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Morrissey Boat Launch Project
Stakeholders meet on-site at the Morrissey Boat Launch reviewing planned construction scheduled for late September. A partnership project in the making for almost three years. Improvements to river access sites are also in process or planned for Olsen, Hosmer, Dogwood and Elko.
L-R: Jikke from Tourism Fernie, Marika from BC Parks, Dan Savage from RDEK Area A Sustainability Project led by Tourism Fernie, Jamie from RDEK and Corien from Tourism Fernie.
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Accommodation Revenues
Accommodation revenues covering January - March 2024 were $11,694,036, down 9% over the same period last year.
These revenues are calculated from the MRDT hotel tax collections. Numbers are down due to the challenging snow & weather season this past winter.
The bar chart to the right shows Fernie's average nightly room rate (Source: CoStar) against other key destinations and the change over the previous year. Fernie's ADR is higher than the previous year, a positive indicator showing operators are working to be more inline with market rates, demand, and the competition.
AirBnB ADR for Fernie for the same period is close to $400/night, higher due majority of units being large (condos, chalets) and not including motels and hotels.
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Summer Shuttle Returning!
The Summer Shuttle Pilot Project is returning in time for July long weekend, including an evening service this year!
The complimentary shuttle plans to operate day and evening, Wednesdays - Sundays weekly until Labour Day Weekend. More details to come.
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Connecting with our Audience | | |
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Live Interviews on CTV Calgary
Morning Show
Tourism Fernie's Christine Grimble has been regularly appearing live on CTV Calgary Morning Show as part of their Discover Series, to promote Fernie experiences, attractions and events from late winter into the summer season. Watch recent segments and catch us live on two more occasions.
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9,000+ Entries in the Summer Contest
Tourism Fernie's annual contest to win a summer stay in Fernie came to a close last week, receiving an impressive 9,000+ entries and generating over 2,000 newsletter opt-ins for each of the participating contest partners. A winner from Washington, USA has been drawn and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Fernie this season.
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Travel Trade Marketing Events | |
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Calgary Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show - March 16 & 17
Fernie, BC was showcased during this 2-day show, which welcomes over 15,000 outdoor enthusiasts excited to plan their upcoming spring & summer holidays. This was a co-op partnership with
Fernie Alpine Resort.
For more information on Tourism Fernie's co-op, media and travel trade activities, please contact: christine@tourismfernie.com
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Mountain Travel Symposium
Tourism Fernie joined 800 global mountain travel professionals, gathered for networking, business meetings and educational content. Attendees included domestic and international tour operators, resort representatives, destination marketing organizations, lodging companies and service providers from the mountain tourism industry.
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Australian Ski Expos and Agent Training
Tourism Fernie partnered with Resorts of the Canadian Rockies at the recent Australia Snow Expo’s with shows in both Melbourne and Sydney. Training sessions for Fernie provided to the major tour operators/agents in each city, in addition to attending the Mogul Ski World Travel Agent event and consumer show. Destination BC launched their Australian Ski Campaign in conjunction with these events.
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Made to Explore:
Winter in Fernie, BC Travel Guide
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The West Australian: Seeking Snow on BC's Powder Highway | |
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Calgary Herald: Head to the Koots for the best of the Powder Highway
Journalist Andrew Penner took on the Powder Highway with his four boys for an 'epic father/ sons ski fest'. Fernie hit the list for 'Favourite Alpine Bowls' and 'Favourite Ski-In/Ski-Out Lodge'.
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BikeMag.com: Freeride Fat Biking in BC's Kootenays
"Nowhere epitomizes the early-days energy of freeride fat biking more than Fernie, in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. The community's groomed singletrack network, which encompasses mellow cross-country trails to double-black slab-and-chute lines, rivals many communities' summer trail systems."
~ Aaron Theisen, Travel Editor
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Rainforest to Rockies: A Destination BC Initative | |
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Celebrating Iconic Routes and Unique BC Experiences
As a gateway community into BC from the East or the final stop on Hwy #3, Fernie and the Elk Valley are ideally situated to capitalise on Destination BC's new Rainforest to Rockies Initiative.
Fernie is featured on the Crowsnest Highway 3 to the Canadian Rockies travel route as the final destination of a 7-10 day recommended journey, and flagged as: The perfect way to end your off-the-beaten-path BC adventure.
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2024 Tourism Fernie Industry Event & AGM: REPORT | |
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The 2024 Tourism Industry and Networking Event & Tourism Fernie AGM was held on April 4th at the Best Western PLUS Fernie Mountain Lodge & Pub Bar & Grill at Park Place Lodge - thanks to everyone who attended and helped to make the event an engaging success!
Welcome to the new and returning members of the Tourism Fernie Board of Directors, 2024-2025:
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Mark Ormandy, Fernie Alpine Resort & Slopeside Lodge
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Jeremiah Pauw, Fernie Fox Hotel
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Alan Young, Personal Real Estate Corporation
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Reto Barrington, Fernie RV Resort
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Andrew Hayden, Fernie Distillers
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Jon Ward, Red Tree Lodge
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Kirsten Madsen, Island Lake Catskiing & Lodge
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Wade Barkman, Lizard Creek Lodge
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Jeff Johnson, Ski Base & Fernie Mountain Sanctuary
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Michael Delich: A Lifetime in Business, Sports & Community
During the AGM, Tourism Fernie held a special recognition for Mike Delich for his significant contribution to Fernie's tourism industry over the past three decades. A commemorative artwork was created by Authentic Custom Woodcrafts and presented by Andy Cohen and Randal Macnair.
Born and raised in Rossland, BC, Mike moved to Fernie in 1979 working in the coal industry as an engineer for ten years before starting his own business ventures in 1989. Known for his passion for alpine sports, church, and community, and his contributions to the construction, tourism, and hospitality industries, Mike was a founding member of Tourism Fernie.
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Tourism Fernie Resources & Updates | |
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This Is Fernie!
vlog with Sadie
The 10th episode of our vlog series was released in April and highlights Fernie's diverse arts community. Join Sadie as she visits some of the artists and artisans who call Fernie home.
The next episode will focus on trail running and is scheduled to air in early June.
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Join the Iconic Fernie App
as a Rewards Location
Iconic Fernie is a free mobile app featuring self-guided themed tours. App users can opt in to collect points to then redeem for Rewards. Tourism Fernie member businesses have the opportunity to attract more visitors by offering Rewards redemptions. Want to learn how? Email brona@tourismfernie.com
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Brochures and Activity Guides
Tourism Fernie produces a wide selection of brochures, flatsheets, flyers, calendars, maps, and activity guides. Recent updates include:
Many of our current flyers are being updated and reprinted for the summer travel market.
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AmbassadorWILD
Now in its 3rd year, the award winning AmbassadorWILD program helps take care of important nature-based locations, promotes safe and sustainable front and backcountry recreation and collects data for quality decision making.
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Membership & Support Updates | |
Tourism Fernie welcomed these new members recently: | |
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Timber Chair 2024
The Timber Chair will be open on select dates this summer!
Enjoy a scenic chairlift ride on Saturdays from July 13, plus Sundays August 4 and September 1, and don't miss Music on the Mountain at Lost Boys Cafe on the August & September Holiday weekends!
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New Fernie Skatepark
The much anticipated City of Fernie skatepark is now in use! The new park includes rails, bowls, ramps and a shade structure, and is already a hit with the local skating community.
A Grand Opening was held May 16-17.
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Fernie Pride Society
What is an inclusive washroom and why are they important?Fernie Pride Society is spearheading and new initiative aimed at promoting gender inclusivity and accessibility in public spaces, which includes a survey to map current and planned facilities.
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Perez McKenzie Immigration Consultations
Offer extended: For anyone that has foreign staff on their team and is interested in learning more about how to support your employee through different work permits or permanent resident pathways – this is for you!
Click the link for information regarding the Immigration Consultation session with Perez McKenzie and how to book a session. Tourism Fernie will cover the cost of an initial consultation at a value of $210.
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We welcome business updates from you that we can share in future e-newsletters. We also send a monthly e-newsletter to visitors promoting Fernie - if you don't already receive that email and would like to be added to the mailing list, please email info@tourismfernie.com.
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Important Dates & Industry Events | |
June 6 & 12 I Fernie Ambassador Program | | |
June 12 I Fernie Chamber of Commerce BBB at Bower Builders | | |
Sep 30 - Oct 3 I World Trails Conference - Ottawa | | |
October 25 - 27 I Toronto Ski + Snowboard Show | | |
October 23 - 24 I Kootenay Rockies Tourism AGM - Nelson | | |
October 27 I Calgary Bridal Expo | | |
TOURISM FERNIE STAFF DIRECTORY
Have a question or update? Let us know!
From left to right:
Brona Kekenakova, Marketing Manager | brona@tourismfernie.com
Christine Grimble, Media/Travel Trade & Projects Manager | christine@tourismfernie.com
Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer | jikke@tourismfernie.com
Corien Sieders, Destination Management & Development Manager | corien@tourismfernie.com
Rebecca Hall, Admin & Marketing Co-ordinator | rebecca@tourismfernie.com
Emily Williams, Social Media, Content & Digital Marketing Co-ordinator | emily@tourismfernie.com
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We gratefully acknowledge that we do our business on the homelands of the
Ktunaxa Nation, Qukin ʔAmakʔis, and we honor and respect their ancestors of the past.
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The Official Corporate E-Newsletter for Tourism Fernie Society. Supporting the tourism sector through marketing and destination management initiatives.
Phone: 1-250-423-2037
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All content © Tourism Fernie. All right reserved
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