What are you looking for when you travel to PEI?

Just finished reading an article from the Guardian. I’m going to quote it here, but it was written by Dave Stewart:

Imagine visiting P.E.I. for the first time and rappelling off the Confederation Bridge.

Or perhaps being a fan of the legendary Anne of Green Gables book and having breakfast with a descendent of author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Either one could best be described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, something meetings and conventions expert Lynn Buckley thinks local organizers should shoot for when it comes to packing an experience for those who come to P.E.I.

“We already know they’re coming,’’ Buckley told those gathered at the inaugural Tourism Marketplace in Charlottetown on Wednesday. “You want to get them back.’’…

Buckley’s message is a simple one — develop a meetings package for those coming in for meetings and conventions that provides them with so much fun they’ll come back as tourists.

Those packages should be convenient and easy to understand and they should give people an exact idea of how much it will cost them.

“People want to plan and budget for a trip. They want to know what they’re going to spend. If they can pick up the phone once and budget for four to five experiences at once that is huge.’’…

Their P.E.I. visit should be a defining moment, Buckley said, providing them with access to something they normally wouldn’t be able to do.

She cited one meeting/convention in Halifax that included repelling off the Angus Macdonald Bridge as an activity. For another event involving Sable Island, she included dinner with a Sable Island painter as a treat. Just a couple of examples of how meetings and conventions planning can enhance their guests’ experience.

“Make them feel like they didn’t do it all,’’ Buckley said, referring to the experience promised in that meetings and conventions package. “And it all started with a package.’’

Are visitors to PEI looking for a unique experience or just a relaxing getaway? Or are they looking for a bit of both?

If it’s an Island experience they want, well the owner of the Econo Lodge Charlottetown motel does have free range chickens. You are more than welcome to accompany him to his farm, chase after them and collect the eggs.

Stay in one of our spacious housekeeping units and you can cook your hard earned bounty for breakfast in the morning.

Now THAT’s an authentic Island experience.