Showing posts with label Cruise ship line pulls out of Wednesday port calls in Prince Rupert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cruise ship line pulls out of Wednesday port calls in Prince Rupert. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
It's the economy, Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Canadian banks were in the line at the Fed for funds, the threat of Netflix and the Fed reveals the scope of its measures, some of the items of note from our Wednesday financial review.
Globe and Mail-- Big Five tapped Fed for funds during financial crisis
Globe and Mail-- Rogers, Teachers fail to connect on Leafs deal
National Post-- Europe on long and ‘bumpy’ road to debt solution: Martin
National Post-- Netflix a threat to the future of TV and films
Vancouver Sun-- Business confidence becomes political
New York Times-- Fed Papers Show Breadth of Emergency Measures
Guardian UK online-- ECB 'climbdown' boosts markets
Telegraph UK online-- Spain and Ireland turn to privatisation
Sydney Daily Telegraph-- Economy stutters in September quarter
China Daily-- Acer says China to be world's largest computer market
Times of India-- EU bans honey imports from India due to presence of heavy metals: Scindia
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Discussions and thoughts on next seasons departure of the Rhapsody of the Seas from its Prince Rupert port call
As a follow up to their front page story of August 15, the Daily News provided some background to the departure of the Rhapsody of the Seas from a Prince Rupert port call.
The thoughts of local businessman Glen Saunders and Mayor were examined in a front page story in the Monday, August 18 edition of the paper.
MERCHANTS REACT TO LOSS OF WEDNESDAY CRUISE STOP
Local businesses say they knew that announcement regarding Wednesday cruise ship was forthcoming.
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, August 18, 2008
Pages one and three
Cow Bay Gift Gallery owner Glen Saunders said Friday that merchants have known for some time the Wednesday Cruise ship was not destined for Prince Rupert in 2009.
Saunders, who also owns the building the gallery is located in , said that he has come up with a contingency plan for 2009.
“We won’t have any major employment changes to our business and our stores will still remain open until 9 p. m., seven days a week,” said Saunders.
On Thursday, Royal Caribbean International announced that its cruise liner, Rhapsody on the Seas was not going to have a Prince Rupert stop.
It switched its Canada port of call location on its voyage from Seattle to Alaska to Victoria.
This, even though the company named no specific reasons for the change.
While it is a concern for Saunders, who said that cruise ships were responsible for 10-to-11 per cent of his business, he also said that this is the price the city is going to have to pay in the major cruise ship world.
“Cruise ships are going to dock wherever they can make the most money,” said Saunders.
“Victoria I think is major competition for us given that they have Buchart Gardens, the legislature and other great amenities.”
“But it also speaks about the class Prince Rupert is in when we are competing for these cruise ships.”
Saunders went on to add that he has heard from people connected to Royal Caribbean that Prince Rupert has been a solid investment for that holidaymaker and that there is still a good possibility that a cruise ship will return in 2009.
One of the concerns mentioned by Saunders and backed up by Mayor Herb Pond was the downtown retail offering of the city.
Pond said the city would have to continue evolving its city shops if it were going to continue to compete for these stops.
“It’s really chicken and egg thing,” said Pond.
“You are not going to get the boats if the retail isn’t there but the retail isn’t going to be there if the boats don’t come.
The Alaskan city, which is 145km north of Prince Rupert on the panhandle, is the first port of call in the state for northbound ferries.
“Without a doubt the challenge is the retail and there being more things to do for cruise ship passengers other than shoreline tours,” said Pond.
“We have really good tour operators in our city but there is a little less self-guided activities to do in Prince Rupert than there would be in Victoria.”
Pond was convinced retailers would step up as they have in the past.
“The really good thing is that we have done it before and for 2010 we can do it again.”
The thoughts of local businessman Glen Saunders and Mayor were examined in a front page story in the Monday, August 18 edition of the paper.
MERCHANTS REACT TO LOSS OF WEDNESDAY CRUISE STOP
Local businesses say they knew that announcement regarding Wednesday cruise ship was forthcoming.
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, August 18, 2008
Pages one and three
Cow Bay Gift Gallery owner Glen Saunders said Friday that merchants have known for some time the Wednesday Cruise ship was not destined for Prince Rupert in 2009.
Saunders, who also owns the building the gallery is located in , said that he has come up with a contingency plan for 2009.
“We won’t have any major employment changes to our business and our stores will still remain open until 9 p. m., seven days a week,” said Saunders.
On Thursday, Royal Caribbean International announced that its cruise liner, Rhapsody on the Seas was not going to have a Prince Rupert stop.
It switched its Canada port of call location on its voyage from Seattle to Alaska to Victoria.
This, even though the company named no specific reasons for the change.
While it is a concern for Saunders, who said that cruise ships were responsible for 10-to-11 per cent of his business, he also said that this is the price the city is going to have to pay in the major cruise ship world.
“Cruise ships are going to dock wherever they can make the most money,” said Saunders.
“Victoria I think is major competition for us given that they have Buchart Gardens, the legislature and other great amenities.”
“But it also speaks about the class Prince Rupert is in when we are competing for these cruise ships.”
Saunders went on to add that he has heard from people connected to Royal Caribbean that Prince Rupert has been a solid investment for that holidaymaker and that there is still a good possibility that a cruise ship will return in 2009.
One of the concerns mentioned by Saunders and backed up by Mayor Herb Pond was the downtown retail offering of the city.
Pond said the city would have to continue evolving its city shops if it were going to continue to compete for these stops.
“It’s really chicken and egg thing,” said Pond.
“You are not going to get the boats if the retail isn’t there but the retail isn’t going to be there if the boats don’t come.
The Alaskan city, which is 145km north of Prince Rupert on the panhandle, is the first port of call in the state for northbound ferries.
“Without a doubt the challenge is the retail and there being more things to do for cruise ship passengers other than shoreline tours,” said Pond.
“We have really good tour operators in our city but there is a little less self-guided activities to do in Prince Rupert than there would be in Victoria.”
Pond was convinced retailers would step up as they have in the past.
“The really good thing is that we have done it before and for 2010 we can do it again.”
Royal Caribbean Victoria Bound
Prince Rupert's Cruise industry aspirations took a bit of a hit in mid August as Royal Caribbean lines announced that they would no longer be calling on Prince Rupert in 2009.
Royal Caribbean decided that next year the Rhapsody of the Seas will make Victoria their Canadian port of choice, leaving a hole in the calendar on Wednesday and a hit in the pocketbook for those that work in cruise related businesses around the city.
The story was featured as the front page item in the August 15 edition of the Daily News.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN TO DROP WEDNESDAY SAILING IN 2009
Rhapsody of the Seas to switch to Victoria from Rupert
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Friday, August 15, 2008
Page one
Tourism in Prince Rupert took a blow on Thursday when it was announced that the Wednesday cruise ship would not be visiting in 2009.
The Royal Caribbean International confirmed that its cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas is switching its port of call to Victoria from Prince Rupert. “Our company routinely reviews and evaluates our itineraries to ensure we are providing our guests with diverse and updated cruise experiences around the world,” said Lyan Sierra- Caro, senior executive, brand communications Royal Caribbean International said in a statement.
“These reviews may result in changes to ports of call or to arrival and departure ports. These changes are designed to provide our guests with new and different travel and vacation experiences.”
Sierra-Caro did not say why the firm chose to go to the provincial capital over Rupert but did maintain that Royal Caribbean would continue to work closely with community in the future.
“In this case, a decision was made to provide our guests on certain sailings to Alaska with an alternative port of call,” said Sierra-Caro. “We continue to maintain excellent relationships with officials in Prince Rupert and we have fully discussed this matter with the port authority and mayor there.”
Tourism Prince Rupert president Bruce Wishart said that, while he has not had any confirmation yet, losing a cruise ship would be hard on the city. “Obviously the potential of losing a ship is of great concern to the local tourism industry,” said Wishart.
“Each big ship that ties up here leaves about $240,000 in the community, a cruise is worth about $15 million to us over the course of the season.”
Wishart added that, once the figures were broken down that figure would include $7 million spent in local stores, $3 million spent on local tours and $1 million spent on local restaurants.
“The cruise industry also offers us a great deal of credibility, in that independent visitors thinking of coming here see the cruise ships as validation that this is a good place to visit,“ said Wishart. “Cruise industry also offers very predictable traffic that helps small business finance their marketing plans, and there are many other economic spin-offs to hosting cruise ships. So the cruise industry has an impact right across the small business community, and it’s vital that Prince Rupert take any threat to that very seriously.”
The Prince Rupert Port Authority did not comment on the Royal Caribbean’s statement.
Rhapsody of the Seas to switch to Victoria from Rupert
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Friday, August 15, 2008
Page one
Tourism in Prince Rupert took a blow on Thursday when it was announced that the Wednesday cruise ship would not be visiting in 2009.
The Royal Caribbean International confirmed that its cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas is switching its port of call to Victoria from Prince Rupert. “Our company routinely reviews and evaluates our itineraries to ensure we are providing our guests with diverse and updated cruise experiences around the world,” said Lyan Sierra- Caro, senior executive, brand communications Royal Caribbean International said in a statement.
“These reviews may result in changes to ports of call or to arrival and departure ports. These changes are designed to provide our guests with new and different travel and vacation experiences.”
Sierra-Caro did not say why the firm chose to go to the provincial capital over Rupert but did maintain that Royal Caribbean would continue to work closely with community in the future.
“In this case, a decision was made to provide our guests on certain sailings to Alaska with an alternative port of call,” said Sierra-Caro. “We continue to maintain excellent relationships with officials in Prince Rupert and we have fully discussed this matter with the port authority and mayor there.”
Tourism Prince Rupert president Bruce Wishart said that, while he has not had any confirmation yet, losing a cruise ship would be hard on the city. “Obviously the potential of losing a ship is of great concern to the local tourism industry,” said Wishart.
“Each big ship that ties up here leaves about $240,000 in the community, a cruise is worth about $15 million to us over the course of the season.”
Wishart added that, once the figures were broken down that figure would include $7 million spent in local stores, $3 million spent on local tours and $1 million spent on local restaurants.
“The cruise industry also offers us a great deal of credibility, in that independent visitors thinking of coming here see the cruise ships as validation that this is a good place to visit,“ said Wishart. “Cruise industry also offers very predictable traffic that helps small business finance their marketing plans, and there are many other economic spin-offs to hosting cruise ships. So the cruise industry has an impact right across the small business community, and it’s vital that Prince Rupert take any threat to that very seriously.”
The Prince Rupert Port Authority did not comment on the Royal Caribbean’s statement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
