Denley’s wrong: Ottawa does a great job attracting tourists
Re: Why is Ottawa bad at tourism promotion? Jan. 18.
Ottawa Tourism couldn’t disagree more with Randall Denley’s commentary. His interpretation of how tourism marketing should work is not just archaic, it’s wrong.
Whereas he describes the City of Ottawa as a “skinflint” in its support of tourism marketing, Ottawa Tourism lauds Mayor Jim Watson’s personal championing of the industry and the support shown by city council and city staff. We wager that other destinations would gladly trade their mayor for ours.
Denley refers to the idea of covering the future scaffolding over Centre Block as a “waste of taxpayers’ dollars.” Had he done a quick Google search, he would have found countless examples from Europe and the United States in which buildings of national significance have been covered with trompe l’oeil treatments showing the restoration-worthy architecture beneath the scaffolding. This is not a waste at all; it’s a smart investment in support of numerous small- and mediumsized businesses in Ottawa whose livelihoods depend on tourism.
Denley espouses that a bricksand-mortar visitor centre is “about the most basic piece of tourism infrastructure imaginable.” The tourism industry has come a long way since the days of mullets and leg warmers.
Nowadays, Ottawa Tourism shares messages through social media and uses new technologies to get people talking about Ottawa — especially this year, as we lead the country in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Michael Crockatt, president and CEO, Ottawa Tourism
Ottawa 2017 plans should be commended
I think the city of Ottawa 2017 celebration is to be commended, not criticized as Randall Denley likes to do.
The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Tourism demonstrated leadership in their flawless Ottawa 2017 campaign. It is the first time I have seen the federal government take a back seat and join a promotion led by the city.
In Quebec City, when the legislature was being renovated, they installed a giant silkscreen with an image of the building that was so real, one could not tell the difference between it and the actual building. People come to Ottawa to see the Peace Tower.
It is our beloved national symbol. Why would you not want to show it off ? I love the Ottawa 2017 logo. What a refreshing change from the federal government’s boring reference to Canada’s Capital, National Capital Region or other politically correct terms that say nothing about our name.
Congratulations to all involved in Ottawa 2017. Peter J. Harris, Gracefield
City leads way in promoting tourism
As someone who has had the privilege of holding a leadership and board position for a number of tourism facilities in Ottawa, I find many of Randall Denley’s comments to be somewhat reflective of a past era when we depended heavily on Parliament Hill to attract tourists, but certainly not reflective of today’s vibrant tourism industry.
It would be challenging to find another destination in Canada where the level of co-operation between the private and public sectors exists as it does today within Ottawa’s tourism industry.
That co-operation has produced a number of improvements such as an expanded Ottawa Airport and a largely private sector-funded Ottawa Tourism that is a best-in-class marketing organization.
This has helped put Ottawa on the map for domestic and international travellers, resulting in increased visitations and economic impact.
The City of Ottawa, led by Mayor Jim Watson, is a crucial partner in many ways to Ottawa’s tourism industry, both monetary and non-monetary.
There’s still room for improvement, but having worked in cities where the tourism industry and city hall are constantly at loggerheads over issues of funding, infrastructure and public policy, I commend Ottawa’s city team and tourism industry for employing a unique co-operative focus to the betterment of the destination. Pat Kelly, former CEO, Shaw Centre and general manager, Westin and Château Laurier hotels