CGLCC- Tourism
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for businesses like yours in the tourism industry. By participating, you can tap into the lucrative LGBT+ travel market, valued at over $12 billion annually. LGBT+ travellers spend significantly more than their mainstream counterparts and are eager to explore travel opportunities within Canada. This program offers you the tools and training to ensure your business is a welcoming and inclusive space for these travellers.
What You Get:
- Training and Educational Tools: Learn how to create an inclusive environment through workshops and seminars.
- Rainbow Registered Accreditation: Showcase your business as a safe and inclusive space for LGBT+ travellers.
- Destination Audits: Assess and improve your readiness to serve the LGBT+ market.
- Tourism Toolkit: Access a comprehensive set of resources to help you develop and market LGBT+ inclusive products and services.
By joining this program, you will not only enhance your business's appeal to a high-spending market but also foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment. The process to qualify is straightforward, and the benefits to your business are substantial.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms:
- No repayment required.
- No interest rates apply.
Eligible Expenses:
- Marketing and promotional activities.
- Training and educational programs.
- Infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and inclusivity.
- Development of new tourism products and services.
Ineligible Expenses:
- General operating expenses.
- Salaries and wages not directly related to the project.
- Debt refinancing.
- Purchase of real estate.
Fees:
- No application fees.
- No administrative fees.
Qualifications
- Must be a business operating within Canada.
- Must be part of the tourism industry.
- Must be committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for LGBT+ travellers.
- Must be willing to undergo diversity and inclusion training.
- Must be ready to implement meaningful practices for LGBT+ inclusivity.
- Must be open to participating in workshops and seminars on LGBT+ diversity and inclusion.
- Must be prepared to conduct a destination audit to assess LGBT+ travel market-readiness.
Must be a member of the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC).
Disqualifications:
- Businesses not operating within Canada.
- Businesses outside the tourism industry.
- Businesses unwilling to commit to LGBT+ inclusivity and safety.
- Businesses not open to participating in required training and workshops.
Description
This program is designed to help your business attract LGBT+ travellers, a market worth over $12 billion annually. LGBT+ travellers spend more on their trips and recover faster from industry shocks. Right now, 90% of them are looking for travel opportunities within Canada.
To tap into this lucrative market, your business needs to ensure it is a safe and inclusive space for LGBT+ travellers. This means recognizing gender and sexual diversity and implementing practices that make these travellers feel comfortable and welcome.
The program offers several benefits:
- Training and educational tools: Learn how to create an inclusive environment for LGBT+ employees and customers.
- Rainbow Registered accreditation: Showcase your business as a safe and inclusive space.
- Workshops and seminars: Gain insights into the LGBT+ travel market and best practices.
- Destination audits: Assess your strengths and areas for improvement in welcoming LGBT+ travellers.
- Tourism toolkit: Access resources to help create an LGBT+ inclusive organization.
By participating in this program, you can boost your business by attracting a high-spending, loyal customer base.
Program Steps
Register or Log In: Visit the CGLCC website and either register for a new account or log in if you already have one.
Complete Profile Information: Fill out your profile information, including contact details and business information.
Prepare Documentation: Gather the necessary documents to support your application. These may include:
- Business registration documents
- Financial statements
- Business plan
- Proof of any previous diversity and inclusion training
- Marketing materials showcasing your business's inclusivity efforts
Certification Details: Fill out the certification details section, providing information about your business's commitment to LGBT+ inclusivity.
Payment: Complete the payment process for the application fee, if applicable.
Submit Application: Review all entered information and submit your application through the CGLCC portal.
Await Review: Wait for the CGLCC to review your application. They may contact you for additional information or clarification.
Approval and Accreditation: Upon approval, you will receive your certification and can start using the Rainbow Registered mark to promote your business as LGBT+ inclusive.