INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR INTERNAL PARTNER REFERENCE ONLY
“Spark" Program Guide For Partners
Background
The Tourism Innovation Lab is a non-profit initiative created to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships, to cultivate and propel collaborations between the tourism and tech sectors, and to build a community of tourism innovators and entrepreneurs in Canada. Launched as a pilot in Windsor Essex in 2018, the Lab and its "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program continue to expand to new regions across British Columbia and Ontario. The Lab is a program of Hackforge and is based at the University of Windsor-EPICentre. "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program The "Spark" Program is delivered in collaboration with regional/local partners and includes:
Selected applicants will receive:
Program Delivery Phases & Timeline
Each region can vary in its priorities and structure, however the timeline to develop, launch and deliver the "Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program takes approximately 8-10 months with the following 5 phases: Prior to program commencing:
Phase 2 - Launch, Promotions, and Applications Intake (5-6 weeks):
Phase 3 - Applications Review & Finalists' Pitch Session (5-6 weeks):
Phase 4 - Mentorship Program (4 months):
Program Marketing & Templates The marketing and promotion of the "Spark" Program is done in collaboration with local, regional and provincial partners. As those partners have the most local extensive networks, this is very much a team effort! Customized program logos with regional identifiers: A region-specific webpage is created to host all of the program information, application guide and questions, and info session registration links (eg. www.tourisminnnovation.ca/YOURREGION).
Images of local tourism entrepreneurs are provided by partners to be featured in the program marketing and digital assets. Here are examples of promotional postcards (for digital or print) from BC and Ontario: Communications & Social Media
For program partners: we encourage you to like and share the Lab's social media posts, as well as use the digital promos and social media ads on your own social media channels (and tag the Tourism Innovation Lab). The marketing assets can be used in newsletters, partner websites, etc. Watch this video to learn about the "Spark" Program from a winner/mentee perspective:
Please contact us if you have any questions: Justin Lafontaine, Program Lead (Ontario and general inquiries) info@tourisminnovation.ca or 1-844-455-0325 ext. 1 Alex Berlyand, BC Programs Coordinator outreach@tourisminnovation.ca or 1-844-455-0325 ext. 2 |
Learn more about the Tourism Innovation Lab