Posted Apr 11, 2011, 2:28 PM
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Competing and winning on the global stage
SAINT JOHN - The Port of Saint John and Aquila Tours have received high praise in Dream World Cruise Destinations magazine, the cruise-industry standard throughout the world.
The Port of Saint John and Aquila Tours received recognition in the spring edition of Dream World Cruise Destinations magazine. From left are Beth Kelly Hatt of Aquila Tours, Ross Jefferson of the city's Destination Marketing organization and the port's manager of business development Betty MacMillan.
In its spring edition, the Port of Saint John is named most improved port facility, thanks to construction of the new multi-million-dollar Marco Polo Cruise Ship Terminal on Water Street, while the city is named one of the best destination experiences on a list that includes Rome, Italy and St. Petersburg, Russia.
"It's a big deal," said port authority chairman Stephen Campbell.
"You're up against every city in the world that participates in the cruise industry.
"We were surprised. We did not know going into that conference that this was going to happen."
The conference took place about three weeks ago in Miami.
Campbell says the bottom line for the city and for Aquila is advances are being made on a number of fronts.
"The one that excites me is the destination (win)," Campbell said.
"There are lots of places that have infrastructure far better than ours ... Ranking us ahead of destinations all over the Mediterranean and Asia is quite something."
Beth Kelly Hatt of Aquila Tours credits that organization's systematic approach to cruise with clinching a name for itself under the outstanding service to passengers and crew label and outstanding tour guides label.
"We seem to have developed a system where we have everything, with different people managing different parts, so it gets a little easier every time. We have five cruise managers. Each one is responsible for so many of the ship calls," she said.
"We spend a lot of time and money all winter looking at new things.
"We're already brainstorming about the Disney tours." Disney Magic has just announced it will make nine stops in Saint John next year.
Ross Jefferson of the city's Destination Marketing Inc., says the recognition is a testament to how Saint John has turned the industry mainstream for tourism.
"This community has been working hard towards cruise and at the same time, the market itself is growing. The product people are buying is the Canada/New England cruise and it's growing.
"It's being served out of the New York and Boston areas, and as more people look to Canada and New England as a cruise destination, our numbers will also grow."
Today, the city has 100 per cent of three- to five-day cruises, so there is no more growth to be had in that market.
"So we need more people to cruise. Our piece of the pie is growing, but the pie itself is also growing.
"There are two competitions going on: one is Saint John in the Canada/New England market and there's Canada/New England competing in the global market."
Despite all of the accolades, the port's manager of business development, doesn't believe in resting on her laurels.
"A lot of it now is destination awareness and getting the word out that we are such a great destination," said Betty MacMillan.
"Getting awards like this is helping us get the word out.
"Everyone who comes here has said they've had a fantastic experience. We rate eight or nine out of 10 consistently.
"Just a few weeks ago in Miami, the president of Holland America was telling us that their passengers rated us an 8.6 out of 10. Anything over 8 is unbelievable, fantastic," he said.
"Success builds success. It's like the tumbleweed. You just keep doing a little bit more each year because you do have to keep going.
"There's always work to be done."
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