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Qualifying Product & Experiences for Export or Market Readiness – Tourism Operator Questionnaire
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Working with the international travel trade (ITT) is an effective way to extend our marketing and sales activities into new overseas markets. The business planning and sales cycles involve long lead times, therefore several key practices on the part of Canadian tourism operators are essential for mutual success:
• Pricing integrity
• Operational reliability and quality
• Marketing and sales support
• Working relationships with Canadian based Inbound or Receptive Tour Operators
Priority number 1 for all partners in Northern Ontario is to ensure that we are well prepared, so that every product and experience presented to new potential international visitors represents the very best of Northern experiences. DNO has developed comprehensive criteria for Northern Ontario stakeholders who wish to work with the travel trade in international markets – setting the industry up for success over the long term. The DNO criteria incorporates the participation criteria set out for both the Ontario Signature Experiences program (operated by Destination Ontario) and the Canadian Signature Experiences program (operated by Destination Canada). Both are standards of best practice for the tourism industry.
This questionnaire covers each of the important aspects of working with the Travel Trade in international markets. It is designed to help you assess your current situation and identify areas that require action, in order to become export or market-ready.
Company:
*
Location
*
Contact:
*
Title:
Phone
*
Email
*
A copy of your completed questionnaire will be emailed to the address you provide.
Website
Please be advised that completed questionnaires are stored on Destination Northern Ontario’s database. Your business/personal information is protected under Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) with results kept confidential and only shared within DNO for the purpose of providing insights into needs and trends in product, training and workforce development initiatives and will not be used for anything outside this purpose. For any questions, please contact Karen Peacock, Senior Coordinator, Industry Training at k.peacock@destinationnorthernontario.ca.
A note on your responses: This questionnaire is to assess your current situation and determine if adapting to fulfill the requirements to work with Destination Northern Ontario and international travel trade partners is feasible. Please review your completed questionnaire, and if you find that you have mainly selected 'Yes' or 'Willing to adapt to fulfill' then you are likely a good candidate to work with Destination Northern Ontario and international travel trade partners.
Criteria for working with International Travel Trade
General
6 Questions
1. The supplier will have completed the TEN Visitor Appeal Assessment Tool.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
The Visitor Appeal Assessment Tool is a standalone TEN self-assessment tool that evaluates the visitor experience of your tourism product.
2. The supplier must be in the market delivering a tourism experience for a minimum of two years, with a proven track record for safe and professional operation.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
3. When introducing a new product, the supplier must commit to supporting/maintaining that product for at least 3 years.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
4. The supplier’s business and required operating licenses must be current.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
5. Suppliers must be willing to participate in ongoing professional development related to international markets provided by DNO and TEN (Tourism Excellence North). This may include educational workshops covering international markets, visitor profiles, product development, service delivery and the DNO ITT Development Plan.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
6. Operators will ideally be involved with their local or regional DMO, DNO and tourism partners within their cluster, on priority product development initiatives.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
Legal
5 Questions
1. All suppliers must have liability insurance.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
2. A minimum of $2 million liability insurance is recommended for an adventure product supplier.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
3. Where air travel is involved, the supplier must adhere to provincial liability guidelines / policy.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
4. All suppliers must meet Provincial and federal health and safety regulations for their business operation.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
5. Supplier meets the minimum requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the AODA’s Design for Public Spaces Standard
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
Operations
8 Questions
1. Suppliers must be able to accept reservations and enquiries by email, internet or telephone / fax on a year-round basis.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
2. Suppliers must respond to all enquiries and/or confirmation of booking arrangements within 24 hours (one business day).
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
3. Suppliers will commit to track business from international markets and through the travel trade, and provide update reports to DNO for the purpose of measuring the progress and outcomes of the ITT development plan. * Information provided to DNO will remain confidential.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
4. Suppliers will offer flexibility in booking guidelines, including length of stay, arrival / departure patterns for FIT guests, or a minimum number of passengers / participants for attractions and activities.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Wiling to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
5. Suppliers will be willing to adapt food service and menus to meet the needs of overseas guests.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
6. Ideally, at least one individual who is involved with guest servicing will be able to communicate in German, or other languages as appropriate.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
7. Suppliers will be willing to meet minimum quality and operating standards for accommodation and dining. *Standards to be established by DNO
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
8. Stakeholders in a cluster or destination will be prepared to work together to deliver high quality experiences and product to all visitors, showcasing the best of their destination.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
Pricing, Contracting & Payments
8 Questions
1. Suppliers must be willing to work with Canadian based Receptive or Inbound Tour Operators or Tour Wholesalers, provide them with net rates, and sign a contract confirming that the rates are valid for the period of the contract.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
2. Net rates are negotiable. Tour Operators may ask for rates that are 25-30% lower than retail rack rates. The supplier must refrain from raising net rates before the expiry of the contract agreement.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
3. Suppliers must confirm detailed pricing and program information at least 12-18 months in advance of the selling season, i.e. March 2022 for the 2023 travel season.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
4. Suppliers must accept client vouchers or an alternate form of identification as confirmation of payment for reservations made by Tour Operators.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
5. Suppliers must be able to process payments from overseas clients, either by credit card, cheque, or wire transfer.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
6. Suppliers should be prepared to negotiate credit terms with Receptive Tour Operators, including industry standard billing arrangements.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt
No, cannot fulfill
7. Suppliers must establish purchase options and cancellation policies for their products and services, including any penalties that may apply, in accordance with industry standards.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
8. Suppliers will be willing to conduct a review of their pricing strategy with DNO, to ensure that it meets the above guidelines.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
Marketing & Sales
6 Questions
1. The supplier must be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge and understanding of the roles played by Receptive or Inbound Tour Operators, Tour Operators, Travel Wholesalers (domestic and international), and retail Travel Agents.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
2. Ideally the supplier will be willing to develop a budget to support partnered marketing activities for the international travel trade with DNO. * This is a longer-term objective.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
3. The supplier must offer retail pricing, travel agent commissions (typically 10%), wholesale net rates, and maintain client relationships at each level of the travel trade supply channel.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
4. The supplier must be able to provide their local, regional, or provincial tourism marketing organization and Destination Canada with up-to-date, rights-free images / video and written content for the designated experience, for use in print and online marketing and sales efforts. *Destination Canada and Destination Ontario representatives work closely with international Tour Operators.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
5. The supplier will provide support (complimentary or reduced rates) for international media and travel trade familiarization tours.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
6. In the longer term, the supplier will be willing to attend travel trade shows involving international buyers, either in North America or overseas markets; or support their Provincial or local destination marketing organization to attend.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to Adapt to Fulfill
No, Cannot Fulfill
7. The supplier must have a tourism website and/or a PDF information sheet for all tour operators, including all pertinent information related to their experience or product.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt
No, cannot fulfill
This may include: (A) Net rates (B) Booking & cancellation policy (C) Payment methods (D) Product information (E) Transportation services provided (F) Specialized on-site customer services (e.g. dietary considerations, foreign languages spoken, pre-trip planning & orientation) as appropriate.
8. The supplier should be prepared to commit to at least 3 years of working with the travel trade, once they have chosen to promote the supplier’s product.
Select from drop down list
Yes
Willing to adapt to fulfill
No, cannot fulfill
1. What are the top 3 areas you may need help with to become market-ready?
2. Which of the criteria may present more of a challenge for your organization?
3. Please include any additional information or comments.
Congratulations! You've come to the end of the questionnaire. Once you click 'Submit' your completed questionnaire will be emailed to the address that you provided at the start of this form.
For any questions about International Travel Trade Development, please reach out to Barb Ferrell at Barb@ferrellpartners.com.
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