Ignite Workshop

Best Practices in Community Lead Tourism Development

Ignite Workshop

Best Practices in Community Lead Tourism Development

Ignite Workshop

Best Practices in Community Lead Tourism Development


Activate the Potential for Experiential Tourism, Economy Development, Diversification and Recovery.

Learn how to work in harmony with tourism allies and turn services into extra-ordinary experiences. Develop projects which encourage the development of innovative new tourism products, support tourism investment or build the capacity of Ontario’s rural tourism industry to attract more local, domestic, and international visitors.

singing around the campfire Northern Edge Algonquin

IGNITE is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for regional tourism communities of tourism operators that want to create new and enhanced experiences to emerge from the COVID 19 pandemic to bring more vibrance to their community, establish a competitive position in the tourism market, create long lasting community partnerships with industry allies and increase the appeal of their destination.uided adventures invite you to explore on your winter getaway by snowshoe, cross-country & skin ski. Return from outdoor adventures to enjoy heart-warming candle-lit meals served up by award-winning cook Gregor.

Participants are immersed in a variety of program elements and meet facilitators who tailor safe visitor experiences for a variety of traveler types, coming away with a deep appreciation for the value of infusing experiences with local flavours at mealtime and beyond, and inspiration to leverage their own resources to build new and exciting visitor experiences with an appreciation for the importance of community collaboration.

Carrying a Canoe Algonquin Park

IGNITE attendees walk away knowing how to:

  • Identify your ideal guest and their emerging needs for safety and security as travelers emerge from pandemic isolation to explore their world once again.
  • Establish meaningful, memorable visitor experiences while taking care to provide safe travel experiences for visitors and host team members in a post COVID-19 world.
  • Develop innovative tourism recovery projects to increase visitation and addressing the reduction in global travel as a result of COVID-19.
  • Connect with the ‘Who’s who’ in the travel, tourism and destination development process: destination marketing organizations, travel trade, travel media, the role of governments and more.
  • Move from ME to WE. Identifying your ideal community partners, including non-traditional tourism allies.
  • Understand the role of regional food in authentic tourism experiences (Farm to Fork), and celebrate local flavours with community products.
  • Identify and leverage community spaces, celebrating local flavours with community products, engaging with community partners in forestry, music and entertainment, food growers, brewmasters, guides and naturalists, trail organizations and more to co-create one-of-a-kind experiences.
  • Engage the 9 elements of successful experiential tourism products.
  • Promote tourism experiences with excellence by using quality words, photos, and videos.

While you’re here, ignite new initiatives by…

  • Experiencing an unplugged, no distractions environment designed for community growth, trust, team building and establishing new relationships.
  • Learning how Northern Edge Algonquin established protocols and practices to ensure guest safety and security for post COVID 19 travel.
  • Being inspired to explore and incorporate more environmentally sustainable products and services.
  • Identifying and aligning existing and new experiences with traveller values.
  • Rethinking the design of spaces and guest movement to provide social distancing safety while maintaining intimacy.
  • Visiting some of our region’s outstanding partners, eco-tourism and operators and taking part in experiences at a variety of built and natural community stages for tourism experiences.
  • Establishing a community resource inventory identifying your traditional and non-traditional tourism assets.
  • Identifying your ideal regional marketing themes, ideal guest profiles and discover their desired travel experiences.
  • Exploring the economics of experiences and the world of pricing travel in a tourism world shaken to it’s core by the pandemic of COVID 19.
  • Interviewing people on the ground in our rural community to discuss how their peers can be found and engaged in tourism within your own community.
  • Participating in follow-up coaching conference calls in a process of continuous improvement.


Deposits & Cancellations

In short: Spaces are limited.  When you book a retreat with us, a non-refundable deposit (50% of your overall balance) reserves your space and allows us to plan accordingly. Remaining balances are due 15 days before arrival.

Deposits protect our group-based experiences by acting as a commitment from our guests. If you need to cancel your visit, the timing of your cancellation will determine the level of flexibility we can offer in rescheduling your visit or holding your deposit as a credit to be used in the future. Please refer to our full deposit and cancellation policy for more information on our policies, timelines, and the commitments we make based on your registration.

Meals & Dietary Needs

Edge guests are well nourished and experience mealtime itself as a program element, with storytelling to introduce the seasonal flavours of the region and the relationships with the folk who grew and raised the ingredients close to home. Cooking at the Edge focuses on balancing globally far-flung tastes with provincially produced foods. Meals are served buffet style and are guests often enjoy lakeside dining outdoors when the weather allows it.

Over the years we have met many diverse dietary needs. Guests are invited to identify their dietary needs & preferences as a part of the registration process, and those with restrictions love the options we provide.

Itinerary & Program Timings

We offer unique, tailored experiences that flow as our facilitators respond to the interests of our guests, seasonal conditions, and special opportunities that may arise.

Each retreat at the Edge features healthy doses of dreamtime, adventure, community, creativity, time spent in nature, and a dash of surprise. Guests always have the choice to take solo or rest time in lieu of planned experiences.

While a detailed itinerary is not available, you can count on and prepare for the activities used to describe the flavour of this retreat. Meals are generally served at 8:30, 12:30, and 6pm. When appropriate, optional early-morning or late-night experiences may be offered.

Arrival Time & Directions

Arrival time is between 2 – 3 pm with programming beginning at 3:30.  We encourage our guests to arrive on time and stay to experience the full retreat, which generally ends after brunch on the final day. Please let us know if you expect to arrive after 3.

You can find us easily on Google or Apple maps, or view detailed directions here.

What to Bring

We’ll be spending time both indoors and out in nature, and we invite you to dress appropriately for the season to stay comfortable, warm, and dry. There’s no dress code and most guests wear their “retreat-casual”.

We encourage guests to bring a surprise to share with others – this might take the form of a game or activity, an instrument/song/poem, or a tasty treat.

Ignite Leadership Workshop

All-Inclusive Pricing from

$ 999 +HST

Express Interest

Custom Dates Available for groups of 10+

What’s Included

  • Your choice of shared or private cozy cabin accommodation.
  • Transformational learning experience tailored and facilitated by course designer Todd Lucier
  • Equipment & materials included*
  • Bring a Taste of Local to every experience
  • Wood-fired sauna, campfires, and more!
  • Pre-event program preparation, teleconference sessions and post-program coaching to ensure program participants take active steps to create new partnerships, innovate and enhance their tourism program offerings.

What’s Not Included

  • 13% Harmonized Sales Tax
  • Gratuities for the hospitality team, facilitators & guides.
  • Wi-fi access and cellular signal are not available for this unplugged experience.

Explore Accommodation Options

Habitat Cabin Room

Canopy Cabin

Our simple, clear-roofed cabins bring participants closer to nature, just a short walk away from main programming spaces and amenities such as showers and flush toilets. Each canopy cabin features a double bed, ideal for solo travellers or couples.

cabin in algonquin park

Habitat Cabin

Cozy, rustic habitat cabins are located just a short walk away from main programming spaces and amenities such as washrooms and showers. Each offers a loft double bed above 2 single beds, making them ideal for sharing with friends or other participants.

Studio Cabin accommodations Algonquin Park

Studio Cabin

Comfortable & spacious eco-friendly studio rooms are located just a minute’s walk away from main programming spaces and showers. These feature a small en-suite bathroom with an incinerating toilet. Both a double bed and a single bed make them ideal for couples or friends.

Studio Cabin Accommodations Algonquin Park

Log Cabin Bedroom

The luxurious and comfortable log cabin is located a bit further from main programming spaces for optimal rest, and features en-suite bathrooms with showers. Each room’s Queen bed can convert into two twin beds, providing flexibility for solo travellers, couples, or friends.

testimonials

We have delivered experiential tourism development programs in partnership with many organizations over the years. Click through to see what the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable TourismOntario’s Highlands Tourism Organization, and the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board have to say in support of Ignite.

View Our other retreats