Recent Projects

Winterchange 2003, Canadian Tourism Commission

Heritage Services Strategy - Hudson's Bay Company

Arctic Corporate Travel Event Product Club

Adventure and Ecotourism Strategy for the Province of Manitoba

Tourism Destination Development Plan for Labrador

Tourism Investment Strategy, City of Toronto,

Muskoka Steamship Museum Expansion Business Plan

CANUSA Business Development Study

Copper Thunderbird Ecolodge Feasibility Study and Business Plan

Sheguiandah Living Heritage Centre

Gordon's Park Business Expansion Plan

Georgina Island Tourism Development Market Assessment and Business Plan

Strategic Framework for Saskatchewan Tourism Development

Escarpment Centre Ontario - Feasibility Study and Business Plan

Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMP)

Grey/Bruce/Owen Sound Regional Tourism Marketing Review

Aboriginal Heritage Gardens Attraction, Eel River Bar First Nation, New Brunswick

MoCreebec Cree Village Ecolodge and Ecotourism Centre

Event Strategy and Tactical Plan for the Viking Millennium

Web-enhancement and Customer Relationship Management Training Program and Materials

Northern Ontario Travel Association Program (NOTAP) Development Strategy

Eastern Ontario Tourism Sector Assessment, Ontario East Economic Development Commission

Business and Transition Plan, Travel Manitoba

Spirit of the North Parkway Business Plan

Trent Port Market and Economic Feasibility Assessment

Burlington MTO Lands Tourism Development Assessment

Labrador South Coast Tourism Strategic Plan

Vancouver Island Interpretive Centre, British Columbia

Winterchange 2003, Canadian Tourism Commission
^theTourism Company is part of a team retained to design and stage the 2003 Canadian Tourism Commission's conference on winter tourism in Canada. To be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, this event will bring together invited senior winter operators from every province and territory who will interact with a team of internationally experienced resource experts to build a product development process for innovative Canadian winter tourism products and experiences.

Heritage Services Strategy - Hudson's Bay Company
^theTourism Company assisted the Hudson's Bay Company with the articulation of a strategy to capitalize on the company's rich heritage from an educational, tourism and merchandising perspective.

Arctic Corporate Travel Event Product Club ^the Tourism Company continues to support this Canadian Tourism Commission product club in a number of areas, including market research, product development and operator/outfitter training. ^theTourism Company organized and staged the first Arctic CTE Product Club conference in Inuvik, NT in September 2001 and is staging the second conference in February 2003 in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Adventure and Ecotourism Strategy for the Province of Manitoba
^theTourism Company completed a review of the market opportunities and market readiness of the adventure and ecotourism sector in Manitoba. The process included 'mystery shopping' and a joint meeting of government and private sector stakeholders.

Tourism Destination Development Plan for Labrador
^theTourism Company co-managed this project with the SGE Group out of Halifax. Extensive community consultations formed the foundation for the Destination Development Plan for Labrador, which covered a wide range of natural and cultural heritage, adventure and learning experiences.

Tourism Investment Strategy, City of Toronto, ^theTourism Company worked with Cameron Hawkins & Associates to complete a strategy that identified opportunities for private sector investment in the tourism sector of Toronto. The study included significant benchmarking around other successful urban destinations and a review of product offering in North American cities that Toronto competes with. The investment strategy provides a framework for the City to actively seek private sector investment.

Muskoka Steamship Museum Expansion Business Plan
^theTourism Company, as part of a multi-disciplinary consulting team, was retained by the Muskoka Steamship Historical Society to prepare a business plan for the expansion and relocation of the existing Muskoka Steamship Museum to the proposed Muskoka Wharf tourist retail development project in Gravenhurst. ^theTourism Company was responsible for assessing market demand potential, preparing demand and financial operating forecasts, and preparing a 5-year business plan to guide the expansion/relocation and ongoing operation of the museum.

CANUSA Business Development Study
^theTourism Company was retained by CANUSA, a web development and technology company specializing in destination marketing, and its Community Futures Development Corporation partners, to assess current and future business development opportunities for CANUSA's products and services in the North American tourism industry. This assignment involved the assessment of technology use and trends in the tourism industry, assessment of potential competitive products and services, and the preparation of 5-year sales and revenue forecasts for CANUSA's products and services.

Copper Thunderbird Ecolodge Feasibility Study and Business Plan
^theTourism Company was retained by Sand Point First Nation to examine the feasibility and prepare a business plan for the development of a 34 room Ecolodge on reserve land on the eastern shore of Lake Nipigon, Ontario. The assignment which was funded by Aboriginal Business Canada, involved a market assessment, identification of the most lucrative accommodation development option, preparation of demand/occupancy forecasts, and preparation of a 5-year business plan to guide development and operation of the recommended Ecolodge. ^theTourism Company managed a multi-disciplinary consulting team which included an architect and archaeologists.

Sheguiandah Living Heritage Centre
^theTourism Company was retained by the Sheguiandah First Nation, as part of a multi-disciplinary team to assess the feasibility of developing a First Nations cultural heritage based attraction on reserve land on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. ^theTourism Company was responsible for the market assessment and identification of high potential development opportunities, as well as the preparation of demand and financial projections and a business plan for the Band's preferred project.

Gordon's Park Business Expansion Plan
^theTourism Company was retained by the private sector owner/operators of Gordon's Park, and Attractions Canada award winning tourism business (2001) located on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, to assist with the development of a business plan for expansion of Gordon's Park. The assignment, which was funded through the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Resource Based Tourism Diversification Program, involved the market and financial assessment of the existing business, assessment of market opportunities on Manitoulin Island, identification of high potential expansion opportunities, preparation of demand projections, and preparation of a five year business plan.

Web site:Gordon's Park

Georgina Island Tourism Development Market Assessment and Business Plan
^theTourism Company was retained by the Chippewas of Georgina Island through the Band's Economic Development Office to assess the market potential and prepare financial projections for a proposed destination accommodation development on Georgina Island in Lake Simcoe, Ontario. This assignment involves the analysis of market demand and competitive supply, identification of the best accommodation development option, and preparation of a business plan to direct its development and operation.

Strategic Framework for Saskatchewan Tourism Development - 2000
^theTourism Company was part of an inter-provincial team that completed this framework for public sector investment in Saskatchewan. Our involvement focused on Cultural Heritage and Aboriginal tourism sectors.

Escarpment Centre Ontario - Feasibility Study and Business Plan^theTourism Company lead a multi-disciplinary team to complete a feasibility study and business plan for this Niagara Escarpment Interpretive Centre, to be located in the Owen Sound area. This project builds on their extensive experience with visitor/interpretive centre planning projects.

Web site: Escarpment Centre Ontario

Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMP)
^theTourism Company continues to work closely with OTMP in a number of areas. We assisted in the development of the 2000/01 Business Plan and a review of the service provider strategy. ^theTourism Company has written and delivered a Packaging Handbook for Tourism Operators and is developing a Handbook for Selling Through the Travel Trade for Suppliers. We are also contributing to product development by working with industry-led consortiums such as Spas Ontario and Arts in the Wild.

Grey/Bruce/Owen Sound Regional Tourism Marketing Review 1999/00 - Counties of Grey, Bruce and Owen Sound
The on-going realignment of tourism associations in Ontario has prompted this review of the role of regional efforts. The study process includes extensive consultation with area tourism operators.

Bolivia Rapid Assessment - Sustainable Tourism Development Assessment - Inter-American Development Bank
The purpose of this assignment was to identify and assess the highest potential sustainable tourism development opportunities and projects within Bolivia. theTourism Company managed an international consulting team including consultants from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Equador and Mexico.

Development of a Strategic Plan, - Relais & Chateaux North America
^theTourism Company assisted Relais & Chateaux North America in the development of a five year strategic plan by designing and facilitating a two day workshop with member properties.

Aboriginal Heritage Gardens Attraction, 1998/99 - Eel River Bar First Nation, New Brunswick
^theTourism Company was the lead company directing the development of an interpretive master plan and overall attraction business plan to guide the development of a proposed aboriginal (Canadian Mic Mac Indians) heritage garden attraction in New Brunswick.

Huron North Heritage & Ecotourism Strategy
Seven Ontario communities located along the north shore of Lake Huron joined forces to implement a regional tourism development and marketing strategy based on cultural and natural heritage resources. ^theTourism Company was responsible for the development of an heritage opportunities evaluation methodology, demand market assessment, and preparation of pre-feasibility studies for recommended public sector projects.

MoCreebec Cree Village Ecolodge and Ecotourism Centre - MoCreebec Council of the Cree Nation
^theTourism Company prepared a marketing plan for the introduction and ongoing marketing of the first designed and purpose-built ecolodge in Canada. The client, MoCreebec Council of the Cree Nation, Moose Factory, Ontario, intends to attract and service domestic and international travelers seeking ecotourism experiences. Research included interviews with tour operators to test the concept. The Lodge opened in July 2000 and we continue to support them in a consulting capacity.

Event Strategy and Tactical Plan for the Viking Millennium, - Viking Trail Tourism Association
Working for the Viking Trail Tourism Association, Parks Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage and the Provincial Department of Tourism, ^theTourism Company prepared the event strategy and plan to celebrate the 1000 anniversary of Leif Eriksson's arrival in North America to be celebrated in 2000. . An event calendar, business plans for the anchor events and a sponsorship plan were prepared. The event was successfully staged throughout 2000.

Web-enhancement and Customer Relationship Management Training Program and Materials
Jill Vandal, the Tourism Company and Todd Lucier, Tourism Clicks.com designed and delivered a series of highly acclaimed workshops for tourism operators in Ontario that focused on maximizing use of the Internet. Completed for the Strategic Tourism Development and Marketing Partnership for Northern Ontario - a partnership between FedNor/Industry Canada and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation - a manual and dedicated web page are a part of the legacy material. This program has been renewed and expanded it its second year to include an additional day with 'hands-on computers' component and a workshop designed for DMO and Association executives.

Northern Ontario Travel Association Program (NOTAP) Development Strategy
the Tourism Company was engaged by the existing 6 Northern Ontario DMO's, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation and FedNor to prepare a five year tourism development strategy for the DMO's. The plan identified joint marketing initiatives as well as individual DMO business practices and marketing programs that are intended to ensure the growth, relevancy and effectiveness of the DMO's for the next five years.

Eastern Ontario Tourism Sector Assessment, Ontario East Economic Development Commission
the Tourism Company was retained by the Ontario East Economic Development Commission to undertake an assessment of tourism industry development and investment opportunities in Eastern Ontario. The assignment comprised market demand and supply assessments for 15 sub-regions of Eastern Ontario, an assessment of tourism and hospitality education and training capacity in Eastern Ontario, and a product/market match to identify areas suitable for private sector investment in product development.

Business and Transition Plan, Travel Manitoba
Working in partnership with Western Management Consultants, the Tourism Company assisted in the planning for the transition of Travel Manitoba from a provincial department to a Crown agency. Broad consultation with the industry was completed throughout the province by a series of Round Tables and interviews. A detailed transition plan was included in the Business Plan.

Spirit of the North Parkway Business Plan
Mr. McKittrick was the project manager for a tourism development and marketing project undertaken by the Municipality of Greenstone. The Spirit of the North Parkway Business Plan identified a strategy for developing and marketing the Highway 11 corridor from Longlac to Highway 17 (at Nipigon) as a regional tourism destination highlighting cultural and natural heritage resources.

Trent Port Market and Economic Feasibility Assessment
D'Arcy McKittrick was the project manager for a multi-disciplinary team engaged by the Trent Port Historical Society to assess the market and financial feasibility of establishing the Trent Port Museum in the Municipality of Quinte West.

Burlington MTO Lands Tourism Development Assessment
As sub-consultants to TSH Associates, the Tourism Company was engaged to assess the tourism development potential of a parcel of waterfront land (MTO Lands) as part of the Burlington Downtown Waterfront Implementation Plan. The current and expected future tourism demand and supply in the Burlington market were assessed and three potential development concepts of differing intensity identified for consideration.

Labrador South Coast Tourism Strategic Plan
the Tourism Company working in association with SGE Acres out of Halifax prepared a tourism development strategy for the south coast area between Red Bay and Cartwright for the Labrador Métis Association and the regional economic board.

Vancouver Island Interpretive Centre, British Columbia
the Tourism Company directed a multi-disciplinary team in the completion of a Phase 2 planning study (site selection, concept development, market assessment, organization and governance, funding strategy, and economic benefits assessment) for a proposed new tourist attraction in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area of Vancouver Island.