Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) has announced the first-ever Kawarthas Northumberland regional tourism summit will be held this fall in Port Hope.
Called “Stronger Together, Shaping the Future of Rural Tourism,” the event runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21 at the Capitol Theatre at 20 Queen Street.
Organized by RTO8 in partnership with Northumberland County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and the City of Peterborough, the summit will bring together tourism operators and industry partners from across the Kawarthas Northumberland region to explore key opportunities and challenges shaping tourism.
Brenda Wood, executive director of RTO8, told kawarthaNOW about the impetus for the event.
“The motivation behind organizing the summit was that, now that our annual general meetings are virtual, we wanted to find a way to join the partners within our region for information sharing, networking, and connection,” Wood said. “We plan to host one every two years and move the location of it around the region.”
RTO8 is inviting visitor service providers in the accommodation, food and beverage, retail, attractions, festivals and events, guiding, and agritourism sectors in Kawarthas Northumberland to attend the event.
According to a media release, the event will also offer networking opportunities “designed to strengthen rural and regional tourism connections.”
“The best possible outcome would be for attendees to make connections and find inspiration,” Wood added.
With organizers promising “a full day of engaging programming,” attendees will hear a keynote address from Andrew Siegwart, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, alongside a series of panel discussions covering topics such as Indigenous collaboration, agritourism, content marketing, and event sustainability.
“Tourism is at the heart of our region’s identity and economy,” Wood stated in the media release. “This summit is an opportunity to come together, share ideas, and develop practical tools to support a thriving, resilient tourism sector across Kawarthas Northumberland.”
In addition to the keynote address, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the event will also feature the “Tasters Market,” a curated showcase of local food and beverage producers.
“Attendees will have the chance to sample, shop, and connect with the passionate Tasters behind some of the region’s most celebrated products,” according to the release.
The summit experience also includes a locally catered breakfast, lunch, and a sweet treat from the popular Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour.
“We are thrilled to host the first-ever regional tourism summit in Northumberland County,” said Diane Murenbeeld, manager of Northumberland Tourism, in a statement.
“We look forward to welcoming tourism partners from across the Kawarthas Northumberland region to the beautiful atmospheric Capitol Theatre in the historic downtown of Port Hope for just a taste of the vibrant history, culture, and natural beauty Northumberland has to offer.”
Tickets are $39.95 plus fee until Friday, September 5, and $54.95 plus fee thereafter.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rto8.com/summit/.
RTO8 is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming to promote regional tourism activity in the area that is branded as Kawarthas Northumberland. RTO8 works with the existing tourism offices in Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, the City of Peterborough, and the County of Peterborough.
