Small Business Month

C M Y K 3 S M A L L B U S I N E S S M O N T H - S A T U R D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 1 Competitive rates. Trusted advice. A financial partner who works with you. Smarter Business Banking scu.mb.ca/yourjourney SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN SAVE MONEY AND ENERGY GET IN TOUCH TO START SAVING efficiencyMB.ca/smallbusiness Through the program you can receive free... A-line LED bulbs faucet aerators pre-rinse spray valves showerheads SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM installation energy-efficiency opportunity assessment to find out how you can save even more with a Premium Upgrade "People typically spent five times more than they put out for staying at the hotel. Not only that, but the program also encouraged people to travel around the province, which was very important to us." – Colin Ferguson, president and CEO of Travel Manitoba eligible accommodation or $150 rebate on a hotel-designed stay-and-play package. It was hoped that the program would provide a much-needed boost for hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses. "Honestly, we didn't know what to expect," recalls Davidson. "The first week, 80 people used the program. Then, we did some serious marketing, and it took off. In the first three weeks, close to 12,000 people took advantage of the program." By the time the groundbreaking program closed on Sept. 12, about 23,000 Manitobans had used it, and $2.3 million in rebates had been doled out. Some hotels got up to 80 per cent capacity, with some selling out all their rooms. "It was a real life-saver," he adds. "People typically spent five times more than they put out for staying at the hotel. Not only that, but the program also encouraged people to travel around the province, which was very important to us." Ferguson says one of the byproducts of the program is that it opened the eyes of many Manitobans. "By staying in Manitoba and exploring the province, they found that there's a lot to offer in Manitoba — that's something we'll continue to remind Manitobans of." He adds that he's pleased with the way that Manitoba's business community responded to help tourism-related businesses in a time of need. "It was very challenging, but I'm proud of the way everyone pivoted in such an imaginative, innovative way. We've done everything we can to help," says Ferguson. "The good news is there's a light at the end of the tunnel. We're feeling positive moving forward, and the goal is to make the industry even stronger." Photo by Liz Tran courtesy of Travel Manitoba Photo Courtesy of Travel Manitoba Must-see Manitoba destinations include Paint Lake Lodge near Thompson, Lakeview Hecla Resort and Dan's Diner in Churchill. Photo by Abby Matheson courtesy of Travel Manitoba

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