Executive Director’s Message
Dear Members of CITAP+,
First of all on behalf of the Executive and BOD’s at CITAP+, I would like to extend my warmest wishes for the start of the new year. As we embark on this journey together, I am proud to say that our association has made great strides in promoting global tourism in the past year, and we are looking forward to continuing this work in the upcoming year.
Coming off a very successful Winter Function last December, we are in the process developing B to B platforms and educational seminar opportunities that you will hear more about soon. These programs will consist of networking events such as Golf Tournaments, Seminars, Workshops, FAMs and the Winter Function.
In the upcoming year, our External Committee will be working closely with local, regional, and national government officials to promote the tourism industry and enhance the experiences of travelers from all around the world. We will be working to create policies that facilitate international travel, encourage sustainable tourism, and promote cultural exchange.
These programs are only made possible by the volunteers who dedicate their time by working on our various committees and it is a great way in getting connected and staying connected. If you would like to learn more about these opportunities, please feel free contact me at anytime.
As we move forward into this new year, I encourage all members to continue their support and engagement in our association’s efforts. Together, we can work to build a brighter future for global tourism and promote a world that values cultural diversity and understanding.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our association’s mission, and I look forward to working with all of you in the upcoming year.
Sincerely,
Joe Volk
Executive Director CITAP+
Interview with CITAP+ DMO Member : Allyson Tonelli, Tourism Kingston
CITAP+ is pleased to introduce Allyson Tonelli, Director of Sales, Tourism Kingston. Allyson shares with us some professional insights, as well as a few tidbits from her personal life…
- Allyson, you’ve been with TK for several years now. What do you enjoy most about your role as Sales Director?
Meeting new people and building relationships with partners and clients. I also love telling people about my beautiful city, especially those that have not yet experienced Kingston. As the director of sales, I also have the pleasure of overseeing travel trade, sport and wellness and business events, which allows me to bring many different types of travellers to my city.
- Kingston is a charming town, with a lot to offer to international tourists. What do you think visitors love most about your city?
Kingston is a beautiful, walkable city that has many beautiful nooks and crannies to discover. I think that most visitors love the charm of the limestone buildings as well as the extensive history of Kingston. Kingston was the first capital of Canada, a fact that most do not know. With dozens of museums and historic sites, and dozens more unique shopping and dining experiences, Kingston offers you something old and something new around every corner.
- How have you benefited from TK’s membership with CITAP+ since 2019?
The relationships that I have been able to build is by far the biggest benefit. Not only with RTOs, but with other destinations. Being able to share best and worst practices goes a very long way. We are all trying to achieve the exact same thing, which is making sure the traveller has the best experience possible in our cities. Being able to learn what has worked for others allows us to make sure we always bring our best foot forward for our visitors.
- March is coming, and with it spring breaks across the country. How are you and your family going to enjoy the break?
We will be visiting the Cataraqui Conservation area for Maple Madness! They serve the BEST pancakes, and it is a great learning experience for the kids about how trees are tapped, and maple syrup is produced. We will also head down to the Kingston Brew Pub, Ontario’s oldest brew pub that not only has house made beers, ciders, and soda pops, it also has fantastic burgers, and my kids love it! Lastly, skating at Springer Market Square is always a favourite during March break as well.
- When in Vancouver for CITAP+’s Winter Function, you’ve been known as a fan of “Those Pretzels”…any other favourite things to do between networking, educational sessions, and sales calls?
You are right, hitting the Vancouver Christmas market for “Those Pretzels” is one of my absolute favourite things to do while there, but also exploring Vancouver and all its beauty!
Interview with CITAP+ DMO Member : Roseanne Longo, Destination Toronto
Please meet Roseanne Longo, Vice President, International Travel Trade Sales at Destination Toronto
- Roseanne, as the VP of International Travel Trade Sales with Destination Toronto, what do you enjoy most about your role?
It is amazing to meet and work with wonderful partners and clients from around the world, be supported by a dedicated team of colleagues and see the impact of our collective efforts. It is exciting to showcase Toronto to global audiences and hear the incredible feedback that reinforces all that I love about this great city – the place where I was born and choose to reside.
2. Toronto is an amazing, vibrant city, with a lot to offer to international tourists. What do you think visitors love most about your city?
I think the word “vibrant” nails it. We hear from so many of our clients and visitors how the city bubbles with vitality and life. Toronto has grown to become such a modern city with its gleaming high-rises, lakeside setting, culinary scene, attractions and events to suit a variety of audiences juxtaposed with greenspace, tree canopies and nature trails right in the heart of the city. It is a very welcoming and multicultural city so the opportunity to experience “life” presents itself around every corner.
3. Have you seen a strong rebound in the inbound/receptive tourism sector in Toronto? Which key markets are rebounding fastest?
Inbound and receptive operators have always played a crucial role in bringing international visitors to Toronto – indeed all of Canada. They are that trusted resource that the travel trade looks to year after year. Receptives know the destinations they sell, have strong relationships with suppliers and can offer trade clients worry free, experiential FIT and group programs. These relationships strengthened with the complexities of international travel post COVID and, depending on market recovery, many of the receptive operators we work with have seen their business rebound stronger than ever. In Toronto, we have seen the UK, German and Mexican markets rebound rather quickly once border restrictions were lifted. Japan and China have been slower to return for a variety of reasons.
4. Destination Toronto has been a long-time member of CITAP+. What are some of the key benefits you derive from your membership?
CITAP has enabled Destination Toronto to foster and strengthen business development efforts from the Asia/Pacific markets over the years with all of the CITAP inbound members. The connections that have been established have been invaluable in enabling Destination Toronto to continually showcase the products and services the city has to offer. Operators are always looking for new products, refreshing programs and creating new packages. It is a great partnership in which to foster growth for both sides. CITAP+ takes that to a whole new level in expanding market opportunities now.
5. What is your favourite season and what do you enjoy doing at that time of year?
First off, let me say I love the fact that we live in a country with four seasons – there is always something to look forward to (especially the days getting longer!) I would say that fall is my favorite time of year. I love to go hiking in the ravines and trails. That time of year offers explosions of color in the trees and sky and if you know where to go and time it right. Nature has an amazing way of recharging your emotions and senses.
2023 CITAP+ Membership- Renew Now!
We come to you with a friendly reminder that if you have not renewed your CITAP+ membership for 2023, please do so promptly to ensure you do not miss any updates from us! We understand how difficult these last few years have been, but we want to ask for your support as we move forward in our industry’s recovery.
To renew your membership, simply follow these steps:
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- Log in to your account on our website: https://citap.ca/my-account/.
If you have forgotten your password, please use the “lost your password” link to retrieve access to your account.
If there has been a change in personnel in your organization, please create a new profile online with your credentials when completing the checkout process. - Once logged in, go to the “Become a Member” page, and add your respective membership to your cart to prompt the checkout process.
- Complete payment information.
- Log in to your account on our website: https://citap.ca/my-account/.
RTO Market Reports
Market updates are written by Receptive Tour Operator members and in this issue we have updates from the following markets: Europe, Australia, and China. Enjoy their anecdotal assessment of each of our markets with a combination of overview, economy, and forecast. Read the full report on our Reports and Presentations page.
Members’ Corner
In this Members’ corner, our members have shared their latest updates with us. Click below to read!
Destination Bc Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region
Heritage Park Historical Village
