Online Revealed

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

The 3rd Annual Online Revealed Canada Conference is bigger, better and totally new content from the past two years! Based on the feedback and suggestions from the first two shows and 6 road shows, we have brought together cutting edge content within our unique format that will provide valuable education for both Newcomers and Alumni to the event.

With all the “Buzz” about Web 2.0, who better to open the show than one of the best Canadian Social Media Stories ever, Kyle MacDonald, The Red Paper Clip Guy! Kyle made 14 trades over the internet starting with one Red Paper Clip and ended up with a house! His story has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records!

We have three very relevant panels this year. The first we have assembled the top DMO’s in Canada to talk about how they are working to promote Canada as a premier destination. The second and very exciting panel brings together Yahoo! and MSN to discuss the current involvement of Search Engines in the Canadian Travel Landscape. Finally, not to forget our neighbors we have Marriott Hotels, Orbitz, Travelzoo, Realstar and TIG Global discuss the challenges and opportunities of cross border tourism.

What really makes Online Revealed different than any other conference is out 16 unique workshops taught by Canadians for Canadians! This year for the first time we have divided the tracks into learning levels, allowing participants to choose a track level of their choice or mix and match topics to customized their own learning experience.

2008 ORC Workshops

Beginner Track
o Search Engines & Consumer Friendly Websites - A Couple of Chicks e-Marketing
o Search Marketing 101 -Yahoo! Canada
o New Media- What is Web 2.0? -T4G
o Bloggers Summit-Tips from the T-List

Intermediate Track
o Website Strategy-Test My Site!- Epiar Inc.
o How to create Image and Video Ads-Blink Media Works
o Animate My Site!- Virtual Visit
o Analyze This!-6S Marketing

Advanced Track
o Feeding the Beast: How can small tourism operators keep their online and offline content fresh? Canadian Tourism Commission
o Social, Local, Mobile- Web 2.0 of Search Marketing-ISL
o Building a Community-Venture Communications
o Technology, Technology, Technology!-Massive Technology

Strategy Development
o Website Project Management-Point B Marketing
o How to Manage Geeks-Alpha Search
o Integrating your Online and Offline Spending –Can West Media
o Benchmarking Success-World Hotels

In addition we have Keynote presentations from Yahoo! Canada, Travelocity and Ice Portal. This brings us to a total of 39 speakers and workshop leaders in just two days! But don’t worry we have planned plenty of time for networking and fun! The *Meet, Greet, Tech, Talk* Party will kick off the conference the night before the opening day. Then there will be the can’t miss Welcome to Calgary Reception sponsored by Travelzoo. The wrap-up party that we call -”Web 2.oooohh We’re Going to Party” The Mash-up Mixer- is sponsored and co-ordinated by the 2009 Online Revealed Destination City! (Come see that Reveal at the show!)

Coined as the only “User Generated Conference” this is the only Online Marketing Conference that provides you with knowledge, Networking and Experiences like no other!
You can Register at www.onlinerevealed.com
I look forward to seeing you in Calgary
Patricia
Co-Chair & Co-Founder

Canada’s premier Online Travel and Tourism Marketing Event announces the opportunity for Canada’s travel Industry to join the Conference’s High-Profile Industry Partners, including Yahoo!, Orbitz, Travelocity, Axciom, TIG Global and booking.com

Toronto, On – April 1, 2008 – From May 12-14, 2008, some of the most well-respected travel and online industry leaders will make their way to Calgary’s Hyatt Regency for the 3rd Annual Online Revealed Canada. The 3rd annual Canadian internet marketing conference provides an ideal opportunity for a limited number of hospitality/tourism and online businesses to join the ranks of Online Revealed Canada’s industry partners including: Yahoo!, Travelocity, TIG Global, Orbitz, Travelzoo and bookings.com to connect with tourism professionals from Canada’s top destination marketing organizations, Hotel brands, marketing agencies and travel suppliers.

For a limited time, four types of sponsorship are available for Online Revealed Canada. Sponsors of the Canadian online travel and tourism marketing event may be recognized as the host organization for major special events that reach all attendees at Online Revealed Canada—such as lunches, receptions, and coffee breaks. These Function Sponsors have the opportunity to share their company’s message through interactive social networking events.

A Full Conference Sponsorship maximizes exposure at the event, with partners receiving: full recognition in all pre-, during, and post-conference public relations and promotional activities; complimentary registration for team attendees to take advantage of networking with over 300 delegates from every aspect of the hospitality industry; the option to display and distribute products/information and be part of Online Revealed Offline magazine, and a conference takeaway that will keep participating companies top of mind for potential customers well after the event.

Online Revealed Canada is also offering Track Sponsorships for the unique practical learning workshops being presented by a cross section of industry leaders in marketing tourism online. Track sponsors will be the hosts of one of the innovative learning tracks, providing the opportunity to address attendees at four different workshops, as well as chair all sessions in a track. Further honing a business’ exposure at the Canadian online travel and tourism marketing event, learning track hosts may choose from beginner, intermediate, advanced or the strategic development track.

New this year, sponsorship is available to co-sponsor with Yahoo! Canada the “My Home Revealed” student video contest, recognizing excellence in youth and fostering interest in travel and tourism as well as http://rss.esyndicater.com/onlinerevealed/archive.php [online marketing]. This sponsorship entails judging entries, participating in the conference, and presenting the award to a Canadian student who demonstrates ingenuity and aptitude.

Members of the media are welcome to attend and sponsorships customized for the media are available. For Conference Registration visit www.onlinerevealed.com.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact Sandie Currie, Director, Media Relations and Communications at scurrie@onlinerevealed.com or 902-431-0327.

About Online Revealed Canada
The Online Revealed tourism marketing conference provides Canadian tourism professionals with unique and innovative online marketing education, with an innovative agenda including educational workshops, keynotes, panel discussions and a new technology showcase. Produced by A Couple of Chicks e-Marketing, www.acoupleofchicks.com and Yahoo! Canada, Online Revealed is an annual conference event with a mission to educate the travel industry to be successful on the World Wide Web through collaboration with leading industry professionals.

About Yahoo! Canada
Yahoo! Canada Co. is a leading Internet destination that provides online products and services to meet the needs of Canadians and offers a range of tools and marketing solutions for businesses to connect with Internet users. Yahoo! Canada services Canadians in both English and in French through its sites, www.yahoo.ca and http://francais.yahoo.ca. Yahoo! Canada is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario