Dear Partner in Tourism,

Happy Fall! We’re into October with a lot to be thankful for including hosting large events, seeing full hotels and witnessing new tourism offerings on the horizon. We’ve compiled the latest local, provincial and national updates for your review. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please take a moment to read about:

Tourism London Welcomes New Board Members

Tourism London is pleased to announce our new members to the Board of Directors for the 2024 - 2026 term. These individuals are leaders, movers and shakers with diverse expertise and visions for our industry. Please join us in welcoming:

• Dave Bartlam (InnVest Hotels)
• Effie Gurman (Idlewyld Inn & Spa)
• Michael Kim (Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University)
• Kate Ledgley (London Children’s Museum)
• Jacky Manuel (London Music Hall)
• Angela Rivard (100 Kellogg Lane)

Additionally, we have a few new faces on our 2024 - 2026 Executive Committee: Kelly Austin, General Manager of Canada Life Place and Scott McFadzean, CEO of the London International Airport, join President Alon Shatil (East Park), Past President Jen Pastorius (Clayworx: Ceramic Arts Learning Centre) and Vice President Christine Stapleton (Sports & Recreation Services, Western University) in the respective roles of President Elect and Treasurer. Kelly and Scott, we are so excited to learn from and grow with you as part of our Executive Committee.

We look forward to having you all at the tourism table. Thank you for your commitment!

Student Discounts & Perks Page is Live on Tourism London’s Website

We launched a Student Discounts & Perks page this fall on our website. The page, featuring all Tourism London partners, lists food and drink, retail and leisure and entertainment spots that students can check out. Each partner is offering a special discount or value deal for students who present a valid student ID card. A big thank you to all our partners who submitted their offers. We’ve partnered with Fanshawe College, Fanshawe Student Union, Western University and the University Students’ Council to help spread the word and promote local hotspots to the student population. If you’d like to be added to the page, please email Natalie Wakabayashi at nwakabayashi@londontourism.ca. Promotions are good until April 2025 unless otherwise noted.

Request for Proposals: Tourism London’s Marketing Booth

Tourism London is looking to contract an agency, firm or independent consultant to develop a new and innovative strategy related to Tourism London’s marketing booth presence at industry and community events. An RFP is open with applications being accepted until Friday, November 1, 2024.

Londoners invited to upcoming public meeting about the City’s Special Events Policy review

The City of London is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, October 24 to collect feedback about the Special Events Policy review. This is a valuable opportunity for events rights holders, residents and neighbourhood associations to learn about proposed updates to the policy and share their feedback.

The meeting will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Goodwill Industries (255 Horton St. E), and will include a short presentation, followed by opportunities for residents to ask questions and speak with staff.

A virtual option to attend will also be available via Zoom and a recording will be posted online the following day. A link to attend the Zoom meeting will be posted on the project’s Get Involved webpage ahead of the meeting.

The Special Events Policy outlines the expectations and responsibilities for third-party event operators planning and running events in publicly owned outdoor spaces. Examples of special events include multi-day music festivals, one-day cultural celebrations, fundraising walks and runs and large neighborhood gatherings.

Feedback about the policy continues to be collected this month and into November. The amended policy will then be presented to the City’s Community and Protective Services Committee in December later this year.

To learn more about the proposed policy updates and to share comments online, Londoners can visit getinvolved.london.ca/SpecialEventsPolicy

Be Involved in Ontario’s Southwest’s Winter Marketing Efforts

Last year, Ontario’s Southwest’s marketing efforts generated over 80,000 referrals to tourism businesses and organizations! If you have something you’d love to see in the spotlight this winter, let them know by Friday, November 8! The information you provide may be featured in their social media posts, website content and in their winter paid media campaign.

Qualify for an Ad in the Globe and Mail and Ontario’s Southwest

Have you invested in sustainability, accessibility or inclusivity? Then you may be eligible for an ad in the Wednesday, November 13 Globe and Mail with Ontario’s Southwest! Click the button below to learn more about Ontario’s Southwest’s Develop to Market program and to see if you're eligible. Act now, the deadline to sign up for the November ad is Wednesday, October 16! Ad space is also available for Wednesday, December 4.

Survey: Ontario Tourism Industry Health Check

As Destination Ontario continues to adapt to the evolving landscape, they are evaluating the Ontario Tourism Industry Health Check. For current tourism performance statistics during this review period, please visit the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming's tourism research website.

As part of the review, they are conducting a survey to gather feedback on the Ontario Tourism Industry Health Check. Your feedback on this research report will help Destination Ontario determine if changes or improvements could be made to better meet your needs.

Please take our survey by October 18 to share your insights.

Please share any updates from your business with us by emailing tourinfo@londontourism.ca or by tagging us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

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