Four awards were given out in Inuvik at an NWT Tourism gala at the beginning of November to recognize some of the major figures in one of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 few recent economic success stories.

The NWT had 108,500 visitors in the 2016-17 season, up 16 per cent from last year, who spent over $200 million in the territorySA国际影视传媒攊tself an increase of 21 per cent over the previous year.

SA国际影视传媒淸The industry is] growing and itSA国际影视传媒檚 growing rapidly, and the number of tour operators that are being licensed is growing with that,SA国际影视传媒� said Cathie Bolstad, executive director of NWT Tourism, which is the not-for-profit designated marketing organization for the territory.

After NWT Tourism members voted on a new board at their AGM, three awards were given through the organization and one by the GNWT.

Lucy Simon, the camp attendant at Sambaa Deh Territorial Park from Jean Marie River received the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 NWT Parks Hospitality Award.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur tourism industry is driven not just by attractions, but by personalities,SA国际影视传媒� said Industry Minister Wally Schumann, citing Simon as one of those vital personalities.

The tourism operator of the year went to Yellow Dog Lodge, a 15 minute flight from Yellowknife, which has been included in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 national tourism strategy, Destination Canada, as a SA国际影视传媒淐anadian Signature ExperienceSA国际影视传媒� consistently since 2011. Bolstad said this designation isnSA国际影视传媒檛 easy to get, and Yellow Dog is the only fishing lodge in Canada to have the designation.

The Service Excellence Award went to Mary Tapsell at My Backyard Tours in Yellowknife. Tapsell is a wildlife biologist who has worked throughout the NWT and Nunavut for 30 years, who was lauded for her SA国际影视传媒渒ind heartSA国际影视传媒� and knowledge about the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 wildlife, said Bolstad,

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Marion Lavigne,one of the founders of both Outcrop Communications and Up Here magazine. Lavigne sold Outcrop earlier this year, and was recognized at the event for SA国际影视传媒�40 years of putting the NWT as a tourism destination on the map,SA国际影视传媒� said Bolstad.

SA国际影视传媒淪heSA国际影视传媒檚 just been involved in so many projects that are promoting tourism internationally on multiple platforms,SA国际影视传媒� said Bolstad, citing Lavigne as the brains behind the Spectacular NWT campaign and its recent reboot, as well as the recent SA国际影视传媒淪ecretsSA国际影视传媒� campaign, which gave out 150 round-trip tickets to the NWT from major Canadian cities while highlighting 150 of tourismSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渟ecretsSA国际影视传媒� in the territory.

The campaign is a finalist for the National Marketing Award at the Tourism Association of Canada later this month.

SA国际影视传媒淣ever have we seen marketing results like we did with that campaign,SA国际影视传媒� said Bolstad.

Proving a point about the value of the industry, NWT Tourism ended its AGM in Inuvik with a tour of the town, its stores, its greenhouse and the Igloo Church.

The organization spent $1,000 with each the church and the greenhouse, she said, and the delegates spent money in local gift stores.

SA国际影视传媒淭ourism always has benefits that ripple into the communities, so we try to plan our conference so it would also ripple into the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Bolstad. SA国际影视传媒淚 came home with a few Christmas presents and ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure so did many others,SA国际影视传媒� said Bolstad.