The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is pleased to announce registration is now open for its virtual 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m.

The AGM will cover regular meeting business, including the presentation of nominees for the 2027-28 Board of Directors, along with highlights from OHTO’s work and key tourism developments over the past year. This will be followed by the feature presentation, AI in Action: Real Solutions for Tourism Operators, a one-hour practical skills-development session designed to help tourism businesses understand whether, where and how AI can provide meaningful value.

AI educator, trainer and professor Emily Baillie of Compass Content Marketing will explore practical applications of AI that can streamline everyday tasks, improve productivity, strengthen marketing and support the guest experience. The session will also address what operators should approach with caution and how to make informed decisions about which tools make sense for their business.

Emily will be joined by Joel Greaves, Founder and CEO of Somewhere Inn, who will share how the company has implemented Claude across its back-end hospitality operations to save staff time, support the guest experience and improve the business overall.

“We are looking forward to sharing updates from the past year and giving operators something practical they can take back to their businesses,” said Nicole Whiting, Executive Director for OHTO. “AI is changing quickly, and tourism operators don’t need more pressure to keep up – they need help understanding what is useful for their business. Our goal is to move beyond the hype and give operators the confidence to make informed choices based on their own needs, priorities, resources and risk tolerance.”  

What participants will gain from the session:

  • Practical, high-value applications of AI for tourism operations;  
  • Ideas for saving time and reducing costs by streamlining everyday work;  
  • Ways to use AI to strengthen marketing, generate leads and support revenue growth; and  
  • Guidance for making thoughtful decisions about AI adoption while preparing for the future.  

The session is designed for tourism operators who are already experimenting with AI as well as those who are not sure where to begin.

REGISTER FOR THE AGM

About Emily Baillie

Emily Baillie is an AI educator, trainer and professor who helps tourism operators and organizations use AI in practical, approachable and human-centred ways. Through Compass Content Marketing, she has trained more than 4,000 professionals across Canada, including tourism and hospitality leaders. With more than a decade of post-secondary teaching experience, Emily is known for turning complex technology into clear, actionable strategies that can save time, strengthen marketing and support business growth.

About Joel Greaves and Somewhere Inn

Joel Greaves is the Founder and CEO of Somewhere Inn, an upscale boutique hotel brand operating design-led properties in Calabogie and Collingwood. The founder-led company works across brand, acquisitions, finance and operations and is expanding to additional Ontario tourism markets.

About Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization

Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO) is a not-for-profit organization mandated and funded by the Province of Ontario to support tourism within the counties of Haliburton, Lanark and Renfrew and portions of Frontenac, Hastings, and Lennox and Addington. Find out more at www.ohto.ca.

 

-30-

 

Media Contact:

Kasey Rogerson

Director of Industry Development

613-629-6486 x203

kasey.rogerson@ohto.ca 

Skills Development