About OHTO

OHTO Annual General Meeting

The 2024 Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization’s (OHTO) Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.  

The OHTO Board and staff were joined by members and tourism network to “Remembered When,” reflecting on where we’ve been and how that’s shaped where we are today and the opportunities of tomorrow. 

The 2024-2025 OHTO Board of Directors is looking forward to the term ahead and congratulates the returning Directors: Melissa Marquardt, Jeff Jackson, Mike Hage, and Vanessa Dow.  

In our Executive Director's report, we provided highlights from our marketing and industry development programs, including the announcement of our Bronze Level Sustainable Tourism Destination certification by GreenStep Solutions.

We were inspired by our guest speaker, Ben Vadasz from Destination Think, to make a "BHAG" [Big Hairy Audacious Goal] that will drive us forward and motivate the change we wish to experience in our communities.  

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the AGM, and we look forward to seeing you at the 2025 AGM when we celebrate our 15th anniversary year! 

- The OHTO Team   

Watch the recording  |  Download the AGM slide deck 

Questions? Get in touch with Kasey Rogerson, Director of Industry Development, at kasey.rogerson@ohto.ca or email info@ohto.ca for general inquiries.


This year’s event had an engaging line-up, including:

  • OHTO Board of Directors and Membership Annual General Meeting
  • Executive Director’s Report  
  • Feature Presentation by Ben Vadasz, Destination Think, Collaboration: How We Can Turn the Global Spotlight on Local Initiatives
  • Spark Session: share ways to strengthen our communities through tourism

Download the 2024 AGM Delegate Package

Ben Vadasz, Co-founder & Partner, Destination Think

Ben Vadasz is a seasoned tourism industry expert with over a decade of experience, and is a co-founder and Partner of Destination Think, a globally recognized tourism consultancy firm. Ben's expertise lies in his ability to decode complex situations and use his EQ to understand client expectations. He leverages his unique skillset to communicate in a friendly, approachable way that helps him develop long-term relationships with his clients.

Throughout his career, Ben has worked with clients from all over the world, including destinations, governments, and private sector businesses. He has helped develop and implement marketing strategies, create sustainable tourism plans, and facilitate stakeholder engagement processes.

As a co-founder of Destination Think, Ben has been instrumental in growing the firm into a global leader in the tourism industry. He is constantly seeking new opportunities to innovate and evolve the firm's offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry.

Ben's philosophy is that good people meet with good people, and he lives by this belief both professionally and personally. He is committed to working with clients who share his values of integrity, transparency, and social responsibility.

One of Ben's favourite quotes is Albert Einstein's: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." He believes that this quote perfectly encapsulates his approach to his work. Ben is passionate about helping clients navigate complex challenges and providing simple, effective solutions that drive success. 

Overall, Ben Vadasz is a respected leader in the tourism industry with a proven track record of success. His commitment to simplicity, transparency, and building strong relationships has made him a trusted advisor to clients around the world.

Only OHTO Members will be eligible to vote and/or pass motions during the Annual General Meeting and only one person per organization will be able to vote. Not sure if you are a member? Contact membership@ohto.ca to confirm your membership.

Want to Become a Member?

If you are not a member and wish to become one, you can sign up for free here.  

The AGM this year is being held virtually and will be facilitated using Zoom.   The Zoom meeting link will be provided following registration, as well as through reminders leading up to the event. Be sure to check your spam folder and reach out to the OHTO team if you don’t receive the meeting link.

If you have not used Zoom before, we highly recommend you download the app either to your smartphone, tablet, or desktop in advance of the conference to ensure everything loads correctly.  Click here to download Zoom.