Discover the secrets of the thriving tourism industry in Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe County, nestled in Ontario, Canada’s picturesque Tourism Region 7. Welcome to the captivating world of The Tourism Biz Bites From The 7 Podcast, where you’ll gain invaluable knowledge from seasoned tourism business experts. Immerse yourself in enlightening conversations as award-winning media producer Tracey Strnad interviews accomplished coaches and visionary business owners from the T3 Accelerator Program. This exceptional program empowers and nurtures tourism businesses in Tourism Region 7, providing them with expert coaching assistance to unlock their full potential. Unveiling the curtain on the tourism industry, this podcast shares profound wisdom and valuable insights into the art of owning and operating a thriving tourism business. Join us as we dive into the triumphs, challenges, and tales of these remarkable entrepreneurs who have created some of T3’s most exciting businesses. The Tourism Biz Bites From The 7 Podcast is proudly presented by RTO7 in collaboration with Community Futures South Georgian Bay and with the generous support of Tourism Simcoe County. To learn more about the transformative T3 Accelerator Coaching Program, visit RTO7.ca and embark on your journey to elevate your tourism business to new heights.
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Thanks for tuning in to this T3 Accelerator Podcast Episode. These podcasts are possible through the great coaches and businesses participating in the T3 Accelerator Coaching Program being willing to share their expertise and experiences. A shout out to the numerous T3 Accelerator partners and sponsors. In particular: RTO7 , Community Futures South Georgian Bay and Tourism Simcoe County. More information on T3 Accelerator can be found here.
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Located in beautiful Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Wasaga Beach Adventure Park is Canada's premier indoor/outdoor paintball mega park and has been in operation since 1992. Owner Donna Langman walks us through the business and gives us a taste of what it’s like to operate one of the best paintball facilities in Canada. Donna was one of the first participants in the T3 Accelerator Program, and she explains what she learned from the coaching program.
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Tourists are different from your average retail shopper, which means taking a different approach to your retail marketing strategy. In this episode, learn tips, tricks and advice from the T3 Accelerator Program’s business coaches and the region’s top tourism businesses to learn how to optimize your retail marketing strategy.
Featuring T3 Accelerator coach Wayne Greer who has 37 years of experience in the Canadian Retail and Foodservice industries. Michelle Ubell, owner of IWA Spa Blue Mountain Village. Curtis Schmalz, CEO of Maclean’s Ales. Donna Langman, owner of Wasaga Adventure Park.
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
We’re talking Marketing Plans with entrepreneur, author and T3 Accelerator Coach Kirsty Stevenson.
Kirsty gives advice on laying out the foundation for your marketing plan, how to tighten your social media strategy and focus on your strengths, and what advice she gives to small tourism businesses as a coach with the T3 Accelerator.
Kirsty Stevenson is the author of ‘The 3 Step Marketing Plan’ - an excellent guide for small businesses to understand and create a marketing plan. Learn more about Kirsty and her book: kirstystevenson.com
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Can small businesses utilize big data? Absolutely - and it’s imperative to understand market trends and patterns to make smart decisions as a tourism operator. In this episode, host Tracey Strnad chats with Grey County Business Enterprise Center Manager Courtney Miller on where tourism businesses can turn to learn about the resources available to tap into the vast pool of data available. RTO7 Tourism Experience Development Specialist Kim Clarke defines how small tourism businesses can utilize data to grow their business and gives tips on how to get started. Tourism Maverick and T3 Accelerator Coach Dallyce Macas sheds light on the tourist visits that are occurring in Tourism Region 7, as well as smart advice on the use of surveys to capture data.
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
South Georgian Bay is emerging as a notable wine region, and Georgian Hills Vineyards was one of the first to establish a sustainable winery. Nestled in the beautiful Beaver Valley overlooking Georgian Bay, Georgian Hills Vineyards has focused on growing cold-hardy grape varieties suited to the unique micro-climate. In this episode host Tracey Strnad chats with Andrea O’Reilly, Marketing Manager at Georgian Hills Vineyards. Andrea talks about how the company pivoted their strategy during the pandemic to take advantage of outdoor experiences, its award-winning wines, and how it grew its e-commerce channels.
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Experience Development is a powerful tool that small tourism businesses can use to create a big impact on their bottom line. The RTO7's Tourism Experience Development Specialist, Kim Clarke, walks us through how tourism operators can implement Experiences into their offerings, and gives great feedback on how to elevate the experiences that you already offer to your guests. Kim also gives great advice on how to navigate decisions like pricing, how to maximize the monetization of your experiential product, and tools and resources you can tap into to get started with Experience Development.
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Conceived by local facilitator and community-builder, Sandra Kahale, and designed collaboratively with a diverse team of artists and creatives, 11 Rooms is much more than a boutique hotel. In this episode, host Tracey Strnad sits down with Sandra Kahale to discuss how a seasoned entrepreneur pivots into an entirely new industry, the highs and lows of opening a hotel during a pandemic and gives a tour of the stunning 11 Rooms Boutique Hotel and retreat space.
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Strategic Planning is an often overlooked and under-utilized tool in small businesses - but it can be incredibly effective to reach your goals. In this episode, host Tracey Strnad speaks with tourism titan and strategic planning expert Scott Allison, who is also a coach with the T3 Accelerator Program. Scott breaks down what strategic planning means for small tourism businesses, and how owners and operators can effectively utilize strategic planning. Tracey also interviews seasoned entrepreneur Sandra Kahale, who talks about her newest venture - a boutique hotel and retreat space in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Planning is everything in business, and writing a business plan can be an overwhelming experience - but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, the T3 team weighs in on how you can approach your business planning goals and tips to make the process manageable for new and existing businesses. Featuring: Gillian Fairley, General Manager of Community Futures South Georgian Bay, Courtney Miller, Manager of the Grey County Business Development Centre, T3 Accelerator Coach Scott Allison, Patti Bowden and Shane McLaughlin of Collingwood - Blue Mountain Adventure Tours.
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Learn what the T3 Accelerator Program is all about and the incredible people and organizations that make it happen. Featuring Gillian Fairley, General Manager of Community Futures South Georgian Bay, Amanda Pausner, Experience Coordinator with RTO7, Courtney Miller, Manager of the Grey County Business Development Centre, and the T3 Accelerator Coaches: Michael Agema, Scott Allison, Kim Clarke, Wayne Greer, Dallyce Macas, Wendy Malkin, Kirsty Stevenson.