SPECIAL EDITION NORTHERN ONTARIO
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“Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program 


How Would You Re-Imagine or Expand Your Tourism Business?

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​Destination Northern Ontario, Tourism Excellence North and the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab have partnered to launch a Special Edition "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program for Northern Ontario.  

Small tourism businesses based in Northern Ontario are encouraged to submit applications with innovative ideas on how they could re-imagine or expand their tourism offerings, products and services to attract new markets and visitors. Examples include developing new tourism experiences, buying equipment to offer new programming, creating new digital platforms and delivery models, and enhancing current tourism offerings.

The program includes:

• Call out for applications from existing small businesses based in Northern Ontario
• Application reviews by a jury including local and provincial tourism leaders and innovators​
• Finalists' Pitch Session (our friendly take on a tourism Dragon's Den)
  - save the date: April 22, 2021 at 1:00-3:30pm
• Selection of 3 winners (1 from each Northern Ontario tourism sub-region: 13a, 13b, 13c) and 3 runners up (1 from each Northern Ontario tourism sub-region: 13a, 13b, 13c)

Winners will receive:

• $3,000 "Spark" grant to support tourism idea development activities
• 3 month mentorship with a tourism innovator, experienced operator, industry leader and/or sector expert
• In-kind bundle of support services from Tourism Excellence North valued at up to $9,500
• Access to a support network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders
• ​Ongoing guidance on other resources and support services provided by partners

Runners up will receive:

• 3 month mentorship with a tourism innovator, experienced operator, industry leader and/or sector expert
• In-kind bundle of support services from Tourism Excellence North valued at up to $9,500
• Access to a support network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders
• ​Ongoing guidance on other resources and support services provided by partners

All program applicants will be invited to join our "Spark" community of tourism innovators, partners and supporters for special networking events, one-on-one's, and development workshops.

Application Deadline: March 19, 2021

Northern Ontario “Spark" Application Guide

Who Can Apply?

• Existing small tourism businesses based in Northern Ontario (sub-regions 13a, 13b, 13c) with up to 10 full-time, year-round employees.
• Small businesses with primary operations focused on local tourism services, experiences, offerings and/or products.
• Definition of tourism businesses: all types of public and private sector tourism operations that include, for example, attractions, accommodations, restaurants/culinary establishments, outfitters, activity-based companies (e.g. kayaking, hiking, snowmobiling, ATV's), heritage sites, parks, museums, theatres, events and festivals.
  
  

What Are We Looking For?
We are looking for innovative ideas on re-imagining or expanding tourism offerings, products and services to attract new markets and visitors. Examples include developing new tourism experiences, buying equipment to offer new programming, creating new digital platforms and delivery models, and enhancing current tourism offerings.

What Is A “Tourism” Idea?
Experiences, products and partnerships that motivate travel to your region by people living more than 40km away, across the provincial border or internationally, and provide engagement, participation, purchasing and/or travel related opportunities while they are visiting. 

Other “Tourism” Definitions and Examples
Experiences: Opportunities for visitors to engage, participate, interact, learn and explore in a region to get a local understanding and broader awareness of a destination, often combining different elements (eg. farmers market tour followed by a culinary class led by a local chef)     
Products: Buyable goods and services related to tourism in the region (eg. accommodations, attractions, tours, ticketed events, travel packages and other tourism bundles)
Collaborative Partnerships: Two or more businesses/organizations working together to promote and/or deliver a new tourism related experience or product (eg. Metro Zoo + Cycling Group = “Jungle Ride” event)

Application Deadline: March 19, 2021

“Spark" Program Application

How to Apply?
Submit a 1,000 word maximum document with responses to each of the following 8 questions:

1. Contact information (name, phone number, email, business/organization name, website)
2. Tell us about your small tourism business.
3. What’s your idea to re-imagine or expand your tourism business?
4. How is your idea innovative or unique?
5. What stage are you at with your idea?
6. Who are your target market(s) and/or partner(s)?
7. How would you utilize the “Spark” mentorship and grant funds if selected?
8. What are your hoped for outcomes and impacts?
Copy and paste these questions into a word document and provide a response for each, keeping the full application document to 1,000 words or less. 

In addition to the application document, please include a file or link to a 1 minute maximum unedited, unproduced video introducing yourself, your small tourism business, and your new tourism idea. For example, use your smart phone to take the video, and then upload it to a file sharing service (eg. Dropbox, Google Docs) or a publicly accessible video sharing website such as YouTube (if you don’t want other people to find it, mark it as unlisted) and include the file or link in your email with your application document.

IMPORTANT: Both the 1,000 word maximum document and 1 minute maximum video are required for a complete application submission. Incomplete applications or applications that are above the maximum word/time limits will not be reviewed. 

Application Submission
​Please submit your application to info@tourisminnovation.ca by March 19, 2021, 11:59PM and include "Northern Ontario" in the subject line. Emails will be sent within 24 hours to confirm receipt of all applications. If you do not receive a confirmation email, send another email or call 1-844-455-0325 toll-free / 416-712-8819 to make sure we received your application. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted or reviewed.

Your Application and Personal Information
By submitting an application you agree that all of the information contained in your application is complete and accurate. You also consent that the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab and its partners may collect the personal information contained herein within the application review process and for future program related communications. Your application will be kept confidential during the review period. All review jury and judge panel decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

NOTE: Selected applicants will have to provide proof of existing business registration to receive the mentorship and grant.

Program Info Sessions

Interested in applying to the Special Edition Northern Ontario "Spark" Program? Watch a recording of an Info Session (webinar) below to learn more. You will also learn how Tourism Excellence North’s training and development solutions for tourism operators can assist you and your business to improve the bottom line and the visitor experience.

​Learn more about the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab

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​- Home Base - 
Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab
c/o University of Windsor - EPICentre
​2455 Wyandotte St W, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3B3
​​​info@tourisminnovation.ca
1-844-455-0325 toll-free / 416-712-8819