Ontario's Southwest Regional Tourism Organization

Want to strengthen your grant applications and discover funding resources? Join us for our upcoming webinar: Data to Dollars: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Events.  On October 17th, gain insight into funding requirements, the power of data to bolster applications, impact assessments, diversifying funding resources and optimizing your budget. Learn from Darren Winger and Sweety Goswami from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, to equip you with actionable strategies to boost your funding success. Unlock the potential of your events with data-driven strategies. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/ezCpKbqY

Ontario's Southwest is hosting a free in-person event on September 27th from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Retro Suites Hotel. This is an opportunity to connect with individuals from tourism businesses and organizations in southwestern Ontario. The event will include lunch, networking, and a keynote presentation from the Founder and Operations Manager of Guess Where Trips. Event Schedule 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Arrival & Networking 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Lunch  12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. - Welcome Messages & Presentation by OSW 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Keynote Presentation 2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Networking Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/evqrAZXB

Experiential tourism offers hands-on experiences that encourage visitors to engage meaningfully with a destination. Some of the benefits that come from embracing an experiential tourism approach include: 🌟 Visitors connecting with the essence of a place and its people. 📖 Empowerment among operators to share their stories and traditions. 🧳 Aligning with travelers' desire for enriching and memorable experiences. ❤️ Development of stronger emotional connections between visitors and community members. 💼 Generation of additional revenue streams for businesses. 🛠️ Supporting individuals who may not traditionally see themselves as part of the tourism industry. 🌱 More responsible visitor behavior that focuses on positive impacts. 🗓️ Opportunities to attract visitors year-round. 💡 Enhancing the visibility of lesser-known destinations, spreading tourism benefits across regions. Support is available for operators through training, access to guidebooks, and connecting with coaches. Learn more by exploring our website! https://www.swotc.ca/

Our funding resources webpage is available to support you when writing funding applications. Visit our website to access beneficial tools like data and insights about visitation, spending, and demographics, in addition to suggested webpages to stay up to date about available funding programs, and a form to request a letter of support. Access the funding resources here: https://lnkd.in/gkEbQThG

We have another monthly round up of opportunities with Team OSW! Develop to Market 3.0 If you invested $1,800 (including HST) in sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity, you may be eligible for an ad in the Globe and Mail (total value of $5,650). Click the following link for details and to apply: https://www.swotc.ca/d2m World Tourism Day We are hosting an in-person event on Friday, September 27th from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Retro Suites Hotel. Connect with others working in the tourism industry and catch our fantastic keynote speaker. Click the following link to register: https://lnkd.in/evqrAZXB

Tourism London, in partnership with Ontario's Southwest Regional Tourism Organization, invites you to our 2024 London Familiarization Tour, focusing on two important pillars of our tourism landscape, Sports and Music! Join us for a day filled with discovery, excitement and inspiration, and come away with new ideas to share with visitors to elevate their travel experiences in Canada’s UNESCO City of Music! Don’t miss this chance to explore a few iconic sports venues and beloved musical hotspots in London, as well as excellent networking opportunities. Space is limited - please only RSVP if you can attend: https://lnkd.in/ecXViMp8

Thank you to everyone who contributed feedback to our Spring Industry Survey. Your input will help support our planning to strengthen the tourism sector across the region. We've compiled the results for the most recent version of The Snippet. Click the following link to access the PDF version: https://shorturl.at/BImbz

Attention tourism businesses in southern Ontario: FedDev Ontario is accepting applications for the Tourism Growth Program. Learn more and apply by September 17 to develop tourism products and experiences that showcase the best of our region and Canada. https://ow.ly/2tqj50SPke3

Want an ad in the Globe and Mail? Ontario’s Southwest is partnering with the Globe and Mail to support tourism businesses investing in:  ✅ Sustainability  ✅ Accessibility  ✅ Inclusivity We are looking for tourism operators to provide a minimum of $1,800 (including HST) in eligible expenses and will match this with $1,800 towards purchasing an ad on your behalf (total value of $5,650). Click the following link to learn more: https://www.swotc.ca/d2m

Congratulations to Tourism London and all tourism partners in the city for their contributions in building a vibrant and thriving tourism industry! According to data from TourismScapes, spending in the London tourism region is 2.4 times the national average. Seasonality is low, meaning that the area experiences fewer fluctuations in visitation throughout the year, and is likely less susceptible to economic downturns or sudden changes in demand.