As local tourism-related businesses gear up for the busy season ahead, Peterborough County is inviting them to a new interactive event designed to develop and strengthen the partnerships that will promote The Kawarthas as a visitor destination.
Peterborough County’s Economic Development and Tourism teams are hosting “Kollab in The Kawarthas” at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, during National Tourism Week. Attendees can learn from local tourism operators, experts, and leaders how to provide an exceptional experience, how to market their business to visitors, and how to collaborate with fellow business owners to develop new partnerships, cross-promotions, and more.
According to Rhonda Keenan, general manager of Peterborough County Economic Development, the first-of-its-kind event is a response to feedback from tourism-related businesses who said they were not fully aware of what other businesses in the region are offering to visitors.
“We started the Kollab in The Kawarthas as a concept to help them connect with each other,” says Keenan. “We want them to start to collaborate. We want them to tell their visiting clients that this is a great venue to stay, this is a great place to eat, this is a great experience for you, so that visitors have the best experience possible while they’re here.”
Keenan adds that the goal of the event is to encourage tourism-related businesses to see that collaboration can result in an enhanced experience for visitors, promoting The Kawarthas as a thriving tourist destination and leading to further business growth, including by encouraging visitors to return in the shoulder season.
“In the summertime, people are flocking to the region and we want that to continue, but there are ways that you can add a new element to your business by working with someone else,” Keenan explains. “That collaboration might encourage somebody to come and visit in November, for example. You can leverage each other’s customers and visitors to grow your own business, and that’s really what we’re hoping to achieve out of this.”
Kollab in The Kawarthas, which includes a buffet lunch, will feature a keynote presentation from Destination Ontario’s Justin La Fontaine, who will speak to how businesses can position themselves in line with provincial marketing, as well as panel discussions featuring local business owners who have found success through collaboration.
An event highlight will be the speed networking session where attendees can connect with as many fellow business owners as possible, exchanging ideas and exploring ways they can work together to enhance local tourism.
Peterborough County will also introduce attendees to new tools and approaches that will help businesses better connect with one another and with visitors. Interactive exercises and activities will help businesses think about how their offerings can be appeal to a wide range of potential visitors, from adrenaline junkies to culture chasers to wellness buffs and more.
Following Kollab in The Kawarthas, businesses will have the opportunity to share their plans and partnerships with Peterborough County and gather the support and resources to turn their ideas into market-ready experiences.
“We hope this is going to turn into an annual event where tourism operators are really able to get to know one another and get some momentum,” says Keenan. “We’re going to help them dream big and support them in their growth in making The Kawarthas one of the best destinations where visitors spend their time.”
Tickets for Kollab in The Kawarthas are $30 for businesses located in Peterborough County and $45 for those outside the area, and are available at eventbrite.ca/e/kollab-in-the-kawarthas-tickets-1984557915147. Participants are encouraged to register early as space is limited.
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