Experience Development Course
This course offers experience development training to individuals interested in building new experiences from idea creation to being ready to market. This multi-week course will guide you through the steps of creating your own experience.
Idea to Experience:
Experience Development Course
The course include multiple different elements to support your learning both in-person and online.
What is Included
Who is this course for? Anyone interested in creating a visitor experience - no tourism background needed.
You'll participate in two in-person experiences, join regular online gatherings to exchange ideas and ask questions, watch pre-recorded lessons, and complete guided activities that will contribute to your final experience plan.
The course will be hosted by Joanne Wolnik and Emma Rowley from Ontario’s Southwest with guest speakers.
Cost is $375, all inclusive
Key Information
Hat Trick Farms, Beyond the Vase
TJ Stables, Spirit Horse Encounter
Everything to Know
Module 0: Welcome and Orientation
Learn about all the course details, how to navigate the course platform, and access resources to ensure you feel prepared.
Content Released - Monday, September 21st
Module 1: Introduction to Experiential Tourism
Establish an understanding of experiential tourism by learning about the benefits generated from hosting an experience. Gain insights by learning about multiple examples of experiences within Southwestern Ontario. You’ll participate in your first experience from the perspective of a visitor and learn from an established experience host and storyteller.
In Person Experience – Tuesday, September 29th from 12:00 to 4:00pm
Module 2: Experience Design
Learn the essential elements of an experience to ensure it is engaging and memorable. You’ll learn how to map out each stage of your experience, ensuring that we are considering steps of the visitor journey while aligning with your purpose for offering an experience. This module happens over two weeks to offer more time to refine the concept of your experience.
Live Session – Tuesday, October 6th from 11:00am to 12:00pm
One-on-one Coaching Calls – October 13th to October 16th
Module 3: Understanding Your Market
Learn the fundamentals of target markets, gain insights about travel motivations. Through guided activities and discussions during the online gathering, you’ll create a profile of your ideal visitor. You’ll develop an understanding of the needs, and preferences of your ideal visitor to ensure your experience is designed with their expectations in mind.
Live Session – Tuesday, October 20th from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Module 4: Costing & Pricing
Gain an understanding of the factors to consider when determining an experience price including the psychology of pricing, visitor behaviour, and organization operations. You’ll be given access to a costing and pricing tool to guide you on how to realistically price your experience.
Live Session – Tuesday, October 27th from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Module 5: Bringing Your Experience to Market
Learn the fundamentals of marketing and launching your experience - from creating digital assets and selecting booking platforms to responding to online reviews. You’ll learn from Conner Galway, President of Junction Consulting, who specializes in supporting tourism organizations with digital marketing and will guide you thought creating a high level marketing plan.
Live Session – Tuesday, November 3rd from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Module 6: Experience Plan
This is your chance to take some time to put together your experience plan. Most of the work will be complete from completing activities throughout the course, so this is your opportunity to reflect and refine. You’ll end the course by participating in a second experience. By the end of the course, you’ll have an actionable plan to confidently turn your idea into an experience!
In Person Experience – Tuesday, November 10th from 12:00-4:00pm
Walnut Grove B&B, The Buzz about Pollinators
Grand Experiences, Nith Whitewater Experiential Learning Adventure
Homegrown Hideaway, Wildcraft Tea Adventure
Early Bird Coffee, The Roasting Lab
Aggie Armstrong’s Perennial Palettes
Transitions Equine, Cowgirl Kickback
Thames River Melons, Harvest Brunch
Watch the videos below to hear from alumni from Unlocked & Inspired, the previous version of our experience development course, to learn more!
Participant Feedback
The award-winning Tree to Table experience by Ottercreek Woodworks.
Red Barn Brewing Company is another award-winning business within the region.
-
That’s more than okay! The course will help you brainstorm and refine an experience idea that aligns with your passions and interests, and organization’s operations.
-
We have been so lucky to have been able to host Unlocked & Inspired for many years, with the support of Celes Davar. Many of the key learnings will be the same as Unlocked & Inspired with adjustments to ensure that the course is more adaptable to accommodate everyone’s busy schedules and that the content can be easily translated into actions to support the development and delivery of your experience.
-
Absolutely! While this course is primarily online, we want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to interact and share ideas. You will have a chance to meet everyone when participating in the first in-person experience. You will also interact with people during regular live sessions and the second in-person experience.
-
Modules 1 to 5 each have around 30 minutes of pre-recorded videos for you to watch. Each module has multiple videos that are 5 to 15 minutes in length. Module 6 includes a short video, but the focus is on providing you with time to finish your capstone assignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Start to create an experience!
Presented in partnership with:
