Partnership Opportunities
It's OFFICIAL! Applications are online, programs are launched and we are waiting to work with you in 2023. The following list is ways you can work with us in 2023 & a few extra things we've been working on!
Tourism Innovation Grant: Apply by March 1
Time is ticking to submit your application for the Oxford Tourism Innovation Grant. This grant awards up to 3 grants of $3000 to local businesses that will develop a new or expanded tourism product in 2023. 

This grant is a partnership between Community Futures Oxford and Tourism Oxford. The program goal is to enhance the visitor experience in Oxford County through new and expanded tourism products.
Are you celebrating this year?
party_pooper_bday2.jpg
If you are celebrating any significant milestones or anniversaries attached to a festival, building or attraction, that will be celebrated in 2023 - let us know! Fill out the file below and send it to us at tourism@oxfordcounty.ca ASAP.
Free Listings on TourismOxford.ca
Tourism Oxford offers businesses that meet the eligibility criteria a free listing on www.TourismOxford.ca.

If businesses would like to participate but do not currently meet the criteria they are encouraged to connect with the tourism team to learn about supports that are available.
Tell your story with an Enhanced Profile Listing
Work with our in-house writer to tell your story! TourismOxford.ca's Enhanced Blog Listings bring the story of your business to life in an exciting way. You’ll receive a feature on our website and you make it easier for us to feature you in future social media content. That’s a win-win.

Enhanced Profile Cost: $250 year 1
($150 per year for subsequent annual renewals)
Rural Routes
A program that promotes businesses that work
together to create a 1-day event that encourages
people to embrace our rural routes.
  • 3+ stops within 5 minute drive/walk of each other or 10 KM bike ride between stops
  • Special reason to visit (more than retail)
  • Activities, games
  • Tastings
  • Demonstrations
  • Tourism Oxford creates landing page & runs a digital ad campaign 
  • $600 Campaign ($300 from partners, $300 from Tourism Oxford)
NEW: Destination Making
Tourism Oxford is looking to promote annual
or seasonal itineraries to explore the best of Oxford County.
  • Itineraries highlighting 4+ businesses in close proximity (5-10 minute drive)
  • Businesses with similar seasons/hours
  • Ability to promote partners as a unique creative marketable itinerary.
  • Tourism Oxford creates landing page & runs a digital ad campaign to promote the itinerary.
  • Total partner contribution $500

This is a trial program to test and learn for future development in 2024. Unlike Rural Routes, Tourism Oxford will initiate coordination and meetings for these new partnerships.

Like the Cheese Trail, this program will require partner investment (financial, time & meeting criteria). If you have an idea for an itinerary please get in touch so we can discuss it.
Develop an Experience
We can help you to create an experience with your business. We encourage our experience developers to first take the training with Ontario's Southwest (SWOTC), which information will be shared about that in the coming months. Once you have taken the training, we can provide experiential coaching, testing of your experience, marketing support and possibly photography and video.

Check our our the current experiences we have here in Oxford County below! Or if you have an idea you want to discuss, email us and we'd be happy to chat it through!
Oxford Tourism Awards - Apply by March 31st
Tourism Oxford announced the new annual Oxford
Tourism Awards in 2022. This award program
recognizes the region’s tourism businesses,
organizations and individuals who have displayed
excellence in product development, partnerships/
collaboration, inclusiveness, visitor experience &
more! Businesses are encouraged to self-nominate or nominate businesses they admire.
  • Best New Tourism Product Award
  • Tourism Partnership Award
  • Special Event of the Year Award
Oxford Fresh Map & Signage
Oxford Fresh is a partnership between two organizations who love to support agriculture and the local food they produce; Oxford County Federation of Agriculture & Tourism Oxford. We are now accepting applications for the following:
  1. Oxford Fresh Map Listings ($200) - will be printed in 2024
  2. Oxford Fresh Laneway Signs ($175)
  3. Website Listings (free)

There are criteria to be involved in each of these programs. View the criteria and complete your application online. One form - three programs.
Giving Back Days
Wanted - 3 tourism attractions to offer a 2-3 hour visitor activity to leave our community in a better place. For example
  • Tree planting, clean-up
  • Food security (harvest, making food)
  • Cultural preservation/education
The activity would be part work, part education, and part relationship building with customers. It would include a celebration/ thank you component for volunteers (e.g. refreshments, snack).

Tourism Oxford has budget for this program for marketing and materials costs. If you would like to learn more contact us.
Help us talk about you
Tourism Oxford produces in house blogs, videos and social media posts for trip planning and inspiration. This content responds to consumer interest, available resources, storylines and opportunities. We often have to move quickly so please consider doing the following:

  • Having a free or enhanced website listing on TourismOxford.ca
  • Be active on social media engaging with & celebrating other businesses
  • If we email with an opportunity reply quickly.
More Photography & Video in 2023
Oxford County Council approved additional funds for Tourism Photography in 2023. This is to follow-up on the work completed last year in partnership with Destination Ontario. You will see us out and about the county getting new images.
Marketing Update
Little Saturday is live
Thanks to the businesses who answered our call for mid-week activities and offers for Little Saturday. This campaign runs until the end of March and encourages local residents to get out to local businesses to celebrate, unwind, and reset throughout the week in Oxford County. Want to get involved? Contact kslattery@oxfordcounty.ca.
Winter Partnership Campaign
Thank you Ontario's Southwest for partnering with Tourism Oxford on a marketing campaign promoting winter travel to Oxford County. The campaign promotes travel for a variety of market segments including couples and family travel. The campaign will be in market February through March, and it is performing well.
Dine Magazine
As part of our winter campaign Tourism Oxford purchased an advertorial in Dine Magazine.
So put simply - we would love to work with YOU!! To learn more you can check out our Partnership Opportunities Booklet below.
Please contact the tourism team if you have questions about any of these programs, want to brainstorm ideas, or even to chat!! We're happy to help.

Your cheerleaders in tourism,

Emily, Karlee & Meredith
tourism@oxfordcounty.ca
519-539-9800 x3355