President’s Message – July 2017

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Warm Summer Greetings to All!
I wake up every day grateful to live life as an outfitter in Northern Ontario. 
The 2017 season so far has been a whirlwind of activity. We received a spectacular amount of rain in June, and were sure that Mother Nature was playing a practical joke on Canada 150 as beaver flooded our road…however we rolled with the challenges as operators do and now have a camp full of happy customers enjoying (finally) the warm summer sunshine.
Our resort was able to take part in a social media marketing campaign that has dramatically increased booking inquiries. I encourage all operators with reliable internet to investigate this as a way to increase their business. The TEN Program (Tourism Excellence North) is also a great way to view your business through the customers eyes and see what can be done to “raise the bar” for the customer experience.
Growing up in the tourism business and a member of NOTO has provided exceptional networking opportunities and assistance with the challenges our own resort has faced. With MNRF issues, or government regulations, NOTO has always been there as an advocacy partner, a champion for Tourism in the North and an ally in all issues related to running a successful tourism business.
One of the many strengths that NOTO has, is being able to count on the feedback of operators who have “boots on the ground” and are facing challenges head on while running their business. Getting feedback from members is crucial for NOTO to be effective in our advocacy efforts. I encourage all members to read and respond to NOTO requests for input. It only takes a few minutes out of your day to make a huge impact in our industry.
I can feel the excitement building in the tourism community over the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit. This year the Summit takes place in Thunder Bay November 15-17. If you have not attended this event yet, I encourage you to sign up this year. The summit is an invaluable event for operators who spend their season in the muck and the mire of running their business and often don’t have time to attend industry sessions or network with like minded individuals. The Summit is a wonderful way to celebrate the season with fellow operators, learn about government programs and network with those who can help advance your business and increase bookings. The Summit is also a great place to meet and connect with many of NOTO’s Preferred Suppliers.  To learn more about the summit and to register, please visit: https://northernontariotourismsummit.ca/