The future of travel and tourism is sustainable, and you are invited to join the movement at IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism - ONTARIO: A Regional Event.
Throughout the conference and Day of IMPACT, you'll engage with sustainability champions, tourism experts, and community leaders in Ontario & beyond, all committed to a more sustainable industry. Experience highlights like international best practices, invaluable resources, and new research in sustainable tourism.
The programming is built with a specific focus on IMPACT's beliefs, which are;
- We need to have tough conversations
- The knowledge we collect is accessible to all
- We are not afraid to be vulnerable
- Financial success is a force for good
- Tourism can help reverse global warming
- We create safe places for candid discussion
- We need to push the boundaries and find common ground
- We engage people from all value sets, perspectives, provinces and territories
Join us at IMPACT Regional Ontario, not just for a conference, but for an opportunity to connect with professionals and change-makers in the tourism industry. Collaborate, share ideas, network, and uncover innovative strategies for creating a positive ‘impact’ in your business and community.
Book Your Guestroom Rate
Start Date: Saturday, May 03, 2025
End Date: Wednesday, May 07, 2025
Last Day to Book: Thursday, April 03, 2025
Hotel: Delta Hotels Waterloo for 229.00 CAD per night
DR. DANIEL SCOTT
University of Waterloo
Dr. Daniel Scott is a Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. His research on sustainable tourism focuses on the transition to a low carbon tourism economy and adapting to the impacts of a changing climate.
In 2023, he was recognized as one of Canada’s top scholars when he was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Daniel has advised and led projects for a wide range of tourism organizations around the world, including the United Nations World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council, European Tourism Commission, and Caribbean Tourism Organization, as well as World Bank, International Olympic Committee, OECD, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Over the last two decades he has also contributed tourism perspectives to multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports.
JULIA COSENTINO
Ottawa Tourism
Julia Cosentino, Manager of Destination Development at Ottawa Tourism, is dedicated to strengthening her community through tourism. She led the creation of the Shine On Program and Awards, celebrating customer service excellence among Ottawa’s tourism professionals. Julia also advances key sustainability and accessibility initiatives, including Ottawa’s Tourism Accessibility Plan and participation in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. She leads internal volunteer efforts and was named a Destinations International 30 Under 30. Julia holds a joint degree in Arts Management and Art History (High Distinction) from the University of Toronto.
KELLY HAUSSLER
Ottawa Tourism
Kelly Haussler is Director of Destination Development at Ottawa Tourism, where she led the creation of Ottawa’s 10-year Destination Stewardship Plan. Previously, she spent six years with a sustainable tourism consultancy in Australia, leading strategic projects, mentoring small businesses, and co-authoring national publications. Kelly chairs the Ottawa Film Office Board, sits on the Indigenous Tourism Collaborative of the Americas, and serves on Destinations International’s Advisory Leadership Board. Named one of Ottawa's Forty Under 40 in 2021, she holds an MBA Essentials certificate from LSE and a B.Sc. (Honours) in Marine Biology and Oceanography from Dalhousie University.
ANGELA NAGY
GreenStep Solutions Inc.
Angela is a sustainability expert with more than 20 years of experience in project management, business development, marketing, and public relations. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada, working with all levels of business, and utilities, as well as various levels of governments, on a variety of engineering, energy efficiency, environmental and sustainability-related projects. Angela is certified in Organizational GHG Accounting and as a Sustainability Practitioner through The Natural Step.
DR. JOHN P. SMOL
Queen's University
John Smol, is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Biology at Queen’s University, where he also held the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change (2001–2021). He founded and co-directs the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), focusing on global environmental change, particularly in lake ecosystems. With over 680 publications and 23 books, Smol’s research addresses climatic change, acidification, eutrophication, and other environmental stressors. He has received numerous honors, including 6 honorary doctorates, 70+ awards, and the NSERC Herzberg Gold Medal. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2013 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018. Smol also served as President of the Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada (2019–2022) and is a Canadian Geographic Ambassador.
2025 Tourism Innovation Lab Summit:
Cultivating Sustainable Tourism Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Kitchener-Waterloo & Oxford County
May 6-7, 2025
IMPACT Ontario attendees are invited to join the Tourism Innovation Lab and partners for an interactive event featuring engaging urban and rural mobile workshops, facilitated roundtable discussion, idea exchanges, and networking receptions, showcasing innovative sustainable tourism entrepreneurs and leaders in Kitchener-Waterloo and Oxford County. The summit offers opportunities to connect, learn, and build collaborations with industry colleagues to advance sustainable tourism innovation in Canada. Registration for this add-on event is $140. Space is limited.
For more information visit www.tourisminnovation.ca/2025Summit
When
Location
- University of Waterloo - FED Hall