Background Information
During the recent strategic planning meetings organized by the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce (PECCTAC), a project to start an association for accommodation owners in Prince Edward County was approved.

At a subsequent meeting on July 22, 2004 an organizing committee was established to implement this association.

The committee would like to offer the first draft of an implementation paper to all owners of accommodations in Prince Edward County for consideration and comments. We would like to stress the fact that any member of this organization is entitled to equal treatment in respect of the assistance provided by the association.

It is for that reason that the committee decided to name this organization more generally: “Accommodation Association Prince Edward County” as opposed to specifically “B&B” or “Inns and Cottages” or “Lodges and Resorts” etc.

Every accommodation owner in Prince Edward County is free to join. Please use this opportunity to express your views and to join the association by responding to:

- Rick Caruso, Chair of the organizing committee, Phone: (613)-476 9986, relax@carusos-on-king.com
or:
- Jan DeMille, Office Assistant PECCTAC, Phone: (613)-476 2124, email: pec@reach.net

Mission
AA-PEC provides a mutually supportive forum for its members, information specifics to accommodations for tourists and business travelers.
The mission of the AA-PEC is to increase business for its members by promoting the cultural, geographical and business diversity of Prince Edward County and to lower the cost-burden for the individual member in operating, marketing and promote his/her business.

Our VISION is to achieve this mission through QUALITY and INNOVATION, efficient and cost-effective operations with a wide range of Member Support and Member Service Ideas to improve recognition of the diverse accommodation business in the County.

Objective
Our objective is to reach member satisfaction wherever we operate.

To achieve these objectives AA-PEC will develop a strategy of building a first class Service Program, working together and liaise with institutions locally and regionally ensuring maximum service and exchange of best practices.

AA-PEC always will strive for expansion of services and the application of new technologies.

Benefits
The benefits to join AA-PEC are countless ranging from cost savings for marketing and operations to increasing business by enhanced online presence of the members. AA-PEC offers the opportunity to network with other members for business and accommodation referrals.

In detail:
Enhanced online presence:

Members of the web service BBCanada.com will be recognized (at no additional cost!) as an association and all the BBCanada accommodations that chose to join AA-PEC, will be listed under that association. AA-PEC will highlight the County’s geographical diversity as opposed to individual locations of interest (i.e. Sandbanks, PICTON, West Lake etc.)

Credibility: People tend to book accommodation in priority of whom to trust. As a member of an association your business has more “weight” and gains credibility.

Accountability: AA-PEC will develop guidelines (Code of Ethics) for its members to assure quality of services offered by its members.

Cost sharing: Prices for advertising and marketing in provincial, regional and local tourism guides are often above the budget of accommodation owners.

As an association we can share these costs to be able to market our members (linked online to your Internet/email address!) in guides like:

- Eastern Ontario Travel Guide, Ontario East Discover Map, Bay of Quinte Travel Guide
- Prince Edward County Wine Guide, Prince Edward County Visitors Guide

AA-PEC therefore will charge will charge a yearly fee and pool the money to put towards advertising. The more members that join, the lower the cost of the fees to belong to the association.

AA-PEC will explore the possibility of group purchasing for business to get significant rebates for day-to-day business articles. As a follow-on step, AA-PEC will negotiate an online availability system for its individual members (webervation).

Pooling Expertise: As an association AA-PEC has the mandate and weight to lobby with the municipality on behalf of our members to streamline, and standardize the requirements the municipality puts on accommodation businesses.
In addition we will assist our members in making the right decision which online advertising/search service they should sign up with (consulting expertise).

Important Facts:

The Accommodation Association Prince Edward County will be a sub-committee of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce (PECCTAC).

PECCTAC will support the committee by providing a single point of contact online as well as with atoll free number and office support (especially required to be recognized as an association on BBCanada.com).

PECCTAC will provide space and resources for a reservation system at the tourist office with High Speed Internet access for members, tourists and staff to enhance the current referral system.

It is therefore necessary for members of the AA-PEC to be a member of PECCTAC as well.

(Note: out of 126 accommodation businesses in PEC 101 are already member of the Chamber).

Thank you for your cooperation and again:
please use this opportunity to express your views and to join the association by responding to the addresses above.

PECCTAC is a non-profit, volunteer based organization that “Builds Business For Business” in Prince Edward County.