Annual event brings together the tourism industry in Fernie.

Tourism Fernie held its annual AGM, networking and guest speaker event on March 16, 2017 at the Best Western PLUS Fernie Mountain Lodge.

"We had the best turn out yet with 71 industry stakeholders in attendance, and the Best Western did a great job hosting. " said Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer for Tourism Fernie. "Our guest speaker was excellent and the variety of presentations by Tourism Fernie and the City of Fernie were well received. Even the board seat election process was engaging with two seats being determined by the flip of a coin."

The event began with breakfast and networking, then followed with a welcome by Tourism Fernie's Acting Chair Mike McPhee and then guest speaker Gary Ross, who has earned a reputation as one of the most admired writers, editors, and content experts in the country. Gary spoke to the audience about the importance of effective content and communications, storytelling marketing and the digital world of content.

View Gary's Presentation

After Gary's presentation Tourism Fernie held its formal Annual General Meeting including a review of the fiscal financial audit and report, the election of four board seats and recognition of serving board members and staff.

Board of Directors for 2017-2018:

• Accommodation – less than 30 rooms: Veronique Roy, Owner/Operator, Snow Valley Motel
• Accommodation – more than 30 rooms with rental management: Corien Sieders, Director, Fernie Stanford Resort
• Accommodation – more than 30 rooms solely owned: Shelley L’Estrange, General Manager, Best Western PLUS Fernie
• Accommodation at large: Scott Gilmet – Director of Sales & Marketing, Park Place Lodge
• Professional Services: Laura Oleksow – Owner/Operator, Spa 901
• Retail, Food & Beverage: Kurt Saari – Owner/Operator, Nevados
• Attractions, Activities, Transportation: Reto Barrington – Owner/Operator, Fernie RV Resort
• The City of Fernie: Ange Qualizza, Council Member
• Resorts of the Canadian Rockies: Andy Cohen, General Manager, Fernie Alpine Resort
• Resorts of the Canadian Rockies: Tom Rosner, Vice-President Sales & Marketing, RCR Inc.
• Director at Large: Kyle Hamilton, Owner/Operator, Kyle Hamilton Photography                                 
• Designated Representative to the Board (Non-voting): Patty Vadnais, Executive Director, Fernie Chamber of Commerce

View Fiscal Report

Following the formal AGM, Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer of Tourism Fernie gave a presentation highlighting 2016 statistics such as a 9% increase in Fernie hotel revenues, increases in visitation to Tourism Fernie's key marketing platforms and their hashtag #ferniestoke receiving 23 million impressions. Highlights continued with the launch of a new Co-op Marketing Program, the announcement of Tourism Fernie's office moving to the Fernie Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre building on Hwy 3 this spring and some outcomes of the Value of Tourism Study that is nearing completion.

View Co-op Marketing Program Info Sheet

Concluding the event was a presentation by Norm McInnis, CAO at the City of Fernie, about the Resort Municipality Initiatives (RMI) and current projects.

View Norm's RMI Presentation

The event finished with a big thanks from Mike McPhee and continued with further industry networking.

View 2017 AGM Minutes

Fernie Free Press article about the event