Huron Expositor, 2016-04-27, Page 14Wednesday, April 27, 2016 • Huron Expositor 15
Municipality of Central Huron hosts 2016 tourism brochure swap
Valerie Gillies
Clinton News Record
This is the 27th year for the
Huron Tourism Association Bro-
chure Swap which was hosted by
the Municipality of Central Huron
at the Libro Community Hall on
April 5. The theme for this year
was "Explore Beyond the Shore"
As a co -host, Morris-Turnberry
supplied gift bags themed "Taste
of Morris-Turnberry" containing
sample products from businesses
in the Township.
Cindy Fisher is one of the organ-
izers of the swap. She explained,
"The purpose of today is as an
industry season launch for tour-
ism." Each year the location moves
around the county as the key to the
day is the Familiarization (FAM)
Tours. This entails the participants
taking different bus tours through-
out the host municipality to learn
more about the tourism and recre-
ational assets of that municipality.
"This lets tourism operators know
more about what is available in the
area:'
There were approximately 85
participants in attendance on
April 5. These represented a range
of businesses and services such as
accommodations, restaurants,
attractions, special events, golf
courses, bed and breakfasts,
marines and more. Those in
attendance can pickup the publi-
cations made available each year.
During the last half hour of the
Brochure Swap, the public was
invited to circulate through to
pickup information, as well.
Huron County made available
the annual vacation guide as well
as three special activity brochures
for cycling, hiking as well as fish-
ing and paddling. Fisher advised,
"The fourth edition of the 'Buy
Local! Buy Fresh!' guide is still
current. The revised edition
should be available in time for the
2017 International Plowing Match
(IPM) to be held at Walton."
Participants are encouraged to
bring their own brochures to
swap with the other businesses
present. In this way, the informa-
tion can be taken back to their
own place of business to be made
available to their own clients,
making for a county -wide distri-
bution. Fisher admits, "With the
use of the internet, there is less
print than before, but there is still
a place for print. There is still a
certain demographic who rely on
print to get their information:'
The role of the Huron Tourism
Association is stated in their Mem-
bership Package brochure. "Huron
Tourism Association (HTA) is dedi-
cated to increasing local business
revenue by promoting Huron
County through every possible
marketing avenue and is continu-
ally seeking new opportunities to
Valerie Gillies/Clinton News Record
Approximately 85 participants attended the Huron Tourism Association industry season launch at the Brochure Swap held at the Libro Community Hall in Clinton on
April 5.
showcase the region. HTA is a tour-
ism destination marketing organi-
zation (DMO), working in conjunc-
tion with the County of Huron and
the Province of Ontario's Regional
Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4), to
help promote tourism. HTA is an
ambassador for Huron County and
is the visible voice for the tourism
industry in our region."
Awards were presented by the
HTA during the Brochure Swap.
The Annual Tourism Develop-
ment Award has been in place
since 1993, initiated by the Blyth
Festival. It recognizes "a tourism -
related business or organization
that demonstrates leadership,
creative invention, partnership
initiatives, community impact
and excellence in the tourism
industry': The 2016 recipient is
Hotel Bedford, Goderich, owned
by Kathleen and Ken Bowen since
2000, but has been a hotel since
1896. Previous recipients were:
2015 Maitland Trail Association,
2014 Samuels Hotel Inc., 2013 Ice -
culture Inc., 2012 The Little Inn of
Bayfield, 2011 Walton Raceway
and Events, 2010 Colbome Bed &
Breakfast, Goderich, 2009 Blyth
Festival, 2008 Huron Ridge Acres,
Zurich, 2007 Hessenland Country
Inn, St. Joseph, 2006 Armstrong
Tourism Marketing Services, 2005
H.O. Jerry(1983) Ltd., Goderich,
2004 Viewpoint B&B, Goderich,
2003 Heritage & Culture Partner-
ship, 2002 Tourism Goderich,
2001 Huron County Museum,
2000 Brentwood on the Beach
B&B, St. Joseph, 1999 Shayrina
Sheep Farm, near Bluevale, 1998
Town Hall Heritage Theatre,
Wingham, 1997 The Maitland Mill
Association, Gorrie, 1996 Huron
Community Futures Corporation,
1995 Huron Country Playhouse,
near Grand Bend and Maple Leaf
Motel, 1994 Benmiller Inn, 1993
County of Huron Planning &
Development Dept.
The 2016 recipient of the Tour-
ism Champion Award, which was
initiated in 2011, is Cindy Fisher
who retired at the end of January.
She has been working with the
County of Huron for several dec-
ades with the latter half of her
career as Tourism Coordinator.
The award recognizes "a person
who is the owner, operator, staff or
volunteer of a business, attrac-
tion, special event etc., who dem-
onstrates on or more of the fol-
lowing attributes: stellar
hospitality, creative marketing
savvy, inclusive partnerships, for-
ward thinking leadership, ongo-
ing promotion of Ontario's West
Coast and other area tourism
businesses and experiences" Past
recipients were: 2015 Pat Hamil-
ton, Huron County Museum;
2014 Jim Lee, Cinnamon Jims;
2013 Liz and Frank Ihrig, Hessen -
land Country Inn; 2012 James
Eddington, Eddington's of Exeter;
2011 Joan Karstens, Brentwood
on the Beach B&B and Cottages.
To learn more about the
Huron Tourism Association or
to find the various tourism and
recreation businesses and
opportunities in Huron County,
visit the website at ontariowest-
coast.ca.
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