The Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) has initiated a project called the Conference Destination Marketing program. There are several key components to the development of this program. The creation of a marketing package for each community will highlight the unique aspects of each Baffin community. A survey of the services available in each Baffin community will be conducted in order to produce a database for event planners to access. The database will provide them with the information they require to determine which Nunavut community is able to meet the needs of the event they are planning.

The BRCC will be monitoring information requests received from event planners in order to identify gaps in the services available in Baffin region communities. Attracting meetings, retreats and conferences will be another way of enriching the economic development in a community should community members desire to provide more services.

The BRCC has started networking with meeting planner professionals and learning about the industry. In February 2009, two Meeting Professional International conferences and tradeshows were attended. One was held in Toronto, Ontario and the other in Atlanta, Georgia. Meeting Professionals International (MPI) helps their 24,000 worldwide members thrive by providing human connections to knowledge, relationships, and marketplaces.

A Nunavut Tourism representative accompanied BRCC Events Manager, Jessica Dewar to the conference and tradeshow in Atlanta. Involving stakeholders such as Nunavut Tourism will ensure the most effective use of resources and that a consistent message is being put forward.

Keep looking for more information about the progress of this project here on the BRCC website. If you have any questions please contact Alison Dubeau, Community Capacity Building Project Coordinator. Her email is conferences@baffinchamber.ca or call (867) 979-4654.