to being merged with the city’s economic development arm (now known as Economic Development Regina) in early 2009, Tourism Regina was a member-driven organization whose partners met several times a year.
After the merger, “the grassroots really lost touch with the organization,” said Bélanger-Parker.
“No one’s bringing everyone together and I think after almost 10 years, it was time to just make a call out there and say, ‘OK, who wants to talk tourism?’ “
Connecting on a regular basis made it easy for businesses to connect — event planners with transportation companies or restaurants, for example — and everyone got to know each other.
One person planning to attend Thursday’s meeting is Leasa Gibbons, executive director of the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District.
“We’re always talking with other attractions in the city and saying, ‘Oh, it’s so great that you guys are having an adult science night and how could we work together on that?’ But how do we take that and then tell everybody else about it?” said Gibbons.
Bélanger-Parker agreed she would like to see businesses work together in a “collective endorsement of our city.”
Say an out-of-towner enters one restaurant, and the restaurateur gives them an idea of where to have their next meal. Or, upon leaving the science centre, a visitor is met with a recommendation for another site to see.
“That’s our biggest strength is community … so how do we leverage that?” Gibbons agreed.
“We’ve got some very unique, iconic things in our city and if we can come together under one brand or strategy, I think we can really kick some butt.”
Bélanger-Parker sees four types of visitors to the city: Leisure travellers who attend festivals or events, holiday tourists who are passing through, business travellers, and those who are visiting family and friends.
“When you look at the messaging that tourism puts out there, are we reaching all these markets? And if we’re not, how do we do it better?” she said.
She’d like to see “local ambassadors” take initiative to host national or international conferences that are usually held outside of Regina.
The tourism industry needs to build better connections with Regina’s growing and diversifying community, as well as the Indigenous community, added Bélanger-Parker.
“We have a large number of new immigrants to our city who have so many amazing ideas to be supported in creating new events for Regina, to be able to pay attention to that,” she said.
Further, she said, there are existing events that do not see the draw that they should, like the First Nations University powwow held every April at Evraz Place.
Residents must do a better job of showcasing Regina to visiting family and friends, added Bélanger-Parker. After I Love Regina, she said a new campaign is needed “to bring that pride back, to get people really excited again.”
For holiday travellers roadtripping through southern Saskatchewan, Bélanger-Parker is concerned that, after the Regina bypass construction is completed, they will skip past the city.
“That’s a big concern that we have to start really discussing now,” she said.
Let’s Talk Tourism happens Thursday, 1:30-4 p.m., at the Queensbury Convention Centre, Evraz Place, with a networking reception to follow.
Register at letstalktourism.ca for a $50 fee.