The new 91大黄鸭 Visitor Centre opened today in advance of the Canada Day long weekend and busy summer travel months.
The downtown location will be able to better help the 420,000 pedestrians that walk the waterfront boardwalk each year.
鈥淭ourism 91大黄鸭 is proud and excited to open our new 91大黄鸭 Visitor Centre as an important new addition to our community,鈥� Thom Killingsworth, chair of Tourism 91大黄鸭鈥檚 board of directors said in a press release. 鈥淎s a sought-after and growing destination for visitors, and an incredible place to call home, we look forward to serving our community and visitors who come from across the world. A strong visitor experience includes a well-positioned visitor information centre and innovative visitor experience strategy, which will keep visitors coming back to 91大黄鸭 and continued growth of our local economy.鈥�
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The 91大黄鸭 Visitor Centre was delivered on schedule and on budget at $2.8 million.
Tourism 91大黄鸭鈥檚 visitor experience team, which includes 60 volunteers, is ready to take advantage of the new location, and expects to assist over 100,000 visitors and residents each year. The visitor centre hours of operation will be expanded through the summer months from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Limited-edition merchandise and custom, local products will be featured and rotated seasonally. An enhanced experience booking system will reserve 91大黄鸭 and Okanagan Valley experiences for residents and visitors, and the visitor experience team will sell event tickets, bus passes, offer free public WI-FI, and make reservations at local attractions and accommodations for guests.
Working with 91大黄鸭 Museums and the Westbank First Nations, historical and Indigenous interpretive panels were created to highlight 91大黄鸭鈥檚 recent and ancient histories. Additional programming and community partnerships will be developed to make use of the location between Kerry and Stuart parks to provide a fully activated and energetic space that鈥檚 open to everyone.
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Tourism 91大黄鸭鈥檚 mobile visitor centre will also pop up at events and locations around town to assist and engage with residents and visitors. Tourism 91大黄鸭 will operate a visitor information kiosk at 91大黄鸭 International Airport.
鈥淲hen visitors arrive in 91大黄鸭, we want them to know 鈥� and feel 鈥� that they are at the centre of an incredible destination,鈥滾isanne Ballantyne, president and CEO of Tourism 91大黄鸭 said in a press release. 鈥淥ur visitor experience team will help connect residents and visitors with the best the Okanagan Valley has to offer. Everything from food and wine experiences to year-round outdoor adventures is all right here. We want to set a new benchmark for enjoyment here in 91大黄鸭, and we want visitors to have the time of their lives and start thinking about their return visit 鈥� or a possible move here 鈥� even before their visit is done.鈥�
The Government of British Columbia provided a $500,000 provincial grant towards construction of the project and the City of 91大黄鸭 provided a lease for the land.
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鈥淲e recognize tourism injects millions of dollars into the local economy and creates jobs in our city,鈥� Mayor Colin Basran said in a press release. 鈥淎 new home for Tourism 91大黄鸭 has been a Council priority since 2012 and the City鈥檚 contribution of land for the 91大黄鸭 Visitor Centre through a 29-year non-market lease will help meet the needs of residents and visitors to keep our economy moving.鈥�
鈥淲e look forward to welcoming and serving millions more residents and visitors to 91大黄鸭 and area,鈥� Ballantyne said in a press release. 鈥淥ur ongoing work to market and develop our destination and provide an incredible visitor experience will further position 91大黄鸭 as a top destination in North America for four-season visitation, and a must-visit city.鈥�
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