Travel Drumheller is a not-for-profit destination marketing organization (DMO). We create and implement marketing campaigns showcasing the Drumheller region. We support tourism businesses to develop the region as a year-round destination.
Vision
Drumheller is an iconic Canadian Destination
Mission
To promote Drumheller as a premier year-round destination
Opportunities & Requests for Proposals
Staff and Board of Directors
With diverse backgrounds and experience, meet the passionate group that form the Travel Drumheller Staff and Board of Directors. If you wish to become a director of Travel Drumheller please contact us at admin@traveldrumheller.com.
Executive Director
Julia Fielding
Travel Drumheller
Executive Director
Julia Fielding
Travel Drumheller
Julia was the Communications Officer for the Town of Drumheller and the Executive Director of the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site before becoming the Executive Director for Travel Drumheller.
With economic development experience, she brings a clear understanding of the important role tourism plays in the Drumheller Valley. Currently, she is working her way to a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) qualification.
Julia has also worked at numerous cultural organizations in Canada and the UK including the European Museum of the Year – the National Railway Museum in York, England.
Business Support Officer
Heather Little
Travel Drumheller
Business Support Officer
Heather Little
Travel Drumheller
Heather joined the Travel Drumheller team in May 2022. Before that she served on the Travel Drumheller Board of Directors for three years while working for Rosebud Theatre as their Marketing Manager.
She has a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Marketing and a Diploma in Event & Convention Management. In August, she completed her Professional in Destination Management Certificate through Destinations International.
Over the years she has developed a great understanding of Drumheller and area from growing up in the valley and working for local tourism businesses such as the Tourist Information Centre and Dinosaur Trail Golf Course.
Marketing Manager
Keri Looijen
Travel Drumheller
Marketing Manager
Keri Looijen
Travel Drumheller
Keri has been working in the social media and content industry for over 12 years. A lifelong storyteller, Keri’s work has been published in a variety of magazines, blogs, and multiple other written platforms.
With a double diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications and Digital Marketing, Keri is a dynamic communicator with the ability to write web copy, blogs, social media, public relations, and internal communications for different voices, including b2b, b2c, non-profit, and arts and culture.
As an innovative coordinator with a diverse background in communications, marketing, design, and events. Keri has a unique creative analytical problem-solving talent and has achieved large goals for projects, events, and presentations. Additionally, she has strong organizational skills and a talent for advocating and fundraising for non-profits.
Keri has a proven my ability to build a vibrant, cohesive community within Calgary and Southern Alberta region, and Nationally. As a natural networker and collaborator, she relishes in connecting with people and businesses to help them achieve success.
Destination Development Manager
Lana Phillips
Travel Drumheller
Destination Development Manager
Lana Phillips
Travel Drumheller
Lana will be working with the community to implement the Destination Development Plan. Together we’ll be building an approach that supports long-term tourism growth in Drumheller.
Lana is a strong believer in the potential of Drumheller’s tourism industry, as she relocated here to set up a new tourism business, Bikes and Bites. Bikes and Bites makes adventure easy with e-bike tours, rentals and sandwich-based picnics. Since moving to Drumheller in 2021 she’s been actively involved in the community and served as a Board Member for multiple organizations.
Lana brings with her drive and enthusiasm to lead change with a people-first approach. Her persistence, curiosity, continuous learning, and innovation have helped her lead award-winning implementation projects. Lana has over 15 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors as an urban planner. She has a Master of Arts in Planning and a Master in Business Administration.
Chair
Ryan Semchuk
Canalta Hotels
Chair
Ryan Semchuk
Canalta Hotels
Ryan joined the Canalta Hotel family over four years ago to help launch and oversee a new in-house marketing and loyalty strategy for the chain of 44 hotel locations.
Over the last two years he has continued to push his skills with completing Cornell’s Marketing Strategy and Digital Marketing Strategy certificate programs.
Ryan loves living in the Drumheller Valley and spending time with his family exploring the badlands.
Vice-Chair
Dr. Sarah Newstead
Atlas Coal Mine
Vice-Chair
Dr. Sarah Newstead
Atlas Coal Mine
Sarah is the Executive Director of the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site in East Coulee.
Treasurer
Barb Steeves
East Coulee School Museum
Treasurer
Barb Steeves
East Coulee School Museum
Barb has lived in the valley for over 30 years. For seven years she has been the Executive Director the East Coulee School Museum.
Barb loves sharing the history of our valley with visitors to the area and showing off the beautiful heritage building she works in.
Secretary
Debbie Schinnour
Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce
Secretary
Debbie Schinnour
Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce
As Tourism Services Manager, Debbie is on the front lines welcoming and assisting tens of thousands of visitors all around the world to Drumheller!
Since 2009, Debbie has lead a team of Tourism Service Representatives that greet tourists and welcome them to our World’s Largest Dinosaur.
Debbie was born and raised in Drumheller and enjoys the history of the valley as well as the beautiful scenery. When not working hard, Debbie enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids.
Director
Reg Johnston
Town of Drumheller
Director
Reg Johnston
Town of Drumheller
Reg is an Economic Development professional with over fifteen years of experience and a passion for building communities.
Currently he is the Manager of Economic Development for the Town of Drumheller. Previously he was the owner of RJ T&L Consulting.
Director
Elaine Secord
Royal Tyrrell Museum
Director
Elaine Secord
Royal Tyrrell Museum
Elaine has been the Head of Marketing & Public Relations at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology since 2018.
From 2007-2018, she was the communications manager for the national environmental charity Birds Canada. She holds Masters degrees in Museum Studies (University of Toronto) and English Language and Literature (Queen’s University).
Director
BJ Janzen
Rosebud Country Inn
Director
BJ Janzen
Rosebud Country Inn
We welcomed BJ to the Travel Drumheller Board as of April 2022. BJ is the owner of the Rosebud Country Inn in the hamlet of Rosebud.
Director
Vance Neudorf
Badlands Amphitheatre
Director
Vance Neudorf
Badlands Amphitheatre
Ten years ago, Vance Neudorf become the Executive Director for the Canadian Badlands Passion Play Society and the Badlands Amphitheatre.
Since that time, he has led the Badlands Amphitheatre to become an international destination. Under Vance’s leadership, more than 20,000 people traveled to Drumheller each summer to witness the award-winning Passion Play, a new opera, a laser light show and 5th Annual Canadian Icons concert.
Director
Theresa Vyvey
Ramada Hotel
Director
Theresa Vyvey
Ramada Hotel
Theresa Vyvey is the Manager of the Ramada Hotel in Drumheller and has been on the Travel Drumheller Board for several years.
Director
Crystal Sereda
Valley Brewing
Director
Crystal Sereda
Valley Brewing
Crystal was born and raised in Carbon but has officially lived in Drumheller longer than her hometown, and naturally feels like a Drumhellerite!
She has been involved in several committees over the years including the development of the Drumheller Skatepark and recently Town of Drumheller Councillors. Together with her husband they started the first and only micro brewery, Valley Brewing.
Crystal looks forward to her term as a board member to grow her knowledge of tourism and provide the feedback on behalf of small business owners of Drumheller.
Director
Chris Lorenz
Heller Good Sandwiches
Director
Chris Lorenz
Heller Good Sandwiches
We welcome Chris to the Travel Drumheller Board as of April 2023.
Board Reports and Strategy
Board Reports and Strategy
With diverse backgrounds and experience, meet the passionate group that form the Travel Drumheller Staff and Board of Directors on our About page. If you wish to become a director of Travel Drumheller please contact us at admin@traveldrumheller.com.
The board meets monthly and here you will see the board packages from those meetings as well as the annual marketing plan produced.
In 2022, the Board approved a three year Strategic Plan for the organization. There was an update on progress made on the plan at the 2023 AGM in April.
Business Impact Survey
Local businesses are generally optimistic about the future and non-tourism businesses are strongly supportive of the tourism industry. These are two key findings from a recent business survey funded by Community Futures Big Country and completed in partnership with Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Drumheller Economic Development Department and Travel Drumheller.
In April 2022 Community Futures Big Country released the Drumheller and Region Business Survey and Analysis Report. From January to March 2022 a survey campaign was undertaken by the project partners, resulting in significant outreach to local business owners. The survey collected responses from local businesses in the Drumheller region (including Starland Country). In total, 113 businesses provided their perspective on topics including workforce satisfaction, current business status, their future outlook, the impact of tourism, and familiarity with project partners. Key themes identified in the report include:
- Local businesses are generally optimistic about the future;
- While employers are, overall, happy with their current staff, they view the broader labour pool as a weakness;
- Many businesses in the community are seasonal in nature, relying on strong summer months to sustain their operations through lesser winter seasons;
- Benefits to doing business in the area include the “people” and its small-town appeal;
- Drawbacks to operating a business in the Drumheller region include the lack of population growth and high operating costs;
- The strong tourism sector and geographic location were seen as both strengths and drawbacks to running a local business.