ABOUT THE EVENT

PEI Connectors clients are invited to an upcoming Connect to Learn webinar.

Session Title: Navigating Your Tourism Business During Covid-19

Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Time: 9am to 12pm (9am to 10:30am information session by Linda Lowther; 10:30-10:45am break; 10:45am to 12pm panel discussion and Q&A)

Location: Zoom

AGENDA

9am to 10:30am: Information Session

Linda Lowther will provide an overview of the tourism industry on PEI.

· Tourism as a key contributor to our economy

· Types of tourism businesses and activities and the jobs in each sector

· The major components of the tourism industry

· Visitor expectations

· The various organizations in support of the industry on PEI

· The importance of engagement and relationships in the industry

This will be followed by a short overview of accommodations on PEI, how to get them established and the pros and cons of the business.

10:30am to 10:45am: Break

10:45am to 12pm: Panel Presentation

2020 and 2021 were challenging years for the Tourism Industry on PEI. It now looks like 2022 will be as well. We have invited experienced tourism operators to discuss the following questions:

What did you do in 2020 and 2021 that worked and did not work?

What are you planning for 2022 if you can plan at all?

Since locals are important for your business during Covid, how do you attract locals?

Panelist will each speak for about 5 minutes allowing for time for questions at the end of the session.

We’ve assembled a team of PEI’s most experienced tourism operators to share best practices for succeeding in these challenging times.

Facilitator & Panel Moderator: Linda Lowther

You may have seen Linda at PEI Connector events held previously. Linda has been in the tourism business all her life in one way or another. She started working with her husband at PEI’s busiest summer service station in Cavendish in the mid-seventies. They eventually sold the business and ventured into the accommodation business starting in 1985 with Sundance Cottages. Beginning with just two 2-bedroom cottages, the business grew to 22 cottages ranging from one to four bedrooms. Linda and her family also operated a small campground for 13 years and two small food operations (a café and a frozen yogurt bar).

Panelist: Tracey Singleton

Tracey was born and raised on Prince Edward Island. She has a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management from Mount Saint Vincent University and has spent her entire career working in the tourism

and hospitality industry, holding sales and marketing positions with Tourism PEI, Tourism Charlottetown, and Westmount Hospitality.

In 2009, she started Versatile Management Group (VMG) a full-service creative marketing and events agency. VMG produces PEI’s major events such as the PEI Fall Flavours Festival, PEI International Shellfish Festival and PEI Festival of Wines. VMG also produces marketing campaigns for Love Local, PEI, the Nova Scotia Wine Growers, and the Canada’s Food Island Gift Card Program.

In 2014, Tracey and her husband purchased the family cottage business, Cavendish Bosom Buddies, from her dad, Ron Peters. Today, they own and manage over 27 units on the North Shore. Since taking over the business they have invested in major upgrades, built and purchased new units and grown the business beyond a two-month operation. One day, she would like to see a business that can operate successfully for 5-6 months.

Tracey and her husband also own the PEI franchise for PropertyGuys.com and live in Charlottetown with their three children, Matt, MacKenzie and Lexie.

Panelist: Matthew Jelley

Matthew, a native of Summerside PEI has attended Acadia University, the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Toronto attaining the degrees Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Juris Doctor (Law). Matthew is heavily involved in the tourism industry, operating three maritime based amusement parks with his three brothers - Shining Waters Family Fun Park, Sandspit Amusement Park, and Magic Mountain in Moncton. In addition to the parks, the family also operates several other attractions including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Cavendish, the Cavendish Beach Adventure Zone, and Mariner’s Cove Boardwalk.

Over the past three years they have also developed new division, Seaside Fun Foods which operates a Greco Pizza and Donair Franchise, a Dairy Bar, four BeaverTails locations and three cafés proudly serving Starbucks coffee.

In addition, Matthew is active in his community as mayor of the Cavendish Resort Municipality, Chair of the Cavendish Sewer Utility and Vice-Chair of Tourism PEI, the crown corporation that manages tourism promotion and development on PEI. Matthew has previously served on the Tourism Advisory Council, the Central Coastal Tourism Partnership, and seven years as president of Tourism Cavendish Beach.

Matthew is also a non-practicing member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island.

Panelist: Chad Heron

Chad Heron is the CEO of COWS Inc., a PEI-based food and retail business with locations across Canada. Chad grew up on PEI and attended UPEI before completing his training to become a Chartered Accountant. After brief stops in public accounting and government, he landed at COWS in 2015 in a VP role. In his current position as CEO, he oversees the retail business of ice cream and merchandise, as well as the wholesale business of COWS Creamery cheese and butter products. COWS is a fast-growing company, but the tourism-centric locations of many of their stores has made COVID a very challenging time.

Panelists: Paul and Linda Larkin

Chez Yvonne's Restaurant - Two generations and counting, this family has built an incredible restaurant legacy through their 54 years of lovingly serving their guests.

Yvonne and Roland Larkin opened and operated this business for the first 20 years. For the past 34 years Paul (their son) and Linda Larkin have been operating this very successful business.

There are some things they are well known for including their soulful meals and warm hospitality. Their best ingredients are quite simply their incredible restaurant team who show up every day determined to create memorable dining experiences for their valued guests. Using locally sourced quality ingredients, they are proud of their attention to the details and the genuineness of how they care for their guests.

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