COURTICE -- Clarington officials are hoping local businesses will be motivated to join a tourism-marketing organization after some inspiration from an expert.

Business owners gathered at Darlington Nuclear Information Centre on Wednesday morning to hear marketing whiz Rebecca LeHeup-Bucknell talk about how to create tourism experiences.

"I am not about re-creating the wheel," said Ms. LeHeup-Bucknell, former executive director of Taste the County. "I am about taking the wheel and learning how to spin it so it works for you."

Taste the County is Prince Edward County's Destination Marketing Organization which was established in 1999. Ms. LeHeup-Bucknell helped set up a number of events while she was the head of the organization that helped attract many visitors to the county, just east of Northumberland County.

Businesses in Prince Edward County can join the alliance for a set fee and are then are eligible to participate in joint marketing campaigns.

The return on investment for memberships are high, Ms. LeHeup Bucknell said. Prince Edward County saw its off-peak season tourism rise by 300 per cent from 1999 to 2005.

The Municipality has tried for years to start a tourism association, but for one reason or another it has never worked out said Clarington spokeswoman Jennifer Stycuk.

The afternoon was spent trying to iron out details of how such an association would work. The local version of the group is going to be called Clarington Marketing Minds.

Membership is $100 per business and includes recognition and a link on the municipal tourism website, discounts on tourism workshops, participation in a signature event that will take place next fall and options to buy into marketing campaigns.

"The ad opportunities alone are things smaller business owners wouldn't be able to do on their own," Ms. Stycuk said.

The day of Ms. LeHeup-Bucknell's presentation 10 businesses signed up to be part of the organization. All business owners are eligible to join because every business is part of tourism, Ms. Stycuk said.

For more information on how to join you can call 905-623-3379 ext. 409 or e-mail jstycuk@clarington.net.