Festivals and Events Ontario (2013)

Festival & Events Ontario (“FEO”) engaged HLT to conduct an organizational strategic planning process focusing FEO on strategies and tactics to support the growth of the festival industry in all corners of the province. The assignment was undertaken for the FEO Board and working in consultation with FEO staff and member events across the Province.

Key elements of this project included research, broad stakeholder consultation and the development of specific strategies to influence the growth of the festival industry. Of particular importance was the role of events in non-urban markets across the province, given the importance of animation in driving tourist visitation.

The key principle at work with respect to the festival study centred around the industry’s reliance on modest operating budgets and volunteer workforces to try to accomplish stated goals. As a result, recommendations would need to be framed around executing ‘smarter’ as opposed to spending “larger.”

The strategy was submitted to and accepted by the Board. FEO has subsequently contracted HLT to conduct a governance review of the organization as well as completing various supporting assignments.