Call for solutions – Artificial Intelligence

Call for Artificial Intelligence solutions launched!

The Quebec Working Group on Artificial Intelligence in Tourism (Task Force) is looking for solutions that will demonstrate the potential of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism industry. As such, this call à solutions aims to support the implementation of AI solutions in the Quebec tourism industry, with funding ranging from $25,000 to $200,000.

For full details, download the Applicant’s Guide.

Dates to remember

Phase 1:

  • April 22, 2024 – Application deadline
  • May 1, 2024 Virtual information session
  • June 21, 2024 at 9 a.m. – Deadline for project applications
  • July 2024 – Announcement of winners
  • September 2024- Start of solution implementation in the tourism business
  • March 2025- End of solution implementation in the tourism business

Phase 2 will not take place as the budget has been exhausted. Another call for solutions will be launched shortly!

Who is it for?

An innovative company offering an AI solution with a tourist location willing to take on the pilot project.

A company with an AI solution but no tourist venue yet. Simply mention it when registering to be matched with a tourism organization with a compatible need.

Applicants must implement their solution in a Quebec-based tourism company or organization.

  • A Québec tourism business is a Quebec-registered organization operating in one of the 5 sectors of the tourism industry: food and beverage, leisure and entertainment, accommodation, passenger transportation and travel services (source: CQRHT, 2023).
  • A tourism organization is a legally constituted company offering services to a clientele of tourists or excursionists (Office québécois de la langue française, 2023).

If several tourism companies/organizations face the same challenge, the innovative company can submit a project that would be implemented in these different tourism companies/organizations .

What types of solutions can be deposited?

The call for solutions aims to propel the transformation of the tourism industry by sparking innovation.

Proposed solutions must be geared towards one of the three priorities identified by the Working Group, i.e. :

  • Tourism marketing, which includes the promotion and marketing of tourist destinations, attractions, services and tourism-related experiences aimed at stimulating the flow of visitors to a given destination.
  • Tourist reception, including tourist orientation, personalized assistance, facilitation of procedures, atmosphere, complaint management and customer experience
  • Internal management, including human resources issues, optimization of processes and decisions, and automation of activities

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants must implement their IA solution in a company or organization operating in the Quebec tourism industry;
  • The applicant must have been in operation for more than one year;
  • The applicant must have a Quebec registration number (NEQ);
  • The same company may not receive financial support from the Tourism Innovation Program more than once in the same year.
    The programs offering financial support for Year 4 are: Upcoming calls for solutions, the Project Financing Program and the Growth Program – Cohort 4.
    Winners will be eligible to apply again in a subsequent year for a different component of one of the financial support programs, if the project varies substantially from what was previously supported, or if the company demonstrates that it has reached a new phase in its life cycle.¹.

  • A supplier and a recipient of funding from the Tourism Innovations Program cannot be winners for more than 2 consecutive years.

  • Also, a supplier and a beneficiary of a call for challenges or a call for solutions cannot be a winner for a 2nd consecutive year.

  • It must be possible to complete the project in its entirety within the stated parameters before March 31, 2025;
  • The application guidelines, including those relating to the documents to be attached to the form, must be followed.
¹ Excellence Grants, HR Grants, Incubatees Grants, Call for Solutions, Call for Challenges, Growth Program, Project Financing Program, Camp Découverte.

Pilot project sites are excluded:

SOLUTION SELECTION CRITERIA

  1. The answer to one of the Working Group’s priorities;
  2. The answer to one of the Ministry of Tourism’s objectives;
  3. The realistic potential of a tourism business;
  4. The innovative nature of the proposed artificial intelligence technology;
  5. Potential spin-offs for the business sector or the region;
  6. The potential to increase the company’s/organization’s productivity;
  7. Consideration of the principles of responsible and sustainable tourism;
    – Reduce the environmental footprint of tourism activity;
    – Support the transition to a circular economy;
    – Encourage sustainable means of transport;
    – Develop nature and adventure tourism with an ecotourism approach;
    – Promote tourism that benefits individuals and respects communities;
    – Support businesses in adapting and innovating with regard to climate change.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROJECT

To submit a project, the applicant must :

Complete the applicant form and jo attach the following documents:

1. Presentation document (maximum 8 pages – template to download and complete):

Section 1: Company management

  • Introducing your innovative company and resources assigned to the project. (1 page maximum)
  • Presentation of delivery capacity by demonstrating your ability to produce and deliver the solution presented from the point of view of your current resources and recruitment requirements, if applicable (maximum 1 page).

Section 2: The technology behind the solution

  • Presentation of your artificial intelligence solution specifying the Working Group priority it addresses and the identified need in the tourism industry (2 pages maximum).
  • Presentation of the type of tourism organization that might be interested in your solution and document examples of applications already implemented or in progress, across all sectors. (3 pages maximum)

Section 3: Pilot project feasibility

  • Presentation of an implementation quote including a budget estimate for implementing the solution (1 page maximum)
  • Project schedule with identified milestones (1 page maximum)
  • Projected human and material resource requirements for the tourism business (1 page maximum)

  • Expected results with key performance indicators and potential spin-offs for the business sector or the region. (½ to 1 page)

2. Letter of support from the tourism company hosting the pilot project, including contact information (if you have a pilot project)

3. A declaration of non-conflict of interest with the selected supplier (if applicable), members of the MT Lab team and members of the MT Lab Board of Directors (1 page – template to download and complete).

Do you have any questions?

Consult the Applicant’s Guide

View the May 1, 2024 information session

For further information, please contact Emilie Gaudette, Program Manager, at emilie@mtlab.ca.

This program is part of the Tourism Innovation Program managed by MT Lab and set up with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism.