RTO 9

04/12/2024

Boost your tourism business with these informative workshops!
Did you know? Many of our valuable RTO 9 hosted workshops are recorded for your convivence.
👀Watch in your own time and at your own pace.

These include recent sessions in conjunction with industry professionals on:
💡Working with Influencers
💡Social Media Strategy: Planning for Success
💡Mastering E-commerce with Mailchimp
💡Integrating AI into your Business
💡Introduction to Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism
💡Creating Engaging Content
💡How to Create Newsletters with Mailchimp
💡Social Media 101: The Basics..and more!

Visit (and 📌save) the link to find a workshop that's right for you, grab a coffee 🍵and a notepad and learn from experts and thought leaders in the industry🚀
https://rto9.ca/event/presentations-recordings/

Several of these sessions are also offered in French.
Plusieurs de ces sessions sont également proposées en français.

What workshops would you like to see in 2025? Drop your suggestions in comments.

Welcome to recorded.watch

03/12/2024

South Glengarry is one of five Ontario communities benefiting from a combined $310,000 federal investment for active and rural transit projects. This funding will support the development of active transportation plans that envision the future of walking, biking, and other non-motorized travel in the township. The project will also include strategies to raise awareness of the benefits of active transportation.

These initiatives are part of Canada’s commitment to making travel easier, safer, and healthier through programs like the Active Transportation Fund and the Rural Transit Solutions Fund.

Read the media release👇🏼
https://bit.ly/4idz6Rq

03/12/2024

🎟️ Event Tourism: Big Revenues, Bigger Opportunities

From the Las Vegas Grand Prix ($1.2B) to Taylor Swift’s Toronto concerts ($282M), event-driven travel is booming. At the WTTC Global Summit in Australia, leaders explored how unique experiences, including gastronomy and Indigenous tourism, shape the future of sustainable travel. See the key takeaways from this influential event.

Open Jaw attended the WTTC Global Summit where Amex Prez Audrey Hendley said experiential travel is so hot, consumers “will spend more on an experience without asking about the cost if it’s what they want to do.”

02/12/2024

🌿 New Federal Funding Boosts Biodiversity and Climate Action in Ontario's Frontenac Arch 🌿

The Government of Canada has announced a $513,544 investment in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network to support biodiversity and climate resilience in the region. This includes $369,528 in federal funding from Parks Canada, with an additional $144,016 in matching funds. The project is part of a broader initiative to protect 30% of Canada’s land, inland waters, and marine areas by 2030.

Some key Highlights:
🌿The project focuses on the Algonquin to Adirondack (A2A) corridor, a crucial link for wildlife between southeastern Ontario and New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
🌿Conservation strategies integrate Indigenous Knowledge alongside Western science, using Two-Eyed Seeing and Ethical Space frameworks.
🌿Efforts include corridor mapping, road ecology research, and Indigenous-led conservation to address habitat fragmentation and wildlife road mortality.
🌿The project supports biodiversity, fosters eco-tourism, and creates opportunities for local communities to connect with nature sustainably.

Read the full article

The Government of Canada announces funding to enhance ecological connectivity in the Frontenac Arch region, combining Indigenous and Western science for biodiversity conservation.

29/11/2024

🌍 What do F1 and Taylor Swift have in common? Both draw travellers with an appetite for unforgettable experiences—and big spending to match.

At the recent WTTC Global Summit, experts revealed how event-driven tourism is reshaping travel trends, from gastronomy and Indigenous tourism to sustainable growth and AI-powered personalization.

📈 With the global travel industry projected to hit US$16 trillion by 2034, the demand for experiential and sustainable travel is on the rise. From solo travellers to multi-generational families, today's travellers want authentic connections and meaningful moments.

Read the full article and highlights from the WTTC summit here👇🏼

Open Jaw attended the WTTC Global Summit where Amex Prez Audrey Hendley said experiential travel is so hot, consumers “will spend more on an experience without asking about the cost if it’s what they want to do.”

29/11/2024

Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism: A Series for Businesses and Destinations
Discover the tools to thrive in the growing market of sustainability-conscious travellers with the Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism Workshop Series

🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Hosted by GreenStep Solutions and supported by RTO9.

This engaging four-part virtual series empowers tourism professionals to create a customized sustainability action plan aligned with global standards. Through interactive sessions, you’ll:

*Please note these dates have been modified from the original post.

👍🏼What you will learn
By the end of the series, you’ll walk away with a tangible plan, practical insights into sustainability challenges and solutions, and a Certificate of Completion. Plus, you’ll gain access to optional one-on-one consulting to further refine and implement your strategy.
✅Master key sustainability criteria and assessment techniques.
✅Set actionable, impactful goals.
✅Learn to effectively showcase your progress to customers and industry partners.

👍🏼Why Join?
This is your chance to future-proof your business, boost its resilience, and elevate its appeal in a competitive market. Make sustainability your strength and stand out to today’s discerning travellers.

👍🏼Who Should Attend? This workshop is designed for tourism business owners, operators, and destination managers dedicated to integrating sustainable practices.

Full participation in all virtual sessions and completion of assigned exercises are required to earn the certificate.

Dates & Times: Bi-weekly on Wednesdays - Jan & Feb 2025 - Registrants MUST attend all sessions.

📆 January 15, January 29, February 12, February 26, 2025
🕐 1pm - 3pm EST

Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your business and shape a sustainable future.

📝Register now to secure your spot!
https://rto9.ca/events/sustainable-and-regenerative-tourism-a-series-for-businesses-and-destinations/

Optional 1:1 Support Following the Sessions: Workshop participants can book optional paid consulting sessions with a GreenStep advisor.

28/11/2024

Experience Ontario 2025 has officially launched!
Applications will be accepted until December 19th at 4pm.

The Experience Ontario 2025 program provides support for festivals and events with a tourism economic impact to motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences, and increase tourism spending.

The program aims to support festivals or events in Ontario that will:
✅Offer programming encouraging people to travel, experience events in person and celebrate Ontario
✅Draw tourists and increase visitor spending through innovative programming in partnership with businesses and community partners
✅Provide job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture and entertainment sectors
✅Increase Ontario’s profile through media, social media or broadcast exposure

Your festival or event must meet all the following requirements:

🎆 take place between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, over a minimum of two consecutive days* and consist of a minimum of five hours of programming each day.
🎆Occur in the province of Ontario.
Be open to the public at large without membership in a club or group.
🎆Previous year's attendance must include tourist attendance at 30% of overall attendance or 5,000 tourists.
🎆Have been held at least once in the previous three-year period.
Follow all municipal and provincial guidelines, including health and safety guidelines.
🎆Submit expenses for your festival or event that are not solely related to marketing or media buys.

🍁*One-day tourism festivals or events held on Canada Day are eligible for funding.

Important Links🔗
Download the Experience Ontario 2025 Guide: https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/on00525

Book a session with your Regional Development Advisor—Tourism, Ministry of Tourism Culture & Gaming, to review guidelines or discuss your event in the RTO 9 region.
Find your advisor here:
https://rto9.ca/about/ontario-ministry-of-tourism-culture-and-gaming/

28/11/2024

Prochain atelier sur le marketing de RTO 9 - Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant!

🚀 Comprendre les métriques de performance
📅 9 janvier 2025
🕑 10:00h - 11:00h
📍 En ligne
📝 Registre: https://rto9.ca/events/comprendre-les-metriques-de-performance/
🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Accueillie par Mellow Brew Marketing and RTO 9

Ne manquez pas notre atelier, Comprendre les métriques de performance, conçu pour les individus souhaitant saisir les fondamentaux de l'analytique des médias sociaux. Dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, piloté par les données, la capacité d'interpréter et d'agir sur l'analytique est important pour avoir un impact en ligne. Que vous soyez un nouvel entrepreneur, un propriétaire d'entreprise expérimenté, ou un passionné des médias sociaux, cet atelier démystifiera le monde complexe des metrics, vous enseignant comment suivre l'engagement, analyser le comportement de l'audience et mesurer votre succès sur les médias sociaux. Karine vous fournira une base solide dans la compréhension des indicateurs de performance clés (KPI) et comment utiliser les données pour affiner votre stratégie et améliorer la performance de contenu. Débloquez le potentiel de l'analytique pour orienter votre présence en ligne vers une plus grande visibilité et efficacité.

This workshop is also available in English
January 7, 2025 | 10:00am - 11:00am | Online
https://rto9.ca/events/understanding-basic-analytics-and-metrics/

28/11/2024

Upcoming RTO 9 Marketing workshop- Register now!

🚀 Understanding Basic Analytics and Metrics
📅 January 7, 2025
🕑 10:00am - 11:00am
📍 Online
📝 Register: https://rto9.ca/events/understanding-basic-analytics-and-metrics/
🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 Hosted by Mellow Brew Marketing and RTO 9 | South Eastern Ontario

Don't miss our insightful workshop, Understanding Basic Analytics and Metrics, tailored for individuals aiming to grasp the essentials of social media analytics. In today’s data-driven world, the ability to interpret and act upon analytics is crucial for anyone looking to make an impact online. Whether you're a new entrepreneur, seasoned business owner, or social media enthusiast, this workshop will demystify the complex world of metrics, teaching you how to track engagement, analyze audience behaviour, and measure your social media success.

Our host Karine Parthenais from Mellow Brew Marketing will provide you with a solid foundation in understanding key performance indicators (KPIs) and how to use data to refine your strategy and improve content performance. Unlock the potential of analytics to steer your online presence toward greater visibility and effectiveness.

This workshop is also available in French
9 janvier 2025 | 10:00h - 11:00h | En ligne
https://rto9.ca/events/comprendre-les-metriques-de-performance/

27/11/2024

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), in collaboration with Context Research Group, is inviting tourism operators, organizations, and support networks across the province to participate in a 90-minute focus group to share your thoughts on how to improve Ontario's tourism experience.

Your insights will directly help shape the future of tourism in our province as we develop Ontario's Tourism Strategy. Whether you are a tourism operator, part of a support organization, or have valuable perspectives on boosting tourism, we want to hear from you!

Focus Group 4: Kawartha Northumberland | Southeastern Ontario | Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
Meeting is: 90 minutes in length
Date: Thursday, December 12th, 2024
Time: 9:15a-10:45am
Sign up here for those in the RTO 9 region👇🏼
https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/e7Y8BRAb/vote

Spots are limited, so sign up now to have your voice heard and help create a vibrant and thriving tourism industry for Ontario.

Doodle is the simplest way to schedule meetings with clients, colleagues, or friends. Find the best time for one-to-ones and team meetings with our user-friendly calendar tool.

26/11/2024

The City of Belleville Grant Committee recently opened applications for the first round of the 2025 Community Impact and Tourism grants.

The Community Impact funding stream supports organizations, groups and events that promote the well-being and growth of the community. A maximum of $10,000 between financial assistance and/or municipal resources is available for single grants.

The Tourism funding stream supports events that draw visitors from outside the City of Belleville, provide local entertainment and promote new spending and overnight stays in the city. A maximum of $10,000 between financial assistance and/or municipal resources is available for single grants.

Applications for both grants will remain open until 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 10.

For more information and to apply, please visit: Belleville.ca/Grants. For any further questions or concerns please contact [email protected].
Visit the link for more information and to apply👇🏼
https://www.belleville.ca/en/city-hall/community-funding-and-grants.aspx

This funding stream has 2 intake periods per year. The second intake period will be from May 1, 2025 to June 15, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

City of Belleville | Municipal Government

We are committed to assisting not-for-profit and other community organizations based in Belleville who promote the well-being of our community.

26/11/2024

Nominate for the Festivals & Events Ontario Awards Program
Submission Deadline closing soon on November 29, 2024

FEO’s Annual Conference is a prime opportunity to celebrate the excellence of Ontario’s festivals and events sector. Each year, FEO’s Awards Program honours top achievements and outstanding dedication within the industry. The Awards highlight Ontario’s top 100 festivals, recognize exceptional service providers, and commend municipalities fostering community engagement. Achievement Awards celebrate impactful contributions, including Volunteer of the Year, Best New Event, and Sponsor of the Year.

Learn more at the link👇🏼

FEO Award Recipients represent Ontario’s festivals and events' finest in the industry. Among others, awards program includes the Top 100- a select group well-known and respected celebrations in the province; Service Excellence – Highlighting the accomplishments of festival and event suppliers; M...

26/11/2024

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) has announced its strong support for the proposed Toronto–Québec City Rapid Train project, highlighting the importance of collaboration with neighbouring Quebec. The project is seen as a critical step in enhancing transportation connectivity between Ontario and Quebec while fostering economic growth and competitiveness.

With increasing demand for efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure, the Toronto–Québec City Rapid Train project is positioned as a transformative initiative. By offering faster, more frequent service between key urban centres such as Toronto and Montreal, the project aims to reduce congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and unlock new opportunities for businesses and travellers. This seamless travel experience is expected to strengthen tourism and enhance business opportunities throughout the corridor.

TIAO is calling on government officials, business leaders, and industry representatives to prioritize this initiative, recognizing the long-term benefits of investing in a robust rail system that supports both economic and environmental goals.

Learn More:

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is pleased to express its support for the propose

23/11/2024

COP29 Concludes with Key Milestones for Sustainable Travel

Today marks the conclusion of COP29, the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Baku, Azerbaijan which brought together global leaders to address climate change and advance actionable solutions.

During this conference, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched the second edition of its Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism. The report highlights a 27% increase in climate target adoption by travel businesses over the past three years, with more than half of the 250 leading companies now committed to emissions reduction. Notably, the number of businesses adopting Science-Based Targets has more than doubled since 2021, emphasizing accelerated efforts toward sustainability.

This updated roadmap, developed with support from the United Nations Environment Programme and Accenture, includes new decarbonisation frameworks and sector-specific target corridors. It acknowledges diverse challenges across subsectors, such as aviation, cruise lines, and accommodations, while showcasing progress in reducing carbon intensity since 2019.

Key advancements include:

✅A 6% reduction in aviation’s carbon intensity.
✅An 11% reduction in carbon intensity for the cruise and accommodation industries.
✅Travel & Tourism’s overall emissions footprint dropping to 6.5% of global emissions in 2023, compared to 7.8% in 2019.
✅The report also calls for expanding the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), enhancing green financing access for SMEs, and improving transparency in emissions measurement.

WTTC urges governments, businesses, and industry leaders to collaborate on implementing these measures to achieve net-zero targets by 2050. As the conference wraps up, the focus shifts to sustaining momentum, aligning policies, and meeting the demands of environmentally conscious travellers.

Source: https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/significant-surge-in-travel-amp-tourism-businesses-commitment-to-net-zero-reveals-wttc-roadmap/

21/11/2024

Exciting news is on the horizon for Canada’s tourism industry! The federal government is expected to confirm plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.

🚉Trains could reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time between Toronto and Montreal to just 3 hours—nearly half the time of current options.
🚉Proposed stops include Ottawa, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and more, ensuring enhanced connectivity across the corridor.
🚉The system will operate on electrified tracks, supporting greener, sustainable travel.
🚉The project is estimated to cost $80 billion, but it’s seen as a major boost for tourism, economic growth, and interprovincial travel.

This transformative project, initially introduced as a high-frequency rail plan in 2021, reflects strong momentum, with a bidder decision expected soon.

19/11/2024

Collaboration and community were the driving themes at yesterday’s Brockville Tourism Symposium, and the RTO 9 team was thrilled to take part.

Congratulations to Brockville Tourism and its partners for bringing together tourism professionals, business owners, chamber members, economic developers, and non-profits for such an engaging and insightful event. From thought-provoking panels on collaboration and marketing to meaningful networking opportunities, the symposium showcased the collective strength of Brockville's tourism community.

Brockville Tourism at the Brockville Arts Centre

18/11/2024

Canada’s hotel industry is experiencing unprecedented expansion, with Q3 2024 data from Lodging Econometrics (LE) revealing an all-time high of 327 projects in development, representing 40,799 rooms.

This record growth—up 19% in projects and 8% in rooms compared to last year—reflects strong confidence among developers and a shift towards more diverse offerings across the country.

Upper midscale hotels lead in growth, accounting for 41% of total projects. Ontario is the frontrunner, holding 59% of Canada’s projects, with Toronto at the top among cities. LE forecasts the opening of 21 hotels by the end of 2024, adding 2,363 rooms, and further expansion in 2025 and 2026.

Read more👇🏼

Article - Canada's Hotel Development Reaches Record High - The total pipeline has reached an all-time high of 327 projects, equating to 40,799 rooms. These represent year-over-year growth rates of 19% in projects and 8% in rooms, indicative of solid developer confidence.

15/11/2024

Calling all Leeds and Greenville businesses.
The Leeds & Grenville Economic Development Summit is coming soon; a day focused on Economic Development and Leadership.

📅Nov 22, 2024
🕛 9am - 3 pm EST
📍Kemptville
📝 learn more and register👇🏼
https://rto9.ca/events/leeds-grenville-economic-development-summit/

Registration: $55 Includes light breakfast, lunch and snacks. Advance payment is required. Deadline to register: Friday, November 15, 2024

This event is in partnership with Michael Barrett, M.P., Steve Clark, M.P.P., the 1000 Islands, Grenville and Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporations, and the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board.

Join us for a day focused on Economic Development and Leadership. This event is in...