Online Revealed

Online Revealed Canada kicked off the 2008 conference with the introduction of the “Red Paper Clip Challenge!” The trading picked up speed the entire conference as attendees competed for an airfare, hotel and conference registration to the First Online Revealed Carribean Conference this September! I am pleased to announce the winner unamouisly was Trevor Tessier from Travel Alberta! Even though he was not there to tell his story…he wrote it out for Chris Lamb to tell! Here is the winning trade story…

“I am here on behalf of Trevor Tessier of Travel Alberta. Trevor had to leave after the sessions today to make it back on time to teach his classes.

Trevor jumped on the trade challenge right away making a run to the front desk. Aftering pestering Mike for a room upgrade he ended up with acess to the Regency Club on the 18th floor.

His next trade was one he thought everyone at this conference could use and tracked down Patricia of A Couple of Chicks. He aquired an excellent trade receiving a web site diagnostic valued at $500

He then wanted to trade that for an “experience” After buggin a few people at the conference an idea popped into his head. He thought a helicopter tour would be cool. So at the end of the sessions yesterday he called Icefield Helicopter Tours. After rambling on about a paperclip, a conference challenge and a trade, Ralph from Icefield Helicopter Tours didn’t miss a beat abd offered up a Glacic Ice Trip for 4 poeple valued at $900. Pretty Sweet!

He has heard a few trade offers for the tour but decided that he was done trading. Even if he doesn’t win the trip he is happy his red paper clip got him one heck of an anniversary gift for the end of the month!

Oh, and Patricia he is accepting bookings for next year’s conference as the new red paper clip guy!”

Congratulations Trevor!!!!!!!!!

A message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

I want to say a big thank-you to the organizing committee, the conference team and all the sponsors for an amazing 3rd Annual Online Revealed Conference. To Travel Alberta, Travelzoo and Niagara Falls thank-you for great networking opportunities. To City of Calgary, Travel Alberta and Hyatt Regency conference team for making us feel welcome and looking after us during our stay. To the speakers, moderators and chairs at the sessions, thank-you for sharing your ideas and giving your time to help us become better at Tourism Internet Marketing. To the co-chairs of the conference, Patricia and Martin thanks for a great job. To the Couple of Chicks, and Online Revealed Canada Team thank-you for a great conference. To the conference delgates, a special thank-you for your attendance, contributions, and networking at this conference.

In closing, I leave you with a picture of the wrapup session at this conference. It is never a dull moment with a Couple of Chicks. At the wrapup, it was announced that next year’s ORC conference will be held in Niagara Falls.

A message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

Another great day of presentations, networking and evening reception hosted by Niagara Falls Tourism. It is a shame it has to end but reality clicks in and most of us are at home reflecting back at the conference.

As I look back, here are some of my conference highlights -a) I see the red paperclip and trading at ORC - making the experience real, b) meeting and networking with the top tourism internet professionals in Canada, c) great presentations, learning new ideas and reinforcing old & current trends, d) wonderful evening social & networking receptions hosted and sponsored by Travel Alberta, Travelzoo and Niagara Falls Tourism, e) taking pictures of Calgary Rockies from Calgary Tower and finally e) seeing A Couple of Chicks again.

It has been a great two and half days in Calgary. I encourage you to stay in touch with your old and new contacts and incorporate the new ideas learned into your business.

A Message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

Keynote speaker Kyle MacDonald on Day 1 of the ORC conference, did not disappoint, providing the audience with his fascinating story on how he traded on-line one red paperclip for a house in the end in Kipling, Saskatchewan. I managed to get an autograph book - One Red Paperclip and picture with him.

Other highlights of the day included Kerry Munro, Yahoo Canada - Marketing tourism to Canada with Web 2.0, panel discussion Selling Canadian Destinations in a Global Marketplace, and the many great workshops in the four tracks in the afternoon. The day ended with splendid reception hosted by Travelzoo.

A message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

Opening night reception by Travel Alberta, featured a young cowboy fiddler player, great food, and lots of discussion on new products and projects. The 3rd annual Online Revealed Canada conference is off to great start. Most of the delgates have arrived and registered. While networking, I met a few people who have lived in Texas for a spell.

A Message from Tom - Guest ORC Blogger

Calgary Tower is a must see and do while in Calgary for this conference. The elevator takes you up 525 feet up to the skylines of the City of Calgary and if you are lucky the Rocky Mountains. The cost to go up is $12.95 and well worth it. A hot tip - the views and pics at night are spectacular - go around 8:30 pm. The last ride up the elevator is 9:30 pm.

A Message from Tom - ORC Guest blogger.

Looks like the weather will be good for the conference. According to the weather network website, the weather looks like this for the week -
Monday - morning Cloudy with 60% showers, high of 6 , afternoon - Cloudy, high 13,
Tuesday - cloudy periods high 16,
Wednesday - Cloudy with sunny periods, high 16,
Thursday - cloudy periods, high 19 and
Friday - Mainly sunny - high 24.

It was snowing here in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, today - forecast 10 cms of snow in the highlands. Strong northeast winds. 3-4 foot waves on the ocean. Driving was treacherous with one car flipped over on its roof outside Baddeck. I made it to Halifax OK and drove slower in wet snow conditions. Hope everyone has a safe trip to airport. See you in Calgary.

A message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

The registration desk opens on Monday, May 12 from 5:00 pm. - 9:00 pm. Join us for the conference opening - Meet, Greet, Tech and Talk. Canadian e-Tourism Council also meets on Monday from 10:00 am. - 4:00 pm.

Upcoming social events:
Tuesday social - 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Travelzoo Cocktail reception -” A Toast to Canada”, Imperial Ballroom
Wednesday social - 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Web 2.oooohh - We are going to Party - The Mashup Mixer

A Message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

The Hyatt Regency Google Map and Calgary attractions map provide very useful tools to get the lay of the land and show you around the city.

On the Hyatt Regency map, click on search nearby (pop-up window on the map), and you can type in things in such as banks, restaurants, pubs, etc. and it will tell you where they are located and distance from your hotel.

A Message from Tom - ORC Guest Blogger

Excitement is building for ORC conference with less than 6 days to go. Many of us are doing our travel research before our trip to find out what is close to conference hotel. Some will arrive early on Monday or leave later on Thursday or Friday. Here is what I have found out to date along with some help from Michelle Sears, TIANS :
1) airport shuttle to Hyatt is $15.00 one way
2) Calgary Tower is one block away from Hyatt - $12.95 to take the elevator. You can see the Rockies from the view on top - Yes !!!
3) Hyatt Regency has a mall connected to it with pubs, restaurants, stores etc.
4) Can I still ski at Banff - yes !!! - Sunshine Village (180 cm base) is open,
4) Military Museums - Not far away from the Hyatt is this attraction made of 7 museums on 13 acres. Open 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. daily - Admission - $6.00
5) Calgary Saddledome - Home to the Flames - 1.8 km from Hyatt
6) Sorry folks but the Calgary Stampede is July 4-13.
7) Calgary Zoo, open, admission - $18.00 from 9:00 am. - 5:00 pm. 2.1 km from Hyatt
Fort Calgary
9) Glenbow Museum
10) Telus World of Science