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12/17/2015 OHTO Tourism News, Tips & Opportunities

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News, Industry Tips and Exclusive Opportunities: December2015 Issue of the Highlands Highlight, OHTO's Monthly E-Newsletter

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In this Issue OHTO Updates

OHTO Successes

Opportunities

Tourism Trends

OHTO Updates

Every December, we at OHTO look back on our year to evaluate our efforts, reflecton our successes, and plan our strategy for the new year ahead of us. We've beenbusy developing our strategic plan and are excited for what the future holds forOntario's Highlands. Watch for future issues of the Highlands Highlight and otherindustry communications in 2016 as we strive to keep you up to date and engaged in

shaping our tourism community and sharing our story with visitors.

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Wandering Our Winter Wonderland

What triggers your urge to wander in the winter? Is it the memories from the past or are you looking to

create new memories to cherish? This winter, OHTO is launching the #WinterWander campaign, asking

visitors to conjure up their winter memories and share them through social media platforms. Launching

early January, this campaign will focus highly on the visual aspects of storytelling through photos and the

feeling that arise from winter wandering. We're looking for your involvement in the campaign to share the

#winterwander message! We'll spark conversation at various times throughout the season and entice

engagement through photo sharing and conversation starters on social feeds. Get your winter stories

ready and prepare to share them using the hashtag and through other OHTO digital platforms. Share

your stories and encourage visitors to share theirs, whether from 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago. Stay

tuned for more information coming in the official campaign announcement next week.

Winner Announcement

Thank you for everyone who attended this year's OH!Tourism Summit and who provided feedback after

the event. We're thrilled to announce that Jeanie Brummitt from Perth Outfitters was the lucky winner of

an iPad for providing feedback through our post-conference survey. A summary of the feedback collected

can be found here. We'll be using the input gathered to make next year's event better than ever! Save the

date for #OHSUM2016! Mark October 24-25, 2016 in your calendar and keep an eye out for the

announcement of our host community.

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OHTO Successes

Partnerships

Tourism Development Partnership Program (TDPP)Travel Trade Partnership The OHTO will be participating once again at Rendez Vous Canada thanks to the commitment of partnersthroughout the region. This project utilizes the funding provided by OHTO’s TDPP to reach newinternational markets by enticing travel wholesalers to include our experience in programs they puttogether for travel agents around the world. We're excited to be working with our various partners on thisamazing initiative!

Reminder! There are still opportunities to partner with us on projects that are completed byMarch 31, 2015. If you are investing in projects that:

1. Increase the awareness of tourism as an economic driver in rural communities2. Enhance the visitor experience of your tourism offer3. Increase the awareness of visitor experiences which are inline with the OHTO target markets4. Improve upon the skills required to offer stellar experiences in the region

Please see the guidelines for applications or get in touch with Stephanie Hessel for more information!

Press

Local Tourism Champion HighlightedClaudia Van Wijk of Madawaska Kanu Centrewas recently featured in The Valley Gazette forher efforts to improve the tourism community inOntario's Highlands. Van Wijk was highlighted forher efforts in coordinating the region'sparticipation in Rendez-Vous Canada and herrecent award as a finalist for Ontario TourismChampion of the Year.

White Water Capital of Canada Showcased in the UKSusan Griffith of the UK's Independent recently traveled to the Ottawa Valley to take on the roaringrapids of the Ottawa River. You can read her story here.

Best Hotels to Stage a Snowmobile Trip FromThree hotels in Ontario's Highlands have been included in the Intrepid Snowmobiler's list of top hotels tostage a snowmobile trip from. Craig Nicholson scoured Ontario by sled to search for hotels that aredirectly accessible by trail, provide adequate parking, have clean, comfortable rooms, and a restaurant

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onsite or next door. We're happy to share that Bancroft Inn & Suites, Pinestone Resort, and Best WesternPembroke Inn & Conference Centre were all recognized.

Opportunities

Marketing

Get Your Event Noticed by Thousands: Deadline DECEMBER 18thThe deadline to submit and update your festival and event listings with Festivals & Events Ontario

(FEO) and Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) to be considered for the

2016/2017 Festivals & Events in Ontario Guide has been extended!

The Festivals & Events In Ontario Guide is the ultimate source for festivals and events taking place in

Ontario from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016. Submit your listings to BOTH the FEO website and to

the OTMPC website before Friday, December 18, 2015 to be considered for the Guide. Click here for

more information.

Free Attractions Ontario Membership Opportunity for HotelsAttractions Ontario is offering a free membership to any hotels, B&Bs or resorts that agree to in-room

distribution of their Passport Magazine. Members of Attractions Canada benefit from being a part of two

exceptionally effective co­operative marketing programs: the Passport Magazine and Coupon Book and

the Attractions Ontario website. These initiatives are designed to encourage residents and tourists to

visit Ontario attractions and they offer a significant opportunity to partner both with member venues and

with corporate sponsors committed to the growth of tourism across the province. You can view additional

member benefits here.

'Tis the Season for Sharing: Submit Your Packages TodayBundle Up! Well, maybe not yet (thanks Mother Nature!), but we want your bundled experiences! Haveyour packages ready for sharing? You can submit packages online, here or contact Carly if you have anyquestions. Need a hand with the wrapping? Contact Stephanie for support with building packages.

Business Development

Tourism Industry Partners Program (TIPP)Submissions for the 2016-2017 Tourism Industry Partners Program (TIPP) can now me made to GrantsOntario at www. grants.gov.on.ca. The 2016-2017 Tourism Industry Partners Program (TIPP) deadlines are as follows:

January 15, 2016 for spring/summer initiatives starting between the period of April 1, 2016 andAugust 31, 2016June 3, 2016 for fall/winter initiatives starting between the period of September 1, 2016 andMarch 31, 2017

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For additional information on eligibility requirements and the application process, please click here. If youare considering submitting an application this year and have any questions, please contact NicolePapineau at 416-212-1886.

Are You Meeting Your Customer's Expectations?

If you haven't signed up for OHvation yet, we recommend that you apply right away so that you can take

advantage of this free program custom­designed for Ontario's Highlands operators. Not sure if you're

ready for assessment? Contact Stephanie to discuss the opportunity and don't forget, your results are

completely confidential; we only share your results after you have been designated. Join us in helping to

make sure visitors here know how important they are to us!

Tourism Development Partnership Program (TDPP)

Reminder! There are still opportunities to partner with us on projects that are completed byMarch 31, 2015. If you are investing in projects that:

1. Increase the awareness of tourism as an economic driver in rural communities

2. Enhance the visitor experience of your tourism offer

3. Increase the awareness of visitor experiences which are inline with the OHTO target markets

4. Improve upon the skills required to offer stellar experiences in the region

Please see the guidelines for applications or get in touch with Stephanie Hessel for more information!

Tourism Trends

Canada's Travel Industry Cannot Rely on Weak Loonie for Growth: ReportTravel Industry Association of Canada

The Canadian Tourism sector has to make some significant changes if it is going to regain its spotamong the top 10 destinations in the world, according to the latest annual report from the Travel IndustryAssociation of Canada. That means boosting marketing efforts, trimming airport taxes and fees forincoming travellers and making sure there are enough employees to work in the sector. Read morehere.

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Tourism Snapshot 2015Destination Canada

Destination Canada recently released a 'Tourism Snapshot,' which focuses on tourism trends in themarkets in which Destination Canada (DC) and it's partners are active. To read the snapshot, click here.

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