Ontario Tourism Summit Recap: Resilience, Sustainability and Partnership

The 2025 Ontario Tourism Summit, held by TIAO at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre from October 28-29, brought together leaders, innovators and changemakers from across the province to explore the future of tourism in Ontario.

This year’s theme—Building Your Business. Living Abundantly. Collaboration.—focused on helping tourism stakeholders strengthen operations, build resilience, and unlock shared value across communities.

Over two days of thought provoking discussions, data driven presentations, and inspiring stories, the Summit highlighted the industry’s shared commitment to resilience, sustainability and partnership.

Highlights included:

• Andrew Siegwart, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario President & CEO, shared the key pillars of the new Ontario Tourism Strategy.
• A fireside chat with the Honourable Stan Cho Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming (MTCG) and Andrew Siegwart.
• Vincenza Ronaldi, Destination Ontario President & CEO, delivered a data-driven look at how research and insights are driving action and results across the province.
• Kevin Eshkawkogan, President and CEO Indigenous Tourism Ontario, discussed bringing indigenous tourism to the heart of your sales strategy.

• Melanie Robert (FIFA World Cup 26 | Brand & Marketing) explored the path to the FWC26, the expected economic impact from the tournament, and the potential for domestic and international travellers and community engagement.
• The FIFA World Cup 26 panel discussion—with Andrew Weir (Destination Toronto), Melanie Robert (above), and Suzanne Reeves (Destination Canada)—emphasized how collaboration among tourism and sport partners leverages the FIFA World Cup 2026 experience to last far beyond the event.
• The “Just Be Yourself” session—hosted by Dug Stevenson and Trevor Norris (Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board)—showed examples of how Bay of Quinte’s honest approach to rural destination development is all about being yourself.

Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence

The Summit wrapped up with the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala, celebrating excellence across the province’s tourism industry. Congratulations to all the award winners, including Thrive Tours, led by Amanda and Brad Robinson, who were recognized with the Sustainable Tourism Award and John Wright who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Air Canada.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a spirited Toronto Blue Jays viewing party, closing the summit with a shared sense of collaboration and pride in Ontario.