PEI Connectors clients are invited to participate in an in-person Connect-to-Learn session. 

Date: Thursday, March 9th, 2023
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Quality Inn on the Hill, Holland Grove Room

Join us to learn about the tourism industry in PEI. We’ve assembled a team of PEI’s most experienced tourism operators to share best practices for succeeding in these challenging times!

We will start the event with Linda Lowther, who will provide an overview of the tourism industry in PEI. The presentation will cover the following topics:

♦ 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

♦ Overview of accommodations on PEI

♦ How to get established 

♦ The pros and cons of the business

 

This will be followed by a panel discussion. 2020 and 2021 were challenging years for the Tourism Industry on PEI. However, 2022 rebounded quite well with record visitations in some areas and some businesses. We have invited experienced tourism operators to discuss the following questions:

1. What do you think makes your business successful?

2. What are some of the day-to-day challenges you face in your business?

3. How do guests hear about you? What are your favourite marketing strategies?

4. What trends do you see emerging in your sector in the future?

5. How important is networking to your business?

 

Panelists will each speak for about 5 minutes allowing for time for questions at the end of the session. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have. 

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).

Since that time, Linda established The Lowther Group, a company founded to assist tourism businesses and organizations be all that they can be. As a consultant, Linda has worked with over a dozen businesses from tip to tip, helped organizations with their strategic plans and has managed a number of projects and events.

Panelists:

♦ 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.

♦ Adam Hickey

Adam Hickey was born in Kensington, PEI and has attended Acadia University and The University of New Brunswick, obtaining a bachelor of science and a bachelor of electrical and computer engineering.  He has been involved in the tourism industry on PEI for 30 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Maritime Fun Group which operates two amusement parks and several other attractions and quick service food locations in Cavendish, PEI.  

Adam has spent the last two years developing and building a new business called Tidal Event Management, a regional ticketing and event management software company.  He has previously served as a board member of the Tourism Association of Prince Edward Island and is currently Vice Chair of Tourism Cavendish Beach.

♦ 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, constantly looking to expand into new markets and product areas.

♦ Paul and Linda Larkin

Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant - This year will be 55 years that Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant has been family owned and operating in the heart of Cavendish.

Two generations and counting, this family has built an incredible restaurant legacy through their years of lovingly serving their guests.

Yvonne and Roland Larkin opened and operated this business for the first 20 years. For the past 35 years Paul (their son) and Linda Larkin have been operating this very successful business. Paul grew up in the service industry as they did live in the basement of the restaurant. Linda also worked in the service industry since she was 15 years old.

Paul served on the Cavendish Tourism Board for 6 years, 3 as Vice President ad 3 as President. Linda has been for the last 4 years sitting on the Cavendish Tourism Board as Treasurer.

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.

 

Register today as we have limited spots! 

Register Now

Click on this link to tell us the topics you would like our sessions offer in the future. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/36PGVFG

From

09-Mar-2023

09:00 AM

To

09-Mar-2023

12:00 PM

Quality Inn on the Hill, Holland Grove Room (150 Euston St., Charlottetown PE C1A 1W5)