Awards
Innovation in the tourism industry is critical for the region to respond, adapt, and recover from the significant impacts of the evolving travel landscape as the result of Covid-19. Celebrating innovation from across the region is more important than ever. This is your opportunity to share and brag about the work of you and your teams!
Ontario’s Southwest Awards
2022 Innovator of the Year Award
A business, operator or individual, leading with an innovative strategy or program to improve the tourism experience or marketing activities in Ontario's Southwest.
2022 Innovative Experience of the Year Award
An experience, event or festival, introducing innovative strategies to improve the tourism experience and/or marketing activities.
2022 Sustainability Trailblazer of the Year Award
A business, experience, operator or individual, leading with an innovative strategy to improve the tourism experience through a sustainable tourism lens, aligning with the United Nations World Tourism Organizations (UNWTO) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).
HHBRTA Awards
2023 Innovative New Experience or Product Development Award
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.
2023 Partnership & Collaboration Award
This award recognizes a partnered initiative (including a tourism experience, product or marketing campaign) that successfully attracts and encourages visitors to experience the Hamilton Halton Brant region. Partnerships can include collaboration with private and/or public sector entities.
2023 Responsible Tourism Award
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.
Previous Awards
Ontario’s Southwest Awards
Ontario's Southwest sends a big congratulations to the winners and all finalists of this year’s Tourism Innovation Awards.
Click here to read the March 10th, 2022 news release.
2021 Innovator of the Year Award
Finalists:
Tourism London
Twisted Lemon Restaurant
Udderly Ridiculous Ridiculous Farm Life
Winners:
2021 Innovative Experience of the Year
Finalists:
Awaken Your Spirit: A Spirit Horse Encounter - TJ Stables
Concerts in the Vineyards - Burning Kiln Winery
The Merry Market at 100 Kellogg - 100 Kellogg
Winner:
2021 Sustainability Trailblazer of the Year Award
Finalists:
Ortaliza Urban Farms
Ottercreek Woodworks Inc.
Winner:
2022 Innovative New Experience or Product Development Award
The Innovative New Experience and Product Development Award recognizes a tourism business that has demonstrated innovation in the development of a new or enhanced tourism product or visitor experience. The new offering helped the business operator be resilient or enhance their business in pandemic times in the Hamilton Halton Brant Region.
Finalists:
Because Beer Festival - Sonic Unyon
Hops and Harvest - Conservation Halton
Turbo Tubing Adventure - Grand River Rafting Company
Winners:
Hops and Harvest - Conservation Halton
Turbo Tubing Adventure - Grand River Rafting Company
HHBRTA Awards
2022 Partnership and Collaboration Award
The Partnership and Collaboration Award recognizes a partnered initiative that successfully attracted and encouraged locals or visitors to experience the Hamilton Halton Brant region.
Finalists:
Awesome Wicked Server - Tourism Burlington
Home of #99 - Tourism Brantford
Wincey Mill Dollars - Grand River Rafting Company
Winner:
Wicked Awesome Server - Tourism Burlington
2022 Responsible Tourism Award
The Responsible Tourism Award recognizes demonstrated innovation from tourism industry partners or organizations who are leading the way to proactively consider environmental impacts to encourage sustainable tourism.
Finalists:
Grand River Outdoor Wilderness Education (GROWE)
One Axe Pursuit
Winner:
One Axe Pursuit