Discover Comox Valley Professional Development & Mini-Conference Week Announced

Celebrate tourism in the Comox Valley with Discover Comox Valley's Tourism & Professional Development Week October 21 - 24, during Small Business Month! Featuring workshops and programs Monday to Wednesday, culminating with the Tourism Industry Mini-Conference on Thursday October 24. Register Now for full descriptions and details of all Workshops and informative speakers. October 21st to 24th, 2019 Vancouver Island Visitor Centre PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS Monday, October 21, 12:30-4:30pm Title: Superhost Destination Ambassador Comox Valley Cost: $75 per person Presented by Gaetane Palardy, Tourism and Hospitality Training & Consulting   Tuesday, October 22, 2:00-4:30pm Food & Beverage Industry Workshop Title: Make Social Media Work for You! Cost: Free Presented by Ian Tostenson, CEO, BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association   Wednesday, October 23, 10:00am-3:00pm Title: Grow with Google Program Cost: Free, lunch provided Presented by Dana Wacker, Tourism Vancouver Island   TOURISM INDUSTRY MINI-CONFERENCE - Thursday, October 24, 4:00-7:30pm Don’t miss the annual regional tourism sector development event for operators, owners, frontline staff, and stakeholders! This Tourism Industry Mini-Conference features concise, yet informative business development mini-sessions, a series of one-stop-shop info stations on 2020 marketing and partnership initiatives, and a delicious networking BBQ. Get the latest research and tourism data, provide input & feedback into destination marketing initiatives, and meet new business contacts! Mini-sessions include: Dana Wacker, Tourism Vancouver Island - "Utilizing the BC Tourism Content Commonwealth" Martin Littlejohn, Mountain Bike Tourism Association - "Where the Rubber Hits the Trail; Opportunities in Mountain Bike Tourism" Ken Beattie, BC Ale Trail - "Tapping in the Craft Beer Craze" and more! Take advantage of the early bird rate of $20 and register before August 31!

Register Now

Fall Campaign and Event Marketing Opportunity

Attention Beer, Food, and Outdoor adventure businesses and operators - it's time to jump into the exciting Discover Comox Valley Fall Marketing and Event Campaign showcasing culinary attractions & events, beer-adventures and outdoor experiences. Host an event or tour, join the Ale-ventures Passport Program, register as a Farm Cycle Tour stop and much more! Click here to read the campaign overview and participation options and/or complete the following participation forms: Brewery Participation Outdoor Operators Participation Culinary Attractions Participation Farm Cycle Tour Stop Registration

BCRFA Foreign Worker Program - Info Session

BC Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA) – Foreign Worker Program Conference Call Opportunity Monday Aug. 12, 10:30am Businesses in the foodservices sector continue to experience significant challenges in finding skilled labour. If that's your business, join Ian Tostenson, President & CEO of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, and Brij Rathi, President & CEO of Brij Rathi Consultancy Ltd. for a program overview and onboarding information. This program allows BC restaurants to fill job roles which require experienced individuals such as chefs, cooks, food service supervisors, bar supervisors and restaurant managers. Click here for current program details and RSVP direct to geoff@investcomoxvalley.com.

Beverage and Food Producers Wanted - Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour

On behalf of the Comox Valley Economic Development & Tourism and the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition we are excited to announce the 9th annual Farm Cycle Tour! Comox Valley growers and producers – register your farm or business now for this year’s Farm Cycle Tour; over 400 riders are anticipated! This year’s event is Sunday, September 22nd from 10am - 4pm.   Benefits of being a Farm Cycle Tour Stop: Participating stops will be marketed online through the Farm Cycle tour website, linked to your own site, and promoted via Discover Comox Valley social media networks, online marketing, and to an extensive consumer/tourism database via Discover Comox Valley e-blasts; Exposure through press releases and newspaper ads; Opportunity to educate visitors and showcase your farm or food and beverage processing business, and your progressive practices.

Register Your Farm Now

Take the Innovate 2030 Online Business Survey

Have your say! The purpose of this survey is to engage Comox Valley businesses, from all sectors, to gather their feedback & input around challenges and opportunities for the Comox Valley’s future economy. The results of this survey will inform crucial components of the forthcoming regional economic development strategy called Innovate 2030. Depending on the type of participant, the length of the survey will vary, but overall it has been designed to take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

Take the Survey

BC Seafood Festival – Shucktastic Success

Thank you to everyone involved in the BC Seafood Festival and Expo, here are some of the 2019 successes and highlights: 303,725 website page views (30% increase) 16m ad impressions 11,000+ Social Media post reactions (likes, comments, shares, etc.) Gala Dinner, Shucked!, Bounty!, Ceviche MasterClass, Signature Weekend - SOLD OUT 40+ domestic Chefs participated 70+ International Seafood Buyers Mission guests, from 10+ nations 85+ Events and Tours These and many other exciting results would not have occurred without the incredible collaboration between seafood producers and industry associations, extensive sponsors and media partners, tourism industry businesses, chefs and restaurants, vendor booths, volunteers and funders. Click here to see the growing media coverage about the region and the Festival! Save the date for the 2020 BC Seafood Festival June 12-21, BC Seafood Expo June 17-18 and the Festival Signature Weekend June 19-21.

Vancouver Island Visitor Centre – Helping Grow Your Business

The Vancouver Island Visitor Centre offers so much more than just a rest stop for visitors to the Comox Valley! The centre offers Comox Valley businesses numerous unique advertising and sales opportunities which engage locals and visitors alike.  Rack your brochures at the Centre (~30K visitors annually) and at the Comox Valley Airport Sell your tours via the Discover Comox Valley online booking system Showcase a 15 or 30 second video of your business on the visitor centre screens Sell your retail items in our gift shop on consignment NEW - Help verify/optimize your Google My Business listing - Register for the FREE Google 360 Verification Program! Book an appointment today. Drop in, email or call the Visitor Centre to see what we can do to help grow your business! Email: visitorcentre@discovercomoxvalley.com Phone: 1-855-400-2882

View the Vancouver Island Visitor Services Flat Sheet

Vancouver Island Visitor Centre Numbers Climb to 18k+ Year to Date

Q1 True visitors 2,778 (8%+) Request types: Attractions 299 Food/beverage 269 Parks 259 Outdoor 263 Mount Washington 204 Accommodations 46 Arts and Culture 117

Q2 True visitors 5,533 (24%+) Request types: Attractions 641 Food/beverage 527 Parks 689 Outdoor 514 Mount Washington 237 Accommodations 74 Arts and Culture 201

List Your Events for FREE - DCV Event Calendar

List your community events for FREE on the Discover Comox Valley website which will also be added on the static display TV behind the counter at the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre to reach more visitors. Events may receive additional exposure via Discover Comox Valley social media channels and inclusion in the weekly Discover Comox Valley Consumer e-Blasts (~15k distribution); all we need are the details and a good picture.

Advertising Opportunities

Times Colonist, and Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism are collaborating to present this Comox Valley feature with special discounted rates and accompanying editorials in the next Discover Vancouver Island edition. View the rate sheet here. To view this year's edition, click here.

View Discover Times Colonist Rate Sheet

The Central Island Arts Guide is a 48-page professionally designed and printed, full colour directory, with a minimum print run of 24,000 copies distributed at key Arts & Culture locations throughout Vancouver Island, and all major BC Ferries routes and terminals. View the rate sheet here. To view this year's edition, click here.

View Central Island Arts Guide Rate Sheet

Comox Valley Trip Planning Guides

Check out the official trip planning guides for the region, complete with maps, event calendars, business listings and insider tips on things to do and places to go in the Comox Valley. These include: Comox Valley Vacation Guide Comox Valley Growers Guide Comox Valley Dine and Drink Guide Comox Valley Arts Guide

Downtown Comox Ambassador Program Returns

Thank you to the Comox BIA for collaborating with Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism to present the Downtown Comox Ambassador Program for a second season! The program's goal is to engage visitors and boaters who would not normally visit the bricks and mortar location of the Visitor Centre to increase awareness of the businesses, services and attractions in the area. The roaming Ambassador team engages with visitors in downtown Comox, Marina Park and the Wharf Thursday to Sunday from 9:30am - 4:00pm, June 27 - September 1.

Credit: Island Affair Giftware, Comox