Cochrane Tourism has partnered with Travel Alberta for a pilot project that took place at Stockmen's Memorial Foundation on Monday (Oct. 21).
The "Experience Essentials" is a workshop dedicated to enhancing the tourism business community.
"We do about two to four workshops a year to help support and develop the tourism industry here in Cochrane," said Jo-Anne Oucharek, executive director at Cochrane Tourism.
Oucharek hosts these workshops to allow businesses to take the activities they possess, and transform them into memorable experiences. She adds many travellers are interested in creating a memory rather than a moment. If there is a way to build your business around that objective it will then boost Cochrane's economy by getting more travellers to stop in.
"That's kind of the way the travel trade is going right now, people are wanting to be immersed in something and learn something and that is who Cochrane identifies as their traveller type - the cultural explorer - somebody who wants to learn and have a very unique experience wherever they are travelling."
The first Cochrane "Experience Essentials" workshop welcomed businesses within the community as well as some from Calgary. Oucharek says this is helping businesses understand how to take what they already have and create a package that will add to their success.
To host the workshop here in Cochrane you need to work with Travel Alberta and develop an experience which will be launched at the full day workshop. The first organization up was Stockmen's Memorial Foundation. Having an immense background in Western heritage they created an experience that encompasses all of what they are.
"We've worked with Stockmen's to create a hands-on experience that ties in with their mandate of focusing on the history of the ranching community. They are the keepers of the brands from all over Alberta, it ties in with the culture of branding and what it really means," said Oucharek.
The workshop was in its pilot stage on Monday. Participants experienced how to pick and read a section of land. They also learned about the history of branding and how to properly read a brand. Afterwards they were able to create their own brand selection which was then branded on a piece of wood and taken home as part of their "Experience Essentials" package. Stockmen's Memorial and Cochrane Tourism will receive feedback as to what worked in the workshop, what didn't work, and what they could do to improve the event.
The hope is that the constructive criticism will allow room for growth and the "Experience Essentials" workshop will eventually become a new structure at Stockmen's Memorial Foundation. This among other businesses in Cochrane who believe they can offer a memorable experience over a "thing to do".
