City Tourism Partners Win City Green Awards

Two city tourism partners have been recognized this month for their efforts to reduce waste and energy consumption. As many know, I am an advocate of seeing Thunder Bay's tourism industry becoming leaders in urban sustainable tourism. Its been great to see so many local tourism partners embrace these principals and understand that environmental and economic sustainability can co exist.

The Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this month, recently installed new boilers that have reduced energy consumption by a whopping 30% and installed a new commercial dishwasher that cuts both the amount of water and detergent use by almost half. The old washing unit was recycled for its stainless steel value. During the recent room renovations, the hotel donated their older furnishing to Habitat for Humanity, ensuring they could find a new life and support a great local charity rather than end up in the city landfill.

And once again OLG Casino Thunder Bay was recognized for its work in reducing energy consumption by 12%, rounding up over 62 000 pounds of used electronics for recycling and planting, maintaining and donating the vegetables from their own community garden.

Congratulations to these two local tourism partners that embrace environmental sustainability. For more information on the City's environmental programs, click here.

Tourism Thunder Bay Helps Tourism’s Front Line Professionals Rediscover the City

Tourism Thunder Bay is helping tourism’s front line professionals discover Thunder Bay in a whole new way. The Tourism Division of the City, in partnership with the Prince Arthur Hotel and Lake Superior Visits, is providing a one day tour on Thursday May 27th of the city’s main attractions to educate visitor centre, hotel front desk, restaurant and tourism related retail partners.

Front line tourism professionals in hotels, visitor centers, gas stations and restaurants play an important role in promoting the City’s attractions and events to visitors who come into their businesses and often ask questions about what to see and do. Giving them the knowledge of all there is to see and do helps improve the visitor experience. The tour builds awareness and pride among the tourism professionals and allows them to network with each other. To sell Thunder Bay to the world, we have to start by selling it to ourselves.”

The day long motor coach tour, beginning at 8:30 AM at the Terry Fox Visitor Centre, will wind its way through the city exploring the communities major attractions and hidden gems. Lois Nuttal of Lake Superior Visits, a local tour operator, will share stories, legends and other information with the tour participants that reveal the diverse fabric of our culture and our connection to our natural environment. Lunch is sponsored by the Prince Arthur Hotel and ABC Embroidery is providing “Thunder Bay bucket list” tote bags. Given the overwhelming interest by the industry with this tour, Tourism Thunder Bay is considering additional opportunities to repeat the educational program throughout the spring.

A media opportunity is available at 8:30 AM at the Terry Fox Visitor Centre this Thursday, May 27th.