Destination Ontario

What an incredible two days at the TIAO Tourism Summit in Hamilton! Huge thanks to the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario and Tourism Hamilton for hosting such a well-organized and engaging event. From thought-provoking sessions and a warm welcome reception with Minister of Tourism Culture and Gaming Stan Cho and Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden at Tim Hortons Field, to the Indigenous Tourism Ontario drone show and celebratory awards gala, we had a fantastic experience. Our President and CEO, Vincenza Ronaldi, had the honour of delivering a toast to commemorate Destination Ontario's 25th anniversary and presented a spotlight on the actions we’re taking to follow our 3-year strategic playbook. A special congratulations to our board member, Jasveen Rattan, PhD, who proudly accepted the OTEC - Training Solutions Workforce Innovation and Collaboration Award on behalf of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association and OHI - We Are Hospitality. We had a wonderful time connecting with industry colleagues and sharing our collective passion for tourism in Ontario. We look forward to doing it again in 2025 in Ottawa!

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we’re sharing the voices of our incredible partners.   Steve Weir, Sr. Marketing Manager, RTO 9 | South Eastern Ontario: Over the past 25 years, Destination Ontario has been a pivotal partner in our mission to showcase and promote South Eastern Ontario. Our collaboration has not only amplified the visibility of our region but has also helped to provide a deeper connection with visitors from near and far. Standout projects include marketing campaigns promoting our region to our US neighbours, and the rest of Ontario highlighting outdoor experiences and increasing our visibility to these audiences by 10-fold. This visibility would not have been possible without the unwavering support and innovative marketing strategies and insights of Destination Ontario. Additionally, our partnership with Destination Ontario on content development, video, and still imagery has been instrumental in telling our stories and showcasing South Eastern Ontario at the highest level; this coupled with the continued partnerships in bringing media into our region. We are truly grateful for the opportunities and support provided by Destination Ontario, and we look forward to continuing these partnerships for many more years to come. #DiscoverON25

Spotlight on the Corporate Services Team! Destination Ontario’s Corporate Services team is essential to keeping our organization running smoothly behind the scenes. The team manages a broad spectrum of operational activities and information in the areas of strategic and operational planning, financial management, accounts payable, human resources, procurement, facilities and asset management, and general administration services. The team develops and recommends best business practices in support of controllership, governance and accountability initiatives, and ensures Destination Ontario's operations are efficient and compliant with Ontario Public Service policies and procedures. In addition to handling the day-to-day operations, the Corporate Services team collaborates with all departments to streamline processes, foster accountability, and contribute to the overall success of Destination Ontario. #DiscoverON25

Our broadcast program recently partnered with Tourism Sault Ste. Marie and Destination Northern Ontario to highlight the breathtaking fall season in northern Ontario.   This collaboration resulted in another captivating Local Escapes segment with Liem Vu, rounding out our 5-segment series partnership with Global News Morning Toronto. The series has been a fantastic platform to showcase Ontario's diverse and stunning destinations, all while encouraging local travel!   We’re proud to work with such amazing partners to share Ontario’s beauty with travellers. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories to come!   View the segment here: https://lnkd.in/gfq63BXS

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we’re sharing the voices of our incredible partners. Vladimir Jean Gilles, Manager, Travel Media Relations, Ottawa Tourism: Partnering up on projects with Destination Ontario has always been a wonderful experience for me. They present us with great opportunities and ideas, and they are always happy to offer us their full support to help us execute them. They also make us feel like we are part of an even bigger team by showing us that we all share a common goal. Finally, Destination Ontario has always shown great interest in what Ottawa has to offer. They often check in with our destination to see if they can help with any upcoming excitements taking place in Ottawa. Thank you for making us feel valued and supported. #DiscoverON25

Our Media Relations team is constantly working to highlight Ontario as a top destination. Through a collaboration between Destination Ontario, Destination Canada, and Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa and the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier were recently featured on the TODAY Show.  The segment, hosted by travel expert Mark Ellwood, showcased Ottawa as the perfect fall getaway, emphasizing its beautiful autumn foliage, historic landmarks, and exciting seasonal events. With a reach of over 5 million viewers, TODAY provided incredible exposure for Ottawa, positioning it as a must-visit destination for fall travel. Special thanks to Ottawa Tourism and Destination Canada for their successful pitch and to our partners for working together to make this happen! View the segment here:  https://lnkd.in/gSqmZH6X

In celebration of Destination Ontario's 25th anniversary, our Chair of the Board of Directors, Todd Halpern, shares his thoughts on behalf of the board:   Destination Ontario's 25th anniversary is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovative spirit. As members of the Board of Directors, we're honoured to work alongside the dedicated team at Destination Ontario and our valued partners, stakeholders, and industry leaders.   Together, we've achieved remarkable success in positioning Ontario as a premier travel destination, driving economic growth and job creation. We're proud of the progress made and grateful for the trust and expertise shared by our partners.   As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, past and present, for their commitment to showcasing Ontario's diverse beauty, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality.   We look forward to continuing our collective efforts, inspiring travelers from around the world to explore and discover Ontario's incredible experiences and destinations.   #DiscoverON25 

Ottawa Tourism and Destination Ontario welcomed Karyn Locke, renowned travel journalist and creative mind behind the travel and lifestyle platform, Sand and Snow this past summer. 🏙️✨ During her visit, Karyn joined CBS News to share her travel experiences and rave about Ottawa — she even mentioned the possibility of moving here because the city is just that incredible. 😉 Watch the CBS segment to hear her top picks for family travelers, solo explorers, and everyone in between. 👉 https://cbsn.ws/3Bazqj3 #MyOttawa

We’re excited to announce that Destination Ontario has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, making us the first provincial marketing organization to formally pledge a commitment to improving sustainability performance by 2030. We have committed to: ·      Promoting sustainable travel: Encourage and showcase sustainable travel options, experiences and certified operators within Ontario, helping travellers make eco-friendly choices.   ·      Reducing environmental impact: Focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness as part of our internal organizational thinking and framework by reducing waste and encouraging digital sharing as an alternative to printing.   ·      Becoming leaders in sustainable tourism: Empower the tourism industry with resources to enhance sustainable tourism practices, while encouraging tourism partners and operators to take the Sustainable Tourism 2030 pledge and pursue GreenStep certification as a Sustainable Tourism destination or business.   ·      Achieving organizational sustainability certification: Pursue organizational certification with Canadian-based provider GreenStep Sustainable Tourism, that will verify our current sustainability performance against globally-recognized standards. Learn more about our pledge here: https://lnkd.in/grKf3fqN We invite our industry partners to join us on this important journey. Together, we can make Ontario a leader in sustainable tourism. Sign the pledge: https://lnkd.in/gVC7cgh GreenStep Solutions | #sustainabletourism #sustainability

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we’re sharing the voices of our incredible partners.   David MacLachlan, Executive Director, Destination Northern Ontario: Tourism is a key economic industry for Northern Ontario and our relationship with Destination Ontario is pivotal to the success of our tourism sector. Through several joint marketing strategies, many partnered initiatives, and continued collaboration, we look to Destination Ontario for leadership, vision, and partnership as together we leverage the Ontario brand to grow tourism across the province. Thank you for all the guidance, support, and friendship over 25 years! #DiscoverON25