Ottawa Tourism’s Market Readiness Programs are designed to help local businesses — including hotels, attractions, restaurants, retail shops and tour operators — build the skills and connections they need to leverage the visitor economy. Whether you’re launching a new experience or looking to reach new markets, these free programs help businesses understand how to tap into different travel segments and open doors to new business opportunities.
Tourism Ready
(under development)
The Tourism Ready program provides foundational resources to help your business better engage with visitors and understand Ottawa’s tourism landscape. Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to enhance your visitor experience, this program will guide you in preparing your products and services to meet traveler expectations.
Tap into a suite of on-demand resources that help your business become tourism ready. Whether you’re a small business in Ottawa developing a new product or an established attraction seeking to connect with visitors, this program offers essential insights to help you engage effectively with the visitor economy.
Benefits include:
- Guidance on aligning your products and services with visitor expectations
- Access to free educational resources and data on tourism trends in Ottawa
Further details and resources for the Tourism Ready Program will be shared as the program evolves as part of Ottawa Tourism’s expanded Market Readiness initiatives.
Travel Trade Ready
Focused on promoting packaged travel, Ottawa Tourism’s travel trade team works with tour operators, student tour operators, travel agents and travel professionals to offer successful Ottawa travel experiences for their clients. Travel trade showcases the range of experiences available to group tours or fully independent travelers (FIT) who purchase packaged travel to visit Ottawa.
The Travel Trade add-on provides you with opportunities to connect with tour operators and receptive operators, through activities, events, promotions, FAM tours, digital advertising opportunities and partnerships, referrals and leads (some opportunities may have additional costs to participate).
Ottawa Tourism supports members in becoming Travel Trade Ready by helping refine their offers for groups and travelers and connecting them with the right industry contacts.
Eligibility: Restaurants, attractions and hotels that are interested in engaging with tour operators to sell their services through a third-party operator are encouraged to apply.
Prerequisite: Completion of the Travel Trade Ready – Course 1 (Courses 2 and 3 available for advanced opportunities).
Benefits include:
- Access to leads, referrals and promotional opportunities with packaged travel, group and FIT leisure markets.
- Invitations to familiarization tours and other events and conferences to seek new business opportunities
- Opportunities for partnerships and visibility through Ottawa Tourism’s international trade network.
Completion of the Travel Trade Ready program is required to access business opportunities in this market.
Business and Major Events Ready Toolkit
Ottawa Tourism’s Business Events sales team works to attract national and international conventions to Ottawa. The team focuses on identifying opportunities for leads and building relationships, as well as undertaking integrated marketing programs to create awareness and generate leads. They also travel to promote all that Ottawa has to offer to business event organizers outside Ottawa and bring back qualified leads to our Business Events members.
The Business and Major Events add-on provides enhanced opportunities to connect and engage with group business. Members gain access to the convention calendar, referrals and qualified leads where appropriate. Member businesses can also participate in sales call opportunities, industry conferences and tradeshows, market education and training. Working across both domestic and international markets, these teams help position Ottawa to help you win the business.
