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Program Benefits
This program will provide you with an assessment of your business, and a detailed recommendations for improvements that will help you grow your business and increase yield.
Valued at $7,500, this program is available at no cost to you!
Who can apply?
The program is open to tourism businesses in Atlantic Canada, including accommodations, adventure, cultural tourism, or providers of unique dining experiences.
NOTE: The program is by referral only. Contact your local office of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to find out if you are eligible.
Program streams
The program consists of two streams. You will choose the most applicable stream when you apply:
Comprehensive Stream
This is for you if…
You are looking for strategies to achieve a higher yield in your business and would benefit from a more structured approach to determining and prioritizing the most critical areas of your business to optimize profitability and performance.
Targeted Stream
This is for you if…
You already have a plan to increase your yield, but you’d like additional guidance and insights from a sector specialist to help you refine your plan and reach your goals more effectively.
Program Journey
- You are referred to the program by ACOA.
- You complete an application and self-assessment and choose your stream.
- Once approved (5-10 business days), the Consultant is contracted, and a site-visit is scheduled.
- You work with the Consultant as needed to enable them to do their work, and the Consultant prepares their recommendations.
- You receive your recommendations and action plan from the Consultant (within 10-15 business days of the site-visit).
- You review this with the Consultant and come to agreement together on the final recommendations.
- With your final report in hand, you decide which recommendations you want to pursue.
- Financial help for implementation is available from LearnSphere
Ready to apply?
NOTE: The program is by referral only.
Contact your local office of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to find out if you are eligible.
If you have already been referred by ACOA please proceed to the application form using the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my business is eligible?
You must be selected for the program by ACOA. Contact your regional office for additional information.
How much will it cost to participate?
Other than your time to work with the Consultant, there is no cost to you.
How long does the program take?
From application to action plan, the project can be completed within 6-8 weeks. You have an important role in making sure the project stays on track, by scheduling meetings promptly and responding quickly to follow-up questions from the Consultant.
How much time will I need to invest?
You will need about an hour for the online application and self-assessment. The engagement with the Consultant (site visit, answering questions, reviewing the plan, providing feedback) will take 1.5 to 2 days.
Can I delegate the work of the project to an employee?
No. To get the full benefit of participation, it’s important that the owner or operator be directly involved. The Consultant needs to work with someone who has access to all the key business information and the authority to share that.
How will my application be evaluated?
All applications are evaluated against a list of established criteria. If there is missing or incomplete information, LearnSphere will reach out to you.
How do I find a consultant?
You may already have a consultant in mind. If not, LearnSphere has a list of consultants with proven experience in the sector that they will share with you.
What should be included in the Consultant's statement of work (for Targeted Stream)
For the Targeted Stream of the Elevate Tourism Program, you will need to provide LearnSphere with the SOW to be undertaken by the Consultant you have selected. Although it will ultimately be LearnSphere who contracts with the Consultant directly, the SOW must first be produced and agreed upon by you and the Consultant. Follow these steps to ensure you are getting the information you need from your Consultant:
- Ensure the selected Consultant understands your needs and your desired outcome(s)
- Be upfront about the budget that is available for this work ($7,500 + travel expenses)*
- Communicate to the Consultant what the timeline is to complete the work (within approximately 10-15 business days)
- Come to an agreement about the scope of work. This should include the following components:
- Understanding of your need
- Deliverables
- Cost per deliverable (cannot exceed $7,500)
- Completion date
An example SOW might look something like this:
| Deliverable | Professional fees | Completion Date |
| Deliverable #1: On-site visit to assess the operation | 1 day @ $1,500/day | Jan 15 |
| Deliverable #2: Research, asset map | 2 days @ $1,500/day | Jan 22 |
| Deliverable #3: Draft the final report with recommendations for next steps | 2 days @ $1,500/day | Jan 27 |
TOTAL | $7,500 |
*Travel costs are reimbursed in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the National Joint Council (NJC) Travel Directive.
What is the next step, after receiving the Action Plan?
With your final report in hand, you decide which recommendations you want to pursue.
Non-repayable financial help for implementation is available from LearnSphere.
What are some examples of activities and costs that may qualify as eligible under the Targeted Stream?
| Examples of Eligible Activities | Eligible Costs | Ineligible Costs |
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For more information
Contact Carolyne Mongrain, Project Manager
This program is managed by LearnSphere, with financial assistance from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
