Travel Releases
WOODGROVE CENTRE IS BC'S FIRST SUPERHOST® DESIGNATED SHOPPING CENTRE
Woodgrove Centre, Vancouver Island's largest shopping has recently been awarded the Recognized SuperHost® Business designation by Tourism BC and is the first shopping centre in British Columbia to receive this honour. In order to achieve designated site status Woodgrove Centre successfully certified 60% of the retail, contract and administration staff in less than one year.
Woodgrove Centre's General Manager Peggy White accepted the award from SuperHost® Programs Manager Yavhel Velazquez at a celebration held on Thursday March 6th at Woodgrove Centre. Festivities included musical entertainment, giveaways, speeches and cake cutting.
"We want to be ready for the influx of visitors and new customers that will come with the 2010 Olympics," shared Peggy White, General Manager of Woodgrove Centre. "We are very proud to have achieved the SuperHost designation and our team is passionate about making the shopping experience positive for all of our visitors and customers."
SuperHost training was developed by Tourism British Columbia in 1985 to improve the quality of service in tourism businesses throughout the province, in preparation for EXPO ’86 in Vancouver. The workshops were so successful that SuperHost training was later offered throughout the province and has now achieved international recognition. Today there are eight focused workshops to choose from and more are being developed. These workshops are interactive, offer practical tips, and are led by certified trainers. Implemented in the 1990’s, the Recognized SuperHost Business program provides businesses with window decals and certificates to proudly display their commitment to excellent service practices.
“We congratulate everyone at Woodgrove Centre who has made this investment in their people and their customers,“ said Rod Harris, President and CEO, Tourism BC. “You are setting a standard for service in your business community as a model for other communities across our province. It’s this collective, service orientated approach that can create positive experiences for our visitors leading up to 2010 and beyond.”
Tourism British Columbia is a Crown corporation that operates under an industry-led board of directors and is responsible for marketing the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand to the world. To access comprehensive information about the business of tourism in British Columbia and Tourism British Columbia’s programs, visit www.tourismbc.com
Woodgrove Centre is located on Vancouver Island in the harbour city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Woodgrove Centre is a market dominant retail destination and focal point of the community. The centre features 724,713 square feet of retail space and is Vancouver Island's largest shopping centre attracting 6 million visitors per year.
Woodgrove is home to over 150 stores and services including Wal-Mart, The Bay, Pier 1 Imports, Chapters, Sport Chek and Save On Foods. Woodgrove is owned and managed by Ivanhoe Cambridge, a pre-eminent Canadian-based global property owner, manager, developer and investor. For more information visit: www.woodgrovecentre.com
For more information contact:
Peggy White, General Manager
Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo
Phone: (250) 740-3550
Holly Frederickson, SuperHost Programs Training Advisor
Tourism British Columbia, Victoria
Phone: (250) 356-8108
VANCOUVER ISLAND'S NEW 4-PLAY PACKAGE GETS THE BLOOD PUMPING FOR ADRENALINE SEEKERS
Date: Monday 21 April 2008
We all love 4-Play, and what better way to get your blood pumping than to bungee, zip, and swing across the Nanaimo River as part of Vancouver Island’s best adrenaline package ever!
WildPlay Nanaimo and the Painted Turtle Guesthouse have teamed up to present a full day of activities with a two-night stay in Nanaimo for under three hundred dollars $299 per person, plus taxes. This package includes four activities, bragging rights and accommodation:
· Canyon Zip
· Bungy Jump
· King Swing
· Full-Course TreeGO (aerial obstacle course)
· Bungy Jump Video
· Certificate of Achievement
· Ultimate WildPlayer T-Shirt
· Two-nights of accommodation at the Painted Turtle
· Shuttle bus transfers
Adrenaline seekers check in on Day One with time to explore downtown Nanaimo, the harbourfront walkway and get primed for the next days’ “4-Play”. On Day Two, the WildPlay shuttle picks up guests from the Painted Turtle Guesthouse at 10:00am for the 15-minute ride to WildPlay Nanaimo for all four adrenaline-based activities. Your day of adventure starts with getting harnessed up to glide across the spectacular Nanaimo River canyon on the Canyon Zip. Next, we recommend that you earn your bragging rights by jumping off the 140’ bridge over the Nanaimo River. Nanaimo’s world-famous Bungy Jump was ranked as one of the top 100 things to do in Canada by a 2006 National Post survey. Then, secured to a cable that is cinched up like a slingshot, the King Swing sends you off the bridge, free-falling towards the river at speeds up to 140 km/hr before the pendulum swinging motion starts. Finally, securely suspended between the trees in a beautiful Douglas Fir forest at 10 to 53 feet off the ground, TreeGO takes you on an obstacle course of zip lines, swaying bridges, scramble nets and swinging logs. The full-course offers four challenge levels from Green (minimum elevation, minimum skill) to Black (advanced elevation, advanced skill).
After your full day of adrenaline, collect your WildPlay memorabilia and then shuttle back to the Painted Turtle Guesthouse for your second night in Nanaimo. Chill out and tell a few adventure stories in The Great Room, or ask the friendly hosts at reception where the action is. There are many delectable restaurants or neighborhood pubs in the area to experience and enjoy. This package is available Thursday – Sundays April 1 to May 19, then every day May 20 – September 1.
The package price is based on shared dorm accommodation, but upgrades to a Single or Double room with a Queen Bed are available for $80 or $45 per person, respectively. Packages are booked exclusively through the Painted Turtle Guesthouse. For details, call Toll-Free 1-866-309-4432 (in North America), or visit the website: http://www.paintedturtle.ca/travel_and_packages.php. Packages are commissionable, so Canadian and International travel agents are encouraged to call to set up an account.
Nanaimo is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, approximately 111 kilometres north of the provincial capital city of Victoria. The harbour city is accessible by BC Ferries and a major airline from Vancouver, as well as by scenic float planes from Vancouver and Seattle. For more information about Nanaimo please visit www.tourismnanaimo.com or call Tourism Nanaimo at 1-800-663-7337.
Angie Gottenberg
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
121 Bastion Street, Nanaimo BC, Canada
Telephone (250) 753-4432
E-mail angie@paintedturtle.ca
ORGANIC FANATICS WELCOME - Summer Season 2008
Markets are sprouting up all over Nanaimo this summer! Aside from the health benefits of purchasing fresh, organic food, Farmers' Markets make it possible for producers to make a living while creating a sense of community pride and commitment to healthy futures. The Nanaimo Downtown Farmers' Market is one of the youngest markets on the island and has grown to become a market of over fifty full time vendors in addition to drops ins. With a motto of "We Make It, We Bake It, We Grow It", freshness and quality is what the market is all about.
Not too far off, the Cedar Farmers' Market offers fresh local produce, plants, preserves, flowers, crafts and a community table every Sunday from 10am- 2pm on Yellow Point Road, beside the Crow & Gate Pub (George at 250-722-3526). A ferry ride away is the Gabriola Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning - 10am-Noon. Everything for sale at the Gabriola Farmers market has been made by an Islander (Marie at 25-247-9379).
The new Bowen Road Farmers' Market will run from May 21 to October 8. This is Nanaimo's food-oriented market promoting the 100 mile diet and connecting locals with the farmers in the region as well as small-scale food processors and unique artisans (Bill Harany at 250-947-9566). The Nanaimo North Town Centre has announced the grand opening of its Farmer's Market in May. More than 19 vendors will be featured this season, in this market which will run every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm from May 3 to October 11 - different events and entertainment will be showcased every week.
Finally, the Downtown Tail Gate Farmers Market is in the works, for 2008 and will be open on Sunday mornings, downtown Nanaimo. Food producers will be able to drive up, open the backs of their trucks or vans and sell their produce!
Visit Tourism Nanaimo or Dowtown Nanaimo Partnership for more information.