On October 23, 2024, the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence were hosted at the Convention Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, to celebrate the achievements and recognize the outstanding contributions to Ontario’s tourism sector. These awards honour excellence and innovation by individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth of Ontario’s tourism industry through strategic tourism partnerships, impactful marketing initiatives, and media outreach at the provincial, national, and international levels.
A range of categories were recognized at the awards. Below is a summary of winners and nominees from South Eastern Ontario:
Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence
Tourism Digital Marketing Award
Winner: Tourism Kingston – Social Media and Influencer Marketing
Nominee: Visit the County – Countylicious
Tourism Marketing Campaign Award – Under $50K
Nominee: Visit the County
Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence
Culinary Tourism Alliance Leadership Award
Winner: Tourism Kingston – Growing Culinary Tourism in Kingston
Culinary Tourism Alliance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Winner: Tourism Kingston – Call to Action 83: What Does Reconciliation Taste Like?
Tourism Innovator Award of Excellence
Nominee: Base 31 (Prince Edward County)
Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director of RTO 9 Regional Tourism Organization, stated, “We work with amazing organizations and individuals in our region that are truly dedicated to advancing the tourism industry. The people leading these organizations are true innovators and are passionate about their communities. It’s wonderful to see these accomplishments recognized in South Eastern Ontario.”
Congratulations to Tourism Kingston on its triple win and to Visit the County and Base31 on their well-deserved nominations. Your commitment to excellence makes South Eastern Ontario a remarkable destination to explore. Thank you for your significant and diverse contributions to Ontario’s tourism landscape.
About RTO 9
RTO 9 is a regional tourism organization established in 2010 that is funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming. RTO 9 actively promotes tourism in the South Eastern Ontario region and works to support and grow the tourism industry through marketing, product development, investment attraction, and workforce development initiatives.