Develop With Us
Develop New Experiences With Us
Travellers are looking to engage with the people and places they visit, connect with locals, get off the beaten track engage the senses, slow down and dive into local culture. And they are willing to pay for the right experience if the perceived value is there!
Tourists are looking for experiences when they travel to connect with their surroundings and live like the locals. Experience development provides travellers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the environment they’re put in. It may involve various aspects of observation or participation, it can be active or passive, planned, opportunistic, personal or shared.
The benefits of offering experiences to travellers include:
the ability to respond to what travellers are looking for
creates a competitive advantage based on value over price
opens the door to new markets, return visitation and new partnerships
encourages new, creative use of existing infrastructure
enhances slow-season business
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can enhance or develop new experiences you’re in the right spot!
Ready to get started?
Ontario’s Southwest offers support for you to develop or enhance your experiences!
We offer training through our signature Unlocked & Inspired program, or you can partner with us to work through the logistics including defining your ideal guests, itinerary development, costing & pricing, and market development.
Click the options below for each stage in the experience development journey!
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Self-Guided Experience Development Training
Learn from 4 different video case studies of businesses in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba that have created experiences, shifted their business strategy, and are willing to share what they have learned!
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‘Unlocked & Inspired’ Experience Development Training
Ontario’s Southwest offers in-person experience development training through the Unlocked & Inspired course which is offered every year in the fall. Click here to find out more!
If you haven’t already watched our case studies, we highly recommend doing so before participating in Unlocked & Inspired to get the most out of this training. Click here to watch the case studies.
Certified Experience Development Coaches
If you’re looking for help to create meaningful experiences that can add new revenue to your business, contact one of our certified Experience Development Coaches. Click here to meet the coaches!
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‘Unlocked & Inspired’ Experience Development Training
Ontario’s Southwest offers in-person experience development training through the Unlocked & Inspired course which is offered every year in the fall. Click here to find out more!
If you haven’t already watched our case studies, we highly recommend doing so before participating in Unlocked & Inspired to get the most out of this training. Click here to watch the case studies.
Access to Research
Click here for detailed reports, statistics, and publications for tourism businesses. Email Ana Baxter for custom market segmentation research to help you reach ideal customers.
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The Ontario’s Southwest (OSW) Signature Experience program
The OSW Signature Experience program features unique experiences within the region. We aren’t accepting applications at this time but encourage all who are interested in the program to click here to learn more.
Travel Trade Opportunities
Email Ana Baxter if you are trade-ready and she can connect you with a wholesaler to package products.
Marketing Opportunities
Click here to learn how you can work with Team OSW to market your experience.
Here are a few success stories!
Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life
Ottercreek Woodworks
Purple Haven Lavender Farm
Sustainable Tourism
We have to be aware of the actions of our tourism experiences in order to preserve land and ensure that the tourism taking place is long-lasting for generations to come. We encourage those looking into developing their experiences to critically think about their business practices in the long term (10+ years) to ensure that their product is feasible.
Economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development must include the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry, and government.
To learn more about sustainability, please visit our page here.
