Membership in the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO)Membership in the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO)
Membership in the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO)
The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is one of 13 Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) created by the Ontario government to increase tourism to the province. The OHTO covers a large region in eastern Ontario which includes the counties of Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Lanark, Lennox and Addington, and Renfrew.
The OHTO’s mandate is to build and support a competitive tourism region through marketing and product development. The OHTO functions in partnership with established and recognized tourism organizations, municipalities, and entities within the region to move forward in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. The OHTO operates as a not-for-profit organization and was founded in October 2010.
Membership Requirements:
· Your business, organization, or attraction must be tourism-related.
· Your business, organization, or attraction must be located within the OTHO’s regional boundary. Maps are available at http://www.ohto.ca
Membership Benefits:
· Free directory listing at OHTO.ca
· Free directory listing on the upcoming OHTO consumer website, giving you access to online reservations, customizable itineraries, and more.
· Free directory listing on the OHTO’s upcoming mobile app.
· Invitation to exclusive OHTO events.
· Networking and packaging opportunities with other tourism related businesses in your area.
· Inclusion in regional advertising and marketing initiatives.
· Access to exclusive member specials and discounts on various products and services.
· The ability to voice your interests and opinions in local tourism development.
Becoming a member is easy! Join now by registering online at http://www.ohto.ca
FAQ (About RTOs)
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture answers the most common questions about Regional Tourism Organizations:
What is an RTO? What is an RTO’s expected role?
RTOs will be independent, industry-led, not-for-profit organizations responsible for working with tourism partners to enhance and grow each region's tourism products and marketing activities. By providing regional leadership and coordination, RTOs will help build and support competitive and sustainable tourism regions that are better able to attract more visitors, generate more economic activity and create more jobs across the province.
Why are RTOs needed? How will RTOs benefit the tourism industry?
RTOs will help ensure a more coordinated approach is applied to tourism marketing and management across the province. By providing regional leadership and coordination, RTOs will help build competitive and sustainable tourism regions that are better able to attract more visitors, generate more economic activity,
How will regions benefit from an RTO versus existing Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)?
· During consultations conducted for the Tourism Competitiveness Study, stakeholders observed that:
· There are multiple organizations involved in marketing at the regional level, reducing the efficiency of marketing resources and effectiveness of any single DMO;
· Most Ontario DMOs focus on marketing but not on the management of whole regions as tourism destinations;
· Organizations involved in marketing and management of a region need to come together as an industry to have better success; and
· The size and diversity of the province dictate the need for a regional approach to tourism marketing (within an overall provincial strategy).
By providing regional leadership and coordination, RTOs will help build and support competitive and sustainable tourism regions that are better able to attract more visitors, generate more economic activity, and create more jobs across the province.
The ministry's expectation is that the RTO will work with all tourism partners in the region to enhance and grow that region's tourism products and marketing activities.
What role will existing DMOs and sectoral organizations have once RTOs for each region are established?
RTOs will be responsible for working with tourism partners to enhance and grow that region's tourism products and marketing activities. As independent, industry-led organizations, RTOs will operate differently in different parts of the province. RTOs will, however, be accountable for growing tourism business, including working with existing marketing organizations and others involved in tourism.
Will RTOs work collaboratively with current DMOs in the region?
The ministry's expectation is that the RTO will work with all tourism partners in the region to enhance and grow that region's tourism products and marketing activities.
There may be variation among regions in how the RTOs and existing DMOs decide to work together.
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