Dear Partner in Tourism,

We’re now in September with the return of the school year, major fall events and more happening in London. It’s certainly a busy time! We’ve compiled the latest local, provincial and national updates for your review. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please take a moment to read about:

Just Launched: New "Spark" Program to Boost Music Tourism in London, Ontario

Do you have a creative idea that could launch a new music tourism initiative in London? The London UNESCO City of Music "Spark" Mentorship & Grants Program encourages entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits and community groups to present creative ideas for new music tourism offerings and collaborations. Selected applicants will receive $5,000 in seed funding and a 3-month mentorship to bring their idea to life. Applications are being accepted online from September 10 to October 10, 2024. Following a juried review process, top applicants will be invited to a Finalists’ Pitch Session where three winners will be selected.

There’s also an online information session on Wednesday, September 18 at 11:30 a.m. where you’ll learn more about the program. Register at the link below.

Last Chance: Photo/Video Partnership Package – 2 Spots Left!

Looking to update your photo and video assets? Partner with Tourism London on this 2024 package. Tourism London will bring a professional media team out to your location for a small shoot and you’ll be able to keep the assets. Each package includes:

• 25-45 edited photos
• 1 x 20s-40s portrait video
• 1 x 20s-40s full frame video
• All RAW Photography
• All RAW Video Files
• Transcoded video files in .mp4 format, basic LUT/colour preset applied (mix of portrait and full frame)
• All deliverables provided with a standardized searchable file naming convention

The package costs $750.00 to participate (we’re subsidizing it for you to make it more affordable). Assets will be owned by both the partner and Tourism London and can be used widely in marketing campaigns. If you’re interested in participating in the photo/video partnership package, reach out to Natalie Wakabayashi today. Two spots remain!

Congratulations: Anderson Craft Ales Awarded World’s Best Cream Ale

Congratulations to London-based Anderson Craft Ales on receiving the 2024 World Beer Award for ‘World’s Best Cream Ale’. The World Beer Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all the internationally recognized beer styles from across the globe. Anderson Craft Ales Cream Ale faced stiff competition, but after being declared the ‘Country’s Best Cream Ale’ for Canada, the popular beverage went on to beat international entries to be declared ‘World’s Best Cream Ale’.

This win is another in a series of accolades for Anderson Craft Ales’ Cream Ale, which includes 5 Canadian Brewing Awards, and a silver medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Congratulations Gavin, Jim and the entire Anderson Craft Ales family!

Have Your Say: Storybook Gardens’ Master Plan Engagement Survey

What’s Your Go-To Attraction at Storybook Gardens? Is it the timeless Ferris wheel, the whimsical mechanical elephants or perhaps the charming miniature train? We want to hear all about your favorite memories and experiences at Storybook Gardens!

The City of London is crafting a 10-Year Master Plan, and your input will help shape the park’s future. Share your thoughts through an online feedback form.

Congratulations: London International Airport named Corporate Icon Award Recipient

The London Chamber of Commerce recently announced London International Airport as the recipient of the 2024 Corporate Icon Award. This prestigious award recognizes the airport’s exceptional dedication to enhancing the community’s image, driving economic growth and making significant contributions over the years.

The Corporate Icon Award, often considered a lifetime achievement award for businesses, celebrates London International Airport’s ongoing commitment to evolving into a leading Aerospace Hub in Canada. The airport’s mission focuses on fostering economic prosperity through aviation, academia, training and commercial development. From concessions to leases, the airport provides essential support and infrastructure, enabling airline partners and numerous tenants to thrive, thereby bolstering economic vitality within the aviation community and beyond. Congratulations to Scott McFadzean and the entire team at London International Airport!

Register Today: Data to Dollars: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Events Webinar

The team at Ontario’s Southwest and Festivals & Events Ontario are happy to announce the second webinar in their Festivals & Events Webinar series! Join them on Thursday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. for our upcoming session, “Data to Dollars: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Events”. Discover data collection strategies and models, funding resources and budget optimization to support your next event!

Don’t Forget: Tourism Growth Program in Southern Ontario Intake Closes Soon

The second intake of the Tourism Growth Program in Southern Ontario, which provides funding to businesses and organizations to develop tourism attractions and experiences that will draw people to our country and communities, is closing soon. The deadline to apply is September 17, 2024.

Preference is given to small and medium-sized enterprises in this intake and those who have already received funding under the Tourism Growth Program will not be considered for another project. Businesses interested in applying are encouraged to visit the link below to read full eligibility criteria and learn more about the program.

Apply Now: Community Sport & Recreation Infrastructure Fund

The Ontario government is now accepting applications for the new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF). Announced as part of the 2024 Budget: Building a Better Ontario, the province is investing $200 million through the fund to help communities revitalize existing community sport and recreation infrastructure and build new facilities. Applications are open to municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations and (for new builds only) for-profit organizations, through two streams:

• Steam 1: Repairing and upgrading existing sports and recreation facilities into more accessible, state-of the art facilities that better meet the community’s needs. Eligible projects will receive between $150,000 and $1 million and must be completed within twenty-four months. The deadline to submit applications is October 29, 2024.
• Stream 2: Building new and transformative sports and recreation facilities, including replacing existing facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan. Eligible projects will receive up to $10 million and must be completed no later than March 31, 2027. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until funding has been fully allocated.

Announcement: Government of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Last month, the Government of Canada announced further adjustments and policy reversals to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Starting September 26, 2024, the following changes will take effect:

• Labour Market Impact Assessments will no longer be processed in areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, except for jobs in food security, construction and healthcare sectors.
• Employers can hire no more than 10% of their workforce through the TFW Program in the Low-Wage stream, with certain sectoral exceptions.
• The maximum duration of employment for Low-Wage stream workers will be reduced to one year.

FYI: The Latest Tourism Health Check From Destination Ontario

Destination Ontario’s Data & Insights team has released the most recent Ontario Tourism Industry Health Check report highlighting recovery indicators such as accommodation occupancy rates and border crossings.

As a reminder, this report tells the tourism recovery story by curating relevant tourism data into a format that visualizes the information for industry stakeholders.

Please share any updates from your business with us by emailing tourinfo@londontourism.ca or by tagging us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

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