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  • 18 Apr 2024 by Jessica Ng

     

    In this week’s TIAO highlights:

    • The Federal Budget dropped this week, with major housing investments and notable investments in a new VIA Rail fleet, high-frequency rail, and national parks. The federal government is also proposing a new Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses to return fuel charge proceeds. In case you missed it, here’s our budget breakdown.

    Finally, as a follow-up to our call with DMOs earlier this week, TIAO is conducting a survey to:

    • Understand in greater detail the MAT challenges being experienced in Ontario destinations and to obtain feedback on potential solutions; and
    • understand challenges and priorities with respect to local and regional market and destination development.  

    If you are a DMO or provide MAT services to destinations, please complete the survey here.  

     

    Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.

    Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD  

    Director, Policy & Government Affairs

    Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

  • 11 Apr 2024 by Jessica Ng

    With May fast approaching, we are counting down the weeks until TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism regional conference, taking place May 5-7 at Centennial College in Scarborough!  

    If you’re still wondering if or why you should attend, here is your reason: The future of travel and tourism is sustainable.  

    Sustainable practice is where our industry is headed or expanding into—whether it be reducing our carbon footprint, implementing climate change mitigation, advocating for mass transit infrastructure improvements, or providing attainable housing solutions that enable people to live where they work.  

    As for travellers and our future workforce, they’re already there. Consumers are shifting their spending toward sustainable products, with 76% of global travellers wanting to travel sustainably, and Gen Z and Millennials—who will soon have most of the purchasing power and dominate the labour market—favouring sustainable products and expecting sustainable workplace practices like work-life balance and flexibility.  

    Preparing your business or organization for the future of travel and tourism necessitates engaging more closely with sustainability, and where better to build or sharpen your toolkit than TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism – ONTARIO: A Regional Event? Reserve your spot here before tickets sell out.  

    And in case you missed it:  

    • Earlier this week, several members of the TIAO team attended the RTO6 Tourism Symposium, with Leni Brem (Project Manager, Tourism Workforce Sustainability Program) and Mark Capistrano (Workforce Development Coordinator) leading a panel on Rethinking Recruitment in a Competitive Labour Market.  

    • TIAO and OTEC released a joint statement on the inclusion of hospitality as a priority program area for Ontario’s allocation of international study permit applications. Read our press release here.  

    Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca     

       

    Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD   

    Director, Policy & Government Affairs 

  • 05 Apr 2024 by Andrew Siegwart

    Kudos to the Resorts of Ontario team for a successful Season Summit at Hockley Valley Resort this week! In today's collaborative landscape, industry conferences are key drivers of innovation, partnership, and economic growth. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many stakeholders and future tourism leaders and to receive valuable feedback on our advocacy work. Please see below for TIAO's analysis of the recent Ontario budget and insights from our members on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program.

     

    Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca.

    Andrew Siegwart
    President & CEO

    Tourism Industry Association of Ontario