For anyone who has had an interest learning about demographics from our neighboring Canadian market, there is an event that you might want to attend. We are all very much aware that a huge number of Canadians already frequent this city for shopping and sporting events. The hope would be to expand upon those markets and to attract more Canadians to more areas throughout Greater Buffalo. Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation and Visit Buffalo Niagara state that “In the past three years, Buffalo Niagara welcomed 3.1 million Ontario shoppers annually who spent more than $900 million in local retailers, restaurants, attractions and lodging.” Those are impressive numbers that can teach us a lot about who our neighbors are, what they are interested in, how long they stay, the amount they spend, etc. If we can make their visits even more pleasurable, then it’s a win-win for everyone. Now… if we could only understand the market stats and trends.
The event is free. RSVP here.
Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation and Visit Buffalo Niagara have already conducted a study with Longwoods International (a Toronto-based marketing research consulting firm) and the findings are going to be shared by Michael Erdman* on April 23 at WNED Studios 9am-10:30am.
April 23, 2012 • 9:00 a.m.
WNED Studios
Horizons Plaza
140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, New York
*Michael Erdman is Senior Vice President and Director of Research of Longwoods International. A graduate of the University of Toronto in Economics, Michael has been with Longwoods since 1985, and has worked in the firm’s tourism practice providing visitor and strategic research since the late ’80s. He is one of the co-developers of the company’s R.O.Eye™ method, which has been cited for numerous awards for research excellence by organizations such as the Travel industry Association, Travel and Tourism Research Association, Georgia Tech, and Canada’s (MRIA) Market Research Intelligence Association. Michael’s work with the State of Colorado was instrumental in getting funding for tourism promotion restored after an 8-year period when the State had no marketing because of anti-tourism-tax voter initiatives. In addition to Colorado, his clients include some very high profile destination and destination marketing organizations such as the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Tourism Canada, Hawaii, and Mexico’s Mayan Riviera.