Regional Tourism Organization 7

Regional Tourism Organization 7


November 24, 2010


Dear Tourism Partner:


Waterways Product Development Plan - RTO7 and BC Hughes
I know that you have received a few emails from me but each one is critical to improving the success of tourism in our region. I do appreciate your assistance and want to thank you in advance for helping out.
The Counties of Simcoe, Grey and Bruce are abundant with pristine natural resources. These resources are valued by the communities that comprise the area for not only their intrinsic values, but also for the economic and community benefits they provide. Waterways are more than a prominent geographic feature of Region 7. The extensive and interconnected systems of waterways extend from Lake Huron to Lake Simcoe and represent a valuable tourism product that attracts tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to the region each year. As we move forward in working together as a region, Region 7 is assessing the tourism potential of our waterways and their tourism products.
The Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) has contracted the services of BC Hughes - Tourism Consultants to assess waterway tourism products within the region.
As part of the project, BC Hughes will be inventorying waterways marketing resources within the region. To facilitate this process, we request that you mail a package of your printed tourism marketing collateral to BC Hughes at the following address. Please include a copy of all brochures, maps, guidebooks etc. (not only waterways related materials).


BC Hughes - Tourism Consultants

1159 4th Avenue West,

Owen Sound, ON N4K 4W3
We greatly appreciate your co-operation on this exciting project and request that you ship materials by Friday, November 27 to ensure that your marketing materials are included in the inventory.
A representative from BC Hughes may be following up with you in the near future to garner more information so that a comprehensive plan can be developed to assist your members in their utilization of the waterways system throughout the region.
Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) encompasses Grey, Bruce and Simcoe Counties. The RTO structure was created as a result of the Discovering Ontario report - The "Sorbara Report" recommended a regional approach that would feature industry led organizations that would "bring together stakeholders... to oversee the development of new products, and to identify and define unique experiences offered by the region." RTO's are Industry led independent, not-for-profit corporations responsible for building and supporting a competitive and sustainable tourism industry.
RTO's will do this by helping to: Attract more visitors, generate more tourism related economic activity and create more tourism jobs
RTO's will provide vision and leadership by working collaboratively
RTO's will facilitate growth and innovation through Marketing Activities, Product Development, Investment Development and Workforce Development.
RTO7 has selected 6 Initial projects to establish a strong base for the success of the region. These projects include a Waterways Product Development Plan, a Media/Public Relations Campaign with an emphasis on winter with a spring/summer component, a Green/Sustainable Tourism Development Plan, a Strategic Destination Development Plan, a Winter Tourism Economic Impact/Research Project and a Fall Images Collection Project. To read more about the projects please visit http://www.region7transition.ca/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself, or BC Hughes.

Thank you,

Bill Sullivan,

Priority Projects Coordinator

Regional Tourism Organization 7

projects@region7transition.ca