RTO9 awards an additional $60,000 to local tourism businesses in the region

Kingston, ON – (November 16, 2020) – The Regional Tourism Organization for South Eastern Ontario (RTO 9) is pleased to announce they have awarded over $60,000 in Partnership Funds to support projects across the region during the 2020/2021 fiscal year as a result of the second intake of applications.

The following is a list of successful recipients and project descriptions:

Cornwall Tourism and SDG Tourism 

This off-season Destination Product Marketing project will be a collaborative effort by Cornwall Tourism and SDG Tourism to market and promote unique and enriching experiences in the region focusing on promotion of outdoor winter adventures, food, drink and culture, fat-biking and cycling as well as the Heritage Parkway.

Corporation of the County of Prince Edward

This project is a collaborative itinerary between Prince Edward County and the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board highlighting assets and experiences related to foodies; wellness; outdoors/adventure; and ‘travel the world without leaving the region.’ 

TIAP (1000 Islands Accommodation Partners)

This project will focus on events in the community such as Christmas Activities with a Festival of Lights and Valentine’s Day getaways in partnership with accommodation partners and spas. An awareness campaign will run for the entire winter choosing business, attractions and events that are produced by the municipality, volunteers and service clubs to feature along with image based advertisements that speak to our attributes during the COVID pandemic. This project is a joint project with the Rideau Canal.

Tourism Kingston

The Frontenac Farm to Kingston Table project leverages existing assets, itineraries, and experiences to explore the interconnected culinary relationship between the two neighbouring regions raising awareness about the culinary offerings of the Frontenac-Kingston region, driving referrals to farm, retail, and restaurant operators as well as promoting safe travel within the region, including itineraries and stay packages.

Corporation of the City of Belleville

The Winter in Belleville campaign features three themed itineraries: 1) Choose Local First – Enchanted Downtown Getaway: Experience the magic of the Downtown District during ‘Enchanted’ this winter – a walkable itinerary that safely brings together the best of the holiday season including destination retailers, festival of lights, rickshaw rides and dine-in or curbside pickup festive feast menus. 2) Winter Escape – this itinerary is all about experiencing Belleville’s winter vibes in your social bubble. Belleville’s winter themed experiences include a brew tour, day of wellness and night of entertainment with the Belleville Senators. 3) Enjoy the Cold: Featuring curb-side pick-up options and outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the winter season that are Covid-19 friendly for your family.

Huff Estates Winery & Inn

This project – At Home in The County – is designed to offer would-be travelers staying close to home due to the pandemic, an opportunity to enjoy an interesting and enjoyable array of experiences – many with a unique Prince Edward County flavour – close to home. The project will deliver a varying array of experiences as the months and seasons roll by. There are opportunities to experience, in depth, the history and culture, as well as the culinary and artistic attractions of a community rich in hospitality, cookery classes, art show and sale, afternoon teas, Maple in The County, Sandbanks walks, painting & photography classes to name a few.

1000 Islands Playhouse

The A Wonderful Life in Gananoque project will feature an ongoing burgeoning light display, many visits from the ‘real’ Father Christmas, the ability to sit by a warm fire in a Muskoka Chair and enjoy a horse and buggy ride through the town. Carolers will fill the winter skies with merriment. There will also be tree selling on the historical footbridge and a light display in Confederation Park put on by the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber.

The Waring House Rest. & Inn/The County Museums (Wallis Inc. Escape Camp Picton)

Working together, Escape Camp Picton, the Museums and The Waring House will offer an exciting, educational, and engaging 2-day itinerary for families in the winter season (February/March). Exploring an escape room, engaging with specialty museum programming and staying/dining in an historic inn is a perfect opportunity for homeschoolers, online schoolers, and families, in general, to engage with history in a hands-on way. The partners are working on packaging these existing activities and developing new experiences to be hosted at The Waring House (i.e. family paint night of historic art, wartime cooking class). The itinerary will be promoted to overnight “staycationers”.

For the past 7 years, the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries has provided RTO 9 with Partnership Funding that is used to leverage a variety of projects that support the growth of tourism within the region. Projects vary in scope from events to marketing initiatives to product development and training. “I look forward to working with our tourism partners to see these great projects succeed,”  said Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director, RTO 9.

For more information about RTO 9, visit tourismtalk.ca 

About RTO 9

RTO 9 is a regional tourism organization established in 2010 that is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries. RTO 9 actively promotes tourism for the South Eastern Ontario region and works to support and grow the tourism industry through marketing, product development, investment attraction, and workforce development initiatives. The regions of South Eastern Ontario are 1000 Islands Gananoque, Bay of Quinte, Brockville, Cornwall and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Counties, Frontenac County, Kingston, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward County, and the Rideau Canal.

Media Contact

To arrange an interview with Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director of Region 9 (South Eastern Ontario) Regional Tourism Organization, or arrange high-res images please contact: 

Erin O’Driscoll
Account Specialist
Beattie Tartan
Direct: 647-232-6924  

Nicole Amiel
Director – Eastern Canada
Beattie Tartan
Direct: 416-436-5185 / M: 514-983-3959

South Eastern Ontario region features dozens of restaurants on program’s road map as part of COVID-19 Tourism Rebuilding Strategy

Kingston, ON – (November 5, 2020) – With strict restrictions in place for Ontario’s dining scene due to COVID-19, it’s now more important than ever to find ways to support the industry and rebuild a culture that drives so many visitors from across the world to South Eastern Ontario’s vast array of culinary tastes. That’s why the regional tourism organization RTO 9, on behalf of its members, has partnered with Ontario’s Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) to showcase the diverse palate of South Eastern Ontario’s many restaurants and bars. The region is participating in CTA’s Great Taste of Ontario Road Trip program, as part of its COVID-19 Tourism Rebuilding Strategy.

The Great Taste Road Trip is a field guide to the best food and drink in Ontario, and works with communities to grow food tourism by leveraging the history, heritage and culture behind the food and drink that makes each destination unique. The program, aimed to showcase everything Ontario culinary has to offer, allows visitors to download virtual passports to visit participating Ontario dining establishments, check-in at local businesses, and earn rewards to redeem or donate Ontario-made prizes. Over 80 passports are available and CTA offers stories and road trip guides to help plan and inspire a safe visit. As this program grows, it’s looking for more ways to support restaurants serving locally sourced ingredients. Soon, visitors will also be able to redeem check-ins for gift certificates to Feast On Certified restaurants.

“We are so proud to be supporting this amazing initiative from the Culinary Tourism Alliance. Our industry has been one of the most affected by the pandemic and it’s vital we find new and safe ways to support Ontario culinary,” said Bonnie Ruddock, executive director of Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization. “It’s imperative to remember that when supporting these local businesses, we are not only keeping the dining establishments operating, but the entire food chain that relies on dine-in and takeout. The local flavours special to each county are grown and harvested within our communities. When you dine-in or take-out, you aren’t just supporting our restaurants, you’re supporting our farmers and growers that are paramount to the success of the industry.”

Eastern Ontario’s dining scene offers a little bit of everything for the food-focused explorer. From Kingston’s diverse dining scene to winery hopping in ‘The County’, Ontario’s “East End” has endless opportunities to indulge. There are a variety of restaurants from the region of South Eastern Ontario participating. Local gems from Cornwall, SDG, the Rideau Canal region, Lennox & Addington, Kingston, Frontenac, Belleville, and Prince Edward County are all featured. RTO 9 trusts that participation in the program will support and highlight restaurants across the region who are not only in need of extra help during these unprecedented times but are also pillars of the communities that deserve the spotlight so that people near and far know about the incredible culinary heritage of the region. The program, which is running all across Ontario, is a great way for people to get inspired and help plan out the culinary element of their next adventure.

“Because Kingston is home to a large number of amazing restaurants, our city has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Megan Knott, executive director of Tourism Kingston. “Kingston as a destination has earned the Safe Travel Stamp, awarded by the World Travel & Tourism Association and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario in recognition of the city’s adoption of global standardized protocols for health and hygiene. Indoor dining is open – and safe – in Kingston. I encourage residents and visitors alike to support our restaurants, whether that’s dining in-person or bringing home some delicious takeout.”

Restaurants across the region are offering indoor, outdoor, and take-home safe dining options that can address all comfort levels. The growers and makers in this program are meeting all Safe Travels Standards and are a great option when considering where to plan a night out (or in).

The CTA and the Great Taste Road Trip participants are very conscious of the current situation that residents and businesses in the region are facing in light of COVID-19 and want to remind visitors and locals that the guides provided should be for inspiration and future planning only if public health units have imposed restrictions on travel or dining. If now isn’t the ideal time to visit in person, consider supporting Ontario businesses by ordering delivery, takeout or gift certificates for future experiences.

For more information about dining in South Eastern Ontario, visit southeasternontario.ca. 

About RTO 9

RTO 9 is a regional tourism organization established in 2010 that is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries. RTO 9 actively promotes tourism for the South Eastern Ontario region and works to support and grow the tourism industry through marketing, product development, investment attraction, and workforce development initiatives. The regions of South Eastern Ontario are 1000 Islands Gananoque, Bay of Quinte, Brockville, Cornwall and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Counties, Frontenac County, Kingston, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward County, and the Rideau Canal.

Media Contact

To arrange an interview with Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director of Region 9 (South Eastern Ontario) Regional Tourism Organization, or arrange high-res images please contact: 

Erin O’Driscoll
Account Specialist
Beattie Tartan
Direct: 647-232-6924  

Nicole Amiel
Director – Eastern Canada
Beattie Tartan
Direct: 416-436-5185 / M: 514-983-3959

Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site Website Awarded

Regional Tourism Organization 9 (RTO9) is thrilled to announce, in collaboration with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, The Town of Smiths Falls, Parks Canada and 2 other Ontario Regional Tourism Organizations 10 and 11, a partnership to build, launch and promote a new Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site website. “We are so pleased to be leading this effort to collectively showcase the entire Rideau Canal corridor while highlighting Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site”, says Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director of RTO9. “The Rideau Canal is a true tourism generator that has world-class potential as a unique experiential travel destination. This visitor-focused, responsive and user-friendly website will help promote Eastern Ontario tourism attractions and businesses, along with its towns and villages and allow tourists to learn and plan their visit prior to arrival”.

“This is the working group’s first project together and we are very excited to undertake a project of this scope”, says Ann Weir, Economic Development Manager for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. “We are strategically combining and mobilizing dollars for maximum results”.

Over the next few months, Cinnamon Toast will be developing content for the NEW Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site website. It is anticipated that the launch date for the new site will be July 1, 2019.