Tourism PG will be opening their doors at their new location in the rotunda at the Civic Centre in June.
Significant renovations will start in February and be completed in time for the start of peak tourist season, Colin Carson, Tourism PG CEO, said.
And if there are supply chain issues that slow things down there is an alternative location that guarantees Tourism PG’s presence in the city for the summer.
“We’ve been engaged with an architecture firm to help with the redesign since about October – since we made the decision – so that process has gone relatively smooth and we have taken possession of the space and work hasn’t started yet,” Carson said.
“We’re hopeful that on Feb. 1 work will start.”
Tourism PG is mindful of the Natural Resource Forum taking place in the next couple of weeks and didn’t want to disturb the peace during the conference.
“We didn’t really want to be jack hammering the floors while the Premier gives his address,” Carson said. “This event is so important to the community.”
Carson noted how many conferences like the Natural Resource Forum and other events take place at the Civic Centre and how thousands of people come to that location every year.
“That’s an audience we typically don’t attract at the current location of the Visitor Centre (on First Avenue) because it’s a bit off the beaten path for them,” Carson said.
Many people fly into Prince George, take taxis to their downtown hotel and then walk to the conference centre, he added.
Providing easy access to visitors coming into town on business might encourage them to return to Prince George for pleasure, Carson said.
“Maybe they’ll come back with their families,” Carson said. “And we’re really excited about that opportunity being attached to the conference centre.”
Tourism PG did a lot of research and concluded people aren’t going to stop at a visitor centre if it's not convenient.
“With the advances in technology, with Google maps, and Trip Advisor and tools like that, people don’t use visitor centres like they used to so we need to be as convenient as possible and where our board landed ultimately was we wanted to be as convenient as possible for those people walking around downtown,” Carson explained. “Obviously we won’t be as convenient for the rubber tire traffic driving through but we thought there was more opportunity for growth focusing on that foot traffic.”
