Resort Drive businesses and a local glass master were honoured with awards last week during Tourism Vancouver Island's annual conference, this year held at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville.
Sponsored by Golf Vancouver Island, the Power of Partners Award was presented to the Resort Drive community in Parksville during the awards gala portion of the conference last week. The Resort Drive community consists of Tigh-Na-Mara, Beach Acres Resort, Madrona Beach Resort, Ocean Sands Resort, Ocean Trails Resort, Oceanside Village Resort and Sunrise Ridge Resort. According to a Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) news release, this group has joined forces to create a community rather than a competition for guests. The group pools financial and human resources to put on special events each year, which add value for guests and locals alike. Their signature event, Party on the Drive, attracted more than 7,000 people earlier this month.
The FortisBC Award, which the TVI said recognizes a business or organization that utilizes natural gas in their tourism related operation, was presented to Parksville's Robert Held Art Glass "for converting an empty, run down mechanic shop into an expansive studio that welcomes visitors and local alike. His studio has become iconic and the driving force behind the revitalization of the South Parksville industrial Orange Bridge area."
"We developed our awards program as a way to celebrate tourism businesses who collaborate, are innovative and go above and beyond to help grow tourism in the region," said Dave Petryk, President and CEO of TVI. "This year's winners have truly captured the essence of what we are looking for."
The business meeting wrapped up the conference on Friday, with the announcement of the incoming board of directors for the 2014 – 2015 term.
Carol Ann Terreberry returns for the second year of her two-year appointment as chair of the board. Terreberry is the Operations Manager of Quadra Island Golf Club on Quadra Island, the newest golf facility on the west coast.
Jim Owens of Tigh-Na-Mara remains an officer of the association as its marketing committee's chair.
TVI is one of six regional destination management organizations in British Columbia that represent Destination British Columbia through the delivery of co-operative marketing and community development programs. For information about Tourism Vancouver Island and marketing initiatives, visit www.tourismvi.ca.
TVI describes itself as a destination management and marketing organization whose mission is "to increase the economic benefits that flow from tourism to the Vancouver Island region" and a vision of "the Vancouver Island Region will be internationally recognized as a preferred travel and getaway destination." The organization is a not-for-profit association representing the tourism stakeholders within the Vancouver Island region, which includes Vancouver Island, Victoria and the Gulf Islands as well as a stretch of the mainland coast between Moses and Bute Inlets.
— NEWS Staff/TVI news release