Get marketplace support through stream two of the EXPORT Travel Trade Program and take the next steps to build your customer-base for years to come. Receive up to $5,000 in support to attend key travel trade marketplaces in 2024-25 where you can build your sales partnerships to attract national and international travellers.
Webinar: Introduction To Travel Trade
What is the travel trade?
The travel trade is the network of travel and tourism services that includes tour operators, travel agents and online travel agents. Working with the travel trade helps get information about your business to more travellers and opens new sales opportunities. It’s also a great way to help showcase the broad range of experiences Nova Scotia has to offer, generating awareness and interest in the province.
Why participate?
Travel agents and tour operators can be a partner in marketing your business. Being included in their packages and product catalogues gives you access to their client network, raising awareness of your business and extending your marketing reach. It also helps you build repeat business, giving you more predictability in your sales. Our research also shows travellers from the United Kingdom and Germany tend to book their travel to Canada through tour operators and travel agents, making these partnerships a great way to attract travellers from those markets.
Who can participate?
The EXPORT Travel Trade program Marketplace Support stream is open to tourism businesses that have been doing business with travel trade partners such as receptive tour operators, wholesalers, motorcoach companies, etc., for a minimum of two years or have successfully completed the EXPORT Travel Trade Readiness Program and have secured contracts with travel trade partners.
The Marketplace Support stream provides support for registration fees so that you can meet one-on-one with national and international tour operators and travel agents. Here are some of the eligible marketplaces for those interested in the Marketplace Support stream of the program:
Bienvenue Québec: October 27-30, 2024 (Québec City, QC)
Ontario Motor Coach Association: November 4-6, 2024 (Windsor, ON)
National Travel Association: November 17-20, 2024 (Huntsville, AL)
Canada Showcase Europe: November 12-14, 2024 (Paris, France)
American Bus Association: February 1-4, 2025 (Philadelphia, PA)
Rendez-vous Canada: May 27-30 2025 (Winnipeg, MB)
Apply to Marketplace Support Stream
Applications to the second stream of Marketplace Support have been extended until the program has been fully subscribed or March 31, 2025.
Applications will be assessed when they are received. There is no cost to participate.
For more information, please contact Natalie Shaw, Market Development Coordinator, at natalie.shaw@novascotia.ca.