AVIP Program The Alberta Visitor Information Providers (AVIP) program is offered by the Destination Management Branch of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. The program is designed to provide training and information support to community and regional visitor information centres (VICs) in Alberta that are interested in promoting all areas of the province. The long-term goal of the program is the development of a provincial network of VICs recognizable to the visitor for their high level of professional services offered. Vision The Alberta Visitor Information Providers program is striving to create and maintain a provincial network of community and regional Visitor Information Centres with a high standard of operation and professional service. AVIP Advisory Committee In striving to create and maintain this provincial network, we work closely with an active AVIP Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from the various regions across the province. Mission The mission of the Alberta Visitor Information Providers Advisory Committee is to represent the interests of community/regional Visitor Information Centres (VICs) and raise awareness of VIC issues to the Government of Alberta s Destination Management Branch in an effort to support the Branch in its work to enable VICs across Alberta to provide high quality, professional, tourism services to the public. To learn more about the committee please contact Cecilia Goncalves-Neath at Cecilia.goncalves@gov.ab.ca or 780-415-6264. AVIP Program and Support Services Since the program s inception in June 2000, the program has been supporting the work of community and regional VICs through the following components: Provision of Travel Alberta Publications
Bulk quantities of Travel Alberta publications are available and distributed at no cost to community and regional VICs that are included on our AVIP list. The publications are shipped from the Travel Alberta Distribution Centre and include the following: Official Alberta Travel Planner Official Alberta Lodging Guide Official Alberta Campground Guide Alberta Mini Tear-Off Maps (11 x 17 ) These publications can be ordered by emailing tpr.bulkorders@gov.ab.ca or phoning (780) 644-2751 to request an order form. Staff Training Opportunities Annual Spring Showcase and Spring Training community VICs are welcome to attend this two-day event that combines classroom style training on customer service skills with a tradeshow component called Spring Showcase. Spring Showcase serves to inform both Travel Alberta VIC staff and AVIP staff about tourism products throughout the province. Regional Training regional training sessions provide one day of travel counsellor training to staff from community VICs and other front-line tourism staff at various locations throughout the province. Accreditation and Tourism Highway Signage Program Eligible VICs can receive new trailblazer signs at no cost through the Accreditation and Tourism Highway Signage Program. The trailblazer signs include a wild rose icon, the internationally recognized? symbol, directional information, and the words Visitor Info. In addition to signage, Accredited VICs are also highlighted on the Official Travel Alberta Road Map. Eligibility for this program is based on meeting a set of criteria items such as having sufficient hours of operation, providing a variety of provincial information and committing to annual staff training. Accreditation Brochures cost-free promotional brochures are available to assist Accredited community VICs in promoting the services of their VIC and the entire Accredited AVIP network to the travelling public. AVIP Resources Name tags These optional, cost-free, re-usable and durable name tags car assist community VICs in increasing staff professionalism. These nametags come in one of two designs: the first design is for all community VICs (Province logo), and the second design is for Accredited VICs (Wild rose logo).
Logo Usage community VICs have access to the AVIP logo and Accredited community VICs have access to the accreditation logo. These logos are for use in promoting community visitor information services and can be included on letterheads, maps, signage, brochures, websites and other tourism promotional items. Point of Purchase Posters and Laminated Road Map community VICs are encouraged to request cost-free posters to promote the current year versions of the Official Travel Alberta Road Map, Accommodation and Campground Guides and the Vacation Planner. Community VICs can also request a current year laminated road map for use in travel counselling sessions. Request for these items can be made by contacting Cecilia Goncalves-Neath at 780-678-2022. Alberta Visitor Information Providers Conference Held annually in the fall, this one and a half day conference provides an opportunity for managers and supervisors of AVIP visitor information centres to come together to share ideas, learn about new programs, and network. AMMY Awards The annual Ammy Awards recognize outstanding achievements at Alberta VICs in the areas of operational, service, facility, and individual excellence. The Ammy Awards are handed out annually during the AVIP Conference. For more information or to apply, please email ammy.awards@gov.ab.ca. Incentive Program Travel counsellors from community and regional VICs are invited each year to participate in an incentive program held over the summer months of June, July, and August. The program is designed to increase product knowledge, promote service excellence, and to engage staff in team building exercises. Exciting prizes are included as part of the program. Retail Products and Sales Support To assist community and regional VICs in offsetting their costs of operation, the following retail products are available for sale at discounted prices through the Alberta Queen s Printer. Retail products may be ordered by contacting the Alberta Queen s printer via email at qp@gov.ab.ca or by phone at (780) 427-4952. Retail products include: Official Alberta Road Map
Alberta Pins Souvenir Postcard Series For more information about retail products please direct your inquiries to the Destination Management Branch by emailing tpr.bulkorders@gov.ab.ca or phoning (780) 644-2751. AVIP Program Contacts For more information on the AVIP program or to receive AVIP resources, please contact: Robin Luini Tourism Development Lead Destination Management Branch Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Phone: 780.427.4965 Email: robin.luini@gov.ab.ca Cecilia Goncalves-Neath AVIP Program Destination Management Branch Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Phone: 780.415.6264 Email: cecilia.goncalves@gov.ab.ca Jessie Chai Tourism Event Coordinator Destination Management Branch Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Phone: 780.638.3837 Email: jessie.chai@gov.ab.ca Kevin Beech Contact and Distribution Service Destination Management Branch Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Phone: 780.644.2751 Email: kevin.beech@gov.ab.ca