Who We Are

Destination Ontario is the lead tourism marketing organization for Ontario, Canada. We market Ontario to travel consumers within Ontario, Canada and around the world. We inspire travellers to make Ontario a must-see destination on their travel list and to return to the beauty of Ontario again and again. Key to our success is working collaboratively with our tourism partners to benefit from shared content, joint partnerships and delivering a visitor-first approach to our marketing.

Established in 1999, Destination Ontario, legally the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, is an agency of the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Mission

To generate increased visitation by Ontario, Canadian and international tourists, enhance tourism expenditures in Ontario, and contribute to provincial economic prosperity through impactful marketing and results oriented investment partnerships.

Board of Directors

Destination Ontario is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of business leaders who are appointed by Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor in Council, based on recommendations from the Minister, Tourism, Culture and Sport.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors please visit the Government of Ontario’s Public Appointments Secretariat site for more information.

  • Picture of Todd Halpern

    Todd Halpern

    Chair, Destination Ontario
    President
    Halpern Enterprises
    Toronto
    Picture of Todd Halpern

    Todd Halpern

    Chair, Destination Ontario
    President
    Halpern Enterprises
    Toronto

    Todd Halpern is self employed. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and Vice-Chair for UHN. 

  • Danielle Chretien,  Operator, Lake on the Mountain Resort

    Danielle Chretien

    Operator
    Lake on the Mountain Resort
    Prince Edward County
    Danielle Chretien,  Operator, Lake on the Mountain Resort

    Danielle Chretien

    Operator
    Lake on the Mountain Resort
    Prince Edward County

    Danielle Chretien is a former GIS and remote specialist for Space Imaging, and a former GIS consultant for American Ref-Fuel. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer event coordinator for Standing Ovation.

  • Photo of Andrew Galloro

    Andrew Galloro

    Director of Corporate Communications
    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
    Toronto
    Photo of Andrew Galloro

    Andrew Galloro

    Director of Corporate Communications
    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
    Toronto

    Andrew is the global Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, leading crisis communications, corporate messaging, and executive media relations. Andrew was previously a consultant at the communications firm Navigator and served in communications roles at the federal and provincial government. Andrew sits on the communications committee of the Board of Directors for Wellspring, a national cancer care organization, and is also a long-time volunteer at Casey House, Canada’s first stand-alone hospital for people with HIV/AIDS. 

  • Jesse Hamilton, General Manager, Deerhurst Resort

    Jesse Hamilton

    Vice President, Hospitality
    Blue Mountain Resort
    The Blue Mountains
    Jesse Hamilton, General Manager, Deerhurst Resort

    Jesse Hamilton

    Vice President, Hospitality
    Blue Mountain Resort
    The Blue Mountains

    Jesse Hamilton is Vice President of Hospitality at Blue Mountain Resort. Prior positions include, Vice President at Freed Hotel and Resorts, and General Manager positions with Deerhurst Resort and East Winds Saint Lucia. Jesse’s community involvement includes serving as Vice-Chair for the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association.

  • Picture of Cathy Kirkpatrick

    Cathy Kirkpatrick

    Partner
    Alphabet
    Ottawa
    Picture of Cathy Kirkpatrick

    Cathy Kirkpatrick

    Partner
    Alphabet
    Ottawa

    Catherine Kirkpatrick is a partner at Alphabet, and a member for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Ontario. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for Algonquin College. 

  • Sumeeta Kohli, Marketing Consultant / Entrepreneur, Glocal Marketing

    Sumeeta Kohli

    Founder and Principal Consultant
    Glocal Marketing
    Mississauga
    Sumeeta Kohli, Marketing Consultant / Entrepreneur, Glocal Marketing

    Sumeeta Kohli

    Founder and Principal Consultant
    Glocal Marketing
    Mississauga

    Sumeeta Kohli is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Glocal Marketing, and an Owner and Operator for Z-teca Mexican Eatery. Her community involvement includes serving as a Chairperson for Panorama India.

  • Dennis Matthews, President, Creative Currency / Partner, Enterprise Canada

    Dennis Matthews

    President
    Creative Currency / Partner, Enterprise Canada
    Toronto
    Dennis Matthews, President, Creative Currency / Partner, Enterprise Canada

    Dennis Matthews

    President
    Creative Currency / Partner, Enterprise Canada
    Toronto

    Dennis Matthews is the President of Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio in Toronto. Dennis leads a team that works with major leaders, brands and causes to tell their story and move public opinion. He was an advertising advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a veteran of numerous political campaigns, and remains a frequent media commentator on advertising, digital and political issues. He was recently recognized as an Adweek Magazine Toronto Brand Star and is a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Michael Garron Hospital. Dennis is also a partner at Enterprise Canada, a national strategic communication firm.

  • Lauren McDonald, Director, Digital + Campaign Strategy at Creative Currency

    Lauren McDonald

    Director of Digital + Campaign Strategy
    Creative Currency
    Toronto
    Lauren McDonald, Director, Digital + Campaign Strategy at Creative Currency

    Lauren McDonald

    Director of Digital + Campaign Strategy
    Creative Currency
    Toronto

    Lauren McDonald is the Director of Digital + Campaign Strategy at Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio. She is a former Director of Marketing for the Office of the Premier of Ontario.

  • Photo of Jerry Pribil

    Jerry Pribil

    President
    Marienbad Hospitality
    London
    Photo of Jerry Pribil

    Jerry Pribil

    President
    Marienbad Hospitality
    London

    Jerry Pribil owns and operates Marienbad Restaurant and Chaucer’s Pub in London, ON. He obtained his MBA at the Universidad Europea in Madrid. Jerry has international executive management experience in hospitality and tourism industry and as a university professor in the United States and Europe, teaching strategic management in hospitality & tourism.

  • Ben Purkiss, Creative Director, Ben Purkiss Design

    Benjamin Purkiss

    Partner
    Pendulum Group
    Grimsby
    Ben Purkiss, Creative Director, Ben Purkiss Design

    Benjamin Purkiss

    Partner
    Pendulum Group
    Grimsby

    Benjamin Purkiss is a Founding Partner of Pendulum Group, a boutique communications firm with a focus on media, design and analysis. He is an award-winning Creative Director with experience in both the public and private sectors within Canada and the United States working alongside global corporations and leaders.

  • Jasveen Rattan, Consultant, JKR Consulting

    Dr. Jasveen Rattan

    Consultant
    JKR Consulting
    Mississauga
    Jasveen Rattan, Consultant, JKR Consulting

    Dr. Jasveen Rattan

    Consultant
    JKR Consulting
    Mississauga

    Dr. Jasveen Rattan is a consultant who is passionate about helping her clients create responsible initiatives and sustainable solutions for their organizations. She has consulted on community projects, and presented at conferences, in Canada, USA, Grenada, England, Thailand, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Australia. Jasveen’s experiences and educational background is diverse and expands across all sectors, it includes: a Diploma in Hospitality Management (Humber College), a Bachelor of Applied Management in Hospitality and Tourism (University of New Brunswick Saint John), a Master of Arts in Tourism Policy and Planning, and a PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies (University of Waterloo).

  • Photo of Lacey Rigg

    Lacey Rigg

    Coordinator of Meetings, Conventions and Sports Tourism
    City of Timmins
    Photo of Lacey Rigg

    Lacey Rigg

    Coordinator of Meetings, Conventions and Sports Tourism
    City of Timmins

    Lacey is the Coordinator of Meetings, Conventions and Sports Tourism for The City of Timmins. Her community involvement includes an Auxiliary Constable for the Timmins Police Service, a long serving board member of the Timmins Rock Junior A Hockey Club as well as a level 3 hockey trainer for various teams. 

  • Rob Taylor, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Wine Growers Canada

    Rob Taylor

    Director of Policy and Government Relations
    Wine Growers Canada
    Ottawa
    Rob Taylor, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Wine Growers Canada

    Rob Taylor

    Director of Policy and Government Relations
    Wine Growers Canada
    Ottawa

    Rob Taylor has vast travel and tourism industry experience ranging from event operator, industry advocate, consultant, and ministerial advisor. As the former VP of Public Affairs and interim CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Rob worked closely with Destination Canada on the management of RendezVous Canada, Tourism Town Halls, GoMedia, and TIAC conferences.

Executive Leadership

Destination Ontario is guided by the executive leadership of a diverse, accomplished and driven group of individuals who collectively support the entire Destination Ontario team.

  • Photo of Vincenza Ronaldi

    Vincenza Ronaldi

    President and CEO
  • Debra Mansillo, Vice President, Industry Relations & International Marketing

    Debra Mansillo

    Vice President, Industry Relations and International Marketing
  • Melanie Robert, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

    Melanie Robert

    Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
  • Image of Sue Harrison

    Sue Harrison

    Vice President, Corporate Services and Operations
  • Photo of Lydia Devereaux

    Lydia Devereaux

    Director, International Marketing
  • Photo of Todd Eastman

    Todd Eastman

    Director, Northern Partnerships and Marketing
  • Photo of Garlene Kubisheskie

    Garlene Kubisheskie

    Director, Ontario Travel Information Services
  • Lauchlan Rogers, Director, Marketing & Creative Services

    Lauchlan Rogers

    Director, Marketing and Creative Services
  • Jennifer Stubbs, Director, Technology and Insights (A)

    Jennifer Stubbs

    Director, Technology and Insights
  • Director, Finance and Corporate Services

    Ronald Ting

    Director, Finance and Corporate Services
  • Kate Vrancart, Director, Strategic Engagement and Communications

    Kate Vrancart

    Director, Strategic Engagement and Communications

Mandate

Destination Ontario is governed by Ontario Regulation 618/98 under the Development Corporations Act. Its mandate, as provided for in the regulation, is:

  1. to market Ontario as a travel destination;
  2. to undertake joint marketing initiatives with the tourism industry;
  3. to support and assist the marketing efforts of the tourism industry; and
  4. in cooperation with the tourism industry, the Government of Ontario, other governments and other agencies of governments, to promote Ontario as a travel destination.

The following principles support the mandate:

  1. Destination Ontario is to lead the marketing of Ontario as a travel destination nationally and internationally;
  2. Destination Ontario and regional organizations are to work together to market travel within Ontario;
  3. Destination Ontario is to deliver marketing services that contribute to regional and economic development;
  4. Destination Ontario is to become a centre of excellence supporting provincial marketing; and
  5. Destination Ontario is to engage in partnerships to support the above objectives.

Accessibility

Destination Ontario is committed to the principles outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act,.

Accessibility

Last updated: October 12, 2023

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