CITAP News 
September 2017
 
Dear Members and Friends, 

 

Welcome to the September 2017 edition of the CITAP Newsletter. 

In our efforts to Get Connected and Stay Connected, below please find our third issue of this year. If you have an idea to improve for future publications, please feel free to email us at the CITAP Office 

 

CITAP Newsletter Team

September 2017 Issue
President's Message
Changes in the BOD
2017 Hidi Nishi Classic
2017 Winter Function
2018 AGM in Halifax
PMO Report
Members Corner
Online Ad Opportunity Coming soon...
Welcome to CITAP!
(Victoria, BC)

(Calgary, AB)

(Canmore, Alberta)

Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre
(Calgary, Alberta)

CPI
Mississauga, Ontario

Destination Osoyoos
(Osoyoos, BC)

(Yellowknife, NWT)

Lee Morris
(Kamloops, BC)

(Vancouver, BC)

Morning Star Travel
(Yellowknife, NWT)

Sucrerie de la Montagne
(Rigaud, Quebec)

The Hare Wine Co.
(Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)

(Portland, Oregon)

CITAP Membership Certificates
Please be advised that Membership Certificates will no longer be produced. If you require one, please contact CITAP Office. 
CITAP's NEW Website
Our current website has been in place a number of years.  To make it more user friendly, CITAP has contracted a web design firm.  The new website is expected to launch in November and we appreciate your patience during the next couple months as we begin the transition.  The first change you will notice is that registration for future events will occur on a third party website (Eventbrite).  Changes should be intuitive but if you require any assistance, please don't hesitate to call or email the CITAP office.
Upcoming Events

2017 CITAP Winter Function
*Registration to open soon!
- December 4, 2017
- The Westin Bayshore Vancouver

2018 AGM
- May 13, 2018 
- Hampton Inn by Hilton-Halifax Downtown, Halifax, Nova Scotia

2018 Hidi Nishi Classic
- July 17, 2018
- Venue to be confirmed

-----------------------------
 
Contact  CITAP Office  for any information. 
 

 

Get Connected 

Stay Connected 

to Increase Your Business from Asia Pacific

 

 

Interested in joining CITAP?

 

Interested in joining a committee?

 

 

Have a suggestion for a committee?

 

 

We welcome your ideas!

 

 

Email us at: 

citap97@citap.ca 

 

 

Visit our website at: www.citap.ca 

 

Next issue scheduled for November 2017

 

President's Message

For some of us, September means, "Back to School" and for others it means looking ahead to our busy Fall season of travel to our Overseas Markets or to hosting guests across Canada as they enjoy the Fall Colours!  It is a great season for clients to visit our small communities from coast to coast, when they can celebrate the bounty of the harvest season - grapes, pumpkins, cranberries, trail walks with the sounds of crunching leaves under our feet and so many other seasonal events that make us thankful for life in Canada.....We have lots to celebrate including our friendships with our industry partners from CITAP.  I want to say Thank You to each of you for continuing to make it a priority to be a member of CITAP by participating in our initiatives and events throughout the year, even when life feels so very busy. 

This summer many of our members joined into our events - one in Tsawwassen, at the Hidi Nishi Golf Tournament and the other in St. Catherines, Ontario.  We enjoyed record attendance at each. Some of us were on FAM tours, while others were golfing, but all with the common connection of our conversations between holes about the Asia Pacific Markets and what we need to be doing to continue to support the unique demands placed on the industry when Canada has been feeling "full".   It has allowed us to offer alternate destinations, activities and accommodation styles that in past years may not have been on the radar for our key markets.  Let's hope our clients enjoyed these new special spots and now keep them on their itineraries year-round. 

As most of you know, in the 2017 Federal budget (March 2017), the Federal Government announced that as part of a range of tax measure changes being made, it was proposing to repeal the 5% Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) rebate payable to non-resident tourists and non-resident tourism operators on the accommodation portion of tour packages (i.e., Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program - FCTIP). In response to this announcement, and recognizing the impact that this change will have on tour operators and other segments of the tourism industry, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has been communicating on this issue with both the Federal Government and with industry stakeholders, including CITAP.  We have surveyed our RTO members and have created an impact assessment document that will be shared with TIAC as part of their tools to ask the Federal Government to reconsider how the changes are implemented.  Stay tuned for more on this!

And please mark your calendar for December 4, 2017 for our Winter Function which will be held in downtown Vancouver at the Westin Bayshore.  Opportunities for sponsorship are also available now.  Please take a look and see how you would feel best about supporting this key event for our membership. 

Wishing you each a profitable and productive Fall Season as we share "Our Canada" from Coast to Coast to Coast.  Thank you for our friendships and partnerships that allow us to host our visitors!
 
Cheryl Lee, President
Changes to the Board of Directors:     

Christel Kuiper has resigned from Jonview Canada after 26 years to accept a full-time position of Professor at Humber College's School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism.  As a result, Mrs. Kuiper resigned her position on the CITAP Board of Directors. Congratulations and a big Thank You from all of us at CITAP Christel!
As per the bylaws, the Board voted to fill the vacancy with another representative from the Asia Pacific RTO community.  We are happy to announce that Kate Nguyen, President of Canada Prestigexim Inc (CPI) has accepted the invitation to sit on the Board of Directors. Ms. Nguyen will be representing Vietnam and is based out of Calgary, Alberta. Please join us in welcoming her.
2017 Hidi Nishi Classic - Note to Sponsors
 
Dear Valued Partners,
I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules and for finding funds out of your tight budgets to join us at the CITAP Hidi Nishi Classic in July. These events cannot exist without the support of our partners.   I have received plenty of useful feedback from many of you - thank you for taking the time to provide that to us so we can take it into account when planning the 2018 golf tournament.
If you would like to provide further feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out directly to me or any other member of the Board of Directors. 

We want to ensure that each and every one of you get a good return on your investment at the tournament in 2018.    
Thank you again for your support.  It is truly appreciated.

Sincerely,
David Lin
Chair of Golf Committee
Save the Date !  
2017 CITAP Winter Function
Monday, December 4,  2017

We look forward to seeing everyone at the CITAP 21st Annual Winter Function held on Monday,December 4th, 2017 at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver!

The full day program will include morning educational sessions, an afternoon tradeshow called the Winter Marketplace, and a networking Reception and Dinner.  Program and registration details will be shared very soon.  As this event continues to grow each year, register early to ensure you have your spot!  Also, check out the sponsorship opportunities  to heighten your company's presence.  

Special Offers for ACCOMMODATION and FLIGHTS, please check our website for booking details. 
2018 CITAP AGM - Mark your calendar!

The CITAP AGM will be held immediately prior to Rendezvous Canada in Halifax on the morning of May 13th at the Hampton Inn & Suites.  Please take this into account when booking your travel for Rendezvous.  More details to follow in the November newsletter.
PMO Corner
Craig Sulis
Manager, Trade & Sales
Tourism PEI
 
Greetings from Prince Edward Island!

After 30 years working for Tourism Prince Edward Island, Robert Ferguson has retired. Robert made a significant contribution to the tourism industry and particularly the Asian markets; placing Prince Edward Island as a "must see destination" for many Asian visitors to Canada. Robert's efforts are greatly appreciated and his presence in the market will be missed. Please join me in wishing Robert a fulfilling retirement.
As Manager of Trade and Sales, I am excited to expand our reach in markets such as Japan, China, Korea, and Australia. Before joining Tourism Prince Edward Island in 2001, I worked in both the hotel and airline sectors which provided a great foundation for my current role today.

Members NewsyBits 

It has been a busy summer for our members with lots of exciting news!












 

If you would like to be included in Newsy Bits for the November newsletter, please email us your press release no later than November 1st.
Online Advertising Opportunities
 
Starting this September you will be able to promote your event, 
share your update or advertise your products or services on 
CITAP online channels! 
You will be able to have the premium space without overspending, and over 50 0 members and tourism partners can see your advertisement/update easily! Each ad will run for three months (quarterly) and include a direct link to your website. Take advantage of this opportunity by booking this limited online advertising space now by contacting CITAP office at citap97@citap.ca and 1.604.247.1997.