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Tourism summit draws a big crowd

News Release *************** The new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports and a well-known Olympian will be among the many arriving in Thunder Bay next week to take part in the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit, taking place November 17-19 at the Vi

News Release

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The new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports and a well-known Olympian will be among the
many arriving in Thunder Bay next week to take part in the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit,
taking place November 17-19 at the Victoria Inn. The first-ever summit is being co-hosted by
Tourism Northern Ontario and Nature and Outdoor Tourism (NOTO) and is aimed at helping the
tourism industry in the north to grow and prosper.

The Honourable Michael Coteau will be the guest speaker at the summit gala, scheduled for
November 19 at Fort William Historical Park.
Minister Coteau will be joined by 2010 Olympic skeleton gold medalist and host of “The
Amazing Race, Canada” Jon Montgomery, who will be the keynote presenter at the gala.
Other featured presenters during the summit will be Juanita Keel-Ryan, Director of Tourism
Product Development with the Government of Newfoundland who will speak on tourism product
development in Newfoundland & Labrador; Judy Rogers, Research Resolution and Consulting
who will present on what our Northern Ontario tourism economic and market research is telling
us and Lisa LaVecchia of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership who will bring an update
on the marketing of Northern Ontario.
Numerous other industry experts will lead workshops, presentations and consultation
sessions throughout the event. Summit delegates will visit a tradeshow highlighting northern
tourism organizations and businesses.
Conference organizer Laurie Marcil, Executive Director of NOTO, said that the Northern Ontario
tourism industry is well represented at the event. Marcil said that, of the 250 already
registered, there are 78 tourism businesses, 48 industry services and suppliers, 35 tourism
organizations, 37 municipalities, 44 government representatives and eight First Nations.
Marcil said that, given the strong registration numbers, the event will very likely sell out at 275
delegates.
Tourism Northern Ontario is one of 13 not-for-profit regional tourism organizations funded by
the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. We are the largest tourism region in
geography, the second largest in expenditure and the only region that includes sub-regions.
Tourism Northern Ontario coordinates, aligns and invests in sub-regional programs and leads in
identified pan-northern management functions; co-ordination of marketing, product
development, workforce and industry training, and investment attraction with the ultimate goal
to significantly increase tourism revenues in Northern Ontario. Increased visitation and yield
are achieved by delivering programs designed to enhance existing tourism products and
developing new tourism opportunities for the North.
NOTO is the oldest advocacy and support services organization for resource-based tourism in
Ontario. Since its inception in 1929, NOTO has been dedicated to proactive planning,
development and promotion of a strong tourism industry in Ontario. The membership-based
organization focuses on policy advocacy as well as on providing various programs that directly
support tourism businesses. NOTO continues to work closely with Government agencies of all
levels as well as other tourism organizations to ensure that the natural and working
environment of the tourism industry enable growth as well as significant economic and social
benefits to the province of Ontario. More information on NOTO’s history, mission and
philosophy statements can be found at http://www.noto.ca/about_noto