Why Attend?

1. Get Connected

Join tourism representatives across multiple regions. Meet local business owners, municipal, and provincial leaders. With over 200 attendees, this tourism conference hosts all major tourism influencers in Southern Ontario. The amazing attendees make the conference a fantastic opportunity to connect, network, and learn from other experts.

2. Learn from the Best

We bring tourism experts from across Canada to speak, inspire, and motivate virtually. Keynote speakers address our common issues. While breakout sessions focus on specific business interests, in a smaller group setting, all speakers welcome your questions to tap into their expertise.  

3. Get Hands-On

We provide learning opportunities for all attendees, including virtual attendees. Virtual attendees can select one of two virtual experiences that best suit your learning needs. Each of the virtual experiences offer first-hand information from hosts. They’ll share their lessons to achieve success in delivering tourism experiences virtually.

4. Current Happenings in the Tourism Industry & Regions

Feeling out of the loop? Wondering what the latest developments are in the tourism industry? The Southern Ontario Tourism Conference delivers up to date information that is relevant to your tourism planning. Learn trends, best practices, and successes to keep you in the know.

5. Choose What to Learn

Our aim is to let you choose what learning best meets your needs. Participants select their favourite breakout sessions and optional virtual experiences that include sweet treats.

6. Learn in Small, Focused Groups

Breakout sessions are a major part of the Southern Ontario Tourism Conference. Participants are given opportunities to learn about their interests with like-minded industry representatives. Session presenters will answer questions relevant to growing your business.

7. Learn Today, Implement Tomorrow

In your own business, or in collaboration with industry partners, we want the information you learn to be relevant and applicable. By engaging industry leaders you’ll get experience from local owners providing great applications for your own successful ventures.

8. Celebrate & be Inspired by Innovation

Celebrating innovation, resilience, adaptability, and sustainability will be the focus for the 2022 Southern Ontario Tourism Awards! Now is your time to reflect on what you've accomplished!

9. Opportunity to Engage in the Conference from Home

If you haven’t heard, this year’s conference will be offered both in-person and virtually! This means that you don’t need to drive anywhere if you’d prefer not to. You can experience the local industry in action, taste local favourites, and find new gems in the region no matter how you choose to attend.

10. We’re in the FUN business!

As dedicated tourism partners, we want to reward your exceptional efforts to remind you that our industry, like our conference, is in the fun business. Come join us in-person or virtually for an amazing opportunity to learn, link, laugh, and inspire with the best. Because, it’s our true nature to shape excellence for our guests.