Smart Education in Canada : Talk Tourism with Destination BC, Tourism Café, and NIC

Develop your strategy to succeed in BC’s competitive and changing tourism industry with two of Canada’s most influential tourism leaders.

NIC Tourism and Hospitality Management students are inviting Nancy Arsenault, the managing partner of Tourism Café Canada and Marsha Walden, the CEO of Destination BC, to talk tourism at a special Collaborate to Compete reception, after Tourism Vancouver Island’s Pro-D Day event on Wednesday, March 25 at the Westerly Hotel and Convention Centre.

“These are nationally recognizable tourism professionals,” says NIC tourism and business faculty Harley Elias. “Most tourism operators simply don’t get access to these decision makers. It speaks highly of our tourism students to be able to secure both women for this event.”

Nancy Arsenault is a managing partner in Tourism Café, a boutique tourism training and development company with public, private, and not-for profit clients across Canada. The Canadian Tourism Commission calls Nancy one of Canada’s tourism “thought leaders.” In her 30-year career in tourism, education, and recreation, she has supported small businesses and provincial and federal governments in their strategic planning.

Marsha Walden, the CEO of Destination BC, is now rolling out BC’s highly publicized three-year corporate marketing strategy. Before starting with Destination BC in 2013, she worked with the BC Lottery Corporation, and BBDO, one of Canada’s largest advertising agencies.

“Nancy will speak on how tourism businesses, like those here on the North Island, can collaborate to have a stronger presence in the industry,” said Tammy Price, NIC’s student event manager. “Marsha will most likely speak about Destination BC’s new strategy and how it works within that model.”

Tourism Vancouver Island’s Tourism Pro-D Day is a day-long event for Vancouver Island tourism professionals. Pro-D Day speakers include digital storyteller Jordan Bower, Tourism Vancouver Island President and CEO Dave Petryk, go2HR CEO Arlene Keis, among others. For more information on the Tourism Vancouver Island Pro D Day,

Participants can chose to attend both events for $79, or attend the reception only for $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.

The reception is a class project in NIC’s second-year Convention and Special Events Management (THM 203) course and part of NIC’s focus on applied learning in all its programs. This year, tourism students have organized a Great Gatsby-themed Wine Festival in Campbell River and numerous fundraising events for student-organized, behind-the-scenes-tours of resorts in Cuba, Whistler, and Vancouver.

Admission includes tapas, a small tradeshow, and networking opportunities with industry representatives, regional business operators, and NIC tourism students ready to enter the industry.

"Canada is not only known for it's picturesque locations, but also for it's high standard of education. The Colleges in Canada are at par with the best known Colleges in the world, in terms of the educational programs offered and the facilities provided to the students " , says Mr. Deepak, Education Manager, Career XL Services..

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