HSMAI Ontario Gala spotlights leaders shaping Toronto’s tourism and hospitality sector

Toronto’s hospitality community gathered at the Fairmont Royal York on April 29 for the second annual HSMAI Ontario Hospitality Tribute Gala, an event that is quickly gaining traction as a key industry touchpoint for recognizing leadership and strengthening connections across the province’s visitor economy.

The sold-out evening drew professionals from the hotel industry, from tourism organizations and from the meetings and events sector.

Among the night’s top honours, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Kostuch Media, received the Industry Icon Achievement Award. A long-time advocate for Canada’s hospitality sector, Caira has helped shape national industry dialogue while creating platforms that recognize excellence and support emerging talent.

The importance of the meetings and conventions sector to Toronto’s tourism economy was underscored with the Commercial Impact Award presented to Ron Pellerine, chief operating officer of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. His leadership reflects the ongoing role of large-scale events in driving visitation, hotel demand, and broader economic impact for the destination.

Destination leadership was also a focus, with Tara Gordon, senior vice president at Destination Toronto, receiving the Industry Partner Award. The recognition highlights the growing importance of collaboration between destination marketing organizations and industry stakeholders as Toronto strengthens its global positioning.

At the property level, Zorica Drapic, general manager of Revery Toronto Downtown, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, was honoured for operational leadership and team development. Her recognition reflects the continued emphasis on strong on-the-ground management as hotels adapt to shifting guest expectations and competitive pressures.

The next generation of industry talent was also in the spotlight.

Jeremy Castelo of The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto was named Rising Star, reinforcing the sector’s focus on nurturing future leaders at a time when recruitment and retention remain key priorities.

The event comes during a period of growth for HSMAI Ontario, which has expanded its year-round programming and recently earned multiple global chapter awards. The organization continues to play an important role in supporting professionals in sales, marketing, and revenue management through education, networking, and industry collaboration.

For Toronto and the broader Ontario market, the strong turnout and engagement at this year’s gala point to an industry that is not only recovering, but evolving. As competition intensifies and traveller expectations shift, alignment across hotels, destinations, and partners will remain critical to sustaining growth.