Murray MacPherson, owner of Brackley Beach North Winds Inns and Suites, situated on the Island's beautiful north shore, was named this year’s recipient of the sixth-annual Tourism Atlantic Technology Award. Mr. MacPherson was recognized for using technology to attract and enhance the travel experiences of his visitors by adding an online reservation system to his website.
The award was presented last night at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel as part of “Taste of 2010,” the annual convention and trade show for the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI).
“The Government of Canada, through ACOA, supports the important role tourism plays in the Atlantic Canadian economy,” says the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Gateway. “This event allows us to recognize tourism operators for their efforts in using technology to advance the industry which, in turn, advances the entire region.”
As one of the first operators who saw the potential of an online vacancy system for his hotel, Murray MacPherson is considered a true technology pioneer within the PEI tourism industry. In the spring of 2008, MacPherson revamped his website to accommodate an online reservation system, which has a real-time vacancy search, allowing potential guests to book their own room based on occupancy, room type and floor level. He was also one of the first operators in PEI to actually begin accepting reservations through the online system.
Brackley Beach North Winds Inns and Suites is a family owned and operated business, located amongst some of the Island’s greatest tourist attractions. Their website also features current weather conditions via The Weather Network and their exact location is pinpointed on a map powered by Google. Their most recent update saw the entire site translated into French, allowing them to serve people who speak either of Canada’s official languages.
“Our interest in new technology was spurred after attending programs offered by TIAPEI,” MacPherson notes. “The Tourism Technology mentoring session was a real push in the right direction and we couldn’t have made the transition without their help. Their new methods allow us to save money, but more importantly, they keep us competitive. That’s our number one goal.”
In 2004, ACOA created this annual award to acknowledge one tourism operator in each Atlantic province for his or her innovative and creative use of technology to improve and grow their tourism operation.
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The sixth-annual Tourism Atlantic Technology Award, from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, was presented last night to Murray MacPherson, from Brackley Beach North Winds Inns and Suites. MacPherson is considered a technology pioneer in the PEI tourism industry for being one of the first to incorporate an online reservation system on his revamped website, which can be displayed in both of Canada’s official languages. The award was presented at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel during “Tastes of 2010”, the annual convention and tradeshow for the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island.
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INFORMATION:
Jessica Park
ACOA PEI & Tourism
902-626-2878
Jamie Vander Kooi
Technology Resource Coordinator
Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island
902-566-5008 ext. 112
Murray MacPherson
Brackley Beach North Winds Inns and Suites
902-682-2245
