Stay up to date on the latest news and information from Ontario’s Highlands, hear about the ways to participate in our marketing and product development initiatives, and opportunities to partner with us to invite visitors to Come Wander Ontario’s Highlands.
- Success Story: Safety and flexibility made possible at OWL Rafting thanks to TRIP funding
When COVID-19 entered the world stage, we all naturally turned to the outdoors as a destination for vacations, weekend getaways, and just to generally relieve … Continue reading Success Story: Safety and flexibility made possible at OWL Rafting thanks to TRIP funding - Success Story: Outdoor patio keeps Temple’s Sugar Bush hosting and celebrating weddings in 2021
We hear a lot about the industries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – restaurants, or accommodations, for example. But there is one industry that … Continue reading Success Story: Outdoor patio keeps Temple’s Sugar Bush hosting and celebrating weddings in 2021 - Success Story: Bonnie View Inn excels with OHTO’s TRIP Capital Projects
Last spring, Bonnie View Inn was one of many tourism businesses to receive funding from the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO)’s through their Tourism Recovery … Continue reading Success Story: Bonnie View Inn excels with OHTO’s TRIP Capital Projects - Success Story: Sharbot Lake Country Inn’s health and safety changes made possible by TRIP funding
It’s fair to say that restaurants and hotels were among the harder hit by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is something the owners … Continue reading Success Story: Sharbot Lake Country Inn’s health and safety changes made possible by TRIP funding - Success Story: Pizza saves the day at Rosie’s Café & General Store in Denbigh
When COVID-19 struck and restrictions were introduced in Ontario, Jenelle Rosenblath and her husband, Joseph, knew that they needed to act in order to save … Continue reading Success Story: Pizza saves the day at Rosie’s Café & General Store in Denbigh - Get to Know: Ben Hemmings, Ben Hemmings Media
Filmmaker Ben Hemmings of Ben Hemmings Media is more artist than mere videographer, sculpting stories that connect audiences with a particular message and subject matter. … Continue reading Get to Know: Ben Hemmings, Ben Hemmings Media - Expand Your Knowledge with OHTO’s March Webinar Series
It’s hard to believe, but the winter is soon winding down and thoughts about the coming seasons are starting to drift into our minds. To … Continue reading Expand Your Knowledge with OHTO’s March Webinar Series - Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit
Ontario Staycation Tax Credit We’ve all heard the talk about the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit and the benefits it can bring by encouraging Ontarians to … Continue reading Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit - Take the Steps to Securing Your Social Media
You’ve worked hard on your social media pages. They’re a part of your branding, your means of communicating with your fan base, and your ticket … Continue reading Take the Steps to Securing Your Social Media - Get to Know: Amy Hogue, Content Specialist
Amy is a familiar face in the tourism industry, especially in Lanark County where she currently lives with her husband on a farm just outside … Continue reading Get to Know: Amy Hogue, Content Specialist - Meet the Team: Sara Dunbrook, Digital Marketing Specialist
From a passion for truly excellent pizza to a natural love for the underdog, Digital Marketing Specialist Sara Dunbrook is in the perfect spot, professionally … Continue reading Meet the Team: Sara Dunbrook, Digital Marketing Specialist - Become a Member: Be Part of the Tourism Conversation and Join the OHTO Community
We are not exaggerating when we say that 2022 will be the year for tourism in Ontario. Not only is there the Ontario Staycation Tax … Continue reading Become a Member: Be Part of the Tourism Conversation and Join the OHTO Community - Meet the Board: Chris Hinsperger, Bonnechere Caves
It is an understatement to say that Chris Hinsperger is passionate about tourism. For Chris, tourism is not only something that involves his business and … Continue reading Meet the Board: Chris Hinsperger, Bonnechere Caves - Meet the Board: Meghan James, Somewhere Inn Calabogie
After nearly a decade spent working in tourism, including nine years at the Pembroke Best Western, Meghan James has taken on virtually every job on … Continue reading Meet the Board: Meghan James, Somewhere Inn Calabogie - Successful connections: Looking back at 2021
With a new year comes a chance to look back at the challenges and success of the previous – and what a year it was … Continue reading Successful connections: Looking back at 2021 - Meet the Board: Corina Mansfield, Deep Roots Adventure, Harcourt
If there’s a common theme to those who come to the Ontario’s Highlands region, it’s a desire to get closer to nature, and Ontario’s Highlands … Continue reading Meet the Board: Corina Mansfield, Deep Roots Adventure, Harcourt - Meet Julie Mulligan: OHTO’s Marketing Director
(Photo caption: Julie Mulligan (left) is with Melissa Marquardt (right), from the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, on a photo shoot for OHTO.) From the rugged … Continue reading Meet Julie Mulligan: OHTO’s Marketing Director - The Rise of Responsible Tourism and Pandemic Response: Looking Back at 2021
If year one of the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that you have to stay on your toes when responding to the constantly changing … Continue reading The Rise of Responsible Tourism and Pandemic Response: Looking Back at 2021 - Meet the Board: Melissa Marquardt, Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, Renfrew County
Melissa Marquardt is an Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) board member who has stood the test of time. Melissa was not only one of the … Continue reading Meet the Board: Melissa Marquardt, Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, Renfrew County - Engage with Us! Join the OHTO Industry Facebook Community Group
As we’ve been communicating information about our upcoming OH! Tourism Summit, we’ve been thinking more and more about communications in general, because let’s face it, … Continue reading Engage with Us! Join the OHTO Industry Facebook Community Group - Planning a Summit Experience Package with a Conscious Impact in Mind
By Ange Defosse, creator of Harlowe Green (www.harlowegreen.com) A pyramid of branded pens. Lanyards made of plastic-y nylon in too-bold colours. Cheap water bottles and … Continue reading Planning a Summit Experience Package with a Conscious Impact in Mind - September 2021: Connect with Tourism at Ontario’s Highlands’ OH! Tourism Summit and AGM
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. – African Proverb If the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue reading September 2021: Connect with Tourism at Ontario’s Highlands’ OH! Tourism Summit and AGM - Hastings County: A Tourism Recovery and Innovation Program Success Story
In Hastings County, the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams has extra meaning: If you build it, they will come. The idea is … Continue reading Hastings County: A Tourism Recovery and Innovation Program Success Story - Meet the 2020-21 OHTO Board of Directors
The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) has been making a name for itself over the past decade, supporting tourism in the region through creative content … Continue reading Meet the 2020-21 OHTO Board of Directors - Thompsontown Maple Products: A Digital Marketing Grant Success Story
Thompsontown Maple Products is a maple syrup farm located on a century farm in Lanark County, the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario. Started in 1982, … Continue reading Thompsontown Maple Products: A Digital Marketing Grant Success Story - Meet Kasey Rogerson: OHTO’s New Industry Support Coordinator
If there is one thing Kasey Rogerson is passionate about, it’s tourism. The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization’s (OHTO) new Industry Support Coordinator has dedicated the … Continue reading Meet Kasey Rogerson: OHTO’s New Industry Support Coordinator - Come join us on the journey towards Responsible Tourism
At Ontario’s Highlands, we take pride in calling our region home. From its people and communities to the natural beauty and richness of its soils, … Continue reading Come join us on the journey towards Responsible Tourism - Be a Local Hero and Nominate a Community Champion: July 2021
Exciting things are in the works in Ontario’s Highlands! This summer the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) has launched a series of initiatives to support … Continue reading Be a Local Hero and Nominate a Community Champion: July 2021 - Connecting and Supporting Tourism this Summer: June 2021
For over a year, Ontario’s Highlands’ communities and residents have lived through a time unlike any other. While COVID-19 has brought many challenges, it has … Continue reading Connecting and Supporting Tourism this Summer: June 2021 - Traffic and Conversions: Troubleshooting Your Online Store: May 2021
So you took advantage of the wealth of funding supporting the development of e-commerce websites and now have a shiny, brand new shop platform to … Continue reading Traffic and Conversions: Troubleshooting Your Online Store: May 2021 - Coping with Pandemic Fatigue: April 2021
To say it’s been a year like no other is an understatement. Without a shadow of a doubt, each and every one of us deserves … Continue reading Coping with Pandemic Fatigue: April 2021 - 7 Reasons Why You Need to Join Ride the Highlands: March 2021
If COVID-19 has taught us anything it’s that diversification is key to business success. This year many Ontario’s Highlands’ businesses have already transitioned to online … Continue reading 7 Reasons Why You Need to Join Ride the Highlands: March 2021 - Looking for funding that will work for YOUR business? Read this.
If you’re a little tired of wading through the sheer number of funding programs out there to find one for which you are eligible, but … Continue reading Looking for funding that will work for YOUR business? Read this. - Planning for COVID in 2021: 5 reasons to apply for OHTO’s Capital Projects funding programSince COVID-19 arrived on the scene nearly one year ago, business owners have been inundated with numerous relief funding opportunities and resources geared specifically to … Continue reading Planning for COVID in 2021: 5 reasons to apply for OHTO’s Capital Projects funding program
- Getting Started with Facebook Advertising: December 2020Have you ever thought about trying out Facebook ads to reach new audiences? Now is a better time than ever to experiment with something new. … Continue reading Getting Started with Facebook Advertising: December 2020
- Not Keeping Up with the Joneses: November 2020If there is one thing that’s been easy to get caught up in over the past few months, it’s the feeling that we are never … Continue reading Not Keeping Up with the Joneses: November 2020
- Build Resiliency in a World of Uncertainty: October 2020Last October we gathered in Pembroke for the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization’s (OHTO) annual AGM and tourism summit, never imagining how much the industry would … Continue reading Build Resiliency in a World of Uncertainty: October 2020
- Navigating a COVID World: September 2020There is nothing like a little pandemic to remind us how fragile our place is in the world and to help us appreciate our friends … Continue reading Navigating a COVID World: September 2020
- Sharing is Caring: How to Capitalize on OHTO’s Love Letter Campaign (and why you should): August 2020You may have seen OHTO’s recent marketing campaign on social media or the web, what we call our Love Letter campaign. The Love Letter campaign … Continue reading Sharing is Caring: How to Capitalize on OHTO’s Love Letter Campaign (and why you should): August 2020
- To My Home, With Love: OHTO Launches Love Letter Campaign: July 2020It’s been a long, hard spring, but now that the province has eased COVID-19 restrictions, we are looking forward to once again encouraging people to … Continue reading To My Home, With Love: OHTO Launches Love Letter Campaign: July 2020
- Communicating Health and Safety Protocols to Your Customers: June 2020During these unfamiliar times of COVID-19, vigilant consumers are seeking out businesses who go the extra mile to ensure the safety of their customers and … Continue reading Communicating Health and Safety Protocols to Your Customers: June 2020
- Pivot, Pivot, Pivot. Shifting to an Online World: April 2020It’s been a crazy month and a half – so busy it may feel like you haven’t had a chance to sit down and take … Continue reading Pivot, Pivot, Pivot. Shifting to an Online World: April 2020
- OHTO’s Next Steps for Marketing: April 2020To say times are tough is an understatement, but we are confident the strength of our communities and our people will allow us to persevere … Continue reading OHTO’s Next Steps for Marketing: April 2020
- A Message from Nicole WhitingThe pace of change we have experienced in our daily lives over the past two weeks and the impact those changes will have on our … Continue reading A Message from Nicole Whiting
- Maximizing Destination Ontario: March 2020If you feel like you’re a long lifeboat bobbing along on the ocean of the tourism world, trying to keep afloat in a turbulent sea, … Continue reading Maximizing Destination Ontario: March 2020
- Shifting Perspective: Getting Ready for the 2020 Tourism Season: February 2020It may not feel like it, but tourism season 2020 is right around the corner, and headed this way fast. As a tourism business or … Continue reading Shifting Perspective: Getting Ready for the 2020 Tourism Season: February 2020
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Managing Social Feedback: January 2020Tips to handling negative and the positive feedback on social media and TripAdvisor. Remember the days when customers would come to you directly with any … Continue reading The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Managing Social Feedback: January 2020
- Getting Started with Google Analytics: December 2019Remember when print media was king and businesses were relegated to the level of serfdom, throwing money at marketing with no clear indication of who … Continue reading Getting Started with Google Analytics: December 2019
- If you build it they will come: 5 steps to developing killer content – November 2019You hear it everywhere. Content marketing. It’s a term that’s used a lot these days, particularly in the tourism world, and definitely within our organization. … Continue reading If you build it they will come: 5 steps to developing killer content – November 2019
- We are Stronger Together: October 2019We are stronger together. This is a statement that has withstood the test of time and history, and continues to be relevant today. That we … Continue reading We are Stronger Together: October 2019
- Sharing Events: August 2019We are thrilled to hear about more and more events being dreamed up and developed across Ontario’s Highlands! Visitor events can be a lot of … Continue reading Sharing Events: August 2019
- Summer Content Push: July 2019With our busiest tourism season in full swing, we’ve been working hard to gather, support, and push out visual content to highlight key summer experiences … Continue reading Summer Content Push: July 2019
- Rec Geo Rockin’ Relaunch: June 2019As one of the most diverse geological settings in Canada, opportunities to discover the incredible history of the land, dig for buried treasures, and uncover … Continue reading Rec Geo Rockin’ Relaunch: June 2019
- Increase Your Exposure: May 2019With the success of our recent marketing efforts and partnerships, we’ve had some inquiries into how to best participate in Come Wander and get involved … Continue reading Increase Your Exposure: May 2019
- Visual Engagement: April 2019Though recent weather might have tried to trick us, spring is here and we’re focusing our efforts now on planning ways to inspire visitors to … Continue reading Visual Engagement: April 2019
- Instagram Insight: March 2019We understand that it can sometimes feel like maintaining your social media channels is a full-time job. If one of your 2019 goals is to … Continue reading Instagram Insight: March 2019
- Winter Experience Videos: February 2019You may remember that this past summer, we leveraged the power of partnerships by teaming up with Destination Ontario to create and distribute content about … Continue reading Winter Experience Videos: February 2019
- Meeting the Visitor in the Digital World: January 2019In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever that we meet visitors where they are – online. However, it’s not enough to simply be … Continue reading Meeting the Visitor in the Digital World: January 2019
- ‘Tis the Season to be Social: December 2018You’ve probably heard it a million times already: ‘tis the season – to be jolly; to eat, drink, and be merry; to celebrate with loved … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season to be Social: December 2018
- Your Online Presence: November 2018In an age where the online world is constantly evolving, more and more industries are experiencing digital disruption, and tourism is certainly no exception. To … Continue reading Your Online Presence: November 2018
- Finding Yourself & Sharing Your Story: October 2018With the busy summer season now behind us, we hope you’ve found time to take a little break for yourself – and also to have … Continue reading Finding Yourself & Sharing Your Story: October 2018
- The Power of Rave Reviews: September 2018With advances in technology, the prevalence of social media, and the vast amount of information available online, today’s travellers are living in a digital world … Continue reading The Power of Rave Reviews: September 2018
- The Power of Partnerships: August 2018You’ve probably heard there’s strength in numbers and we couldn’t agree more. This summer, we’ve partnered with Destination Ontario on a co-marketing project to align our … Continue reading The Power of Partnerships: August 2018
- OHTO Team Wanders Ontario’s Highlands: July 2018If you follow @OHTOInsider, our Industry Twitter account, you may have noticed that the OHTO team has spent time this spring and early summer wandering … Continue reading OHTO Team Wanders Ontario’s Highlands: July 2018
- New Additions ComeWander.ca: June 2018It’s hard to believe, but it’s now been more than a year since ComeWander.ca officially launched to consumers. Since last spring, we’ve been happy to … Continue reading New Additions ComeWander.ca: June 2018
- Cultivating the Destination Experience: May 2018With the Victoria Day long weekend marking the kick-off to the summer season, we are excited to see tourism operators across Ontario’s Highlands once again … Continue reading Cultivating the Destination Experience: May 2018
- Benefits of Replying to Monthly Guiding Questions: April 2018At the beginning of each month we pose one question to tourism stakeholders across Ontario’s Highlands – one creative query we call our Monthly Guiding … Continue reading Benefits of Replying to Monthly Guiding Questions: April 2018
- Wandering as a Destination: March 2018It’s hard to believe, but this spring will mark one year since officially launching the Come Wander brand to consumers. Since our May 2017 launch, … Continue reading Wandering as a Destination: March 2018
- Wandering Together: February 2018We’ve said it once (ok, probably more than once) and we’ll say it again: no one can grow tourism on their own. One of the … Continue reading Wandering Together: February 2018
- Wander into the New Year on the Right Foot: January 2018The New Year ahead of us is filled with possibility. We recommend wandering into 2018 on the right foot and setting yourself up to reach … Continue reading Wander into the New Year on the Right Foot: January 2018
- A Year of Wandering: December 2017As 2017 comes to an end, we at OHTO are taking time to look back on our year to evaluate our efforts, celebrate our successes, … Continue reading A Year of Wandering: December 2017
- Inspiring Visitation & The Customer Journey: November 2017There’s a lot of planning that goes into travelling. Travellers are bombarded with information, and have an overwhelming number of decisions to make: where to … Continue reading Inspiring Visitation & The Customer Journey: November 2017
- Visitors Engaging with Come Wander: October 2017This summer, visitors and media alike set out to discover their Inner Wanders, doing a little soul-searching, chatting with friendly locals, embracing different sides of … Continue reading Visitors Engaging with Come Wander: October 2017
- Industry Embracing Come Wander: September 2017Come Wander officially launched to consumers four months ago –can you believe it?! Even though it’s only been one season, the reception the brand platform … Continue reading Industry Embracing Come Wander: September 2017
- Influential Wandering: August 2017Since the launch of Come Wander, the Ontario’s Highlands region has been buzzing with excitement, and it’s clear that this buzz has piqued the interest … Continue reading Influential Wandering: August 2017
- Urban Wandering: July 2017As we previously shared, part of our Come Wander activation this summer involves hosting pop-up Urban Wandering Installations in both Ottawa and Toronto. With these … Continue reading Urban Wandering: July 2017
- The Wanderer’s Wanderings: July 2017The smiling face The Wanderer, OHTO’s Brand Ambassador Carly Freeman, is hopefully one you’re familiar with. It’s also one you may see in your business … Continue reading The Wanderer’s Wanderings: July 2017
- One Month: June 2017One month –that’s how long it’s been since we launched Come Wander to consumers. In just 31 short days, we’ve gained 330 new followers and … Continue reading One Month: June 2017
- The Five Ws (& an H) of Come Wander: May 2017
It has been quite the journey! Over the past year, we have been diligently working towards building out the systems and resources to support our … Continue reading The Five Ws (& an H) of Come Wander: May 2017 - Wandering with You: April 2017Everyone at OHTO loves this time of year! Not only do we welcome spring, but we also hit the road in anticipation, travelling throughout the … Continue reading Wandering with You: April 2017
- Creating Content: April 2017We’ve talked a lot about content. The foundation of Come Wander is a content marketing approach –but what does this really mean and how can … Continue reading Creating Content: April 2017
- Discover How to Leverage Come Wander: March 2017
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we hit the road and went to our industry to present the concept of the … Continue reading Discover How to Leverage Come Wander: March 2017 - One Simple Question: March 2017
Come Wander is an adaptable platform where our tourism partners and operators can share their brand message and reach new audiences through storytelling. As business … Continue reading One Simple Question: March 2017 - Share Your Story: February 2017February is flying by, and for us here at OHTO, that means we are one step closer to launching Come Wander, a brand we have … Continue reading Share Your Story: February 2017
- Getting Social: January 2017It’s no secret the social media world is constantly evolving. New platforms are popping up, existing platforms are changing their algorithms and releasing new features, … Continue reading Getting Social: January 2017
- Wandering Resolutions: January 2017The New Year is in full swing and we couldn’t be more excited for what this means for Ontario’s Highlands. We’ve entered 2017: The Year … Continue reading Wandering Resolutions: January 2017
- Meet the Wanderers: December 2016With our content marketing approach, it’s more important than ever that we truly understand our visitors to create content that inspires them. Our visitor-centric approach … Continue reading Meet the Wanderers: December 2016
- Wandering in Writing: November 2016The Come Wander brand has been created to exemplify the trust, freedom, and beauty of wandering. It’s built around the philosophy that wandering, slowing the … Continue reading Wandering in Writing: November 2016
- Mobilizing Come Wander: October 2016How great was it is see everyone out at the OH!Tourism Summit this past week! From myself and Chris Hughes, I wanted to extend my … Continue reading Mobilizing Come Wander: October 2016
- Developing Content and the Benefits of Doing So: September 2016OHTO set out to Haliburton County over the last week of August with one lofty goal: to capture images that support the concept of wandering … Continue reading Developing Content and the Benefits of Doing So: September 2016
- Visually Representing Come Wander: August 2016The Come Wander brand is built around the philosophy that sometimes the best way to recharge is to slow down, look around, and just wander, … Continue reading Visually Representing Come Wander: August 2016
- The Wanderer Takes the First Step to Activate Come Wander: July 2016OHTO is excited to announce the launch of The Wanderer program, a first step to activating Come Wander to the consumer. With the movement towards … Continue reading The Wanderer Takes the First Step to Activate Come Wander: July 2016
- Come Wander Brand Toolkit and Logo Guidelines ReleasedAfter in depth and careful consideration of all information and constructive feedback received from sessions with DMOs, tourism partners and businesses, and OHTO staff, we … Continue reading Come Wander Brand Toolkit and Logo Guidelines Released
- Wheels in Motion: May 2016Since the Stakeholder Sessions in April, it has been extremely encouraging to see the concept of Come Wander come to life and the wheels get … Continue reading Wheels in Motion: May 2016
- The Big Reveal: April 2016OHTO’s Come Wander Brand Platform has officially been revealed! Everyone at OHTO has been left feeling inspired following stakeholder sessions in Perth, Madoc, Haliburton, and … Continue reading The Big Reveal: April 2016
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