Elevating Ontario Experiences
Last Updated: March 18, 2026
Elevating Ontario Experiences
Culinary and winter/shoulder season tourism has been specifically identified as requiring development and support to seize opportunities to expand Ontario’s tourism potential.
The Elevating Ontario Experiences project further builds upon a previously successful project led by TIAC in 2019. TIAO assisted with outreach as only 3 Ontario tourism regions were available with that program.
This project has been designed to build on the existing foundation while ensuring each region is represented and more communities are engaged, in order to further stimulate and drive economic growth.
The project has concluded.
About The Project
The Elevating Ontario Experiences Project aims to assist tourism operators across the province through a series of 2 - 2.5hr workshops, helping to uncover potential growth areas in their business within culinary or winter/shoulder season tourism development.
Project Goals
The workshops aim to provide individual Ontario tourism operators with customized tools, strategies and tangible next steps to build tourism capacity in potential growth areas including culinary and winter/shoulder season development.
Project Team
Hosted by TIAO, the Elevating Ontario Experiences culinary series is delivered by the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) and the winter/shoulder season tourism sessions are executed by BC Hughes.
Benefits of the Project
An understanding of potential growth areas within culinary and winter/shoulder season tourism.
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Customized strategies for culinary and winter/shoulder season tourism development in each tourism region.
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Inspiration, peer-to-peer input, and one on one post-workshop coaching to finalize and start achieving your idea.
Project Results
These workshops were curated and tailored to each tourism region in Ontario.
As a result of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Elevating Ontario Experiences workshops and coaching:
Backed By Bees
Backed by Bees is re-tooling their experiences for a full launch in May of 2023.
Credit Valley Conservation
Elevated their Maple Syrup by Lamplight experience and expanded it to Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
Go Tours Canada
Go Tours Canada is offering a Distillery District Breakfast Tour.
Taste Detours
Taste Detours has launched their self-guided bike food tour
Rabi’s Group
Elevated the marketing of her cooking classes, highlighting local ingredients and traditional foodways.
Fromagerie Kapuskoise
Enhanced their 'Taste of Place' by improving their marketing efforts and developing several video experiences.
Credit Valley Conservation
Offered an Ignite the Night experience at Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
Cabinscape
Cabin Chaser Package. This is a two-night mystery road trip and cabin hopping experience.
Springwood Cottage Resort
Expanded their amenities by creating a game room - acquiring 400 board games and classic arcade games.
Winterdance Dogsled Tours
Husky Hikes - more tours to come in September 2024!
Over Here
Art Ruralz Trail Expansion, Plein Air Series, Community-Focused Workshops, and Collaborations with Local Businesses.
Stone Manor Studios
Hosted their Radiant Renewal, two-day workshop and are launching their Tom and Friends in 2026, a rug-hooking retreat created with a craftswoman and local resort.
Stroll Walking Tours
Teamed up with St. Jacobs Market and created a Food Tour focused on food, culture and history, featuring Mennonite roots.
Pangea House
Hosted their winter Writers' Retreat. Pamper yourself with a winter retreat where you can write, relax, enjoy the beauty of nature in a cozy town atmosphere.
Town of Orangeville
Maple experience in the downtown core running from March to April. Search for the town’s 'Sweet Stops'.
Abitibi Sled Dogs
Ran their first season of sled dog tours and are in the process of planning for next winter with lots of things in the works.
