Tourism Industry Development ProgramGuidelines and Application Form

2015 Ph

oto:

Gle

nora

Dis

tille

ry, C

ape

Bret

on

2

In the 2013 five year Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia, developed by the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, one of the priorities is to create and develop “Higher-Quality Products and Experiences”. To achieve this, a number of priority action items have been set. This includes:

“Establish a quality, technically advanced, and globally competitive workforce, and provide educational opportunities to develop the next generation of tourism leaders”.

This commitment to developing the people who own, manage and/or are engaging with our visitors is the foundation of the Tourism Industry Development Program.

Guidelines 2015 Tourism Industry Development Program

Project Costs

Eligible: Ineligible:

• Professional services

• Meeting expenses

• Travel expenses

• Registration fees

• Incremental administration

• Eligible project costs must be incurred between the date of application and March 31 of the same fiscal year.

• Capital and operating costs

• Industry participation time

• Other government employee time

• Bank/finance charges

• Deficit financing

• Amount of HST that is refundable

• This program does not provide direct financial assistance for business/organization start-up, capital and operating costs of individual business/organization operations.

Program ObjectiveThe Tourism Industry Development Program is designed to provide support to individuals and business owners/operators working in the tourism industry towards direct professional development and business development tools. The goal is to enhance quality and experiences for tourists visiting Nova Scotia.

EligibilityEligible applicants for this program include:

1. Non-commercial/not-for-profit organizations (e.g., local development associations, industry associations, sector associations; municipalities or incorporated towns/villages; or other entities undertaking not-for-profit initiatives.

2. Private sector tourism operators and front-line staff of private sector tourism operations are eligible through their participation in

these market-readiness initiatives. There is an opportunity for a consortium of private sector tourism operators to take the lead on a group initiative. Private sector partners must be able to demonstrate the benefits of the project for the broader industry.

Tourism organizations and businesses applying for funding or participating in the project must be in good standing with the provincial Registry of Joint Stocks and have no outstanding obligations with the Province of Nova Scotia. Organizations or businesses must be in operation for at least one year and demonstrate financial stability.

Application DeadlinesApplications are accepted from April 1 of each year. In-take of applications and funding of projects is on-going until the program funding is fully subscribed for that fiscal year.

3

Additional Program InformationProjects that may be considered for funding under the Tourism Industry Development Program are:

Direct to Business Market-Readiness Assessments and Programs Professional third party assessments of individual businesses. Generally, assessments take place through a coordinated program in a specific area of the province. Programs may involve mystery shop assessments, mentoring, workshops, learning best practices and/or other readiness initiatives. Focus of assessments may include: Quality of tourism products and experiences; visitor amenities/services; operations; customer experience and service; sales; professionalism; management; marketing; and/or overall market-readiness from the visitor’s perspective.

Mystery Shop AssessmentsAnalysis and assessment of service and performance by sectors or groups of tourism businesses and attractions.

MentoringProfessional guidance to provide advice and on-going mentoring and coaching to improve market-readiness of sectors or groups of tourism services and businesses.

Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, Professional DevelopmentDevelopment and delivery of education and training programs to enable professional skill enhancement of tourism operators and front-line staff. The programs will be based on strategic business topics/business practices/human resource needs.

Study Tours/Best Practice MissionsDevelopment and support for tourism operators and industry to participate on study tours and best practice missions to other destinations designed to expose operators to successful development and marketing models.

Other initiatives Other initiatives that address tourism industry professional development and tourism business development may be considered.

Level of InvestmentDecisions on funding approval are based on achieving the strategic priorities of the Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia. The Tourism Industry Development program will consider up to a maximum 75% of eligible costs with the balance coming from the applicant and other non-government sources. Total government (i.e. Federal and Provincial) investment from this program cannot exceed 75% of the total project cost.

Applicants are expected to secure at least 25% of total eligible costs. The 25% applicant contribution can be comprised of cash and in-kind contributions from local fund-raising initiatives, municipal contributions, and other community organizations. No more than half (50%) of the applicant’s contribution can be in-kind.

Please note that in-kind contributions will be considered only to offset measurable, incremental costs that are necessary to make the project possible.

Disbursement of funds (subject to final project costs) is subject to completion of project, and submission of a final report and supporting financial documentation by March 31st of the same fiscal year in which the funding was approved.

The Department has the right to require the return of any unspent funds, or any funds that have been spent on items that were not part of the agreement.

Evaluation/ReportingTourism Development staff will work with the approved funding recipient throughout the project to assess completion of milestones, and completion of the project. A Final Report must be completed at the end of the project to detail the project completed, and the final costs of the project, including supporting financial documentation.

Standard InformationCommunications activities related to approved projects must be approved by the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency (NSTA). The NSTA reserves the right to make a list of successful project applicants public after the application review process is completed.

Guidelines 2015 Tourism Industry Development Program

4

Application ProcessIn order to apply for funding under the Tourism Industry Development Program, please follow these steps:

1 ContactTourismDevelopmentstafftodiscuss your project idea and to determine eligibility to participate (902-424-6540).

2 If the project is deemed to be eligible, complete the attached Application Form

3 Prepare a detailed proposal presenting the required information outlined below, and submit to the Tourism Industry Development Program (at the contact details on page 5).

4 Department staff will review and evaluate your application and proposal. Recommended projects are subject to final department approval.

Required Information1. Project Description and Expected ResultsCriteria: Will the project enhance product, experience or industry market-readiness? Will the target market receive a higher quality product or experience as a result of the project?

a. Introduction: Provide a brief background on the project.

b. Project Description: Provide a detailed description of the proposed initiative, including schedule of activities to be undertaken.

c. Project Objectives: Outline the purpose of the project. What needs does it address? Outline other objectives.

d. Expected Results: Provide the planned outcomes and deliverables from the project. How will the learnings from any professional / industry activities be incorporated into the ongoing business?

2. Strategic Links Criteria: Does the project work towards strategic goals for the region and province?

a. Demonstrate how the project links to priorities outlined in the Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia, and /or a regional tourism plan.

3. BudgetingCriteria: Is the project financially feasible? Is there a reasonable business operations plan in place to support this initiative? Are the participants aware of the cost, and are there enough participants able to afford it to make the opportunity feasible? Has the applicant been successful in securing required funding from other partners? Is the investment in the project likely to yield the desired revenues (return on investment)?

a. Estimated Project Costs: Provide a breakdown and total of the estimated project costs.

b. Revenue and Leveraging Funding: Provide a breakdown of sources of funding, proponent contribution and participation fees from participants. A 25% minimum of the costs associated with participating in the initiative must be paid by the individual participants (shown as part of revenues for the project) or the project applicant.

4. Estimated Project Timing Criteria: Will the portion of the project described in the project description be completed within the same fiscal year as the project application?

a. Project timing: Provide a schedule for project milestones where applicable.

5. Support and SustainabilityCriteria: Does the project have a plan and resources in place for on-going support of the initiative (where applicable)? Is the project sustainable?

a. Sustainability: Provide an outline of how economic, environmental and social sustainability have been incorporated into the project design and procurement activities related to the project.

Guidelines 2015 Tourism Industry Development Program

Projects are assessed based on their ability to meet the program criteria. In a separate document, prepare a proposal presentingrequiredinformationinfivesections for evaluation:

1. Project Description and Results

2. Strategic Links

3. Budgeting

4. Estimated Project Timing

5. Support and Sustainability

5

Successful Applicants Successful applicants will receive a formal Letter of Offer outlining the terms and conditions relevant to the funding contribution. Advice on the outcome of the application is available after a formal decision has been made and communicated to the applicant in writing.

Contact InformationFor more information on Tourism Industry Development Funding and the application process, please contact:

Tourism Development OfficerPhone: 902-424-6540Fax: 902-424-0500Email: janette.wallace@novascotia.ca

If applying by mail, send applications for this program to:

Janette WallaceTourismDevelopmentOfficerNova Scotia Tourism Agencyc/o NS Economic and Rural Development and Tourism1660 Hollis Street, Suite 600, 6th FloorHalifax, NS B3J 1V7

Application 2015 Tourism Industry Development Program

Applicant Checklist

nDiscussed project with tourism developmentstaff.

nSubmitted the following documents:

nA signed copy of this application form

nA complete application providing required information in all five sections.

nRelated research / Strategies / Plans

nLetters of endorsement from tourism associations, municipalities or businesses

nIdentify all funding resources and requests

Strategy InformationFor information on A Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia please visit the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency’s website: http://novascotiatourism agency.ca/tourism-strategy-nova-scotia

6

1. Applicant Information

Project Name:

Organization (as listed in Registry of Joint Stock Companies):

Organization Mailing Address:

Town: Postal Code:

Website:

Contact Person:

Preferred Mailing Address (if different from above):

Town: Postal Code:

Tel (daytime): Email:

Registry of Joint Stock Companies number:

In good standing with the NSTA and Province of NS re: previous funding (if applicable):

n yes n no

Vendor Number (if applicable): Set up for E-Vendor Payment? n yes n no

2. Authorizations

n I hereby certify that the information provided in this application is true, correct, and complete in every respect.

The personal information provided on this form and any attachments will be used only for the purposes of administering the Tourism Industry Development Program. It is collected under the authority of Section 26(a) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is protected by the privacy provisions of the act. Successful applicants are to be advised that their organization name, project or event name (as noted on the application form), and approved funding amount may be disclosed in accordance with the departmental Routine Access Policy.

Signature of Authorized Official:

Date:

Application Form2015 Tourism Industry Development Program

Applications are accepted from April 1 of each year. In-take of applications and funding of projects is on-going until the program funding is fully subscribed for that fiscal year.