In This Issue

• RTO3 Annual General Meeting
• Introducing the RTO3 Board of Directors
• 2025/26 Partnership Funding Program
• Feast On Information Webinar
• Canada Strong Pass
• Agritourism Ontario Launches First Economic Growth Study
• Funding and Grants
• In The News
• Research and Data
• Free Marketing Opportunities with RTO3
• Upcoming Events

RTO3 Annual General Meeting

We hosted our AGM on June 25th, 2025, at the Holiday Inn & Suites Oakville @ Bronte, where Michael McDonald, CEO of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, delivered an enlightening presentation on Pathway to Sustainable Prosperity – Aligning Tourism, Conservation and Community.

Michael shared valuable insights on the iconic Bruce Trail—part of which runs through our region—and the Conservancy’s commitment to sustainability and conservation. He provided key visitor data for both peak and shoulder seasons, along with personal anecdotes about connecting with local businesses that showcased the importance of sustainable tourism practices.

We thank Michael for his time and expertise, and look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Conservancy and our other partners as we build sustainable tourism throughout Hamilton Halton Brant.

Introducing the RTO3 Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors represents the depth and diversity of Hamilton Halton Brant’s tourism industry. These seasoned professionals bring extensive experience and unwavering commitment to showcasing what makes our region a premier destination.

Top Row, Left to Right:

Lisa La Rocca, Co-Chair from Sonic Unyon Records and Supercrawl

Hildegard Snelgrove from Tourism Hamilton

Kelly Harris, Past Chair from the Greater Toronto Hotel Association

Erin Sills from African Lion Safari

Kimberly Viney from Royal Botanical Gardens

Jillian Fisher from VIA Rail Canada

Kelly Johnston from Metrolinx

Calantha Elsby from Conservation Halton

Rebecca Edgar from Visit Oakville

Bottom Row, Left to Right:

Sara Munroe, Secretary-Treasurer from Brantford

Jaquie Jamieson from Six Nations Tourism

Marilyn Butkovic, Co-Chair from Vrancor Group

Garth Pottruff from Grand River Rafting

Christi Marks from Art Gallery of Hamilton

We warmly welcome our incoming directors: Kelly Johnston, Christi Marks, Erin Sills, and Calantha Elsby, who bring fresh perspectives and valuable expertise to our board.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Angela Paparizo from the City of Burlington and Trish Gerth from African Lion Safari for their outstanding dedication throughout their six-year tenure. Their contributions have been invaluable to our organization’s growth and success.

We extend special thanks to Kelly Harris for her above-and-beyond service earlier this year in resuming as Acting Chair to ensure board governance stability, succession planning and operations. Kelly’s leadership, care, and work to ensure  board governance and continuity  is deeply appreciated. Thank you, Kelly, for sharing your time, expertise, and enthusiasm. Your ongoing contributions help the organization, and the board continues to work together to benefit regional tourism development.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to collaborate with this exceptional board as we continue to drive innovation, attract visitors, and demonstrate why Hamilton Halton Brant is a must-visit destination for travelers from across Ontario and beyond.

2025/26 Partnership Funding Program

Intake 2: Still Open!

Our 2025/26 Partnership Funding opportunities below are still available. Applications must be submitted via our Google forms that are open until October 28, 2025; or until capacity is reached. Multiple applications are permitted and partnerships will be awarded subject to availability, program fit and equitable distribution of funds. Please direct questions regarding each opportunity to the following team members:

Shoulder Season Experience Development Partnerships to Bev Scott, Manager, Business & Visitor Experiences Development;

Certification Support Partnerships to Maureen Beatty, Executive Assistant;

Marketing Partnerships to Aiden Eng, Manager, Marketing & Communications.

Photography Asset Development

Ready to refresh your visual storytelling? Partner with professional photographer Damian Dudek of Dudek Photography to capture premium-quality images of your business, products, or events at a special discounted rate.

Whether you have a new shoulder season event or experience, aim to be certified and engage with your audience and new markets, or want to enhance or extend your marketing budget, apply for one of our partnership options and find out how we can help to achieve your business goals this year.

Feast On Information Webinar

Join the Culinary Tourism Alliance on Monday, July 21 at 10:00 AM for an exclusive Feast On® member webinar! This session is designed to help the current and potential network members better understand the full range of benefits that come with Feast On® certification.

They will walk you through marketing opportunities, exclusive programs and campaigns, helpful tools and templates, partner perks, and other ways Feast On® certification can support your business goals. 

RTO3 will be able to help you take the next step after! Apply for our Certification Support this year and we will cover 50% of your first year membership fees.

Canada Strong Pass

Canadians can enjoy free or discounted tickets to select destinations and transportation as they travel through Canada this summer, from June 20 to September 2, 2025 (inclusively).

The Canada Strong Pass celebrates what unites us, from the country’s natural wonders and cultural richness to our shared experiences as Canadians. The Pass is designed to make it easier for everyone—especially youth and families—to explore Canada and celebrate what makes our country extraordinary.

The Canada Strong Pass is not a physical pass that you need to purchase, sign up for, or collect. Simply visit any participating Parks Canada site, museum, gallery, or VIA Rail to benefit from free admissions or discounts.

The Pass includes:

Parks Canada: Free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas administered by Parks Canada and a 25% discount on camping fees. [The HMCS Haida is a fully participating partner for our region. The Royal Botanical Gardens, although not affiliated with Parks Canada, is leveraging the Canada Strong Pass program by offering special admission rates during this campaign period. If you are a business participating with the pass or leveraging on the campaign in your own way, we want to know!]

National museums and the Plains of Abraham Museum: Free admission for children and teens aged 17 and under & 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

VIA Rail: Free travel for children aged 17 and under when accompanied by an adult and a 25% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

Participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries: Free admission for children and a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

Agritourism Ontario Launches First Economic Growth Study

In April, Agritourism Ontario (previously Farm Fresh Ontario) has launched an economic growth study to understand the sector’s impact and identify future opportunities across the province. This comprehensive research brings together experts in agriculture and economic development to chart a strategic course for Ontario’s vibrant agritourism industry.

Wilton Consulting Group, in collaboration with MNP LLP., is conducting a survey for farmers offering visitor experiences including farm stands, pick-your-own operations, tours, on-farm accommodations, cafes, wedding venues, or other agricultural tourism activities. The study aims to clarify the sector’s economic contributions while identifying meaningful growth opportunities and challenges.

The 15-minute survey provides an opportunity for regional agritourism operators to contribute to sector-wide planning initiatives and ensure Hamilton Halton Brant voices are represented in this important provincial research. Your participation helps support evidence-based growth strategies for agritourism across Ontario.

Funding and Grants

In The News

Summer Campaign 2025

Our summer campaign (June 15 – September 1) continues and centers on two key themes designed to capture current domestic travel sentiment and summer travel preferences.

Your Great Canadian Summer positions Hamilton Halton Brant as the perfect close-to-home destination for day trips and staycations featuring extraordinary adventures in Ontario—from family fun and couples’ retreats to outdoor adventures, charming small towns, vibrant urban neighbourhoods, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural experiences.

Explore Proudly and Visit Responsibly invites visitors to become part of our region’s story through respectful, responsible travel that protects natural spaces while supporting local cultures and businesses. This theme is supported by the launch of our new “Responsible Traveller” video.

Campaign activities utilize our always-on content strategy—including website content updates, email marketing, increased activity in our social media channels as well as a paid social media campaign. Alongside our core summer campaigns, co-operative social media campaigns are also running throughout the summer with DMOs and tourism operators funded through our 2025-26 Partnership Program.

It’s not too late to get involved! Ensure your business listings are up-to-date on our visitor website theheartofontario.com and share what’s happening in your business with our Marketing & Communications team so we can amplify your events, experiences, and offerings through our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram and our monthly e-newsletters.

Our fall campaign planning is well underway and we look forward to sharing more details soon.

Get Listed on Our High-Traffic Consumer Website

Take advantage of our consumer website traffic by creating a self-serve listing account. This free marketing opportunity allows eligible tourism-facing businesses to showcase their business, events, tours and experiences. Last year, over 330,000 unique visitors explored theheartofontario.com, generating 200,000+ partner listing views and 136,000+ direct referrals to tourism operator websites.

Keep Us Updated on What’s New

Share your business updates, special events, and new experiences directly with our marketing team. We regularly feature operator content across our email marketing (65,000+ subscribers) and social media platforms (65,000+ followers). This additional free opportunity allows us to promote your business to our engaged audiences at no cost to you! We encourage you to submit content to us reguarly throughout the year!

Upcoming Events

• TIAO 2025 Ontario Tourism Summit October 28 & 29, 2025, Ottawa

• RTO3 Sustainable Tourism Learning Series–Fall 2025 Industry Exchange November 12, 2025

• Southern Ontario Tourism Conference 2026 London March 2 to March 4, 2026