Guelph Tourism is excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 funding programs. Together with Destination Marketing Guelph, $86,300 was invested in the tourism industry enhancing Guelph’s tourism offerings to position the Guelph as a must-see visitor destination. Congratulations to the grant award recipients of 2024.
Destination Animation Fund
This fund supports tourism operators who are looking to leverage partnerships within the industry to increase Guelph’s destination attractiveness through new tourism products and initiatives.
| Organization | How funds were used |
|---|---|
| Guelph Jazz Festival | Guelph jazz Festival leveraged the Tourism Funding Program to support a new Sunday outdoor music event at the Guelph Jazz Festival. |
| Guelph Disc Golf | Guelph Disc Golf hosted Royale Tournament. |
| Guelph Black Heritage Society | Guelph Black Heritage Society leveraged the Tourism Funding Program for “Culture Quests – Do it for culture” to encourage the African, Caribbean and Black communities to learn about craft brewing and black history through a partnership with Guelph.Beer. |
| Hillside Community Festival | Hillside utilized the Tourism Funding Program to provide shuttle services and connect the festival site at Guelph Lake Conservation Area to Downtown Guelph. |
| Guelph Dance | Guelph Dance utilized the Tourism Funding Program to present the “World After Dark” performance at the River Run Centre. |
| Guelph Youth Music Centre (GYMC) | GYMC utilized the Tourism Funding Program to design accessible and inclusive performing arts events for children and youth in Guelph through their Youth Music Series. |
| Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA) | The DGBA accessed the Tourism Funding Program to enhance programming for the Spirit of the Season event in Downtown Guelph. |
| Royal City Athletics Club | Royal City Athletics Club hosted the Inferno Track and Field Event, bringing the fun of sport to Guelph during the summer months |
| Royal City Music Group | Royal City Music Group brings live music to the Guelph Storm games through The Loft Stage Concert Series: The Sleeman Centre with the support of the Tourism Funding Program. |
| Royal City Science | Royal City Science ignites visitors’ curiosity about space with a pop-up planetarium and educational activities. |
| Delta Hotels (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
The Tourism Funding Program supported the design and execution of a new mural showcasing Guelph attractions at the Delta Hotel. |
| Fixed Gear Brewery (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
Fixed Gear Brewery held the inaugural Junction Craft Beer Festival showcasing over 20 craft breweries and offering guests experiences such as beer tasting, lawn games and music with the support of the Tourism Funding Program. |
| Guelph.Beer (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
The Tourism Funding Program supported the Beer.Bus to increase the number of busesto enhance visitor experience. |
| Guelph Urbex Walking Tours (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
Urbex Walking Tours and partners used the Tourism Funding Program to bring tourists to Guelph and explore the paranormal side of Downtown Guelph. |
| Royal City Brewing Company (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
Royal City Brewery brought Oktoberfest Celebrations to the City of Guelph with the support of the Tourism Funding Program. |
| Gain Media (Awarded by Destination Marketing Guelph) |
GAIN Music Festival with the support from the Tourism Funding Program. |
Marketing Material Development Fund
Drawing from the Destination Gaps and Needs Fund, this program is designed to support the creation of new accessible, physical, and digital marketing materials to help tourism operators steward the Guelph story and tourism opportunities in a cohesive way.
| Organization | How funds were used |
|---|---|
| Kanoo Coffee | Awarded funds to update marketing content through photography. |
| Smitten Apparel | Awarded funds to create a thrift store map to highlight 16thrift and consignment stores in Guelph. |
| Hillside Community Festival Guelph | Awarded funds to update social media campaigns with new short- and long-term videos for visitor attraction. |
| Royal City Brewing | Awarded funds to design promotional coasters and signage for Beer.Bus participants. |
| Art Gallery of Guelph | Awarded funds to support a marketing campaign showcasing the Art Gallery of Guelph. |
| Royal City Science | Awarded funds to update marketing content through photography and videography. |
| Taste Detours | Awarded funds create new digital and physical marketing assets. |
| Fixed Gear Brewing | Awarded funds for printing services and promotional glassware. |
| Noise Floor Productions | Awarded funds to update marketing content through photography and videography. |
| Royal City Music Group | Awarded funds for printing services. |
| Delta Hotels | Awarded funds to create a content bank that highlights local attractions and businesses for their guests to explore. |
| Guelph Urbex Walking Tours | Awarded funds to leverage new marketing opportunities such as a rack card distribution program through regional hotels. |
| Atmosphere Café | Awarded funds to update marketing content through photography. |
Gather Here Sponsorship Fund
Supports the attraction of new events in Guelph such as conferences, sporting events, and festivals. Successful applicants are able to demonstrate high rates of visitor attraction, the ability to increase Guelph’s brand awareness, and collaboration with local accommodations and conference venues.
| Organization | How funds were used |
|---|---|
| University of Guelph Chemistry Department | International Symposium on Electrochemistry and Surface Science 2024 |
| The Good Games | The Good Games leveraged the Tourism Funding Program to support visitor and athlete experience during the sport festival and multi-sport competition. |