Experience Development 2024/25 Application

RTO7’s offer of the Partnership Program for 2024/25 is contingent upon the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sports' approval of RTO7’s 2024/25 Business Plan.

If you are unfamiliar with the Partnership Program and applications, I highly recommend calling (Alex 705-441-2931 ahogan@rto7.ca) to first talk through your proposed project and/or completing the application, as the process is greatly simplified with some direct explanation prior to completion of the application.

RTO7 reserves the right to limit the number of programs/funds that one stakeholder may receive per year.

Please read the Partnership Program Guidelines  for important background information before completing this application.  The Guidelines refer to a Resource Guide which we have put together that contains lots of useful information that relates to Partnership Program projects (e.g. target markets, performance metrics, the importance of data, etc.) - we encourage you to check this out. 

The documents linked to within this application should open in a new window in your browser when clicked on.
We highly recommend that you log into a Google account (directions in link) to access this form and know that your progress is automatically saved as a draft for 30 days so you can return to it.
If you choose not to do this or to work offline
  • You will need to complete and submit the form all in one sitting
  • Be sure to save a copy of your submitted application (if you are not logged  in as recommended, once submitted, neither you nor we will have access to your application to make edits so if we ask you to make any revisions to your application you will have to start the application process from scratch)
If you choose not to log into a Google account, contact us to discuss how best to submit your application.

● Experience Development projects typically include studies, research, workforce-related projects, sustainability certification and large-scale experience development
● These projects most often involve procurement of a supplier (usually led by RTO7) and project management by RTO7 (working closely with the Partner)
● $1 partner funds are matched by $1 partnership funds to a combined maximum of $20,000 per project.  Example $10,000 leverages to $20,000
● Minimum $5,000 investment from the partner (can be a single tourism entity or a tourism group/DMO/tourism organization/municipality) 
● As part of our focus on the sustainability of tourism, we are encouraging businesses and destinations to undertake sustainability certification.
  1. This must be done through a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognized organization. Third party certifications of an aspect of sustainability may be supported (to be reviewed on a case by case basis).
  2. The minimum partner contribution for this initiative is $400 
  3. RTO7 commits to covering a portion of the recurring annual costs associated with maintaining certification for the next 3 years
● Note for those proposing/undertaking planning/feasibility projects/exercises, sustainable tourism practices must be addressed in a meaningful manner within the plan/study
● To ensure timely and constructive execution of the planning and actioning of the project. the Individual Responsible for Day-to-Day Execution named below will act as the decision maker and liaison with RTO7 and  the selected consultant
● Once the project is approved, all communications regarding the project MUST be conducted in Basecamp (provided by RTO7)

The red asterisks below indicate required fields.
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Email *
Tourism Operation Business Name (and Legal Operating Name) *
Senior Organization Rep*  *
*Note this is the individual with signing authority for the project and ultimate responsibility for the execution and completion of the project 

Please provide Name, Title & Email (needed to send the Agreement to, with a copy to the Contact below)
Contact Name & Title of Individual Responsible for Day-to-Day Execution of the Project*
*Note this person will be the day-to-day decision maker for the project, responsible for execution of the project and regular communications with RTO7 and agencies, and should have skills and experience in managing projects of a similar nature as well as available time to devote to the project).
Address *
Phone Number *
Project Name
Project Date(s) *
Partner Funding Contribution *
This should be 50% of the total project cost (including tax)
You will need to send RTO7 this amount in the form of EFT, e-transfer or cheque
The minimum partner contribution for this program is $5,000 ($400 for sustainability certification); the maximum is $10,000 (including tax)
Total Project Budget 

This is the total cost of the project you are applying for including tax (with 1/2 paid by you; 1/2 paid by RTO7)
 *
RTO7 Geographic Target Markets *
These are markets and activities that BruceGreySimcoe targets in our campaigns; check off those that you would like to target in your project.
Required
RTO7 Target Activities *
Required
Nature of the Project *
Required
Project Overview *
Please describe your project and its benefits/what success will look like upon completion of the project.  

Provide baseline performance data against which the outcomes of the project will be evaluated (e.g. increase tourist spending, visitation, investment, sustainability, number of experiences in market, etc.)

If this is a workforce development project, please indicate which workforce the proposed project supports (e.g. one sector, one County, the region, etc.)

Please keep in mind that revenue generation by tourism operators and sustainability of tourism operations are of key importance and should therefore be reflected as appropriate in what you are proposing.

Key Activities, Milestones & Responsibilities
What do you see as the key activities and critical deadlines/milestones of the project? Keep in mind that we will conduct a procurement for a third party that will conduct the work required.
Performance Metrics

Please indicate how your organization will evaluate the success of the project.

Select at least 2 metrics that are appropriate for your project and that will help determine whether it met expectations.

For an explanation of these and other useful tourism metrics, please read Why Collect This Info and Additional Reporting Metrics
 *
Required
Describe how your organization/project will be sustained beyond the project completion *
Requirements

Please confirm that the following are in place CURRENTLY in order to qualify for funding. 
 *
Required
ATTESTATION *
Required
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM *
RTO7 is committed to sustainable tourism (link out to get a better understanding of what we mean by this) and we hope you are too! As one aspect of our sustainability journey, we will be looking to our tourism stakeholders to collect and share sustainability related data in future. 

While  collection/reporting of this data will not impact on evaluation of your application this year, it may in future years.

We believe sustainability is good for your business and we're committed to making it as easy as possible in the future for you to incorporate and report on your sustainability so that down the road, we will be able to tell the sustainability story of the region (and your operations) in our promotions.

We will be directing you to a survey with a long list of potential sustainability indicators - we'd like your input as to which you are currently collecting and/or are willing to report to RTO7 on annually for the purposes of an aggregated tourism story and improved decision making.  

Please read carefully...

For  this  year, we're simply collecting information.  To complete the survey as a required part of your application process follow these steps:

  1. Click on the link below - the sustainable tourism survey will open in a new window.  
  2. Click on the box below to indicate that you have done so and will complete the survey immediately after hitting submit on this application. Then continue on to complete the funding application and hit Submit.
  3. Next go to the survey window, complete the survey and hit submit (you have now completed the application process - both documents will be required for an application to be considered complete).


Required
Name *
Signature (type name below to sign) *
Date *
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