Here are some tools and toolkits/workbooks that we have recommended to people who have participated in our training programs. They are categorized into four areas: 

• Experiential Travel
• Brand
• Research
• Sustainability

Experiential Travel Toolkits

• Experiences Toolkit, 2nd Edition (Oct, 2011). The Canadian Tourism Commission's guide to evolving a tourism product into a memorable visitor experience, including a 12 step processes, a guide to identifying your best customers, and five case studies of successful experiential travel businesses in Canada.

• Experience Nova Scotia Toolkit (2009). A practical resource to craft experiences, aligned with Nova Scotia's brand and information on travel motivators and visitor interests. The tools and worksheets provided are useful and practical for anyone interested in experiential travel.

• Australia's Experience Toolkit (2008). A good look into Australia's Experience Seekers and the seven types of experiences they are marketing. They provide information on making the shift to experiences, bundling experiences and destinations; its a different perspective from Canada.

• Travel Alberta Brand Workbook (2011). Want to discover how to give your traveller's goosebump moments? This workbook presents the new Travel Alberta brand and how businesses can help deliver on the brand promise. Includes the business strategy, finding Alberta's ideal guest, their brand promise, and advertising. They have lots of good worksheets and tools that could easily be applied to elsewhere if you don't live in Alberta!

• Canada's Brand Toolkit (2009). Information on how the Canadian Tourism Commission compels travellers to visit Canada, and how they incorporate experiences into their advertising and promotional materials with clear, simple evocative messages.

Research Tools and Toolkits

• EQ Toolkit (2010). The Canadian Tourism Commission's market research in their major international markets, providing insight into why people travel and the types of travel experiences they are seeking. This toolkit is changing the way travel experiences are developed, marketed and sold in Canada. If you operate a small or large tourism-based enterprise, it promises to give you a serious advantage in the competitive global travel market.

• Explorer Quotient Quiz. Canadian Tourism Commission's short, engaging way to discover what type of traveller you are, and how to invite your guests to complete it so you can learn which type they are!  It's fun, easy, free and the foundation for the CTC's international marketing activities.

Sustainability Tools and Toolkits

• Green Your Business - A Toolkit for Tourism Operators (2008).  A useful document if you are running a tourism business with lots of tips, ideas, and things you do immediately to improve your impact on the environment and your bottom line.  A partnered product of the Tourism Industry of Canada, Parks Canada, and the Canadian Tourism Commission, it's solid in its research and makes recommendations by sector.

• Integrating Sustainability into Business:  A Management Guide for Responsible Tour Operations (2005). Produced by the United Nations Environment Program, this guide provides insightful information on sustainable tourism development and operations as it applies to internal management, product development, managing the supply chain, communicating with customers, and building cooperation within the destination for responsible tourism.

• Integrating Sustainability into Business: An Implementation Guide for Responsible Tourism Coordinators (2005). Produced by the United Nations Environment Program, this very practical guide is excellent for staff tasked with developing sustainable management systems, engaging staff with the importance of sustainability, implementing development plans and training exercises.

• Carbon Footprint Calculator. A handy online tool that can assist you in calculating your carbon footprint and, if you like, provides an option for purchasing carbon offsets. It's an excellent tool for tracking the impact of your business activities, and using this as a baseline for improvement over time.