Michael is a recognized leader in travel and tourism in Canada. In his current role, he leads Ottawa’s official destination organization, which spearheads sales and marketing initiatives for attracting visitors to Canada’s capital, while also making investments in the long-term stewardship and development of the destination.

Prior to joining Ottawa Tourism, Michael served as Senior Vice President with InterVISTAS Consulting, where he was responsible for the firm’s airline, air service development, and tourism practices in Canada. Michael has over 15 years experience at the management level with two of Canada’s major airports, the Winnipeg Airports Authority and the Ottawa International Airport Authority.

Michael is very active within the tourism industry and other business groups. He is a Board member with the Ottawa Convention Centre, the Ottawa International Hockey Festival, and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), where he serves as Vice Chair of the Board. He was the inaugural Co-Chair of the Canadian Destination Leadership Council with Destinations International; he has been the Board Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Ottawa Board of Trade; and he has also served on the boards of Destinations International, the Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Invest Ottawa. He is a volunteer member of the Advisory Council for Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking and the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality & Tourism Management Degree Program at Algonquin College.

Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, he is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and he is an inductee to the Order of Ottawa. Michael’s business leadership and volunteerism has been formally recognized by a broad range of stakeholders, such as Airport Business Magazine, the Ottawa Business Journal, le Regroupement des Gens d'Affaires de la Capitale Nationale, and Ottawa’s own tourism industry.

Michael has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Manitoba, and he is a Certified Barbecue Judge.

Paul Di Ianni is the Town of Lincoln’s first Director of Economic Development and Communications. After spending close to a decade working in Toronto at Queen’s Park and in the private sector, both focusing on economic development and stakeholder relations, Paul is now devoted to assisting businesses in Lincoln, driving retention and expansion, innovation, and entrepreneurship activities. Following his time at Queen’s Park, Paul worked in public affairs for Edelman Public Relations, the world’s largest PR firm. While at Edelman, Paul led the team that successfully advocated for foreign direct investment in Ontario for both the Ontario Ministries of Economic Development and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, among other clients. Paul holds both a combined Honours Degree in History and Political Science and a Master of Arts in in Political Science from McMaster University.  

Colin Morrison is  General Manager of the Ottawa Marriott Hotel. Mr. Morrison serves as Chair of the Tourism Development Council, a group of city stakeholders including the Ottawa Board of Trade, the Ottawa International Airport Authority, Invest Ottawa, OSEG, the Shaw Centre, the National Capital Commission, Parks Canada, Economic Development Ottawa and Mayor Sutcliffe, tasked with stewardship of the portion of Municipal Accommodations Tax dedicated to Tourism Development in Ottawa. Mr. Morrison also serves as Past Chair of both Ottawa Tourism and the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association. Colin is also a Director of the Bytown Museum which explores the stories of city and its people from the early days of Bytown to the Ottawa of today. During the pandemic, Colin was Co-Chair of the Ontario Governments COVID advisory panel for Hospitality and Tourism. In 2022 Colin received the Donald Blakeslee Award as Ottawa’s Hotelier of the Year. Colin and his wife Elena are parents to Liam, a third year Law student at UVic and Shannon, a fourth year Criminology student at Carleton University.