For tourism business owners & operators:
Cycle Tourism in Ontario is growing! Interested in attracting cycle tourists to your location?
Be a part of the growing Welcome Cyclists Network!
The Welcome Cyclists Network is open to accommodation and food service providers, destination attractions and cycling related businesses or organizations interested in cycle tourism. Business locations must be located within regions where the Welcome Cyclists Network is currently offered. Quick stats:
- There are currently 420 Network participating locations
- 22 Welcome Cyclists Workshops held to date
- 520 workshop attendees
- Current Regions Network offered extended to includes: Niagara, Frontenac, Hamilton, Halton, Peel, York, Durham, Northumberland, and The Great Waterway Regional Tourism Organization 9, Manitoulin Island & LaCloche Foothills
If the Welcome Cyclists Network is not currently offered in your region please contact your local Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Regional Tourism Organization (RTO), Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Agency, Municipal or Regional Tourism Office to request program expansion.
Or contact us directly:
Email:
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or Phone: 1-866-333-4491
Welcome Cyclists Workshops
In an informal two-hour workshop, learn more about:
- Who cycle tourists are, and how welcoming them can be good for business
- Regional cycling routes and services
- How to become a certified bicycle friendly business
- Marketing and networking opportunities
- Destination development
There is no charge to attend a workshop or become a Network participant. Meeting the minimum certification requirements in the Welcome Cyclists criteria checklist and registration of information is required to become a participant beyond the workshops.
Winter 2012 Workshop Schedule
The Great Waterway (RTO9) Webinar Workshop - March 6, 2012 - 9:30 am to 10:30 am 
Additional workshops & schedule coming soon
Network Participation Without a Workshop
ON-LINE NETWORK REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE
See instructions at right sidebar, under
"How to Add Your Map Listing"
If the Welcome Cyclists Network is already offered in your region, you may now join at any time. There is currently no charge for your business to participate. This free service is made possible by funding support from our partners listed below.
To be eligible, your business must:
- Complete registration requirements including meeting minimum requirements in Welcome Cyclists Network industry standards and criteria checklist.
- See right sidebar on "How to Add Your Map Listing"
- Review the Welcome Cyclists Network Participants Tool Kit, summarizing regional workshop.
- Display Network logo window decal and include logo and information on website or other promotional materials, where possible. (The Welcome Cyclists decal, logo & Tool Kit will be made available after receipt of registration and approval of listing.)
*Existing members who wish to edit a listing should "claim" their listing – see "How to Claim an Existing Listing" in right sidebar. Or contact Welcome Cyclists for assistance.
Benefits of Participation
• Two-hour interactive training workshop
• Welcome Cyclists Network Tool Kit, summarizing workshop series tailored to your region
• Improved product knowledge, regional cycling information
• Access to growing cycle tourism market in your region
• Potential to uncover new business opportunities
Marketing Benefits
• Listings on the Welcome Cyclists website which helps cyclists when they are researching their trips to find bike friendly destinations
• Location and category pin-point on the Welcome Cyclists Network on-line map
• Regional profile on Welcome Cyclists website with information and links to trail and route planning maps and resources
• Welcome Cyclists Decals highlighting participation as a part of network
• Inclusion in group promotions at events hosting our Ontario Cycle Tourism Information Booth
• Access to promotional opportunities developed by the Welcome Cyclists Network and/or partners, designed exclusively for Network participants
• Information on additional marketing opportunities targeting the cycle tourism market
• Promotion by being a part of a larger network in the region, and across Ontario
Project Objective
The goal of the Welcome Cyclists project is to create a network of businesses that together enhance a regional cycle tourism product and collectively Ontario's cycle tourism sector.
This comprehensive program provides workshops, operator training, tourism industry standards, developmental assistance and promotional opportunities, driving community based economic development in the cycle tourism sector.
Industry E-Newsletter
• If you are a participating business location or have attended a workshop in the past, you are already receiving our industry e-newsletter, currently being sent out twice annually.
• This is different from our consumer e-newsletter, which is sent out to over 3,000 intersted cyclists 8 to 10 times a year – see sidebar to the right for more information.
• You're not yet on our contact list, but would like to receive our communications? Email us your request at: information (at) welcomecyclists.ca
To view past issues of the industry e-newsletter:
