Revised Port Readiness Workshop Schedule

PORT READINESS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

March 15, 2006 - Port Readiness Program Tentative Workshop Schedule

1. January 12 - Nain * Completed
2. January 14 - Goose Bay * Completed
3. March 24 - Red Bay * Completed
4. March 27 - Baie Verte * Completed
5. April 5 - Lewisporte * Completed
6. April 6 - Twillingate * Completed
7. April 11 - Bonavista * Completed
8. April 13 - Fortune *Completed
9. April 18 - Rocky Harbour * Completed
10. April 18 - Argentia *Completed
11. April 20 - CBS *Completed
12. April 21- Port Aux Basques *Completed
13. April 24 - Bay Bulls *Completed
14. April 24- St. Anthony *Completed
15. April 25- Port Aux Choix *Completed
16. April 28 - Corner Brook *Completed
17. May 25 - St. John’s *Completed
18. June TBA - South Coast

***Locations to be announced. Keep posted for scheduling updates and locations.

St. John's Port Readiness Workshop

On May 25, the seventeenth Port Readiness Workshop was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Over sixty (60) participants attended the workshop at the Municipal Building including representatives from the Ambassador Program, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the City of St. John’s, the St. John’s Port Authority and a host of private organizations linked to the cruise industry. Dennis O’Keefe, the Deputy Mayor, was on hand in addition to NTV and CBC Radio. During the session, participants conducted a needs assessment for the port and identified the following strengths of St. John’s as a cruise destination:

-Proximity to Europe/Accessibility
-Friendliness of the people and culture
-Historical value of the city
-Natural beauty
-Ambassador Program

In addition, a list of unique selling points of St. Johns was generated to help market the city to the cruise line industry:

-Ambassador Program
-Accessibility of cultural downtown resources
-Oldest city in North America/most easterly point in North America
-George Street
-Mix of old/new and city/nature
-Importance of churches/religious heritage
-Newfoundland dog

Corner Brook's Port Readiness Workshop a Huge Success

Corner Brook – Explore the Unexpected

On April 28th, the sixteenth Port Readiness Workshop was held at the Greenwood Inn in Corner Brook. Thirty three participants attended the session, including nine representatives from Academy Canada, student ambassadors to visiting cruise ships in Corner Brook. In addition representatives from Humber Economic Development Board, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, My Newfoundland Adventures, Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation, Crystal Waters, Appalachian Adventures, First Colony Adventures, Memorial University, the Corner Brook Port Corporation, Crombie Properties, the City of Corner Brook, Corner Brook Tourist Chalets, Marketing Plus, Adventure Communications, Cabox Escape, Nortique Inc also attended providing a good mix of public and private representation at the session. In addition, participants traveling from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick included Atlantic Cruise Ship Services, Pye Management Services, and the Restigouche/Chaleur Cruise Association. The workshop was extremely productive with the Corner Brook Port Corporation featuring their new marketing materials – print collateral, DVD, and a comprehensive website (www.cornerbrookport.com) to assist the cruise industry in scheduling visits to Corner Brook.

At the end of the session participants identified the following priorities:
-beautification of the harbour front
-local product and service training programs
-further identify the unique selling points (USPs) of the area
-upgrade non-marine facilities at the port (fill potholes)
-more proactive cruise committee
-evaluate customer testimonials – are we meeting needs of cruise passengers
-provide for quality program standards

Port aux Choix Port Readiness Workshop

Port aux Choix/Port Saunders – Preparing to Host a Cruise ship in 2006

The fifteenth Port Readiness workshop was help at the Sea Echo Motel in Port au Choix on April 25th. Six local residents participated in the workshop including representatives from the Harbour Authority of Port Saunders, the Town of Port Saunders, the regional representative of the Department of Industry Trade and Rural Development, Nortip, Parks Canada and the Red Ochre Board. Over the course of the workshop, participants mentioned that Port Saunders has the potential to host larger cruise ships due to their deep water port while Port au Choix has the capacity to host the smaller expedition and adventure ships. Participants were surprised to find out that a cruise ship is scheduled to stop at Port au Choix in 2006. Carolyn Lavers offered to help coordinate efforts to set up a cruise committee to get more local residents involved and to complete a How to Host a Cruise ship plan to identify the strengths of the area in developing unique, authentic excursions for the upcoming season. The Salmon Interpretation Centre in Hawkes Bay, presently under construction, and Parks Canada’s National Historic Site at Port au Choix were mentioned as local attractions that should be incorporated into local itineraries. Participants also identified the need to update their port profile on the Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador’s website.

St. Anthony Port Readiness Workshop

St. Anthony Sets Plans for Port Readiness

Cruise industry stakeholders from the St. Anthony region came together on April 24th at the St. Anthony Haven Inn for a Port Readiness workshop. Participants included representation from several regional communities, the Town of St. Anthony, the Viking Trail Tourism Association, Grenfell Handicrafts, the St. Anthony and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Port of St. Anthony and others. The group looked closely at the region's strengths, weakness and opportunities and identified a number of factors limiting the region's development of cruise activity. The close relationship with Parks Canada and L'anse aux Meadows was also discussed in reference to maximizing the opportunities of all cruiseship visits to the region. The group identified a direction for moving ahead and made plans to call for expressions of interest to form a local cruise committee at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Bay Bulls Hosts Port Readiness Workshop

Bay Bulls Port Readiness Workshop

Bay Bulls was the site for the twelfth Port Readiness Workshop. Participants from the Irish Loop attended. Expectations for the day included learning more about the cruise industry, determining potential opportunities that may exist to the region from visiting cruise ships or from shore excursions that may originate from cruise ships visiting St. John’s. In addition, discussion focused on how best to tap into the market and how to generate more cruise business for the overall region.
At the conclusion of the workshop participants concluded that there must be further interaction with the Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (CANAL) to determine how best to move forward in the short and long term. Additionally, there is a need to do an assessment of all services and products available in the region for visiting tourists. There was general consensus that all businesses in the region must work together to avail of opportunities connected with the cruise sector of tourism.

Port Readiness Session in Port aux Basques

Port aux Basques – the Gateway to Newfoundland

On April 21st, twenty one residents from the Port aux Basques region, including the Codroy Valley and Rose Blanche, participated in the twelfth Port Readiness workshop at the Hotel Port aux Basques. During the course of the day there were discussions addressing marketing, excursion planning, and port infrastructure issues. Debbie Munden from the Marine and Mountain Zone Corporation mentioned that developing the cruise industry was a priority for the region as part of their integrated work plan. Phyllis Baird, a resident of Codroy also shared with participants their program for hosting a small cruise that has resulted in a worthwhile return on investment for the local communities. At the end of the meeting participants decided to formally organize a cruise ship committee, to develop a port readiness plan to assess potential return on investment, to improve port infrastructure in Port aux Basques and in a number of smaller ports in the area to accommodate different types of cruise ships, and to target the adventure-expedition markets to help grow the industry in the area. Offering more organized excursions was also mentioned as an action to help attract cruise ships.

Port Readiness in Conception Bay South

Conception Bay South Port Readiness Workshop

On April 20th, the Town of Conception Bay South hosted the eleventh port readiness workshop. Fourteen participants from the Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association, Capital Coast Development Alliance, CBS Chamber of Commerce, City of St. John’s, Town of Conception Bay South, Battle Harbour Historic Trust, private sector, and the Long Pond Port Authority attended the workshop. Participants’ expectations for the day included how best to host a cruise ship, identification of opportunities to enhance product offerings, how do communities from the region get a piece of the action, and port infrastructure development. At the conclusion of the workshop a number of priorities were established for the region including the organization of local cruise committees, ensuring various communities in the region are made aware of the opportunities connected with the cruise industry and how to get involved, development of unique shore excursions, and the development of a strategic plan for hosting cruise ships.

Port Readiness in Gros Morne National Park

Rocky Harbour Port Readiness Workshop

On April 18th, 12 participants from Rocky Harbour, Woody Point, Norris Point, and Corner Brook gathered at the Fisherman’s Landing Inn for the tenth port readiness workshop. Representatives from private business, municipalities, and Parks Canada provided a broad spectrum of key stakeholders from the region. The day featured lively discussions on marketing and product development linked to the cruise industry. All participants agreed that the port profiles for the Gros Morne Region on the Cruise Association website should be combined into one listing as “Gros Morne” with a choice of three ports for welcoming cruise ships.
One of the highlights of the day was the group activity on excursion planning with one group developing a community experiential tour entitled, “Hook, Line and Sink Her!” At the end of the workshop the participants identified the need to formalize a regional cruise committee comprised of representatives from the local councils, Parks Canada and tour operators. Bruce Martin offered to help coordinate the efforts. Developing a port readiness strategy, updating the port profiles, and beautifying the waterfronts in the region were also mentioned as short-term priorities for the group.

Port Readiness Travels to Kalajoki Finland!

Port Readiness Training in Kalajoki, Finland

On April 7th, Dr. John Hull, Project Director for the Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (CANAL) Port Readiness Program administered the port readiness training workshop for twenty five participants as part of the European Union’s Northern Coastal Experience (NORCE) program in Kalajoki, Finland. The NORCE program is a major supporter of CANAL’s Port Readiness Program.
The goal of the three year European program focuses on identifying destination development strategies linked to traditional coastal culture in the North Atlantic (Newfoundland and Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland, Orkney and Northern Norway) and Bothnian Bay (Sweden and Finland). The four main themes for product development are: boats and boatbuilding, local cuisine, wildlife watching, and built heritage including fishing cottages and lighthouses. As part of the marketing efforts of the program, NORCE partners are working closely with regional transport and cruise companies in an effort to develop themed itineraries for visitors touring the two regions.
The workshop took place in one of the most popular summer tourist destinations in northern Finland. At the end of the workshop, a participant from Sweden commented that the workshop was practical, informative and will help us a lot in the work ahead with the cruise industry. Participants from Iceland and Norway also commented that the workshop should be administered in other NORCE partner regions. One of the major outcomes of the training seminar was a proposal to administer the workshops at ports in Iceland in the fall 2006 or winter 2007 as part of a more regionally-based training and development strategy. NORCE Project Director Rognvaldur Gudmundsson is now working with Dr. Hull to identify European funding to extend the port readiness program to the North Atlantic.

Argentia's Port Readiness Workshop Completed

Argentia Port Readiness Workshop

On April 18, 2006, the Argentia Management Authority hosted the ninth CANAL Port Readiness Workshop. Eleven participants representing the town, regional tourism associations, government agencies, port authority, and the private sector took part in the full-day workshop. The Port of Argentia has hosted cruise ships in the past and the region is expecting three cruise ship visits this coming cruise season. Learning more about how the cruise industry operates, how to develop and market the region as a cruise destination, how to increase economic benefits, and how to improve communication with cruise operators, were mentioned as priorities for the day. It was concluded that the identification of which cruise market segment best fits the region is very important, as well as upgrading product and service offered to visiting tourists. In addition, the organization of a cruise committee to assist in the planning required to further develop the region is necessary.

Bonavista Port Readiness Workshop Completed

Bonavista Makes Port Readiness a Priority

On April 11th Bonavista was the site for CANAL’s seventh Port Readiness workshop. Twenty participants including representatives of the town, tourism associations, government agencies, port authority, museums, and the private sector attended the workshop. Mayor Betty Fitzgerald and Cruise Committee Chairperson Corporal Reagh Ellis welcomed those attending, and introduced the facilitators for the workshop. The towns of Bonavista and Trinity have played host to a number of cruise ship visits during the past several years. This coming cruise season the region will entertain four cruise ship calls. The group identified the need for the region to work together in the overall development and promotion of the destination. As well there is a requirement to expand the membership of the existing cruise committee to include stakeholders from the entire region who have vested interest in attracting more cruise ships. In addition, discussion will take place to determine whether or not it is feasible to designate a deep-water port of call to accommodate cruise ships of various sizes that may wish to visit the area. Steps will be taken to work with CANAL to update the destination profile, and to complete a port readiness needs assessment to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that may impact on the region in the further growth of the cruise sector of tourism. Following the completion of this assessment the cruise committee intends to develop a Port Readiness Plan for the region.

Fortune Port Readiness Workshop

Port Readiness Workshop in Fortune

On April 13th Fortune, “Gateway to St. Pierre et Miquelon” was the site for CANAL’s eighth Port Readiness workshop. Eleven participants representing the town, tourism associations, government agencies, port authorities, museums, and the private sector took part in the full-day workshop. Expectations for the day included learning more about the cruise industry, looking at opportunities/benefits that may be available to the region, and how to get ready to host cruise ships. At the end of the session, participants agreed that the next step will be to meet with stakeholders of the region to determine whether or not a regional cruise committee should be formed to start the planning process required to attract cruise ships to the region. Immediate action will be taken to update a regional port fact sheet for CANAL.

Twillingate Port Readiness Completed

Twillingate Port Readiness Workshop

On April 6th Twillingate was the site for CANAL’s sixth Port Readiness workshop. The workshop was well attended with ten participants. Participants included representatives of the town (including Mayor Calla Guy), government agencies, museums, and development associations. As the Town of Twillingate has hosted cruise ships over the past several years and has a scheduled visit for June 1st of this year, discussion focused on how best to improve the experience of visiting passengers, and how to develop better communication between the cruise operators and the community. In addition, concerns were expressed regarding the negative impact of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) regulations on cruise ships visiting destinations in the province. While a cruise committee had been formed some years ago, it has not been active. The group identified the reactivation of the committee as a first priority. Immediate attention is to be given to the updating of a port fact sheet for the Town of Twillingate for inclusion on the CANAL’s website. Participants recognize the important role that CANAL plays in marketing member destinations, such as Twillingate, to the cruise industry. To ensure the community is better prepared to host cruise ships, action is to be undertaken to prepare a strategic port readiness plan.

Lewisporte Hosts Port Readiness Workshop

Lewisporte hosts Port Readiness Workshop

On April 5th the site for the fifth Port Readiness Workshop was the Lewisporte Town Hall. Eleven participants representing the town, provincial government, museums, development associations, and private sector operators participated in the workshop. The Mayor of Lewisporte extended a warm welcome to all participants. Those attending were anxious to learn about the cruise industry, and to discuss potential opportunities for Lewisporte as a port of call for visiting cruise ships to the province. During the workshop there was a constructive exchange of ideas regarding the destination and what it has to offer. As a first step to build upon momentum resulting from the workshop it was decided that a cruise committee should be organized. In addition, the completion of a port readiness needs assessment, and the development of a strategic port readiness plan for Lewisporte and the region were considered high priorities. Immediate action is to be undertaken to update a port fact sheet of the destination to ensure the information provided on CANAL’s website is current.

Port Readiness Completed for Baie Verte Area

Baie Verte Port Readiness Workshop

On March 27th, the BaieVista Inn was the site of the fourth Port Readiness Workshop in the province. Nine residents participated in the workshop including representatives from six local communities and two local tourism associations. One of the participants spoke about her childhood and the cruise ships that used to visit the region fifty years ago. At the end of the workshop, the group decided that they should form a cruise committee with representatives from the two tourism associations in the region. The participants identified the need to complete a How to Host a Cruise ship Plan to try and attract the adventure and expedition markets to local ports in the region.

Port Readiness Completed in Red Bay

Red Bay Port Readiness Workshop

On March 24th, residents of the Labrador Straits gathered in Red Bay at the Parks Canada Interpretation Centre to participate in the Cruise Association’s Port Readiness workshop. There were eleven participants at the workshop representing public and private institutions. Discussion focused on improving the cruise ship offerings in the region and the Town of Red Bay’s efforts to upgrade the wharf in the community. A steering committee is presently working on this project. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants identified the need to work regionally to develop a port readiness plan that would improve marketing efforts with CANAL, upgrade the physical infrastructure and develop a series of new excursions for the cruise lines with the local tour operator.

Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Launches the Port Readiness Program in Labrador

Port Readiness Workshops Kick Off in Nain and Happy Valley-Goose Bay

On January 12th and January 14th, the Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador administered the first two workshops of the Port Readiness Program. The goal of the Port Readiness Program is to inform key ports of opportunities for local revenue generation, employment enhancement, and excursion planning tied to the development of the cruise industry in the province. The program is designed to help stakeholders in communities better understand the cruise industry and how to participate in this growing sector. The workshops provide a profile of the cruise ship industry, information on how to develop the cruise ship industry as well as a step by step guide to hosting cruise ships in provincial ports.

In Nain, Labrador, the workshop was linked to the Partnerships and Planning for Tourism in Nunatsiavut Workshop held January 10th and 11th. Representatives from the Nunatsiavut Government, Parks Canada, and local residents from the North Coast attended the full day workshop administered by John Hull and Mary Taylor-Ash of Intervale Associates, Inc. Discussion focused on how to plan for an increasing number of cruise ships to the North Coast, especially to the remote Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve. On January 14th, the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Cruise Committee participated in the second workshop, held at the Labrador Inn. Excursion planning, port services, and marketing opportunities were identified as priorities for Happy Valley- Goose Bay.

The workshops will be administered throughout the province over the next three months. Dates for upcoming workshops are available by contacting the Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (http://www.cruisenewfoundlandandlabrador.com/).

NL Port Readiness Manual

An important component of the Port Readiness Project is the development of the Port Readiness Manual. This manual is near completion and has been designed to help stakeholders in communities better understand the cruise industry and how to participate in this growing sector. Specifically the manual will provide:

• information on the cruise ship industry
• information on how to develop the cruise ship industry
• step by step guide to hosting cruise ships

WHO SHOULD USE THIS MANUAL

All stakeholders in the cruise ship industry can utilize this manual in planning and delivering product and service for the cruise industry. It is designed to be used by organizations, governments, and private sector companies that either arrange cruise ship visits or deliver products or services to cruise ships. These stakeholders include:

• cruise committees
• municipal governments
• port authorities
• tour operators
• retail operators
• tourism operators

MANUAL DESIGN

The manual is comprised of six sections:

1. Project overview & historical perspective
2. Planning
3. Marketing
4. Product Development
5. Port Services and Infrastructure
6. Service

Each section of the Port Readiness Manual has a consistent layout for ease of use. All sections begin with learning objectives identifying what the participant can expect to learn in that section. Case Studies and activities are utilized to illustrate information and to make the manual interactive for participants.

The manual will be available to ports during the delivery of Port Readiness Seminars. Keep posted as a schedule for port sessions will be posted later this week.

On the Lighter Side

On the Lighter Side!

Top Ten of Silliest Questions asked on a Cruise Ship(by Paul Grayson, Cruise Director for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines)

1. Do these steps go up or down?


2. What do you do with the beautiful ice carvings after they melt?


3. Which elevator do I take to get to the front of the ship?


4. Does the crew sleep on the ship?


5. Is this island completely surrounded by water?


6. Does the ship make its own electricity?


7. Is it salt water in the toilets?


8. What elevation are we at?


9. There's a photographer on board who takes photos and displays them the next day ... the question asked ... If the pictures aren't marked, how will I know which ones are mine?


10. What time is the Midnight Buffet being served?

Design of Cruise Manual Started

Dr. John Hull and Mary Taylor-Ash of the Intervale team are shown as they begin drafting the Port Readiness manual. The manual will be an invaluable tool available to all cruise stakeholders and will accompany the Port Readiness seminars beginning this Fall.

NL Port Readiness Needs Assessment

Canadian Sailing Expeditions "Concordia" in Norris Point

________________________________________

NL Port Readiness Project – Needs Assessment

Executive Summary

Intervale Associates, Inc. program delivery is based on the following guiding principles:

• Adherence to green practices (i.e., electronic production of training materials/use of paperless technology)
• Maximum use of technology.
• Interactive for participants.
• Experience-based, practical approach.

The Port Readiness Program will target:

• The entire community in order to achieve long-term sustainability.
• The public and private sector including port authorities, development associations, municipalities, waterfront committees, tour operators, and other private businesses.

The Port Readiness Manual and Training Program will include the following topics:

• A historical perspective on the development of the cruise ship industry globally and in the province.
• How to create effective local organizations to support the cruise ship industry.
• How to develop a strategic plan of action that can properly manage, measure, and monitor changes in the industry.
• Product development, itinerary planning, and packaging.
• A compilation of resources (government programs and policies, recommended readings, funding sources, associations) relating to the cruise industry.
• A series of checklists to match cruise expectations with port services and facilities (i.e., physical infrastructure, port specifications, and communications).
• How to market to the cruise industry (i.e., marketing partnerships, use of the Internet, role of CANAL, ACCA, Department of Tourism).
• An overview of government policies and procedures, how they affect the cruise industry, and how stakeholders can work cooperatively.
• How to Host a Cruise Ship (i.e., customer service expectations, dockside welcome/departure program, signage, public safety/security).
• Sustainable tourism practices.

Port Readiness Roundtables Complete - Results Published

Corner Brook Roundtable participants meeting at the

Corner Brook Port Corporation boardroom on July 14th.

Intervale Associates Inc. are pleased to present the findings of the NL Port Readiness Project Roundtable Sessions. Roundtables were conducted in St. John's, Corner Brook and Happy Valley - Goose Bay the week of July 11th. These sessions have provided valuable input and validation of the port and cruise industry surveys. All survey results will be completed this week and the Intervale team will begin anlyzing the data and moving forward with production of the training manual and Port Readiness sessions. Thank you to all who participated and/or assisted in the preparation and delivery of these sessions. If you would like to add comments or suggestions, please click on the COMMENTS tab at the bottom of this article. Here are the results of the sessions.

*****

Port Readiness Focus Group Session
Murray’s Pond, St. John’s, July 13, 2005

Facilitators: Richard Parsons & Mary Taylor-Ash


In Attendance:
Stelman Flynn, CANAL
Dennis O’Keefe, City of St. John’s
Laura Walbourne, City of Corner Brook
Jackie Chow, City of Corner Brook
Charlotte Jewczyk, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Cathy Anderson, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Juanita Ford, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
Jeremy Roop, Parks Canada
Dave Lough, Tourism Atlantic
Greg Stroud, Terra Nova National Park
Betty Fitzgerald, Town of Bonavista
Mike Buist, Destination St. John’s
Jean-Pierre Andieux, St. Pierre Tours
Joan Butler, Town of Conception Bay South
Yvonne Power, CANAL
Amy Flynn, CANAL
Rebecca Drodge, CANAL


Notes from session:

Question 1. What are the most important needs facing ports of call in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Responses:

-Create opportunity for economic impact
-New product development – itineraries
-Need for port structure with committees and leadership in each port
-Train on generating income
-Education on benefits & managing expectations of ports
-Understanding how cruise lines do business e.g. large cruise lines versus small and their decision making process and how to “tap into process”
-Need cruise lines to know what to offer
-Need for basic infrastructure development both physical and transportation needs. Safe/clean motor coaches
-Ports positioning by type and facility?
-Training for shore excursions
-Need for products to be developed in partnership with cruise lines
-Variety of product offerings. Need to be unique.
-Understand risk involved in industry i.e., storms and ship delays or cancellations
-Template for dockside welcomes. Process/protocol – welcome, reception, departure
-Need for basic services i.e., washrooms, phones, etc.
-Port security is important
-Need for implementation people on the ground
-Signage for passengers
-Need for translation services
-Need for info on tourism attractions and directions
-More revenue generation for local businesses
-Product development involving local business
-How to access business opportunities
-Training on manual
-How to work with tour operators



Question 2. What training is needed? What topics would you include in the Port Readiness Manual?

Responses:

Training:
-Important to identify who needs to be trained and who needs information provided to them:
-----Port committees
-----Municipal councils
-----Harbour authority
-----Everyone in community
-----Business community
-Training for continuity by training permanent people
-Training needs to be ongoing for quality service
-Identify key people in ports to train
-Train for continuity and sustainability - economic development agencies can play key role
-Partnerships for delivery of training

Topics for manual:

-Tour guide training
-Community information
-Vessel information
-Passenger information
-How to communicate with cruise lines/ships
-Template on cruise ship visits
-Who to communicate with & when
-Roles and Responsibilities
-Understanding cruise business – how decisions are made and their requirements
-Sustainability – sensitive to resources – natural & cultural
-Explain role of CANAL
-Fundamental information
-----Profile of port
-----Collection of information
-----Historical facts
-Welcome activities and list of port amenities and infrastructure
-What constitutes a port?
-Regulatory policies
-How to complete a communication plan
-How to handle traffic impact, i.e. logistics, timelines, etc.
-How to approach cruise passengers (training issue)
-How to develop marketing and promotional plan
-How to do research/ surveys
-How to access training

Question 3. What type of follow up program do you envision to monitor, evaluate, and support ports of call after the workshops?

Responses:

-Utilize staff economic development boards (integral part of process), tour operators for delivery
-Self study
-Manual updated by CANAL on-line
-Revisit manual every 5 years for relevance
-Establish CANAL training sub-committee
-HNL delivery of training
-Best Practices mission
-Fam tours

Additional note:
Following the focus group session Juanita Ford, HNL gave me a couple of notes on training topics she felt should be included:
Customer service training
Local knowledge interpretation
Cultural sensitivity practices
Community as ambassadors
Language support
Tour guiding

Port Readiness Focus Group Session

Corner Brook, July 14, 2005

Facilitators: John Hull and Todd Wight


In Attendance:
Laura Walbourne, City of Corner Brook
Ray Pollett, Corner Brook Port Corporation
Joy Blackwood, CBPC
Chris Power, CBPC
Nora Mercer, City of Corner Brook
Paul Parsons, Hospitality NL
Doug Richardson, EDO Humber Economic Development Board

Notes from session:

Question 1. What are the most important needs facing ports of call in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Responses:
-Infrastructure development
-Community awareness and education
-Increase economic benefit of port calls
-More support services for ports and cruise lines
-Training for guides
-Development of the NL cruise product
-Partnerships for marketing (theming)
-Brand development
-Acknowledge uniqueness of ports/special programming
-Respond to needs of larger cruiseships/adventure based cruise lines
-Better port info (maps/water depth/etc.) for cruiseships
-Consistent information management services
-Security plan for ports
-Educating tour operators about excursion potential (products)
-Port planner guide
-More current websites
-Coordinated approach to web development
-Quality transportation and directional signage
-Take advantage of cruiseships time
-Use local operators/businesses to develop itineraries
-Build in provincial mktg programs (ie. Taste of NL)

Question 2. What training is needed? What topics would you include in the Port Readiness Manual?

Responses:

Training:
-Customer service
-Security
-Taxi Host…general transportation service
-Community awareness training
-How to answer questions/ FAQ / Local Knowledge
-Cruise Host program
-How to update itinerary planners on port changes/enhancements
-Language services
-Multi lingual print/web info

Topics for manual:

-How to Host a Cruise Ship (step by step)
-Security Checklist
-Welcome program
-Awareness Program (FAQ)
-Community Volunteer List
-Wayfinging/Supplier Info/Kiosk Info
-Who to call WHEN? IF? FOR? IN THE CASE OF?
-Info Package Development
-Infrastructure Info
-Measuring economic impact of Cruise Ship visits
-Media Lists / Comm Info / Templates/ Sample Letters
-Media protocol
-Contact list

Question 3. What type of follow up program do you envision to monitor, evaluate, and support ports of call after the workshops?

Responses:

-NL Cruise Symposium / Port Days (regional)
-Weblog to share ideas / best practices / testimonials
-Port Specific Action Plans
-Take advantage of events and conferences
-Marketing (transatlantic, eastern N.A.)
-Best Practices mission




Port Readiness Focus Group Session
College of the North Atlantic, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, July 15, 2005

Facilitators: John Hull and Todd Wight in Corner Brook, Erica Stockley in Happy Valley-Goose Bay


In Attendance:
Goronwy Price
Ernie McLean
Herb Brown
Erika Stockley
Leander Baikie
Janice Pike
Dennis Peck
Kai Bath
Don White
Janice O'Neill
Stephanie Holwell
Win Barnes

Notes from session:

Question 1. What are the most important needs facing ports of call in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Responses:
-To generate economic development opportunities in Labrador.
-To create a Labrador Cruise Association to support the long-term development of the industry.
-Itinerary development for cruise ship industry.
-Addressing the customs restrictions for the province.
-A training program that assists ports in becoming product ready.
-Support for entrepreneurs interested in becoming suppliers for the cruise ship industry.
-Making sure that the province offers an authentic product.
-Staff person working full time in Labrador to help with cruise ship development. St. John’s and Corner Brook all have dedicated staff and budgets. Labrador needs the same.
-An awareness campaign that helps to build broader based support for the cruise ship industry.
-Participation and buy-in from the aboriginal nations in the program.
-Building community capacity to welcome cruise ships in provincial ports.
-Need a cruise ship tourism board for Labrador that is funded.
-Security plans for ports and industry.
-An icebreaker!
-Address cruise industry development in Labrador as a whole with support from the port authority in Labrador.
-Address ship needs in port – a directory/checklist of what ports should be providing in terms of services.
-Labrador has opportunities for developing a product similar to Alaska. Need case studies from other similar destinations to provide input and best practices for developing Labrador’s cruise product.
-There is only one representative from Labrador on the CANAL board. Need a representative from northern Labrador on the board.
-There is a need to have an overall indication from all of Labrador to develop a comprehensive strategy for the region.
-A lot of work to be done to make Labrador “port ready.”
-Port Readiness Program provides an opportunity to develop a port authority.
-Physical port infrastructure needs in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to address silting and dredging.
-Hebron – need for local guides, security and protection of heritage. Now ships stop and there is no one there. Need local protection in place to ensure long-term sustainability and security of ports and their resources.


Question 2. What training is needed? What topics would you include in the Port Readiness Manual?

Responses:

Training:
-Tour guide training
-Customer service
-Cruise host
-Adventure tourism itinerary planning
-Local knowledge and information about natural/cultural heritage.
-Infrastructure development
-Community awareness
-Frequently asked questions
-Cross training with other tourism sectors.

Topics for manual:

-Checklists to make sure ports have everything in place for cruise ship visits.
-Need to provide information to community – type of ship/port facilities/what is offered in port for visitors.
-List of tour operators.
-Where to find fuel, water, garbage, transport, etc.
-Information for agent on ground and dock operator to welcome cruise ships.
-Media information – how to write a press release.
-What is available for special needs travelers/accessibility issues.
-Community descriptions for visiting cruise ships.
-Exchange rates
-Information package for next port of call to be provided to ship’s agent
-Is there an opportunity to put on a local guide (aboriginal) to provide information as ships come into port.
-Where to get water charts/port services.

Question 3. What type of follow up program do you envision to monitor, evaluate, and support ports of call after the workshops?

Responses:

-Feedback system from participants to share information.
-Potential Labrador itineraries for marketing region.
-Building port profiles for CANAL.
-Action plans.
-Newsletters.
-Web follow up with participants.

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That's it folks...don't forget to add your comments by clicking on the COMMENTS tab below.

Cheers,

Intervale Team

Newfoundland and Labrador Port Readiness Project Roundtable Discussions

Photo: Ron O'Connell

The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (CANAL) in partnership with Intervale Associates, Inc., have initiated a Port Readiness Program to be administered in 2005-6 for thirty ports of call in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The purpose of the program is to inform communities of the opportunities for local revenue generation,employment enhancement, and excursion planning to improve the quality of service and increase the number of cruise ship calls to provincial ports.

In an effort to help communities improve their product to meet the needs of the cruise industry, and to add value to Newfoundland and Labrador as a cruise destination, Intervale Associates, Inc. is in the process of completing a needs assessment for ports of call in the province. As part of the assessment, a series of roundtable discussions will be held the week of July 11th. We would welcome your participation at the roundtable on

- July 13th in St. John's from 8:00-10:00am at Murray's Pond
- July 14th in Corner Brook from 10:00am-noon at the Corner Brook Port Corporation board room (10 Main Street)
- July 15th in Goose Bay at 9:30-11:00am(Labrador Time) at the Goose Bay College Hospitality Room via Smart Labrador Video Conference

The roundtables will include an overview of the Port Readiness Program.

Please register for the meeting by emailing http://info@cruisenewfoundlandandlabrador.com or phoning 709.737.7777 before July 12th.

Sincerely,
Yvonne Power,
Executive Director
Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

Seatrader Insider Article

Check out the article by going to:
http://www.cruise-community.com/ShowStory.asp?ID=7750

CANAL Port Readiness Project Partners

CANAL's Port Readiness Project is a partnership

among the following organizations:

• Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
• Northern Coastal Experience
• New Zealand Tourism Research Institute
• Destination St. John's
• Parks Canada
• Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
• Intervale Associates Incorporated

Port Readiness Project Launch

The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador launched it's Port Readiness Program in St. John's harbour on May 25th on board the Nouvelle Orleans. The project will be provincial in scope but have international ties to cruise industry stakeholders in Europe and New Zealand. Intervale Associates will assist CANAL in delivering this province wide initiative. Intervale's team consists of Dr. John Hull, Richard Parsons, Mary Taylor-Ash and Todd Wight. The first phase of the program will commence immediately with a provincial needs assessment. Intervale will provide weekly weblog updates at this site throughout the term of the project. Feel free to comment or email us at anytime, and don't forget to check out CANAL's website at www.cruisenewfoundlandandlabrador.com.

CANAL Leading the Way

Cruising to Success!

The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way to success for ports throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. CANAL's newest program is a Port Readiness project which will:

• generate a needs assessment for Newfoundland and Labrador ports
• offer leading edge workshops on making the most of cruise ship visits
• show prospective ports how cruise lines choose ports of call
• set benchmarks for measuring port growth from 2005 forward
• provide valuable links and marketing opportunities with international cruise affiliates in Europe and New Zealand

Keep tuned to this weblog for weekly updates!

CANAL