ontario tourism awards of excellence

September 9, 2019, Toronto— The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is proud to announce Guy Lamarche and Ian McMillan as the recipients of the 2019 Tourism Industry Award of Excellence’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Their exceptional contributions to Ontario’s tourism industry are vast, and although individually they have each done so much for the tourism industry, collectively they have been unstoppable.

The careers of Lamarche and McMillan have been linked since they first met in 1983 and ever since they have been collaborating to promote Northern Ontario as a destination of choice. After being the youngest person hired in Ontario in an executive capacity under the Ontario Travel Association Program, Lamarche has been taking the tourism industry by storm. Guy’s strategic marketing plan and programs have not only led to an increased ridership on Northlander, Little Bear and Polar Bear Express, but his vision and success of a Kayak Festival in Timmins has been a template for others to use in the development of similar events around the region. In his current role as Manager of Tourism and Events with the City of Timmins, Guy has re-branded the City of Timmins as a must-see outdoor adventure destination, causing four new national brand hotels to open their doors in the city.

Over the course of his expansive career, McMillan has celebrated many successes and built strong economies in Northern Ontario. Bringing a passion to everything that he does, Ian continues to be a champion for Northern Ontario internationally and at his current role as International Marketing Specialist for Destination Northern Ontario. Whether it was promoting attractions like the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Museum or the Agawa Canyon Tour Train, helping to implement one of Ontario’s earliest Destination Marketing Fees which led directly to major investments in sports tourism infrastructure, or continuing to press CN Rail to invest in the Tour Train and helping it become a Canadian Signature Experience, Ian has a verifiable history of success.

“We are delighted to announce Guy Lamarche and Ian McMillan as the recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAO. “This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Ontario’s tourism industry, and established a visible, long-term record of accomplishment that merits special attention. This is the first time that two individuals will be sharing the stage to receive the award at the Ontario Tourism Summit, and this speaks to the power of partnerships which is an important theme at Summit every year.”

Event Information

Lamarche and McMillan will be honoured on Tuesday, October 29^th at a special Lifetime Achievement Award Lunch on day one of the 2019 Ontario Tourism Summit at Blue Mountain Village Inn & Conference Centre. Tickets can be purchased at www.ontariotourismsummit.com.*

*Please note that a full registration for the 2019 Ontario Tourism Summit includes tickets for the Lifetime Achievement Award Lunch. Tickets can also be purchased separately for the Award Lunch.

About the Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence

The Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence are presented to organizations, businesses and individuals that represent the quality of offerings that make Ontario a destination of choice—innovations, events, employers and the tourism champions who make it all possible.

About TIAO

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is recognized by government as the voice of tourism. TIAO works on behalf of its membership, collectively representing 188,000 businesses and 391,000 employees, to take on pressing policy issues that impact the Ontario tourism industry. TIAO propels the powerful and innovative Ontario tourism industry by connecting tourism leaders, innovators, government, and educators through events and conferences.

Contact:

Haddas Lederman

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)

(647) 691-4170

hlederman@tiaontario.ca

We're happy to announce the second round of finalists for this year's Ontario Tourism Awards!

The Tourism Marketing and Travel Media Awards of Excellence celebrate excellence and innovation of those who contribute to Ontario’s tourism industry through impactful tourism partnerships, marketing activities and media relations provincially, nationally and internationally.

The Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence recognize those who work hard to tell the stories of Ontario’s growers, producers, chefs, winemakers and brewers, and their dedication to advancing the culinary tourism movement in Ontario.

The Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence (previously announced on Sept. 11) are presented to organizations, businesses and individuals that represent the quality of offerings that make Ontario a destination of choice—innovations, events, employers and the tourism champions who make it all possible.

Award winners will be announced on November 7 at the Ontario Tourism Summit in Niagara Falls.

Tourism Marketing and Travel Media Awards of Excellence (OTMPC)

Tourism Marketing Campaign Award Under 50K

Elgin County Tourism

Tourism Hamilton

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism

Tourism Marketing Campaign Award Over 50K

Ottawa Tourism

Resorts of Ontario, Central Counties Tourism (RTO 6), BruceGreySimcoe (RTO 7) and Kawarthas Northumberland (RTO 8)

Kingston Accommodation Partners

Tourism Print Collateral Award

Tourism Timmins

Headwaters Tourism

Tourism Toronto

Tourism Digital Marketing Award

Tourism Toronto

Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation (RTO 1)

Kingston Accommodation Partners

Tourism Marketing Partnership Award

Tourism Toronto and Air Canada

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

Toronto Zoo

Travel Media Story Award

Mark Stevens

Arienne Parzei

Colleen Friesen

Travel Media Photography Award

James MacDonald

Colin Field

George Fischer

Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence (CTA)

Culinary Tourism Leadership Award

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism

Bistro ‘67

360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower

Culinary Tourism Event of the Year

Cultivate: A Festival of Food & Drink

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery Family Day Wassailing Festival

WindsorEats’ Dinner on a Pier

Culinary Tourism Experience Award

The Apple Pie Trail

The Barrels, Bottles & Brews Trail

Stratford Tourism Alliance

Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence (TIAO)

Tourism Innovator of the Year

Escape Manor & Diefenbunker Museum — Escape the Diefenbunker

Great Spirit Circle Trail — Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tours

Waterloo Warbirds

Tourism Event of the Year

Lumina Borealis

Kingsville Folk Music Festival

2016 World Cup of Hockey

Tourism Champion of the Year

Adriano Ciotoli

Deb Dalziel

Patti Kendall

Tourism Employer of the Year

Tourism Toronto

Caesars Windsor

Chelsea Hotel Toronto

Sustainable Tourism Award

Taste Real Local Food Fest

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery

Yours Outdoors

Accessible Tourism Award

Stratford Shakespearean Festival of Canada

Ontario Science Centre

Kingsville Folk Music Festival

Please note that voting for Ontario's Choice Awards is open until October 5.

The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are a celebration of success and recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to Ontario’s tourism industry. Awards are jointly presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, the Culinary Tourism Alliance and Attractions Ontario across four respective categories: the Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence (TIAO); the Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence (OTMPC); the Culinary Tourism Awards of Excellence (CTA); and Ontario's Choice Awards (Attractions Ontario).

Thank You to The Globe and Mail for Sponsoring the Tourism Industry Awards of Excellence