Supporting businesses that support tourism

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Consultation has concluded

October 8, 2020

Tourism Oxford asking for feedback from tourism-related businesses

Phase 2: Consultation now open

Tourism Oxford is continuing to improve and modernize services as part of our COVID-19 recovery strategy. This includes researching customer service models and trends within the tourism industry.


The recommended changes

After analyzing our customer service models, we are recommending the following changes:

  • Close the Visitor Information Centre at 580 Bruin Blvd Woodstock
    • Why: This information kiosk was staffed Wednesday-Sunday 9-5, May-August. For the remainder of the year, it was self-serve. The kiosk served under 500 people a year and was primarily providing a community service for locals looking to travel elsewhere. How consumers plan trips is changing. Here at Tourism Oxford we need to adapt to better support visitors.

  • Discontinue the Tourism Oxford Visitors Guide
    • Why: More consumers are accessing travel information online. The Visitors Guide (45,000 copies) served a small proportion of the million visitors to Oxford County annually. We want to invest Tourism resources in engaging more visitors where they are in-market, and before they visit.

  • Offer market-ready tourism businesses a listing on TourismOxford.ca free of charge, and offer additional supports for a fee.
    • Why: Tourism Oxford website listings have been connected to participating in a joint marketing activity. By offering listings free of charge to businesses (that meet basic market-readiness criteria) means more starter businesses can participate. This program is not about exclusion but about lifting businesses up, providing support to become market-ready. Consultation with businesses shows that most businesses do already meet the readiness criteria. Offering additional marketing supports for a fee will allow businesses to enhance their content online while also supporting Tourism Oxford in marketing them as an attraction. Fees are not for profit but cost recovery and reinvested in marketing activities.


The proposal

Moving forward Tourism Oxford is proposing the following customer service methods:

  • Reach more visitors pre-trip with custom itinerary services.
    • Why: Assisting more consumers pre-trip increases customer satisfaction and spend in the region. We have already been offering this option for several years and it is a popular option.

  • Print an interim lure booklet that will contain creative content promoting the region.
    • Why: This publication (a temporary abbreviated Visitors Guide) will assist in transitioning Tourism Oxford promotional material online.

  • Reach visitors where they are in Oxford County with signage.
    • Why: This will promote increased visitor engagement with their surroundings and encourage accessing more information on TourismOxford.ca. This will include a variety of signage at attractions plus community kiosks.

  • Improve TourismOxford.ca website functionality for visitors that are in-market to quickly access information.
    • Why: Increasing usability, functionality and ease of access for visitors on our site is continuously important in this digital age. Visitors will be encouraged to visit the website through signage and shortened URLs.


Have your say

We need your help. We want your feedback and any questions on this proposal for revamping our customer service model. Please take a moment to complete a short survey:



Phase 1: Consultation now closed

The idea

Tourism Oxford is exploring the idea of establishing criteria for tourism businesses to be listed on the TourismOxford.ca website.

Criteria-based programs are not a new idea, we already organize several marketing programs with criteria that businesses must meet to participate. This includes the Oxford County Cheese Trail and Oxford Fresh programs.

Establishing a space where we can support tourism-related businesses on TourismOxford.ca expands upon this idea, and offers another level of support and exposure for tourism businesses in Oxford County.


The criteria

To ensure continued high-quality service for both tourism businesses and visitors, we need to establish a set of criteria for inclusion on the website.

The criteria are intended to:

  • Provide a quality experience for visitors to Oxford County making it easy to plan and visit.
  • Provide visitors with an assurance of common standards for tourism businesses and activities.
  • Assist local businesses to become market-ready.
  • Support local businesses to meet market demand and visitor expectations.


October 8, 2020

Tourism Oxford asking for feedback from tourism-related businesses

Phase 2: Consultation now open

Tourism Oxford is continuing to improve and modernize services as part of our COVID-19 recovery strategy. This includes researching customer service models and trends within the tourism industry.


The recommended changes

After analyzing our customer service models, we are recommending the following changes:

  • Close the Visitor Information Centre at 580 Bruin Blvd Woodstock
    • Why: This information kiosk was staffed Wednesday-Sunday 9-5, May-August. For the remainder of the year, it was self-serve. The kiosk served under 500 people a year and was primarily providing a community service for locals looking to travel elsewhere. How consumers plan trips is changing. Here at Tourism Oxford we need to adapt to better support visitors.

  • Discontinue the Tourism Oxford Visitors Guide
    • Why: More consumers are accessing travel information online. The Visitors Guide (45,000 copies) served a small proportion of the million visitors to Oxford County annually. We want to invest Tourism resources in engaging more visitors where they are in-market, and before they visit.

  • Offer market-ready tourism businesses a listing on TourismOxford.ca free of charge, and offer additional supports for a fee.
    • Why: Tourism Oxford website listings have been connected to participating in a joint marketing activity. By offering listings free of charge to businesses (that meet basic market-readiness criteria) means more starter businesses can participate. This program is not about exclusion but about lifting businesses up, providing support to become market-ready. Consultation with businesses shows that most businesses do already meet the readiness criteria. Offering additional marketing supports for a fee will allow businesses to enhance their content online while also supporting Tourism Oxford in marketing them as an attraction. Fees are not for profit but cost recovery and reinvested in marketing activities.


The proposal

Moving forward Tourism Oxford is proposing the following customer service methods:

  • Reach more visitors pre-trip with custom itinerary services.
    • Why: Assisting more consumers pre-trip increases customer satisfaction and spend in the region. We have already been offering this option for several years and it is a popular option.

  • Print an interim lure booklet that will contain creative content promoting the region.
    • Why: This publication (a temporary abbreviated Visitors Guide) will assist in transitioning Tourism Oxford promotional material online.

  • Reach visitors where they are in Oxford County with signage.
    • Why: This will promote increased visitor engagement with their surroundings and encourage accessing more information on TourismOxford.ca. This will include a variety of signage at attractions plus community kiosks.

  • Improve TourismOxford.ca website functionality for visitors that are in-market to quickly access information.
    • Why: Increasing usability, functionality and ease of access for visitors on our site is continuously important in this digital age. Visitors will be encouraged to visit the website through signage and shortened URLs.


Have your say

We need your help. We want your feedback and any questions on this proposal for revamping our customer service model. Please take a moment to complete a short survey:



Phase 1: Consultation now closed

The idea

Tourism Oxford is exploring the idea of establishing criteria for tourism businesses to be listed on the TourismOxford.ca website.

Criteria-based programs are not a new idea, we already organize several marketing programs with criteria that businesses must meet to participate. This includes the Oxford County Cheese Trail and Oxford Fresh programs.

Establishing a space where we can support tourism-related businesses on TourismOxford.ca expands upon this idea, and offers another level of support and exposure for tourism businesses in Oxford County.


The criteria

To ensure continued high-quality service for both tourism businesses and visitors, we need to establish a set of criteria for inclusion on the website.

The criteria are intended to:

  • Provide a quality experience for visitors to Oxford County making it easy to plan and visit.
  • Provide visitors with an assurance of common standards for tourism businesses and activities.
  • Assist local businesses to become market-ready.
  • Support local businesses to meet market demand and visitor expectations.