Tourism Incubator
& Accelerator

The UPLIFT Tourism Incubator & Accelerator empowers tourism professionals and entrepreneurs to enhance their services and drive economic growth in rural North Carolina.

This 9-session program provides expert guidance, practical skills, and personalized support to help participants scale and strengthen their tourism operations. By focusing on relevant topics, actionable insights, and tailored workshop activities, the program equips participants with the tools they need to create or enhance their tourism experiences.

Key Features & Takeaways

Participants will gain:

Best practices in organizational management and operations.
Insights to align entrepreneurial mindsets and habits (for both business and non-profit settings).
Skills to establish or scale a tourism operation or activity.
Opportunities to strengthen networks with other tourism organizations.
Comprehensive plans for implementing their tourism vision, including customer profiles, mini-marketing strategies, funding strategies, and risk management plans.
A certification of completion if they meet all of the requirements during the program’s duration.
Opportunities for one-on-one mentoring & support sessions upon the program’s completion.

Program Structure

This 9-session program combines expert-led presentations, interactive group sessions, and personalized mentorship to address the specific needs of participants.

Each cohort is limited to 20 enrollees to ensure personalized attention and meaningful engagement.

When & Where

Weekly online sessions, every Tuesday night from 6-8pm EST.
See detailed schedule below.

Time Commitment:

Approximately 40 hours, including webinars, homework, and one-on-one mentor/support sessions.

Program Prerequisite:

We encourage all participants in the Incubator to also attend the Jumpstarting Your Tourism Experiences (link program page) workshop, held before the Incubator’s first session.

Participant Expectations:

Attend the in-person workshop in January 2024.
Participate in at least 7 of the 9 online sessions.
Complete relevant homework assignments.

Why Join?

By participating in the Tourism Incubator & Accelerator, you will:

Enhance your ability to offer unique and memorable tourism experiences.
Expand your professional network.
Develop actionable strategies to grow your tourism business or site.
Receive expert guidance to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

Hear From Last Year's Members