Collaborative Economics
The hospitality and tourism sectors are inextricably connected. The more tourism and hospitality leaders can work together with business, government, and community groups, the more we can enhance growth opportunities for everyone.
We are getting better at telling our story. As the front-line for hospitality, the hotel industry is a breeding ground for innovation. We are known worldwide for service innovation, and for understanding while we provide genuine hospitality. Our sector is about providing personalized service, and empowering the people delivering it by helping them understand and respond to guest needs and, by giving them a higher purpose beyond a paycheck. We are also sharing our knowledge with others in our networks so that we can all deliver on the promise of Saskatoon as a destination of transformational experiences and deep connection.
Welcoming The World to Saskatoon – Destination Marketing
Marketing Saskatoon as an international travel destination takes a collaborative effort and significant dollars. Participating Destination Marketing Program hotel partners voluntarily contribute 3% from a consumer driven levy to the program to support destination management and marketing initiatives.
Like airport improvement fees, Destination Marketing Program’s are common in tourism-oriented cities in Canada and the United States. The levy is not legislated by the government.
Currently, 23 hotel properties participate in the Destination Marketing Program. The Destination Marketing Program funding goes to Discover Saskatoon to execute a co-created annual business plan that supports destination management and visitor attraction. Discover Saskatoon is a contracted service provider of the Saskatoon Hotel Association and is responsible for:
Meetings & Conventions
Investing in attracting large-scale business events that bring hundreds of thousands of people to the city. Driven by Saskatoon’s sectors of strength, business events showcase Saskatoon’s hosting excellence and drive large volumes of visitation and revenues. Room night generation is a key outcome for partner hotels through meetings and conventions. Pre/post and spousal programs increase the economic impact of meetings and conventions for our partner hotels.
Tourism Marketing
Compelling and targeted marketing campaigns promote and inspire travel to the city as a world-class tourism destination and reimagined new ways to attract visitors. Lead generation through Discover Saskatoon’s website is an example of a key outcome for partner hotels that can then lead to direct bookings.
Sports
Investing in sport initiatives to attract sport and recreational events to the city while working with local, provincial and national sport organizations to confirm small, medium and large scale sporting events in Saskatoon results in room night generation for partner hotels.
Destination Innovation
Event incubation activates the city and inspires visitation during off-peak seasons to create and sustain iconic events in Saskatoon. Experience development partnerships enable a continued growth of market and export ready experiences that provide partnership opportunities for DMO partner hotels while creating a critical mass of “things to do” to inspire travel and encourage travellers to extend their stay in Saskatoon.
Visitor Services
Providing services to visitors and local travellers through the Discover Saskatoon visitor centre enables clear and prioritized communication for Destination Marketing Program partners and, acts as a concierge service for hotel guests to ensure an exceptional visitor experience and inspire return visitation.