Industry Events

UNWTO e-Tourism Awards for Climate Change

The UNWTO has announced their e-Tourism Awards for Climate Change for the international e-Travel sector. This prestigious award will be launched at the coinciding Canadian e-Tourism Awards on November 8th, 2007.

No matter what camp you subscribe to, there is little doubt that Climate Change is an urgent topic of discussion on a global scale.

The 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism in Davos, Switzerland programmed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) affords us a stark reminder that when it comes to sustainable tourism, Canadian industry professionals need to show the world that we are progressive in the field.

Award: UNWTO Plaque and publicity through UNWTO system

Criteria: How does the web site “raise awareness at destinations and in generating markets, in order to change consumption behaviour to generate more climate friendly tourism choices” (for example: encouraging carbon neutral travel)

Who Can Enter: Website Entries from around the world will be accepted so long as they feature, market, or sell a Canadian destination, product, attraction, or experience.

Cost: Free - there is no cost to enter these awards to companies in the travel and tourism industry

Judging: Each entry will be reviewed by a panel of experts selected by UNWTO

Closing Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 (Midnight PDT)

Read the UNWTO Press Release here.  Enter the Climate Change Awards here.

The first ever Canadian e-Tourism Awards are in full progress. The Travellers Category will close nominations this coming Sunday on October 14th. So make sure that you enter your favorite Canadian travel stories, photos, and videos.

The Industry Category was closed, and the judging by the Canadian e-Toursim Council is completed. We are now ready to share with you the 27 finalists of the Industry Category in the three areas of Website, Campaign, and Innovation - competing for the Best of Show Award, the Yahoo! Big Ideas Chair. What's unique is that now until October 21, voting is open for anybody to give their vote to their favorite Website or Campaign of these finalists (Innovation is not available for voting due to the uniqueness of the cateogy).

Yahoo!’s “Big Ideas Chair Award” is the Industry category’s best-in-show accolade. And it’s YOUR votes that will help decide which Travel organization will be bestowed this honour.

The finalists of the Industry Category are:

WEBSITE:

Large Private Sector
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Big White Ski Resort
Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort

Public Sector
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Tourism Prince Edward Island
Tourism Vancouver

Small Private Sector
Nahanni River Adventures
White Point Beach Resort
Opus Hotel Vancouver

CAMPAIGN

Large Private Sector

Spafax Canada
Mastercard Canada
Best Western Hotels

Public Sector
Travel Alberta
Canadian Tourism Commission
Quebec City Tourism

Small Private Sector

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts
Antigonish Eastern Shore Tourist Association
Harbour Tide Inn

INNOVATION:

Large Private Sector
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Air Canada
Iceberg Finder

Public Sector
Tourism British Columbia
Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Nova Scotia Department of Tourism

Small Private Sector

GPS Tour Guide
metroCode
RezGo.com
Adventure Engine

Lenovo, one of the key Olympic sponsors, is conducting a global search for 'new thinkers' to participate in the China portion of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. During the month of September, visitors can register to enter the torchbearer search by submitting a 50-word essay in English, explaining "What makes you a New Thinker for a New World?" At the end of September, 20 entrants from around the world will be selected to create and submit videos showcasing how they exhibit the Olympic ideals as well as new thinking. Visitors will get to vote, and the top three vote-getters will be selected to be torchbearers during the torch relay in China. The Worldwide Partners for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay are: Lenovo, Coca-Cola and Samsung. They are the highest tier sponsors of sponsorship program for Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay and are granted a series of marketing rights and benefits related to the torch relay.  Please apply here to become a torchbearer.

The Wiki for the "Tips from the T-List" book is now live and ready for submissions. To submit your content to the book, please visit the Wiki. Once your registration is approved, you will be able to post and edit your submissions at your discretion. Deadline is September 30, 2007. 

We are happy to report that we are already receiving submissions. So far we have received submissions from France, the U.K., Netherlands, Canada, and the U.S. Many of the submissions are excellent, but we would remind contributors that the purpose of the book is to provide "Insider" experience and expertise in how online marketing can benefit travel and tourism.

The book will be published for the first time at the Canada-e-Connect e-Tourism Strategy Conference in Vancouver on November 7-9 and will be an exclusive benefits for attendees.  The book will also be available at our Asian Confierence partner, Wired in Travel on November 29-30 in Singapore.

Other benefits of attending Canada-e-Connect:

• Welcome Reception Ticket, Welcome Party Ticket,
• Canadian e-Tourism Awards Show,
• Yahoo! Award Celebration After-Party,
• Copy of the bestselling book: Wikinomics,
• Copy of the Executive Summary of PhoCusWright's Canadian Online Travel Overview (Value of $295 USD),
• $US800 Savings when ordering the Phocuswright Canadian Online Travel Overview,
• Copy of the Ground-breaking Book "Tips from the T-List".
• Great networking, thought-provoking speakers, engaging content

Chris Clarke (editor of the Canada-e-Connect Blog), Anna Pollock, and I went to Daniel Craig's first book signing of "Murder at the Universe". Dan is the GM of the Opus Hotel in Vancouver and has his own blog (one of the few hotel GMs that operate their own blog). Here is a picture of Dan signing my book, and below a quick video clip me talking to Dan about his new book at the opening of the new hip restaurant "Italian Kitchen".