Kollab in The Kawarthas Brings Tourism Operators Together to Strengthen Collaboration and Grow the Visitor Economy

Peterborough County, ON – During National Tourism Week, Peterborough County’s tourism business community will come together on April 21, 2026, for Kollab in The Kawarthas - a full-day interactive event at Elmhirst’s Resort focused on empowering tourism-based businesses through collaboration, shared learning, and partnership development.

Led by Peterborough County’s Economic Development and Tourism divisions, the event is a direct response to what was heard from local businesses during Tourism Talks sessions held throughout 2025. Operators expressed a strong desire for more opportunities to connect with one another and a need for greater support in creating authentic and marketable experiences.

Kollab has been designed to answer that call. Businesses are encouraged to register early, as space is limited. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or via the Local Advantage with Peterborough County events page: 
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kollab-in-the-kawarthas-tickets-1984643805046 
https://events.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev 

A Day Built for Connection and Action

Kollab in The Kawarthas will bring together accommodations, experience providers, culinary, and retail operators, and tourism partners to build relationships and explore opportunities to work more collaboratively across the region.

The agenda includes keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive activities, with a highlight being a speed networking session - a fast-paced opportunity for operators to connect, discover complementary offerings, and begin developing bookable visitor experiences together.

“Tourism is a key driver of our local economy, and the strength of our visitor experience depends on how well our businesses work together,” said Warden Bonnie Clark. “Kollab in The Kawarthas is about creating the space for those connections to happen. When our operators collaborate, it not only strengthens their businesses, but enhances the entire destination with exciting new experiences to discover.” 

Supporting Tourism Growth

Attendees will be introduced to new tools and approaches designed to support more effective tourism marketing and experience development, helping businesses better connect with visitors and work together to create more cohesive, market-ready experiences.

Participants will also take part in a traveler-focused exercise and be among the first to engage with new visitor engagement tools being introduced across The Kawarthas.

Following the event, operators will have the opportunity to submit co-created itineraries, with selected experiences receiving promotional support through regional marketing channels.

Inspiring Collaboration Across the Region

Kollab will highlight successful partnerships already happening across the region, including:

• Burleigh Falls Inn collaboration with Kawartha Nordic to expand four-season experiences. 
• Integration with the Selwyn Chocolate Creations Festival, demonstrating how niche events can drive regional visitation and cross-promotion.

These examples showcase the potential of collaboration to create more connected, memorable visitor experiences.

Event Details

Date: April 21, 2026 
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Location: Elmhirst’s Resort, Keene  
Audience: Tourism operators, experience providers, accommodators, food and beverage businesses, retailers, and related partners 

About Kollab in The Kawarthas

Kollab in The Kawarthas is an initiative designed to strengthen partnerships within the regional tourism ecosystem, support local tourism businesses, and develop cohesive visitor experiences that encourage longer stays and deeper exploration across the region.

Taking place during National Tourism Week, the event highlights the importance of tourism as a driver of economic development and reinforces Peterborough County’s commitment to supporting a strong, connected, and competitive visitor economy.

For more information, please contact: 

Tracie Bertrand
General Manager, Tourism and Communications
Communications@ptbocounty.ca
705-743-0380 ext. 2507