For Immediate Release: November 9, 2021

FREDERICTON (NB):  Fredericton Tourism’s Stay a Night – Dinner’s On Us Packaging Initiative received the Partnership Award at this evening’s Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick (TIANB) Gala & Awards.This award recognizes a tourism business or organization that has entered into an innovative, new partnership agreement that has contributed to the success of the business and has positively impacted the tourism industry in New Brunswick.

Developed and managed by Fredericton Tourism, the Stay & Play packaging initiative was launched in the summer of 2020 to help drive bookings to Fredericton’s accommodation sector. The initiative is a partnership with 13 accommodations, 30 tourism operators/attractions, Downtown Fredericton, and Business Fredericton North.

The Stay & Play packages, promoted with the branding Stay a Night, Dinner’s On Us! will continue through this fall and into the winter season. Over the year Fredericton Tourism worked with the tourism industry to curate dozens of one- and two-night travel packages, which were highlighted on a newly developed landing page on the tourism website, the most visited web page. Stay & Play promotions were part of Fredericton Tourism’s consumer marketing strategy which included digital ads, display ads, social media, and e-blasts within the Maritimes.  

Financial support from Destination Canada enabled Fredericton Tourism to launch the program in 2020, providing participating accommodation partners with a ‘value add’ to include within their packages. Upon check in, guests were provided the choice between $50 in Downtown Dollars or Business Fredericton North Dollars.

“We’re pleased with the first-year results” said Stacey Russell, Manager of Fredericton Tourism. “With over 3,000 packages sold our first year, this has helped our accommodation and hospitality partners during a very difficult time.”

To date, $170,000 in Downtown Dollars or Business Fredericton North Dollars have been given out as part of the packaging initiative, keeping the investment within the community and giving Fredericton’s local economy a much-needed boost.

The Stay a Night – Dinner’s On Us Packaging Initiative has been recognized nationally including by tourism consultant Joe Veneto of Veneto Collaboratory. Veneto highlighted the initiative as a case study in a webinar to Northern Ontario Destination Marketing Organizations praising Fredericton Tourism’s ability to pivot their destination strategy to build hyper-local getaway packages.

Media Contact: Stacey Russell – Manager, Fredericton Tourism, 506-260-6958, Stacey.russell@fredericton.ca