rtO3 REGIONAL TOURISM AWARDS
The annual RTO3 Regional Tourism Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations, and businesses that drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in our tourism sector.
Applications and nominations open in fall, with submissions closing by December. Awards are juried by a panel of industry professionals, regional tourism leaders and association representatives, and winners are recognized at our annual Southern Ontario Tourism Conference. All finalists are invited to the Conference and award recipients will be honoured during the Awards Dinner.
The awards recognize excellence in key categories each year. Our categories included:
Innovative Tourism Award – Honouring creative approaches that enhance visitor experiences and strengthen our region’s tourism offerings.
Partnership & Collaboration Award – Celebrating initiatives that demonstrate the power of teamwork and strategic partnerships to achieve greater success and impact.
Sustainable Tourism Award – Highlighting projects and practices that reflect a commitment to environmental stewardship, community well-being, and long-term sustainability.
Applications for the 2025 Awards are now Closed.
If you have any questions, please contact Angelica Seraj, Manager, Workforce Development & Training
2025 AWARD Recipients
Innovative New Experience or Product Development Award
2025 Winner: Royal Botanical Gardens – Alice in Bloomland
This award recognizes a tourism business or organization that has demonstrated innovation in developing a new or enhanced tourism product or visitor experience. The new offering should be tourism focused, open to the public and contribute to a better regional visitor experience.
Partnership & Collaboration Award
2025 Winner: Oakville Galleries – Ship of Tolerance
This award recognizes a partnered initiative (including a tourism experience, product or marketing campaign) that successfully attracts and encourages visitors to experience Hamilton Halton Brant. Partnerships can include collaboration with private or public sector entities.
Sustainable Tourism Award
2025 Winner: Two Row on the Grand
Sustainability is a deciding factor for more and more visitors when choosing their travel experiences. This award recognizes demonstrated innovation from tourism industry partners/organizations who are leading the way in encouraging sustainable tourism.
Learn about our past winners
Innovative Tourism Award
Hess Village
2024 Hess Winter Village
Partnership and Collaboration Award
Royal Botanical Gardens
2024 WinterTide
Sustainable Tourism Award
Summit Dairy Station 2024
Innovative Tourism Award
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
Hamilton Day 2023
Partnership and Collaboration Award
Tourism Hamilton
Your Summer Playground
2023 Marketing Campaign
Sustainable Tourism Award
Conservation Halton
Winterlit at Mountsberg 2023
OTHER TOURISM AWARDS PROGRAMS
Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence
The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) celebrate success and recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to Ontario’s tourism industry.
Canadian Tourism Awards
The Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), recognizes the best and brightest in Canada’s tourism industry. From outstanding teams and organizations to individual luminaries who surpass all expectations, exemplifying a commitment to provide nothing short of exceptional tourism experiences from coast to coast to coast.