Culinary and winter/shoulder season tourism has been specifically identified as requiring development and support to seize opportunities to expand Ontario’s tourism potential.
The Elevating Ontario Experiences project further builds upon a previously successful project led by Destination Canada in 2019. TIAO assisted with outreach as only 3 Ontario tourism regions were available with that program.
This project has been designed to build on the existing foundation while ensuring each region is represented and more communities are engaged, in order to further stimulate and drive economic growth.
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About EOE| Project Goals | Benefits | Results | Eligibility | Project Team
About the Project
The Elevating Ontario Experiences Project aims to assist tourism operators across the province through a series of 2 - 2.5hr workshops, helping to uncover potential growth areas in their business within culinary or winter/shoulder season tourism development.
These workshops are curated and tailored to each tourism region in Ontario.
Following the workshop, participating businesses receive a dedicated 30-minute virtual coaching session, to help explore the development of their new or elevated tourism experience.
Project Goals
The workshops aim to provide individual Ontario tourism operators with customized tools, strategies and tangible next steps to build tourism capacity in potential growth areas including culinary and winter/shoulder season development.
The EOE workshops offer recommendations that incorporate the development of a unique and innovative tourism experience or product that can be implemented by the operator to expand their existing business.
Benefits
Customized strategies for culinary and winter/shoulder season tourism development in each tourism region
Inspiration, peer-to-peer input, and one on one post-workshop coaching to finalize and start achieving your idea
Results
As a result of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Elevating Ontario Experiences workshops and coachings:
RTO3 participant Backed by Bees is re-tooling their experiences for a full launch in May of 2023. More details to come.
RTO3 participant Credit Valley Conservation elevated their Maple Syrup by Lamplight experience at Island Lake Conservation Area and expanded it to Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
RTO6 participant Alabaster Acres created a Maple Makers Workshop and a Maple Masters Workshop where people will come to the farm to make their own maple syrup.
RTO12 participant Fromagerie Kapuskoise enhanced their 'Taste of Place' by improving their marketing efforts and developing several video experiences.
RTO1 participant Rabi’s Group elevated the marketing of her cooking classes, highlighting local ingredients and traditional foodways.
RTO6 participant Town of Orangeville created a maple experience in the downtown core running from March to April. Search for the town’s 'Sweet Stops'.
RTO 11 participant Cabinscape has created their Cabin Chaser Package - A two-night mystery road trip and cabin hopping experience. They are open to partnerships with any local businesses that want to collaborate for the fall season!
RTO 13 participant Abitibi Sled Dogs ran their first season of sled dog tours and are in the process of planning for next winter with lots of things in the works.
RTO 11 participant Springwood Cottage Resort have expanded their amenities by creating a game room - acquiring 400 board games and classic arcade games.
RTO 3 participant Country Heritage Park - Canada's largest winter maze pop-up experience: The Giant Maze! The workshop helped this participant to consider different partnerships.
More elevated tourism experiences to come!
Project Team
Hosted by TIAO, the Elevating Ontario Experiences culinary series is delivered by the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) and the winter/shoulder season tourism sessions are executed by BC Hughes.
To learn more about the program details, please reach out to the Project Lead:
Simone Gonsalves
sgonsalves@tiaontario.ca
