RTO 9 Partnership Fund Program Brianna Doyon
Agenda Overview Partner Eligibility Project Criteria Conditions of Funding Project Reports Project Evaluation Criteria Next steps
Overview What is the Partnership Fund Program?
The Program RTO 9’s Partnership Fund initiative is designed to build on existing and introduce new tourism products that enhance the region’s diversity of tourism attractions and competitive advantage by supporting the development of tourism experiences in the region. This program is allocated $219,000.00 from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS).
Program Objectives The Ministry’s and RTO 9’s objectives in providing this opportunity are: Enhance tourism across the Province, especially overnight stays Support the RTO as the leader in regional tourism Maximize support for tourism at a regional level by encouraging strong partnerships, expanding the breadth and diversity of funding partners Encourage RTOs to engage industry partners to broaden their financial base to extend reach Support a coordinated approach that aligns planning, product development, investment attraction and workforce development in the region Assure the transparency and accountability of funding through the transfer payment agreement Increase the economic tourism value to the region
Program Objectives The Partnership Fund program is an initiative designed with the intent to make RTO 9 – The Great Waterway a premiere travel destination in Ontario, by: Creating and enhancing tourism offerings within the region, that generate new and repeat visitation; Extending the reach, breadth and depth of partnerships between RTO 9 and industry partners; Utilizing partner synergies to drive tourism across the region, extending the length of stay and tourism receipts.
Partner Eligibility Eligible partners are not-for-profit and for-profit tourism organizations and businesses, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO), Destination Marketing Programs (DMP) as well as municipalities and First Nations with a role in the delivery of tourism promotion/ product development and services, within the geographic boundaries of RTO 9. Applicant must be prepared to have at least $2 million General Commercial Liability insurance coverage and will add “Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization” as an additional insured for the full duration of the partnership project. Applications require full disclosure of all other funding granted to the initiative. Partners are not able to use Ontario grants (Celebrate Ontario, TIPP, EODF, TDF) to fund their portion of the Partnership Fund. As this program is oversubscribed each year, approved partners will have 30 days from project approval to submit the required documentation, if this time frame is not adhered to, RTO 9 reserves the right to reallocate funding at it’s discretion.
Project Criteria 5 Project Categories
Product Development Training In order to have a thriving tourism Funding ratio 1:1 industry, RTO 9 wants to assist our Minimum partnership investment stakeholders in building unique and for this category is $1,350.00 authentic experiences for the region that All travel arrangements will be will increase visitation, length of stay and booked by RTO 9 visitor spend. Training such as the Edge of the Wedge or Ignite program will Upon completion of the course, allow participants to be shown how to share your knowledge create those experiences and more. Partners are required to have a project concept that will be reviewed as part of the application process
Creation of New or Enhancement of an Existing Festival/Event Events are a key driver for tourism. RTO 9 Funding ratio 1:1 recognizes the importance of festivals Add depth and richness to your and events within our region and will tourism offering work with our partners on the Provide a reason for a visitor to stay development or enhancement of an additional day or two festivals and events for the upcoming year. Enhancement of events could Marketing is an ineligible cost for include, but are not limited to, improved 2018/2019. Examples of this are - or additional programming, accessibility, ad buys, promotional items, design translation costs and website services and printing costs. development.
Multi – Language Collateral RTO 9 recognizes the importance of the Funding ratio 1:1 Quebec and International Markets to RTO 9 will collaborate with their industry stakeholders across the region. partners on projects such as, but Having multi-language market ready not limited to, translation of promotional materials available is promotional materials digital or beneficial to our industry partners, when print, translation of websites and selling their services. To offer services in signage. French or other languages is appreciated by visitors from Quebec and abroad.
Travel Media/FAM Tours /Influencers RTO 9 will work with their partners that Funding ratio 1:1 recognize the importance of earned Multi destination FAM media for the region. Support will be tours/Influencers will receive provided to assist partners at travel priority approval media shows, securing of FAM tours and Region wide itineraries will increase outreach to social media influencers. overnight visitation RTO 9 will work with our partners to develop itineraries that highlight the Social media influencers are unique and captivating product within expected to use relevant hashtags, our region. such as, #discoverON, #greatwaterway etc.
Development of New or Existing Product Attendance at the Edge of the Wedge Applicants that have attended a Program, Ignite Program or a RTO 9 training program that is part of the Product Development Training Course is immersion experience training for a prerequisite when applying under this the Edge of the Wedge or Ignite category. Visitors are looking for new program will receive funding at a reasons to visit, having marketable 2:1 ratio. All other projects will experiences that encourage tourists to receive funding at a 1:1 ratio come to the region will increase visitor Routes and guided experiences spending. These can be large scale provide memories for our visitors projects, such as, strategy planning, Build a greater emotional feasibility studies and market research connection with your visitors studies. This program will be offered on a 2-teir funding model.
“Product development is the creation of products with new or different characteristics that offer new or additional benefits to the customer. Product development may involve modification of an existing product or its presentation, or formulation of an entirely new product that satisfies a newly defined customer want or market niche”
Project Priority Prio iority w will b ill be giv iven t to o prop oposals t that: 1. Promote overnight visits, increasing the length of stay 2. Include two or more partners that are financially committed to the project, in addition to RTO 9 3. Have clearly defined and measurable goals *See project categories for additional details.
Conditions of Funding RTO 9 is bound to the funding guidelines as set forth by MTCS.
Defining a Partner RTO 9 is bound to the funding guidelines as set forth by MTCS. The funds are only available to partners that are able to provide matching funds. The Ministry uses the following definition of Partner: “In the e context of t the f e funding m model el, ‘partner ership’ i is d def efined as the a agreem eement of t the R e RTO t to wor ork w with on one or or mor ore entit itie ies on on a specif ific ic p proj oject in support of of the RTO’s busin iness p plan. The RT RTO is t the he project l lead a and nd the he p partner contributions ‘ ‘flow i int nto’ t the he RT RTO –the hey d do no not ‘ ‘flow th through’ to to th the p partn tner(s).”
Funding Criteria Partnership Fund projects may receive up to 50% for their eligible project, with a minimum matching contribution of $2,500. 00.00 00 and a maximum matching contribution of $50, $50,000 00.00 00. Projects can exceed $100,000.00 depending on the partner contribution. Cos osts a are in inclusive of of HST. Some exceptions to the above matching funds will apply. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2019. All projects must follow the Procurement Policy
• Submit Budget With Your Application 1 • Create Schedules B & C 2 • Sign Your Contract and Submit Partner Payment 3 • Collect Invoices From Vendors 4 • Submit Invoices to RTO 9 5 • Payment is Made by RTO 9 Based Upon Submitted Project Budget 6
Sample Materials Application Sample Schedule B and C Sample Invoice
Acknowledgements In entering into partnership with RTO 9, all recipients are required to acknowledge the support received by RTO 9 and MTCS, with the use of: The ‘Ontario Yours to Discover’ logo, on all consumer related materials The Ontario Trillium logo, on all industry related materials RTO 9 reserves the right to approve all logo placements prior to public release or production Any public announcements/media releases require pre-approval of RTO 9
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