Welcome
We all know that Cowichan is a unique and amazing place. The purpose of the Tourism Cowichan Society is to promote the desirability of our region to potential visitors by telling the story of Cowichan in a way that taps into the essence of the area. What better way to do that than through the experiences of the people who know the region best: our residents.
Destination marketing is always most effective when it is industry-driven. We are excited to collect comments and suggestions from stakeholders around our beautiful region. We will be using your input to increase the effectiveness of our destination marketing initiatives. By contributing, you will be helping us assemble the elements we need to create great marketing campaigns, and influencing the future of tourism in Cowichan.
Thank you for being part of Tourism Cowichan!
About Tourism Cowichan Society
Tourism Cowichan Society
The Tourism Cowichan Society (TCS) is a non-profit society delivering destination marketing services to the region. Our primary goal is to build tourism campaigns that benefit all our local businesses. Our stakeholders – tourism businesses, organizations, and individuals who become stakeholders will be able to leverage their own marketing budgets from us in order to increase and improve their presence in the tourism market.
TCS is active in gathering input and feedback on the current state of tourism through our relationships with our stakeholders, 4VI (formerly Tourism Vancouver Island), Destination British Columbia, the Tourism Industry Association of BC, and many other supporting organizations. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Tourism Cowichan Society, please reach out to Kenzie Knight at kenzie@tourismcowichan.com
Benefits
Are you a tourism or hospitality focused business or organization operating in the Cowichan Region? Join the Tourism Cowichan Society in showcasing Cowichan as a destination for leisure travelers. By joining you gain access to our wide range of benefits and advertising opportunities that can help grow your business.
- Networking Opportunities
- Voting Rights
- Access to Tourism Cowichan Events Calendar
- Opportunity for Tourism Cowichan Consumer Newsletter Mentions
- Recognized as a Travel Media Partner for Potential Press Trips and Travel Media Visits
- Online Listing Of Your Business ( business description, images, video, click-though, links to social)
- Social Media Support – Content Submitted is Shared Across Channels
- Use of Assets (images +video)
- Mentions and Direct Links in Blogs
Marketing Tools and Resources
Share Your Cowichan Places and Stories
Cowichan. Why do you love it?
Effective content for a successful destination involves tourists and local residents proudly promoting a destination in a natural, authentic voice. Do you have a story that you like to tell when people ask you what you love about Cowichan? Is there a place, an event or a person that you feel sums up the uniqueness of our region? Maybe it’s a shop, a beach, a hike, a festival, a farm, an artist, a gathering place or a silent forest clearing. Have a story you’d like to share? Please email Kenzie Knight at kenzie@tourismcowichan.com
Resources, Information and Marketing tools
Tourism Cowichan is pleased to provide information on research, marketing initiatives, and other resources of benefit to our stakeholders. TCS actively works with stakeholders, partners and the community to shape the future of sustainable tourism, the tourism economy in our region, and to deliver our brand promise to each and every visitor. Our core responsibility is to showcase the activities and amenities that are integral to our brand.
DBC Content Hub
The BC Content Hub is a portal to Destination British Columbia’s digital asset management system (DAM). Available assets from Destination BC and our partners can be found here and used to promote tourism in British Columbia. Find out more about how you can use these assets to market your business in Cowichan.
Cowichan in the media
As more and more visitors are discovering Cowichan, we are pleased to share the resulting stories. Please click here to read, and enjoy!
2023 Events & Festivals FUnd
Tourism Cowichan is now accepting applications for the 2023 Events & Festivals Fund. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until all funding for the year is awarded. Please read through the Program Guidelines in detail prior to submitting your application. Completed applications must be submitted by e-mail to kenzie@tourismcowichan.com
2023 Events & Festivals Fund Program Guidelines (PDF)
2023 Events & Festivals Fund Application (Fillable PDF)
This program is funded through the Municipal & Regional District Tax (MRDT) revenues from the Cowichan Region’s tourism sector. The $100,000 fund will be available on an annual basis and is designed to fund out-of-region marketing activities for festival and event organizers to:
- Increase visitation and overnight stays in the Cowichan Region;
- Increase the economic and social benefits that flow from tourism to Cowichan residents;
- Drive seasonal dispersion through the off-peak seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring); and
- Position Cowichan as a preferred multi-night tourism destination.
Applicants may apply to receive a maximum funding contribution of $10,000.
If you have any questions about the Events & Festivals Fund, please contact: Kenzie Knight, Tourism Cowichan Coordinator at kenzie@tourismcowichan.com or (250) 667-8558.
Upcoming Stakeholder events
SuperHost® Foundations of Service Quality
Join Tourism Cowichan for a complimentary 1-day course to become certified in SuperHost® Foundations of Service Quality.
When: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 9am-4pm
Where: Starfish Room at the Oceanfront Suites in Cowichan Bay.
SuperHost® Foundations of Service Quality is a practical introduction to the principles of providing a quality service experience. This course is ideal for any frontline service industry staff or volunteers. Customer service skills are highly valued by employers and continue to be among the top skills required in most workplaces.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Recognize service needs and expectations from the perspective of the customer and employer
- Determine the most appropriate communication approach in a given situation
- Quickly recognize and respond to a customer’s needs and take service experiences from good to great
- Identify and practice appropriate actions for given service recovery situations
- Understand and give examples of teamwork skills
This is a full day course with lunch provided. Upon completion, participants will receive a printable certificate. Due to limited space, each business/organization can register for a maximum of 3 seats.
SuperHost® Destination Ambassador
Join Tourism Cowichan for a complimentary half-day SuperHost® Destination Ambassador course.
When: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 8:30am-12:30pm
Where: Starfish Room at the Oceanfront Suites in Cowichan Bay.
A remarkable experience relies on exceptional customer service, starting from the moment a visitor sets foot in a community and at every touch point that follows. How do you become a local Ambassador and ensure that you are contributing to a positive, authentic visitor experience that shows all that your community has to offer? This course is designed to help frontline service industry staff, volunteers, and community members become knowledgeable tourism ambassadors for the Cowichan region and help create memorable visitor experiences.
Participants will learn how to:
- Make a great first impression with visitors
- Use and share consistent community health and safety practices
- Help rebuild customer confidence to travel safely post-COVID
- Understand the importance of tourism and how it benefits the Cowichan region
- Identify different visitor profiles and reasons they visit our area
- Understand how to best promote experiences Cowichan has to offer
- Enhance the visitor experience so guests want to return
This is a half-day, interactive course with coffee, tea, and snacks provided. Upon completion, participants will receive a printable certificate. Due to limited space, each business/organization can register for a maximum of 3 seats.