At our annual conference, Propelling Smarter, Bolder Tourism, we will explore how research is and can be effectively employed to advance Canada’s shared social, economic, environmental, and cultural goals. It is not ‘more’ tourism that Canada needs, it’s ‘better’, more energetic, astute, intelligent tourism. We seek style with substance, diversity with inclusion, and evolution with sustainability. Tourism researchers and their clients are embracing data and know-how to fearlessly chart new directions for established and emerging destinations, and supply impactful, brilliant experiences for our diverse markets. This year’s conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia will provide a platform for learning about new approaches, lessons learned and the challenges ahead, as we navigate post-truth, virtually-infused, climate change impacted, emerging environments.
Join us on the East Coast – Halifax, Nova Scotia, to discuss and share smarter, bolder travel and tourism research.
Registration
Our 2018 Canada Chapter Conference Registration Rates are shown below. Please register by clicking on the button on the right-side navigation menu.
Conference Host Hotel:
Cambridge Suites Hotel
http://www.cambridgesuiteshalifax.com
Booking information:
Call 1-800-565-1263 and request the TTRA Conference Block
AUGUST 30 UPDATE: Only 5 rooms left in the hotel block (Wed/Thurs only). Limited availability across Halifax for Tuesday night. Book now to avoid being disappointed.
Conference Venue:
https://www.halifaxconventioncentre.com/
1650 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS B3J 0E6
Conference Program
Seeing the forest through the trees: The power and potential of data visualization tools
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
9:00 am to noon
Have you noticed the impressive visualization tools that are being used to communicate research findings? Do you want to learn more about how to incorporate some of these techniques into your own work?
Join this session to learn from others that are using data visualization techniques to transform their data into information in order to produce valuable insights or impact decisions. Tahmor Ghumman from Tourism Ottawa will share the power of visualization in a visitor survey. Then, Jason Dunkel from Google Canada will introduce delegates to Data Studio, Google’s free, online analytics and data visualization tool. In order to apply your new knowledge, Anna Moran from Tourism Nova Scotia will then introduce a local case study that will require delegates to work together in teams to turn data from the Nova Scotia Open Data Portal into effective visuals. This workshop will be informative and interactive and enable delegates to leave inspired to be more creative in how they explore and express data.
Evidence-based Experience Innovation
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Rooted in research, Tourism Nova Scotia’s pilot EXCELLerator Program is an innovative approach to tourism experience development, and the focus of this roving case study through beautiful, historic downtown Halifax. With harbour views around every corner, participants will convene at key locations for insights on EXCELLerator Program research, development, deliverables and outcomes aligning with Tourism Nova Scotia’s focus on developing world-class experiences to motivate travel by first-time visitors.
From our “Dining on the Ocean Floor” inspiration for the EXCELLerator Program to strategically creating compelling visitor experiences showcasing Nova Scotia’s most competitive assets for our target markets, key challenges and opportunities will be highlighted. With an industry goal of doubling tourism revenues to $4billion, program objectives and learnings will be shared with delegates on elevating experiences at icons and key attractions to motivate travel to Nova Scotia now. After exploring downtown Halifax, delegates will gather over uniquely Nova Scotian refreshments to learn about recent tourism experiences developed across Nova Scotia, showcasing how research has informed innovation in Tourism Nova Scotia’s experience development approach.
Data Collection: the Good, the Bad, and the Regulations
Thursday, September 27, 2018
11:25 am to 12:25 pm
The world of data collection is evolving rapidly, and we are all running to keep up.
Join the discussion with three data collection experts as they share their experiences with the realities of collecting and disseminating data in the current regulatory and technology environment. Learn about the impact of privacy protection regulations such as the GDPR.
Smart Tourism: Hype or Real Opportunity?
Destinations around the world are eager to embrace smart tourism to gain competitive advantages but initiatives remain largely fragmented despite political pressures and funding opportunities. Only a few destinations have successfully adopted smart tourism as a development approach and management mindset. Looking at these best practice examples, this talk will explore critical dimensions of smart tourism development and typical roadblocks along the way to greater efficiency, security, sustainability and quality experiences.
Dr. Ulrike Gretzel, Senior Fellow, Center of Public Relations, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California & Director of Research, Netnografica
Cannabis Tourism: Places, Spaces, and Opportunities
Dr. Adam Keul is an Associate Professor of Tourism Management and Policy at Plymouth State University in Plymouth New Hampshire, USA where his colleague Dr. Brian Eisenhauer is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability. Keul is trained as a tourism geographer and has written on topics such as wetland tourism development and the politics of coastal access. Eisenhauer is trained as an environmental sociologist, and his research focuses on environmental communication and activism, collaboration, and natural resource management.
Their work on cannabis tourism emerged in response to the legalization of recreational cannabis sales throughout several US states beginning in 2014. As a novel market in cannabis tourism has begun to blossom, their research seeks to document and discern the practical and legal/political implications of welcoming visitors to these new legalized worlds of cannabis consumption. Their initial research, published by Annals of Leisure Research in 2018, delves into cannabis tourism in Colorado- the first place in the world to create a legal market for adult cannabis consumption. Working with cannabis tourism operators, dispensary owners, and tourists, they examined the differentiation of these new tourism experience products, factors affecting their success, and the outlook for future cannabis tourism.
Their keynote address will present this information alongside their ongoing research in Oregon, and the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Given the forthcoming federal legalization of cannabis in Canada, they will lay out the promises and pitfalls of embracing cannabis tourism throughout the provinces. While each location’s story will be governed by their locally unique legal and tourism landscapes, these evolving processes can be expected to have common characteristics. The lessons learned from this niche’s short history will inform the growth and development of new places for cannabis tourism as recreational legalization proceeds.
Dr. Adam Keul, Associate Professor of Tourism Management and Policy, Plymouth State University
Dr. Brian Eisenhauer, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability, Plymouth State University
Understanding & Leveraging the LGBTQ Tourism Market
LGBTQ travel is one of the most lucrative, yet challenging, niche travel markets. But when you understand this market, the opportunities are limitless. In this session, participants will learn all of the basics of LGBTQ travel, from both a Canadian and an international perspective. The conversation will address:
- Who are LGBTQ travellers generally and what motivates them in their travel decisions
- The latest data about LGBTQ travel
- Destination experiences and marketing strategies
- Travel industry best practices
- What Canada’s travel community is doing to market and welcome LGBTQ travellers
Jason A. Kingsley, BCom, CFEE, Program Lead, Event Management, Bow Valley College
Dr. Ulrike Gretzel
Dr. Ulrike Gretzel is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center of Public Relations, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California and also serves as the Director of Research at Netnografica, a market research company that extracts insights from online conversations.
Her previous academic appointments include Visiting Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, Professor of Tourism, UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Wollongong, and Associate Professor of Tourism, Texas A&M University. She received her Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a master’s degree in International Business from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Her research focuses on the impact of technology on human experiences and specifically looks at the structure of technology-mediated communication. Her work in tourism has addressed the ways in which tourists engage with each other and with tourism organizations through websites, mobile apps, and social media, and has analyzed how tourism experiences are represented online. She has also researched smart tourism development, tourism in technological dead zones, and the quest for digital detox experiences.
Session: Smart Tourism: Hype or Real Opportunity?
Dr. Adam Keul
Dr. Adam Keul is an Associate Professor of Tourism Management and Policy at Plymouth State University in Plymouth New Hampshire, USA. Keul is trained as a tourism geographer and has written on topics such as wetland tourism development and the politics of coastal access.
Session: Cannabis Tourism: Places, Spaces, and Opportunities
Dr. Brian Eisenhauer
Dr. Brian Eisenhauer is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability at Plymouth State University in Plymouth New Hampshire, USA. Eisenhauer is trained as an environmental sociologist, and his research focuses on environmental communication and activism, collaboration, and natural resource management.
Session: Cannabis Tourism: Places, Spaces, and Opportunities
Jason A. Kingsley
Jason Kingsley is the Program Lead, Event Management at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as well as the President and Executive Producer of Calgary Pride, and Vice President of Travel Gay Canada. Jason’s focus has been on the education, and growth of, diversity and inclusion. His work is centred around creating opportunities for the gender and sexually diverse (GSD) community to live, work, and play in Calgary, through festival, event, and tourism initiatives that highlight Calgary, Alberta, and Canada as a vibrant and welcoming destination.
Jason received his Bachelor of Commerce degree in Entrepreneurial Management from Royal Roads University, is a Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE) through the International Festival and Event Association (IFEA), and is currently completing his Masters of Education. He has over fifteen years of experience and is frequently involved in community development initiatives.
Session: Understanding & Leveraging the LGBTQ Tourism Market
Thank You to Our 2018 Conference Sponsors!
THE CALL FOR AWARDS IS NOW CLOSED. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
TTRA Canada will be running four award competitions this year. Details on each award can be found below.
- J. R. Brent and Rosemary Ritchie TTRA Lifetime Contribution Award
- DMAC Graduate Researcher Award
- Gordon Taylor Award for Undergraduate Research
- (NEW) The Longwoods Award for Ph.D. Research
Submission Deadline:
June 30, 2018
Submission Details:
Please submit your written nomination to:
TTRA Canada Awards Coordinator
Frederic Dimanche, Ph.D.
Director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Ryerson University
Phone: (416) 979-5117, Email: fdimanche@ryerson.ca
Award Presentation:
These awards will be presented in Halifax at the 2018 TTRA Canada Conference.
THE CALL FOR PAPERS IS NOW CLOSED. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.
Submissions for presentations, papers, workshops, panels and student posters are invited relating to the overarching theme of Propelling smarter, bolder tourism. Submissions may be on a range of tourism-related topics and the Conference Program Committee also encourages presentations on topics that are outside the general theme – our goal is to provide content that is relevant, timely and of interest to our members. Accepted submissions will be eligible for one of three non-monetary awards for best paper (refereed abstracts), best presentation (non-refereed), and best student poster.
The full Call for Participation can be found HERE.
