Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization (RTO-11)

✨ Save the Date: OHTO Annual General Meeting ✨ Join us at our OHTO Annual General Meeting as we celebrate local successes and inspire each other to achieve tourism excellence in 2025 and beyond. Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Where: Virtually Registration for the AGM launches on Monday, September 9, 2024. Stay tuned for more details via newsletter or on our website.

📣 Meet the Board: Cindy Jamieson, Whitewater Inn Beachburg Ottawa Valley tourism operator, Cindy Jamieson, is no stranger to tourism. In 2019, after 20 years operating Jamieson Travel, Cindy transitioned to another tourism-focused business when she purchased Whitewater Inn. A year later, she joined the Ontario's Highlands Tourism Organization's (OHTO) board of directors, as Vice Chief Governing Officer. https://lnkd.in/e4GWebvi

We love seeing tourism operators excel in marketing their business in a competitive industry. These folks go above and beyond in their social media efforts, tirelessly promoting both their business and region. Read our list of five businesses who are killing it on Instagram these days and celebrate their success with us 👇 https://lnkd.in/eB9sUBnn

A new partnership is bringing more opportunities to access mental health services in Ontario. Smart Serve Ontario is providing FREE mental health services. This campaign, called "Smart Serve Cares", is delivered in partnership with Not 9 to 5 Org, a non-profit that advocates for the mental health of hospitality workers, and Greenshield, a national non-profit health and benefits company. https://lnkd.in/ecWd5UYe

Destination Canada has launched their new tourism strategy, 'A World of Opportunity', which sets a focus on transforming the sector and catapulting Canada back into the top 7 global destinations by 2030. The new tourism strategy was presented at Rendezvous Canada in Edmonton. This strategy is designed to increase Canada's global competitiveness and bring in up to $160 billion in annual revenue by 2023, transcending the traditional constraints that currently cap the tourism industry's potential at $140 billion. https://lnkd.in/gJCe83bN

June is Pride Month in Ontario and in Ontario's Highlands we are celebrating the business owners and businesses who are going above and beyond to support diverse voices and orientations. Becoming Rainbow Registered is a way for businesses to show their pride for all walks of life. https://lnkd.in/edwPQfWj

On May 8, 2024 Executive Director, Nicole Whiting, had the privilege of presenting to County of Haliburton Council. The purpose of the delegation was to provide Council members with a refresher on how OHTO works with the Economic Development and Tourism Department of the County and lower tier Municipalities as well as the operators in the region to strengthen communities through responsible tourism. More specifically, the presentation shared the current challenges facing the tourism sector and the opportunities to collectively work together to address those challenges. “Our region is the second largest in the province which makes it difficult to visit all of our communities on a regular basis. It was great timing to present an overview of our experience working with the tourism sector as they head into their busy season," Whiting said. "There are a lot of competing priorities for local governments and so I also wanted to reiterate the vital role tourism plays in creating a vibrant sustainable community that cares as much about prosperity as it does about preserving the quality of life that makes this region such a great place, to live, work and visit.” OHTO Board Director, Barrie Martin, was also on hand to support the delegation and participated in a mini-tour of the County alongside Nicole Whiting and Haliburton County Tourism Manager, Angelica Ingram. A recording of the meeting can be found below (jump to 49:48) https://lnkd.in/e_dXrF_C

Did you know that OHTO offers marketing partnership opportunities for tourism operators located within Ontario’s Highlands? Partnering with OHTO allows operators and OHTO to pool resources to generate more buzz about tourism offerings and ultimately bring more success to operators. https://lnkd.in/eTuRxVuZ

OHTO is excited to announce the launch of a new summer marketing campaign, called “Remember When.” The Remember When campaign will capitalize on the sense of nostalgia visitors have when remembering the summers of their youth, those lazy summer days spent at the beach, when summer seemed to last forever, and epic road trips through Ontario’s Highlands. https://lnkd.in/eUmAaB4D

We are stoked that these two Ontario's Highlands businesses were recognized with Ontario by Bike "Best Bicycle Friendly Business Award" 2024 for providing services and welcoming cyclists to their community, Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Ottawa Valley Coffee – Renfrew & Arnprior & Almonte Best Bike Business: Valley Cycle Tours at The Whitewater Inn– Beachburg Thank you both for supporting cycling and cyclists in Ontario's Highlands! https://lnkd.in/e4qBcTrJ