About RCO Tourism
Who We Are
Founded in 2016, RCO Tourism is a northern-based consulting company that provides a wide range of business development and marketing support services to the local tourism industry. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, most of which has been in Canada’s North, RCO has developed a reputation of being the tourism go-to guy, and is well known and respected within the industry.
During his time as Marketing Director for NWT Tourism and as the Northern Coordinator for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) RCO has gained an intimate knowledge of the local, domestic and international tourism markets and has developed the tools for local tourism businesses to set themselves up for success.
RCO Tourism is well versed in the various programs that are available to help clients leverage their investments. As a private business owner, RCO knows the challenges of operating a business within a northern environment and is keen to help local tourism businesses to access the resources that are in place to help them achieve their goals.
Our Values
RCO is passionate about the tourism industry. RCO believes a strong, vibrant tourism industry is a vital part of the northern economy and plays a key role in the quality of life and overall well-being for the residents of Canada's North. Therefore, we are committed to helping the industry succeed, one tourism business or community at a time.
At RCO Tourism the work we do with local tourism operators and communities is grounded on a number of key values. First and foremost is Respect. At RCO we know that starting any new business venture, particularly a tourism based business is no easy task and there is no shame in asking for help. Regardless of the level of assistance you need, whether this is setting up a business account, applying for business licensing, or writing your business plan, we are ready to roll up our sleeves, and help you achieve your goals.
At RCO we pride ourselves on being Resourceful. We know that there are a lot of costs associated with running a private business, and it is important to work efficiently to keep costs down. Having worked in the tourism industry for over 20 years, we are well versed in the various funding opportunities that are available, we can provide key insights into target markets and provide strategic advice that will help you to leverage your investments. We know every dollar counts, so we will do our best to work with the budgets you have to help you achieve results.
RCO is fully Committed to the work we do for our clients. Whether we are setting up your financial systems, managing your social media calendar or developing your marketing plan, we ensure all materials are thorough, well organized, professionally designed and reflect your brand identity. Your success is our success. We are committed to helping you succeed.
At RCO we bring our Creative ideas to the table to help you set up your business in a way that makes you unique and stand out from the competition. With our intimate knowledge of the tourism marketplace, we can work with you to explore creative ideas that will attract visitors to your place of business.
At RCO we believe the tourism sector is full of Opportunities and that by working together the industry will thrive. Through our many connections in industry, we will help you to grow partnerships with other businesses to help diversify and strengthen your business, with a focus on long-term sustainability.
And finally, the dealings we have with the businesses we work with are based on Open and honest communication. If we feel it would be more beneficial for you to work with another agency, we will happily point you in the right direction. At RCO Tourism it is important that our clients share our values and that we are committed to working together.
SMALL IN SCALE - BIG ON DELIVERY
As RCO Tourism is a small company, we can offer personal service that is tailored to the needs of the clients we work with. Although we are a small company, clients of RCO have access to high-level strategic thinking, sound financial services and the best creative and website development services across Canada’s North.
Meet Ron
Managing Your Business Needs
Ron C Ostrom - Is the owner and manager of the company. He oversees all aspects of the company and provides personalized, friendly service. He is committed to the growth and success of the tourism industry. Through his many years of working in the industry, RCO has built a reputation of a tourism marketing and experience development expert with Canada’s North and in the overseas markets the Northern Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are active in.
From a business standpoint RCO has participated in trade shows and sales calls in a number of international marketplaces that are key for Canada’s North including the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Australia. Through these activities, RCO has gained valuable insights into these markets and has built an extensive network of sales contacts.
In terms of personal travel, RCO has had the privilege to travel to many exotic destinations including Jamaica, the Mayan Riviera, Costa Rica, Venice, Portugal, Spain and Morocco. RCO has viewed these experiences through the lens of a tourism professional, taking note of how experiences were developed and delivered and to share these key learnings with the tourism operators he works with.
RCO firmly believes that while owning a tourism business requires a lot of work, it should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience that enriches the quality of life of the business owner. At RCO Tourism we try to help you find that special balance as you work through the business development process.
Career Highlights
Education
Bachelor of Tourism Management from Malaspina University-College (now known as Vancouver Island University)
Work Experience
Marketing Director for NWT Tourism 2006 - 2016
Northern Coordinator Indigneous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) 2017 - 2020
Tourism Strategist - Outcrop (Part Time) 2017- Present
Career Highlights
Spearheaded the development and execution of NWT Tourism’s annual marketing plan
Established professional working relationships with key travel trade and media accounts in all domestic and international markets
Developed a comprehensive system of recording, tracking and managing NWT Tourism’s annual $3.2 million marketing budget
Acquired an additional $5 million for NWT Tourism through successful federal and territorial government funding applications
Successfully coordinated and delivered a variety of tourism training workshops
Took a leading role in the development of the 10-year strategic plan for the Yukon First Nation Culture and Tourism Association (YFNCT)
Developed a number of business and marketing plans for privately owned tourism businesses
Took a leading role in the development of COVID-19 tourism recovery strategies for the Government of Nunavut, NWT Tourism and Travel Nunavut.
In his spare time, Ron enjoys going on long walks. Spending time in nature with the breathtaking scenery of Canada’s North is the perfect way to recharge his battery and is the inspiration behind his many creative ideas.
Financial Services
RCO Tourism has enlisted the services of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) to ensure the financial services offered by RCO Tourism are of utmost quality and meet industry standards. The CPA will oversee the work done to set up financial systems and ensure they meet all reporting requirements for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and for the various funders who are supporting your tourism project.
RCO Tourism can also work directly with the CRA to provide other financial services such as filing your payroll and GST remittances, and assisting in any review processes undertaken by the CRA for your organization. Annual income tax filing will be referred to a local tax accountant and RCO Tourism can assist in those processes.
Creative Design and Website Development
RCO Tourism is excited to announce we have formed a strategic partnership with Outcrop Communications. Clients of RCO Tourism will have access an extremely talented team of graphic designers and website developers for a variety of services including:
professional design of all strategic documents, marketing plans and business plans
brand development including logo design and brand identity standards
advertising creative
website development, hosting and maintenance
WHO WE WORK WITH
Whether you're just starting out or you have been running a successful business for many years, we all need a little help from time to time. At RCO we have the experience and knowledge to help a wide variety of clients. Here is a sample of some of the clients we work with.
New Tourism Businesses
Starting a new tourism business can be daunting. RCO Tourism can help you get your business licenses in place, set up your financial systems and plan and coordinate your marketing activities. We can also help you explore the funding opportunities that are available through federal and territorial programs that can help to support your financial needs. In the era of COVID-19 we can also work with you to develop plans that meet territorial health and safety regulations and are in line with the tourism recovery plan of your region. There are many key strategies to consider as you develop a successful tourism business. We are here to help. Contact us for more information.
Established Tourism Businesses
If you are ready to expand or diversify your business and are looking for ideas on how to accomplish this we can help. We can provide you with key insights into geographic markets, emerging tourism trends and help you explore ways to set yourself apart from your competition. With the help of our CPA we can work with you to analyze your current business model and to look at ways of maximizing your return on investment and focus on the long-term sustainability of your business.
Community and Economic Development Agencies
People responsible for economic development and tourism in their communities or regions are extremely busy. We can help you to make tourism businesses in your community/region a success. From providing strategic advice, helping businesses get set up with all licensing and financial requirements, to assisting with reports of the government funding they have received. We also offer a variety of product development and marketing workshops for small and medium-sized groups. Please contact us for more information.