Marketing is an essential expense for every tourism business. If you’ve never heard of a destination marketing organization (DMO) or if you’ve been wondering if your local DMO’s membership fee is worth it, then this episode is for you. Dan Bevilacqua, the Executive Director of Superior Country, explains how Northern Ontario’s DMOs can help you maximize your marketing dollars and bring the right visitors through your doors.

• 01:35 Understanding Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)
• 03:30 Northern Ontario’s Target Markets
• 06:13 Market Research Available to Tourism Businesses
• 08:15 Membership Costs and Benefits
• 13:57 Special Programs and Initiatives
• 21:11 Final Thoughts and Advice

Destination Management Organizations in Northern Ontario (West to East)

• Sunset Country visitsunsetcountry.com
• City of Kenora visitkenora.ca
• Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls www.snnf.ca
• Superior Country superiorcountry.ca
• Tourism Thunder Bay visitthunderbay.com
• Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association algomacountry.com
• City of Sault Ste. Marie saulttourism.com
• Northeastern Ontario Tourism northeasternontario.com
• City of Timmins tourismtimmins.com
• City of Greater Sudbury discoversudbury.ca
• City of Temiskaming Shores temiskamingshores.ca/en/visiting/Events-And-Attractions.aspx

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

This is a series for tourism business operators in rugged and beautiful Northern Ontario. Whether you're just starting out, or you've got years under your belt, this podcast will make sure you're well equipped for the journey. If you’re not an operator yet, but plan to buy a tourism business in the north, then check out Season 1 for case studies and expert guidance.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destination northernontario.ca. Follow DNO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media.

Every tourism business owner should know the fundamentals of accounting. Chartered Professional Accountant Dave Covello, a Partner at MNP, explains the basics, including the difference between bookkeeping and accounting, when you should incorporate, the importance of good record-keeping, and the pros and cons of asset sales versus share sales. He also shares a tip that’ll help you save money on accounting fees.

• 01:23 Meet the Expert: Dave Covello
• 03:03 Understanding Bookkeeping vs. Accounting
• 04:53 Should I incorporate?
• 09:55 Buying and Selling a Tourism Business
• 16:28 Tracking and Claiming Business Expenses
• 21:55 Why You Should File Your Taxes on Time
• 25:22 How to Save Money on Accounting
• 26:35 Final Thoughts and Tips

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

This is a series for tourism business operators in rugged and beautiful Northern Ontario. Whether you're just starting out, or you've got years under your belt, this podcast will make sure you're well equipped for the journey. If you’re not an operator yet, but plan to buy a tourism business in the north, then check out Season 1 for case studies and expert guidance.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destination northernontario.ca. Follow DNO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media.

In this series, we featured southerners who bought a cottage resort in Northern Ontario and have no regrets. After listening to these episodes, maybe you're ready to make the leap, in theory, but the actual dollars and cents are holding you back. If that's the case, tune in to this episode about one of the North’s best kept secrets: Community Futures Development Corporations. CFDCs are nonprofit funding organizations that offer sizable loans with generous repayment terms, even to businesses considered too “risky” by the banks.

Our guest for this episode is Ryan Raynard, the Chair of the Northwest CFDC Network and the Executive Director of the Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation (LOWBIC).

Find a CFDC office in your community:

• Community Futures Ontario: Northwest Region
• Community Futures Ontario: Northeast Region

For more information about buying a cottage resort from a retiring owner, visit successionmatching.com.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destination northern ontario.ca. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

If you came across a real estate listing for an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced for Destination Northern Ontario by Storied Places Media.

Granary Lake Retreat is a cottage resort near Blind River that is owned by a family of newcomers with roots in Trinidad and Tobago. All of the investors featured in this series are first time cottage resort owners, but you could say that our guest Chris Jaggarnath, his father Anand Jaggarnath, and his stepmother Bettina Abraham were truly rookies. They’d never even been to a cottage before. Yet, this story isn't about failure. It's a story of resilience, hard work, and embracing the northern lifestyle.

Chris Jaggarnath is the Operations Manager at Granary Lake Retreat. Check out their Facebook and Instagram accounts for photos, amenities, guest stories, and availability.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destinationnorthernontario.ca. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

If you came across a real estate listing for an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced for Destination Northern Ontario by Storied Places Media.

Brian Whalley grew up spending summers at Browns’ Clearwater West Lodge, and it’s where he took his now-partner Aniela Hannaford on their first date. It’s a special place to them, so when the owners retired two years ago, Brian and Aniela took a leap of faith and bought the property. In this episode, the couple talks about the experience of taking over the lodge, how offering free accommodations to Ukrainian families was a win-win, and how every season is different and keeps them on their toes.

Aniela Hannaford and Brian Whalley are the Co-Owners of Browns’ Clearwater West Lodge. Check out their Facebook and Instagram accounts for photos, guest stories, packages, and availability.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destinationnorthernontario.ca. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

If you came across a real estate listing for an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced for Destination Northern Ontario by Storied Places Media. Learn more about our podcast production services for economic development organizations at storiedplaces.ca.

Three years ago, Kate and Rob Harcourt found themselves rethinking their careers and browsing real estate listings, like so many of us at the height of the pandemic. When they stumbled on a cottage resort near Sault Ste. Marie for under $300,000, they jumped in the car the next day to have a look, put an offer in that morning, and raced home to sell their house in Collingwood. A month later, they were living in a tiny cottage and preparing for a mountain of renovations. How’s that going? Do they regret it? Listen to find out.

Kate and Rob Harcourt are the Co-Owners of Staying by the Lakeside Cottages. Check out their Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram accounts for photos, guest stories, packages, and availability.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destinationnorthernontario.ca. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

If you came across a real estate listing for an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced for Destination Northern Ontario by Storied Places Media. Learn more about our podcast production services for economic development organizations at storiedplaces.ca.

Tourism business development experts Gord Knowles and Paul Pepe share their deep knowledge about the region’s tourism industry, and how organizations across the north are helping businesses start up, expand, and tackle common challenges like finding workers.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities at the new Destination Northern Ontario Investor Website.

Gord Knowles is the Senior Coordinator of Economic Development and Investment Attraction at Destination Northern Ontario.

• Website: invest.destinationnorthernontario.ca
• Twitter: twitter.com/DestNorthernOnt
• Facebook: facebook.com/DestinationNorthernOntario/
• Instagram: instagram.com/destinationnorthernontario/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tourism-northern-ontario

Paul Pepe is the Manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, a department of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.

• Website: visitthunderbay.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/VisitThunderBay
• Twitter: twitter.com/visitthunderbay
• Instagram: instagram.com/visitthunderbay

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

If you came across a real estate listing for an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media for Destination Northern Ontario. Learn more about our podcast production services for economic development organizations at storiedplaces.ca.

If you came across an affordable cottage resort deep in the boreal forest, would you be tempted to buy it?

If the answer is yes, then the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast is for you. By the end of this five-part series, you’ll learn everything you should know before buying or starting a tourism business in the north, and hear stories from people who’ve walked the path before and would do it all over again.

Learn about tourism investment opportunities at invest.destinationnorthernontario.ca.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media for Destination Northern Ontario. Learn more about our podcast production services for economic development organizations at storiedplaces.ca.