Apply for the Destination Development Fund
If you have an idea that can attract visitors to Ottawa, and you require funding assistance to get your project off the ground, you can apply for the Destination Development Fund.
Ottawa Tourism is committed to investing in strategies to improve Ottawa as a destination for visitors with strategic, project-based funding.
The Destination Development Fund assists Ottawa-based not-for-profit organizations and for-profit businesses in the tourism space. With the goal of developing quality tourism products that stimulate demand for the destination, this will stimulate increased tourism and expenditure, and encourage private sector tourism investment in Ottawa. To date, 85% of tourism products funded are still active in the destination.
This application-based program is designed to encourage and support collaborative tourism development initiatives that align with the following strategic objectives, and that can demonstrate long term benefits to Ottawa and the surrounding region:
- Create a new, innovative destination offering, which will result in increased overnight visitation and positive word-of-mouth;
- Develop the destination by creating new experiences that will be recurring, permanent and/or make a momentous impact on conversations about Ottawa in key markets whether through social media or word-of-mouth;
- Create and enhance tourism offerings to build greater visitor experiences;
- Create opportunities to build tourism sector capacity, engagement, collaboration and investment;
- Demonstrate sustainable, accessible and inclusive initiatives; and
- Demonstrate long-term benefits to Ottawa and the surrounding region
For more information on the program’s priority areas and application process, read through the Destination Development Fund Applicant Guide (.pdf) and the Application form (.pdf). For those ready to apply, please reach out to discuss your project.
Success stories
New attraction development and infrastructure projects
Attractions, facilities, and/or tourism infrastructure projects that have resulted in measurable improvements to Ottawa’s tourism offering. These projects are often inclusive of multiple economic development partners and benefit a number of elements in the community.
- Mahogany Harbour – Rural tourism expansion dock project
- Gees Bees Pollinator Sanctuary – Rural/agri-tourism travel trade expansion project
- Mādahòkì Farm – Indigenous tourism site development and expansion project
- Wesley Clover Parks – Equestrian Site development and event capacity building project
- Beandigen Café – Indigenous tourism site development and community building project
Innovation projects
Projects that use innovation and surprise to elicit an emotional visitor experience in Ottawa. These projects have lended themselves well to extensive social media sharing and become sought-after stops in Ottawa for this purpose.
- Vintage Hideaways – Rural tourism development project and niche expansion
- Interzip – Interprovincial zipline development project
- O-T-T-A-W-A Letters – Rejuvenation project and placemaking
Tourism project feasibility studies
Studies whose objective is to support the development of the tourism offering in Ottawa and ensure the financial viability of a desired larger-scale tourism-oriented project.
- Diefenbunker – Expansion and modernization project
Expansion of the regional and/or niche tourism offer
Eligible projects include creating tourism routes and circuits, developing themed tourism experiences or products and other initiatives that contribute to expansion of the regional tourism offer in line with Ottawa’s destination brand.
- Ottawa Christmas Market – New experience development project
- À La Carte Tours – New tour experiences project
- Prime Ministers Row – Phase 1 strategic plan
- West Carleton Snowmobile Trail Association – Bridge expansion project
- Cobblestone Ottawa Bus Tour Co. - Winter Trolley Tours (Lady Dive) development project
Creation/expansion of festivals and events
Projects in this category must be accessible to the general public, generate significant overnight visitor attendance, provide a range of visitor data and animate the destination.
- The Chef’s Table – New experience development project - A local farm to table feast paired with live music acts
- Come See and Hear the World Festival – New experience development project
- Big Bang Festival – New experience development project
- City of Om – Expansion project
- Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards – New experience development project
- Canadian Tulip Festival – “Nighttime Experiences” expansion project
- Capital Pride – Expansion project
