Outaouais Tourism — PDTO 2025-2027 – Festivals and Events

• Completed and signed PDTO 25-27_Festivals and Events form in Excel format
• Program or draft program for the upcoming event
• Detailed marketing plan with target markets, actions, budget, schedule and key indicators
• Internal sustainable development and responsible purchasing policy, or contract with an external firm to develop it
• Action plan on sustainable development and climate change adaptation, or contract with an external firm to develop it
• Review of the most recent event, if available
• Press review with summary page of media coverage and total impressions by media type and region
• Traffic study meeting MTO methodology, or commitment to conduct one during the current edition
• Financial statements for the last two full years, including event revenues and expenses, or equivalent event-only financial document for municipal and Indigenous entities
• Projected revenues and expenses for the upcoming event
• Confirmations from financial partners, if available
• Board of directors’ (or equivalent) resolution authorizing the signatory and supporting documents
• OQLF compliance certificate or attestation, for organizations in Quebec with 25 or more employees over six months
• Proof of compliance or commitment to comply with Aventure Écotourisme Québec Quality-Safety standards, where applicable
• Indigenous certificate or certification recognizing Indigenous status of the applicant, where applicable

• Applicant must be a tourism business (for-profit, non-profit or cooperative), municipal entity, Indigenous community/nation, Indigenous tourism organization, or a grouping of these clients.
• Organization must be legally incorporated under Quebec or Canadian law and conduct business in Quebec.
• Eligible organizations must have honoured commitments linked to any previous grant awarded under this program.
• Tourist accommodation operators must comply with all applicable laws and regulations and hold a valid registration number.
• Nature and adventure tourism businesses must comply with, or be in the process of complying with, Aventure Écotourisme Québec Quality-Safety Certification standards.

Who is eligible?

• Tourism businesses operating as for-profit organizations.
• Tourism non-profit organizations.
• Tourism cooperatives.
• Municipal entities in Quebec.
• Indigenous communities, nations, and Indigenous tourism organizations or businesses, and groupings of these clients.

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations and departments and agencies of the governments of Quebec and Canada.
• Applicants listed in the Register of Companies Ineligible for Public Contracts.
• Companies that do not comply with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française.

Eligible expenses

• Administrative costs related to the supported edition or specific growth aspect.
• Programming expenses for the festival or event.
• Promotion, marketing and communications costs.
• Site and facility management costs.
• Costs of products intended for resale.
• Travel expenses within public service rates, overhead, salaries and benefits of human resources directly linked to the event.
• Audited in-kind sponsorships of goods and services, up to 50% of total eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Costs of activities not related to holding and organizing the event.
• Capital expenditures for acquiring equipment (depreciation).
• Working capital, debt servicing, operating losses, capital losses and capital redemption.
• Costs for upgrading to standards, asset maintenance and regulatory compliance.
• Recoverable portions of Quebec sales tax, GST and other refundable costs.
• Non-audited donations and in-kind or service contributions.
• Asset transfers and usual maintenance costs.
• Financing costs and remuneration of lobbyists.
• Cost overruns and legal fees.
• Acquisition of motorized transportation equipment not dedicated to the visitor experience.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations legally incorporated under Quebec or Canadian law that do business in Quebec, specifically within the Outaouais tourism territory.

• Alignment of the project with the objectives of PDTO 25-27.
• Structural impact, including attractiveness, project scope, economic benefits, partnerships, job creation and season extension.
• Innovative nature of the event or enhancement of its programming compared to the previous edition.
• Quality of the concept, products and services, and robustness of the financial structure and confirmed external funding.
• Relevance, feasibility, marketing strategy, promoter expertise, and integration of sustainable development and climate change adaptation measures.

• Step 1: Prepare Application Package
  • Complete the PDTO 25-27_Festivals and Events application form in Excel.
  • Gather all required supporting documents listed in the program guide.
• Step 2: Submit Application
  • Email the completed form and all required documents to programmes@tourisme-outaouais.ca.
• Step 3: Request Information (Optional)
  • Contact the Tourism Development Advisor by phone or email for clarification before or after submitting, if needed.

• The financial contribution provided under this program is non-repayable.
• Government assistance from municipal, Quebec, and federal sources is subject to maximum cumulative limits based on applicant type.
• Projects must integrate significant sustainable development and climate change adaptation measures with measurable performance indicators.
• Nature and adventure tourism businesses must demonstrate compliance, or a commitment to comply, with Aventure Écotourisme Québec Quality-Safety standards.