TIAPEI holds annual conference

Sustainable tourism was the theme of the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I.’s (TIAPEI) annual conference in Charlottetown recently.

There were several presentations throughout the day, including Parks Canada, a 2018 season update from the Department of Tourism, committee reports from the Charlottetown Airport Authority, P.E.I. Arts and Heritage and the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism.

Things got underway with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) Tourism Town Hall series. Representatives from TIAC, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Destination Canada and TIAPEI addressed the audience of small- to medium-sized business owners. Key issues discussed included labour shortages, additional marketing funding support and international access hurdles.

Dee Enright, who owns Charlotte’s Rose Inn in Charlottetown, talked about her property and dedication to sustainable operations. Enright noted simple changes can make a big difference, such as providing water bottles to guests, investing in refillable amenity containers and buying local products will leave less of a carbon footprint from visitors on the Island.

The keynote speaker was Jill Doucette, founder of Synergy Enterprises. Her presentation on Sustainability: Your Business and the Changing Environment highlighted there were 1.32 billion travellers to Canada in 2017 and that tourism is responsible for eight per cent of global emissions.

She encouraged the audience to educate themselves and their staff in order to share with guests, ways that emissions can be eliminated.

The TIAPEI nominating committee provided a list of officers for the upcoming term.

Kirk Nicholson will replace Robert Jourdain as TIAPEI resident.

Terry Nabuurs of Georgetown will be the new King’s County representative.

Amy MacPherson with Fisherman’s Wharf Lobster Suppers is a member at large.

Rose Dennis and Corryn Clements are re-offering for another three-year term as members at large.