Tourism Innovation Challenge

Tourism Innovation Challenge

  • Tourism Innovation Challenge

IGNITE Atlantic’s Rural Nova Scotia Tourism Innovation Pitch Competitions bring together entrepreneurs, community leaders, and tourism operators to showcase fresh ideas that reimagine the visitor experience in rural communities. These events highlight creative, locally driven solutions that support sustainable tourism, economic development, and community pride. Participants pitch their innovations to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize and a one-year membership to the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS), along with access to mentorship and valuable industry connections.

Regional Pitch Competitions

November 19

Digby, Digby Pines

December 3

New Glasgow, IGNITE Atlantic

January 28

Bridgewater, FirkinStein Brewing

2024/2025 Winners

Competition: Digby

Website: https://sustainablehill.ca/

About: Jessica Hill is the owner of Sustainable Hill Wellness Resort Inc. in Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, operating for nearly two years. She aims to revive the community’s cherished memories of the former campground by the Herbert River, which was a popular gathering spot in the 1970s and ’80s.

To achieve this, she is launching a late-summer music festival at Sustainable Hill, featuring local talent, food trucks, and a yoga and wellness zone along the riverbank. This eve

Competition: New Glasgow

Website: https://fireloch.com/

About: Jennifer DeCoste is the owner of FireLoch Gathering Place and Retreat in North Lochaber, Nova Scotia, operating for 2.5 years. FireLoch offers one-day events but faces challenges expanding due to limited local accommodations, restricting the ability to host multi-day retreats and immersive experiences.

To solve this, Jennifer is proposing the construction of a new lodge, enabling longer stays and making the venue more accessible for event organizers, retreat participants, and charitable organizations addressing burnout and caretaker fatigue. With funding from Innoweave and CBDC, she has developed a comprehensive business plan for this tourism venture, which will enhance FireLoch’s capacity, support local employment, and attract more visitors to the region.

Competition: Bridgewater

Website: https://exoticfruitnursery.weebly.com/ 

About: Annette Clarke is the owner of Exotic Fruit Nursery in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, operating for three years. She specializes in growing unusual fruit trees like figs, persimmons, jujubes, and bananas while promoting sustainability and habitat restoration.

Her new Sensory Hands-On Educational Program, developed in partnership with her son’s Bed & Breakfast, aims to reconnect people with nature and healthy food. The program offers botanical tours, fruit tastings, and workshops on topics such as fruit growing, sustainability, off-grid living, and forest ecology. Special events include evening illuminated walks through the greenhouse and ponds.

The nursery’s mission is to make fresh fruit growing fun and affordable, enrich the local food supply, reduce carbon footprints, and create an edible landscape for learning and enjoyment. The educational program launches next season, supported by a 2025 marketing strategy and further training from the Lunenburg Board of Trade.

About the Competition

  • Founders must be Nova Scotia residents.
  • Must be offered in a rural area of Nova Scotia, outside of Metro Halifax.
  • Must be a new offering or product, not offered prior to January 1, 2024.
  • Can be in concept phase.
  • Company can be long standing, but product or offering must be new.
  • Product or offering must relate to the tourism industry.

Cash Prize includes:

  • Regional First Place Winners : $1,000 each (for a total of $4,000)

 

In addition, there are non-cash prizes for the winners provided by partner organizations listed below:

  • 1 Year Residency at IGNITE Atlantic (value of $1,380)
  • One-hour individual coaching session with advisors from Tourism Nova Scotia

 

Note: non-cash prizes are subject to change

The following criteria will be used for the judging of the regional pitch competitions, each participant will have up to 5 minutes maximum to pitch their idea and then there will be time for Q & A afterwards:

  1. Innovation and Creativity
  2. Value Proposition
  3. Competitive Advantage
  4. Financial Projections and Viability
  5. Pitch Presentation and Communication
  6. Sustainable and Regenerative Qualities