THUNDER BAY – If the roar of the Harley Davidson® motorcycle is a sound that makes your heart race, then according to Thunder Bay’s Manager of Tourism, Paul Pepe, you are really going to enjoy 2011 here in Thunder Bay.
Pepe shares, “Thunder Bay has been chosen to host the 2011 Ontario Harley Owner’s Group (H.O.G.®) Rally”.
“Organized by the Thunder Bay Chapter of the Ontario Harley Owner’s Group, the event, aptly named “Thunder in the Bay”, will take place from July 28-30 and is expected to see hundreds of enthusiasts descend on the community to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow riders and experience some of North America’s best scenic touring routes while getting here,” continued Pepe.
The event is already generating that all important buzz within the tourism market. At the Toronto Motorcycle Show a week ago, the events local organizers were busy promoting the event in our city to Harley Davidson® enthusiasts in the Greater Toronto area and encouraging them to plan their summer road trip to Thunder Bay.
Pepe shares that one of the benefits for early registration is a chance to win free accommodation at the event’s host hotel, the Victoria Inn, during the rally.
“We’re thrilled to be helping out with the event and visitors to this weekend’s show will see our Thunder Bay visuals around the booth and be able to pick up a copy of our Experience magazine, promoting all there is to see and do in and around the community while they are here,” adds Pepe.
Pepe also added that “A staple at this year’s show are our friends from the Algoma Kinnewabi Travel Association, promoting the Lake Superior and North Channel areas to riders. For many Southern Ontario and Michigan touring riders, they will likely travel through that region to reach us. Carol and company from AKTA do a great job promoting the region and are progressive thinkers with respect to the regional approach to visitor attraction”.
Is it a big deal? “Motorcycle touring has seen significant growth in recent years and sales statistics on new bikes in Canada demonstrates the popularity of this form of transportation. We live on the shore of the world’s greatest lake, ringed by one of North America’s most scenic ribbons of highway. While promotion has been increasing in recent years, we are only really scratching the surface to reach out and attract new riders to the region,” comments Pepe. “A big part of increasing awareness is the role local enthusiasts and clubs play in hosting rallies and events and promoting the region by speaking the language of the motorcycle enthusiast”.
The Tourism Manager does not share if his wife is planning to slide a Harley® under the tree for him this Christmas.
For more information contact the Thunder Bay chapter of the Harley Owners group.
You can also stop by Thunder Bay Harley Davidson®.
Photo Courtesy of Uriel Lubuk of Crystal Sync Productions.