Marketplace Sessions

Monday, November 4th

Tour Operator Education Sessions (Tour Operators Only) – Sponsored by Explore Waterloo Region

Lunch and Learn: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Post-pandemic traveller insights: trust, value and preferences in Ontario
Do Ontario consumers have trust in the travel industry? How important is it for consumers to book with a regulated business? Which consumers are most likely to seek out a TICO-registered business?

Kristina will answer these questions and share TICO’s consumer awareness initiatives as part of this insightful update about whether consumer protection can be a competitive advantage for Ontario’s travel companies.

Kristina Wilson

Stakeholder Relations Manager at the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)

Explore Waterloo Region Presentation: 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Learn what is happening in Waterloo and what is new?

Destination Ontario Presentation: 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM

See how Destination Ontario’s brand marketing team is positioning Ontario as a must-experience travel destination and what it’s doing to attract US and Canadian visitors to the province; including seasonal approaches to each market, and which product pillars they’re focused on. In addition to learning more about Destination Ontario’s marketing efforts, you’ll leave with some opportunities to tap into free marketing tools and information on how best to connect with the broader DO team.

Nick Pedota

Marketing Manager, Destination Ontario

Mini Marketplace: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Discover new products and hidden gems that can elevate your itineraries and experiences.

State of the Industry Panel: 4:00 PM – 5:00PM

A panel of tour operators and coach operators will discuss the current state of the industry. How does the rising costs of all services impact the industry and, in the end, the consumer.

Moderator: Scotty Kesseler

Regional VP Sales, MCI


Tuesday, November 5th

Supplier Sessions

Experiential Tourism, Not Just a Buzz Word: 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM and 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Hear from a tourism panel of how experiential tourism helped them grow their visitation and revenue. How can experiential tourism help you elevate your customer’s experience in your hotel, attraction, restaurant, or service?  How can you make your product tell a story and engage your customers? A service lasts a specific timeframe but memories last a lifetime. Make Experiential Tourism work for you.

Joanne Wolnik

Executive Director, Regional Tourism Organization


Coach Operator Sessions – Sponsored by PREVOST

Insurance/Risk Management Workshop Part A: 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Description TBA.

Bonnie Learn B.A.

Executive Risk Services Consultant, Transportation & Logistics, Northbridge Insurance

Insurance/Risk Management Workshop Part B: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Description TBA.

Bonnie Learn B.A.

Executive Risk Services Consultant, Transportation & Logistics, Northbridge Insurance

PREVOST Technology, Engines, and Maintenance: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

A look back at the evaluation of the Volvo D13 platform and where we are going in the future.

Robert Hitt

Service Training Manager, Prevost

Coach Op Session: MCI Engine Maintenance and Technology: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Description TBA.

Brent Maitland

Vice President, MCI


Wednesday, November 6th

Supplier Sessions

How Can You Use AI Effectively In Everyday Business: 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM and 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM

What is AI? How can you use it effectively in your business and for social media. Simplify your life and work tasks by knowing what tools exist and how to properly use them to manage your daily business activities.

Jordan Goure

President & CEO, PICSUME

Nick Mastromattei

Co-Founder & CTO, PICSUME


Coach Operator Sessions – Sponsored by PREVOST

Via RailConnecting Rail and Land Transportation: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Description TBA.

Stuart Kendrick

Transportation Consultant, Kendrick Management Solutions

Pierre Santoni

Director, Intermodal Passenger Transportation Partnerships, VIA Rail

Shant Demirdjian

Manager of Leasing and Real Estate Transactions, VIA Rail

Traveler Modernization Initiative 101 – Bus Border Processing: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Traveller Modernization is a multi-year initiative seeking to provide safe, efficient and modern voluntary digital tools to enhance the travel experience for Canadians and visitors crossing the border into Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will streamline information gathering, reduce administrative tasks, and develop modernized, user-friendly applications to improve and expedite the border experience for the traveler and for the CBSA’s frontline.

Erika Hamilton

Manager, Digital Traveler Experience Outreach, Travelers Transformation, Canada Border Services Agency / Government of Canada

Gordie Howe International Bridge: Seamlessly Connecting North America: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

With construction well underway, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project will soon add another crossing option to the Windsor-Detroit trade corridor. The new six-lane bridge will provide additional crossing capacity, along with two state-of-the-art ports of entry and a direct highway-to-highway connection at the busiest commercial land gateway between Canada and the US. Join Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority representatives to learn more about key project features travelers can look forward to following opening day in fall 2025.

Stephanie Campeau

Associate Vice President, Stakeholder and Community Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Site Tour of Gordie Howe International Bridge: 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Join Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority representatives for a driving tour of the Canadian Port of Entry and Gordie Howe International Bridge. Learn more about key operational features integrated into this once-in-lifetime project along with seeing the latest construction progress first-hand.

Stephanie Campeau

Associate Vice President, Stakeholder and Community Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

Off-Site Tour: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Off-site tour of VIA Rail Windsor.

Stuart Kendrick

Transportation Consultant, Kendrick Management Solutions

Pierre Santoni

Director, Intermodal Passenger Transportation Partnerships, VIA Rail

Shant Demirdjian

Manager of Leasing and Real Estate Transactions, VIA Rail

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