2015 CWG CEO, Stuart Ballantyne, Tourism PG CEO, Erica Hummel, Marketing Coordinator for Sport Tourism, Leanne Schinkel, Visitors' Centre Manager, Sherry Powney

Prince George, BC – It just makes sense, but Tourism Prince George has now become the Official Local Tourism Partner of the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

The occasion was marked by a sneak preview of Tourism PG's major purchase for the games – 26 digital kiosks that will be set up at a number of hotels and major attractions throughout the city by the end of the week.

The price tag for the terminals and software is just over $300-thousand dollars.  CEO, Erica Hummel, says, "Generally, our funding comes from hotel tax and that's been one of the major spends for the last two years, getting prepared for the Games."

Hummel says the kiosks operate similar to an app, "It tells people on a touch screen, basically, where to stay, where to eat, great things to do in town, events, weather, how the roads are, as well, you can send a postcard to a friend or family from PG."

2015 Canada Winter Games CEO, Stuart Ballantyne, says, "I think the digital signage program is going to be great for letting everybody know what's going on at that time."

"This will be part of the piece to our regional 'piece', as well," Ballantyne adds.  "With Northern BC Tourism and Tourism Prince George and IPG, and other groups, coming on-board."

Hummel says, Tourism Prince George reps will spend the games down in the Athletes' Village.  "We're looking forward to having that presence and exposing our brand and encouraging visitors to come back to Prince George."  Hummel is confident the digital signs will aid in their efforts.

According to the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance's sport tourism assessment model (STEAM) the financial impact of this past winter's test events for the Games in Prince George, in terms of visitor spending and spin-off effect, was more than $2-million dollars.