Cat Set to Attract Maine Trippers
New sales offices in Bar Harbor, Me., will help ensure interest in Bay Ferries' catamaran is building on the other side of the border.
Regional tourism associations, in partnership with Bay Ferries and the provincial government, have set up the offices to attract day trippers and overnight visitors.
"This year's sales team is vibrant and ready to sell Nova Scotia to millions of visitors and residents in the Bar Harbor area," said Linda Deveau, area manager with the Yarmouth County Tourist Association. "The potential for day visits in addition to regular overnight and long-term visits has increased dramatically with the arrival of the Cat."
A market analysis by McQuinn and Co. Marketing determined there are some seven million visitors to Maine each year, in addition to 1.2 million residents. Many of these match the target market that Bay Ferries and the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency have identified as potential travellers on the Cat.
The $63-million Cat is North America's fastest ferry. It is equipped with lounges, a cafe, duty-free shopping, a casino, sundeck, an arcade, and airline-style seating for up to 900 passengers. The vessel carries 240 vehicles and flies between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, cutting the crossing time to two and a half hours. Service begins May 28.
Nova Scotia's newest tourism sales force is setting up in four Bar Harbor locations: Acadia Information Centre in Trenton, the Bay Ferries Terminal on Eden Street and downtown on Cottage and Main streets. The offices are to open June 1.
Economic Development and Tourism is contributing $50,000 and partnering with the Yarmouth County, South Shore and Evangeline Trail tourism associations. All three regional tourism associations have also been working with industry partners to provide overnight packages, entertainment and tours of the South Shore area.
"We're excited to welcome the Bay Ferries' Cat to our shores," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "This new high-speed ferry will be bringing thousands of new visitors into our province. And those new visitors will be creating solid economic opportunities for our tourism industry."
This is the seventh consecutive year Nova Scotia has had a sales and marketing presence in Bar Harbor. "Other industry partners have been involved throughout the years, which has led to an exciting and creative presentation to the visitors of the Bar Harbor area," said Ms. Deveau.
"All of us are excited and energized to be part of a sales presentation where the product offers traditional Nova Scotia hospitality combined with the state-of-the-art transportation technology of the Bay Ferries' Cat," said sales manager Randy Doucette.
Mr. Doucette comes to the project with a 16-year history in the food and beverage sector of the hospitality industry, adding a strong retail sales focus to the project.
He and five other staff members are undergoing a three-week training course to ensure they're ready to respond to inquiries. In addition to product-knowledge sessions, staff are receiving training in customer service, sales and first aid. The staff include assistant manager Bonnie Shand, who returns for her fifth year; Alain Boudreau and Mary Schofield-Hughes, who return for the second year; and new staff members Shari Peveril and Krista Menzies.
In total, the provincial and federal governments are investing $650,000 in a $1.3-million marketing campaign with Bay Ferries. In addition to targeting people in the Bar Harbor area, the campaign will encourage tourists from New England and southern Ontario to take advantage of the fast ferry link into Nova Scotia through the United States auto route.