If visitors to Sylvan Lake make up a significant share of your customers then your business is operating in the tourism sector.

Your business may provide goods or services that visitors are looking for like fun things to do, places to stay, places to eat, souvenirs, supplies, or equipment to enjoy their trip.

This Program is open to any  licensed Sylvan Lake business operating in the tourism sector. Businesses must register online for the Program.

Get involved in Town of Sylvan Lake tourism strategies and initiatives! Work collaboratively, be included in, and find opportunity as well as benefit from the growth of the tourism sector in Sylvan Lake.

Program features and resources are listed on visitsylvanlake.ca/industry. Click through, sign up, submit, and use all the features available to your business each year.

Latest news and opportunities will be kept updated. Access anytime through visitsylvanlake.ca/industry

Just sign up online, it's quick and easy! sylvanlake.ca/tourismpartnership

Your business must be licensed with the Town of Sylvan Lake and operating in the tourism sector to participate.

For questions, please reach out:

Natasha Bhola
Tourism Marketing and Development Coordinator
Email
T 403-887-1192 x 527

New Tourism Sector Resources Added

Find resources for tourism startups, using Google for your business, social media marketing for tourism, identify which travelers are your customers, and how to create high quality visitor experiences!

See below in the Tourism Sector Resources section

Posted: 2021-02-22

Sylvan Lake Makes the News!

Our lake town has made the news and we're so excited to see Sylvan Lake represented in the media! The more our destination is heard about, the better for attracting visitors.

Check out these articles:

• You can fly down three glowing ice slides in this cute Alberta lake town | Curiocity Calgary and Curiocity Edmonton
• Craving Beach Vibes in Canada? Find them at 6 Under-the-Radar Beach Towns | Marriott Bonvoy Traveler
• In photos: In Red Deer, hundreds of people take to the ice | Globe and Mail

Posted: 2021-02-22

February Tourism Sector Trainings

Choose webinars that fit with your business needs! These trainings are hosted externally. See a list of trainings below in the Tourism Sector Trainings section.

• February 4, 2021: Google Guide for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) - Travel Alberta
• February 9 & 16, 2020: Culinary Tourism - TIAC AITC Alberta Online Workshop Series
• February 11, 2021: Leading Through Uncertainty - Travel Alberta
• February 18, 2021: Travel Outlook: Factors affecting Recovery - Travel Alberta
• February 25, 2021: Creating Partnerships with Indigenous Tourism Businesses - Travel Alberta

Posted: 2021-02-01

Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG) | Government of Alberta

Apply by March 31, 2021

The Government of Alberta has released a grant for small and medium enterprises affected by Covid-19 that have experienced a revenue reduction of at least 30%.

Businesses, cooperatives and non-profits can use granted funds to help offset the costs of new public health measures, including:

• physical barriers
• purchasing PPE and disinfecting supplies
• rent and employee wages
• replacing inventory and more

For full details and to apply visit www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx

Posted: 2021-01-11

Visitsylvanlake.ca Website Redevelopment | Town of Sylvan Lake

First Quarter of 2021

Visitsylvanlake.ca is the visitor website for the destination of Sylvan Lake and hosts information to attract visitors, help them find things to do, plan their trip, and other important information.

The site is undergoing redevelopment over the first quarter of 2021 for updating, to enhance usability, site architecture, and better support visitor services and Sylvan Lake's  tourism economy.

Posted: 2020-12-23

2021 Winter Village Unveils | Winter Village Committee and Town of Sylvan Lake

Runs December-March with lights from 5-11pm

The Winter Village Committee and the Town of Sylvan Lake staff have done an amazing job at putting together 2020's Winter Village! The Winter Village runs from December - March at nightfall and includes sponsored Christmas Tree Planter Parade and over 304,000 twinkling lights. This year, due to social distancing requirements, there will not be sponsored bonfire nights to prevent potential of crowding around the firepits. For more info see the Winter Village Facebook page.

The Winter Village has also undertaken the addition of lighting to the Lake Skating Rink, brand new for this winter! Lights run from 5-11pm each night.

Posted: 2020-12-01

Short Term Rentals Survey | Town of Sylvan Lake

The Town of Sylvan Lake is seeking feedback through an online survey about short term rentals. Short term rentals, also known as tourist homes, AirBnBs, or VRBOs, provide short term accommodations, typically as a residential home or a part of a residential home.

Operators of short term rentals, users, and neighbours to short term rentals, are all invited to share their feedback of their experiences through the online survey.

Posted: 2021-01-20

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The BIG JIG | Town of Sylvan Lake

Event Dates February 13-15, 2021

The Town of Sylvan Lake is hosting The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Derby February 13-15, 2021 over the Family Day long weekend.  Check out the event page at visitsylvanlake.ca/bigjig

The event will include an ice fishing derby organized through an online app to ensure social distancing, live music, Pass-the-Poutine Contest for the best poutine in town, Kinabik Discovery Village for indigenous peoples heritage, and Learn to Fish for Beginners!

Here's how your business can be involved:

• Pass-the-Poutine Contest: Can your restaurant create the best, most creative appy-sized poutine? Fill out the online form to enter your business' poutine
• Equipment Rentals: if your business rents winter equipment let us know! We want to add your business as an Equipment Rentals Provider on the event webpage. Businesses must have a Town of Sylvan Lake business license. Email us
• Host a complementary activity or event: design your own activity that can add to visitor experiences. Let us know below by submitting to our Upcoming Events Calendar.

This event is subject to Covid-19 restrictions and all public health measures.

Posted: 2021-01-06

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January Tourism Sector Trainings

Webinar training opportunities have been collected for January. Choose webinars that fit with your business needs. These trainings are hosted externally. See a list of trainings below in the Tourism Sector Trainings section.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

• January 14, 2021: Revamping Your Website - Travel Alberta
• January 21, 2021: Reimagining the Customer Experience (During and After Covid-19) - Travel Alberta
• January 28, 2021: Food for Thought: Leveraging the Value of Culinary Tourism - Travel Alberta

Posted: 2021-01-06

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Tourism Industry Partnership Program | Town of Sylvan Lake

The Program launches in January. Here's how you'll hear about it:

• the Sylvan Lake News
• social media @visitsylvanlake
• your business license renewal invoice was accompanied by an info slip and link to register
• we'll be reaching out  directly in January
• register online anytime

Once your business' registration to the Program is approved, we'll be in touch directly to let you know about visitsylvanlake.ca/industry resources! This will be the page for the delivery of the Program.

Posted: 2020-12-23

Pass-the-Poutine Contest | The BIG JIG

The Town of Sylvan Lake is hosting The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Derby February 13-15, 2021 over the Family Day long weekend.  Check out the event page at visitsylvanlake.ca/bigjig

The event will include an ice fishing derby organized through an online app to ensure social distancing, live music, Pass-the-Poutine Contest for the best poutine in town, Kinabik Discovery Village for indigenous peoples heritage, and Learn to Fish for Beginners!

Participate in the Pass-the-Poutine Contest:

Be the winner of the best, most creative, tastiest poutine in town! Restaurants can submit their creation using the online form.

Your restaurant will offer your poutine creation over the duration of the weekend in dine-in or takeout format. We recommend small-plate (side order) sized takeout portions with a fork, in consideration of Covid-19 public health orders and to encourage attendees to try a little poutine from each participating restaurant.

What doesn't taste good on top of fries? Participants in the Pass-the-Poutine contest will be promoted as a part of The BIG JIG event. Event attendees looking for a filling way to warm up will try all different types of poutines and visit your restaurant.

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Equipment Rental Providers | The BIG JIG

The Town of Sylvan Lake is hosting The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Derby February 13-15, 2021 over the Family Day long weekend.  Check out the event page at visitsylvanlake.ca/bigjig

The event will include an ice fishing derby organized through an online app to ensure social distancing, live music, Pass-the-Poutine Contest for the best poutine in town, Kinabik Discovery Village for indigenous peoples heritage, and Learn to Fish for Beginners!

Does your business rent out winter equipment?

Ice fishing shacks, rods, bait, snowshoes, cross country skis, ATVs, snowmobiles, fat bikes - anything that helps people get outside and enjoy winter! If your business is renting these items, let us know. We want to let others know about Equipment Rental Providers as part of The BIG JIG event and throughout the season! Businesses must be licensed with the Town of Sylvan Lake.

Email us to get started!

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Prize Sponsors | The BIG JIG

The Town of Sylvan Lake is hosting The BIG JIG Ice Fishing Derby February 13-15, 2021 over the Family Day long weekend.  Check out the event page at visitsylvanlake.ca/bigjig

The event will include an ice fishing derby organized through an online app to ensure social distancing, live music, Pass-the-Poutine Contest for the best poutine in town, Kinabik Discovery Village for indigenous peoples heritage, and Learn to Fish for Beginners!

Sponsor Random Draw Prizes

At The BIG JIG, all ice fishing Derby and Learn to Fish participants will be entered into random prize draws. Businesses are invited to sponsor a random prize by donating a prize over a $50 minimum retail value.

Interested in sponsoring a prize? Email us directly