Tourism Week Celebrations: OVTA announces new Board of Directors

Hardwood Lake, ON – Tourism Week, which took place this year from April 24 to 30, is an annual invitation for tourism partners to come together to champion and promote Canada’s destinations, tourism businesses and employees. Members of the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association gathered on April 25, 2023 at Maplehaus Banquet Hall and Event Space for the Ottawa Valley Tourism Conference and AGM, appointing a new Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term. Comprised of representatives from various sectors of the local tourism industry and appointed municipal representatives, the board includes:

• Mayor David Bennett, Horton Township (appointed by Renfrew County Council)
• Chris Hinsperger, Bonnechere Caves (Honorary Director)
• Meghan James, Somewhere Inn, Calabogie
• Beth Kennedy, Placemaking Design
• Julia Klimack, Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Society
• Joel Kowalski, Wilderness Tours
• Lauren McIllfaterick, Heliconia
• Elijah McKeown, City of Pembroke (appointed by Pembroke City Council)
• Chris Melmoth, Algonquin College Pembroke (Past Chair)
• Emily Stovel, Arnprior & District Museum
• Stefani Van Wijk, Madawaska Kanu Centre
• Mayor Rob Weir, Greater Madawaska Township (appointed by Renfrew County Council)
• Rachel Worth-Cappell, Braiding Rivers

The chair and vice-chair will be elected at the first meeting of the board in May 2023.

Following the annual reports and board elections, attendees heard from keynote speaker, Altaf Sovani, former Chair of Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality and Tourism. Mr. Sovani spoke about the labour crisis in the tourism industry noting that offering employees a sense of meaning through mentoring as well as opportunities for training on work time are some ways of the employers can strive to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Mr. Sovani noted that for the first time in history, there are four generations in the same workforce with 75 per cent being millennials. Attracting and retaining this main piece of the workforce pie requires adaptation on the part of employers to update antiquated human resources policies allowing for greater work/life balance. During the pandemic, businesses were largely able to innovate in order to remain open and this same philosophy needs to be applied to workforce attraction and retention practices.

Also presented was the action plan of the 2023-2025 Ottawa Valley Culinary Tourism strategy as well as updates from representatives from Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Destination Ontario.

“After three years of hosting our AGM virtually, it was a breath of fresh air to network in person with our partners in the tourism industry,” noted Chris Melmoth, outgoing Chair of the OVTA Board of Directors. “The event provided great learning opportunities on how to work creatively to attract and retain employees. The positive energy and spirit of collaboration were felt by all in the room.”

The OVTA is the destination marketing organization for the Upper Ottawa Valley and proudly represents more than 250 tourism businesses, comprised of attractions and outfitters, accommodation, food, beverage and retail establishments, artists and galleries, municipalities and community organizations, as well as media and industry suppliers. The OVTA is supported by the County of Renfrew, Renfrew County municipalities and the City of Pembroke.

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For more information: 

Email Erin Norris                                                                                                                      

Tourism Industry Relations & Digital Marketing Coordinator                                                                   613.732.4364 ext. 416