The success of Adventure
Okanagan Co-operative lies in simple economies of scale. By
combining some of your marketing dollars with other tour providers,
you can achieve exposure that was not possible on your own.
As a group, we can more effectively work with the large resorts
and accommodators in the region to increase the length of
visitor stays and the number of bookings for your business.
- Discounts on workshops and training
that build on the potential of your business venture.
- Reduced insurance rates – members
have saved as much as $600 over the closest competitor
- AOC negotiates with Adventure and
Travel publications for discounted advertising for members,
at ad-agency rates.
- We supply travel writing about adventure
and eco-tourism in the Okanagan, Shuswap, Similkameen and
Monashee for regional, national and international travel
publications.
- We produce cost-effective hook brochures,
publications, e-mailers and web site that promote member’s
products and services.
- A resource base on regional adventure;
historical, ecological and cultural features; and eco-tourism
marketing materials.
- Network connections that continue
to expand at the local, national and international level.
- Discount partnerships available exclusively
to AOC members, including print discounting.
- Coordination and design for creating
year-round export ready touring packages.
Some of the Highlights to date!!
- Developed partnerships with member
businesses and community tourism functions such as Vernon,
Kelowna and Lumby, which assisted AOC with representation
at Adventure and Travel Trade Shows in Seattle, Toronto,
Edmonton, Calgary and Abbotsford, as well as locally.
- Through community promotion, AOC’s
Outreach Program caught the attention of the Government
of Canada, which supported the co-op in an adventure tourism
business development project called Monashee Outreach.
- Development of a quality web site
www.adventureokanagan.com targeted to the marketing of AOC
Travel Packages and Members services.
- Launch of over 20 different AOC Tour
Flatsheets, with on-line versions as well, that will be
marketed internationally over the next three years.
- Featured in Case Studies with Simon
Fraser University and the University of Victoria on Cooperative
Development in British Columbia.
- Launch of the Your Life is Now! media
campaign - nominated for Tourism BC’s Best Marketing
and Best Out of the Box Marketing award categories.
- Partnerships established with national
organizations, including the Sustainable Tourism Association;
the Ecotourism Product Club; and the United Nations International
Year of Mountains.
- AOC has entered into partnership with
the Canadian Tourism Commission with the creation of the
Okanagan-Shuswap Bioreserve Product Club
- Further partnership established with
the Government of Canada (HRDC) on the Destinations Centre
Project, tasked with establishing a database for membership’s
sharing of resources and product information as well as
networking among the eco-tourism sector.
- Design and hosting of the Opportunities
in Tourism Workshop held in Vernon, Feb 27th and 28th, 2003
– the first of many workshops to come.The co-operative
is not intended to replace, but simply compliment, your
own marketing efforts. We will continually work to identify
trends for our region, allowing you to streamline your individual
promotional activities. Also, by joining the co-op you will
make valuable connections with other adventure providers
and exchange ideas in product development, marketing, packaging,
and client contacts.
So you provide canoe trips, as a member of AOC you now provide
mountain biking, paragliding, goldpanning and more! AOC develops
adventure packages and eco tourism products/packages in easily
accessible formats, each consisting of a number of members.
This allows your company to be involved with multi-day destination
tour packages which we promote to domestic and international
markets. Additional promotional services for full members
include:
- Familiarization tours involving other
members for, wholesalers, VIP’s and media.
- E-Newsletters sent on a regular basis
to over 400 wholesalers, hotels and tourism sector service
providers.
- An AOC Product Catalogue with its
on-line counterpart available to Wholesale Travel Agencies.
- Accommodators have opportunity to
handle AOC Tour Packages and receive booking and handling
fees.
- Accommodators and Attractions can
expand their product line by adding export-ready tour packages.
A main AOC goal is to help members expand their business focusing
on shoulder season activities and marketing campaigns. Some
of the supports to members include:
- Assistance in accessing funding for our
members to establish business and expansion planning and
human resource issues.
- Quality control programs that prepares members
to move into the global tourism market
- Develop partnerships with the private sector,
communities and government that will improve opportunities
in adventure and eco-tourism.
- Identify gaps in services and help our members
find new opportunities and niche markets.
- Sponsor workshops and guest speakers on
topics specific to the adventure eco-travel industry
- Publish an E-Newsletter to members with
helpful links to business development information, marketing
tools and news of the trade and our members.
Your voice is heard because you’re a member of AOC.
When we say something about Adventure Tourism, Habitat Protection,
Government Regulation, or Resource Industry Implications…people,
media, corporations and the government listen. Why? Because,
we’re the voice of Adventure and Eco-tourism in the
Okanagan.
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