PEI Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival 2023
Client:
Food Island Partnership
Dates of Resonate XM Engagement:
March 2023
Resonate Rockstars:
Kim Doyle, Jillian O’Halloran, Adam MacLennan, Adam Ramsay, Alyssa Wooldridge, Jessie Duffy
Resonate XM Network:
Lake Design
Food Island Partnership (FIP) is an industry-led non-profit organization tasked with growing the food industry on Prince Edward Island through company and cluster development, as well as culinary tourism initiatives. As one element of its culinary tourism development, Food Island Partnership has funded the Island’s premiere food festival, the PEI Fall Flavours Festival, since its inception in 2008.
The Challenge
In 2023, FIP identified an opportunity to evolve the festival offering to meet the needs of today’s culinary tourists and the Island’s food and tourism operators. One of the goals of this new iteration of the festival was to engage more private sector and industry participants as event organizers. FIP contracted Resonate XM Inc. to develop an Expression of Interest (EOI) program and solicit event applications from across Prince Edward Island. Ideally, the EOI would attract several high-quality applications for unique events showcasing the Island’s food and drink scene.
The Resonate XM Solution
Resonate XM reviewed research from past Fall Flavours events, stakeholders’ engagement synopsis, and the endorsed strategy for the future. Aligning with the objectives identified by FIP and other key funders, Resonate XM developed the PEI Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival EOI criteria, application and review guidelines.
Resonate XM developed a communications plan for the EOI, hosted information sessions, and went on the road to connect with potential partners in each of the Island’s tourism regions.
As a result of these efforts, more than 47 applications were received through the EOI process. FIP then formed a review committee comprised of key government and industry stakeholders The review committee selected the applications that would provide the best ROI for the tourism industry in the short and longer term.
As a next step in its larger contract with FIP, Resonate XM then developed the festival strategy for 2023, outlining gaps and opportunities identified through the EOI process
The Resonate 'X' Factor'
The Resonate XM team provided its expertise and guidance to FIP and EOI applicants throughout the process. Here are a few of the ways we made this project resonate:
- assisted applicants with accurate forecasting of costs and determining eligibility
- supported applicants through the process
- supported the review committee with context from one-on-one meetings with applicants
- coordinated common infrastructure: tents, rentals, bars, hand-washing stations, mobile kitchens, portalets, etc.
- coordinated creative direction and deliverables with Lake Design, the agency hired by FIP to carry out the marketing activities for the Festival