The Canadian Tourism Awards

 Presented by: 

Categories

This year, the Canadian Tourism Awards will be presented in 14 categories. Click on a category or scroll down for a description of each award.

Category	Description	Judging Criteria	Preview Questionnaire	Start Nomination
The Air Canada Business of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The VIA Rail Community Outreach Award	view	view	open	go
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre Event of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The Visa Innovator of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The Fairmont Marketing Campaign of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The ATAC National Aboriginal (Indigenous) Cultural Tourism Award	view	view	open	go
The Parks Canada National Cultural Tourism Award	view	view	open	go
The Hilton Worldwide Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The WestJet Social Media/Digital Marketing Initiative of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
The Transat Sustainable Tourism Award	view	view	open	go
The Tourism HR Canada Tourism Employee of the Year Award	view	view	open	go
NEW! The Culinary Tourism Experience Award	view	view	open	go
NEW!  The Brewster Travel Canada Adventure/Outdoors Award	view	view	open	go
The Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award	go

Category Descriptions

The Air Canada Business of the Year Award 

The Air Canada Business of the Year Award will be presented to a tourism business that exemplifies industry best practices in all aspects of its operations, and is thus an example of all-round business excellence in the tourism industry.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Overall strength & long-term viability of the business/business model/strategy (20%)
2. Commitment to visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction (20%)
3. Commitment to growth, innovation and product development (20%)
4. Contribution to or enhancement of the tourism industry (20%)
5. Commitment to human resources development (20%)
   
   

The VIA Rail Community Outreach Award

The Community Outreach Award will be presented to the tourism business or organization that makes the year's most outstanding contribution to develop, build and enhance social conditions in their community.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Management, leadership and organizational commitment to community service (20%)
2. Engagement of staff in community initiatives (20%)
3. Integration of community service as part of a successful business strategy (20%)
4. Engagement and participation in community programs, activities or services (20%)
5. Partnership with the public sector and non-governmental organizations (20%)
   
   

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre Event of the Year Award

The Event of the Year Award will be presented to an event or festival that exemplifies industry best practices in all aspects of its operations, and thus serves as an example of excellence to other events and festivals and the greater tourism industry.

The nominee should be an event/festival that attracts visitors, participants and/or spectators, and may be (but is not limited to being) an event/festival of the following types: cultural, historical, musical, arts, sporting, culinary, literary, general interest, amusement, or other.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Commitment to visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction (20%)
2. Commitment to growth, innovation and product development (20%)
3. Stimulates economic activity during the event/festival (20%)
4. Promotes tourism and economic activity year-round in the host community (20%)
5. Social/cultural impact on Canada or the host community (20%)
   
   

The Visa Innovator of the Year Award

The Innovator of the Year Award will be presented to the tourism business or organization that develops the most innovative new tourism product, service or process, or the most innovative new approach to an existing tourism product, service or process that positively impacts the tourism business or the tourism industry as a whole.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Creativity/originality/uniqueness of the innovation (20%)
2. Complements or enhances the range of tourism products (20%)
3. Positively impacts visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction (20%)
4. Exemplifies or stimulates the development of a broader growth, innovation and product development strategy (20%)
5. Promotes long-term growth in the tourism industry (20%)
   
   

The Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Marketing Campaign of the Year Award

The Marketing Campaign of the Year Award will be presented to the organization that has devised and implemented the year's most outstanding tourism marketing campaign or initiative.

Nominations may be presented in this category for audio, video, or print campaigns, or any combination thereof (i.e. a multi-media campaign).

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Efficacy & viability of the campaign strategy (20%)
2. Innovativeness/uniqueness of creative materials (20%)
3. Demonstrably attracts or enhances awareness (20%)
4. Converts awareness into visitor traffic (conversion) (20%)
5. Contributes to or enhances the local, provincial and/or national tourism industry (20%)
   
   

The ATAC National Aboriginal (Indigenous) Cultural Tourism Award

The National Aboriginal (Indigenous) Cultural Tourism Award will recognize an Aboriginal tourism business that has demonstrated a commitment to the development, promotion and delivery of an authentic, innovative and enriched Aboriginal cultural tourism visitor experience.  The recipient will have demonstrated a commitment to authentic Aboriginal cultural tourism as a key aspect of encouraging and promoting tourism growth in their region.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Commitment to visitor satisfaction through delivery of quality and authentic market ready experiences as outlined in ATAC’s National Guidelines (20%)
2. Stimulation of tourism employment and economic activity in the host Aboriginal community (20%)
3. Social/cultural impact in the community through the demonstrated promotion and advancement of Aboriginal culture (20%)
4. Demonstrates innovation in the development and delivery of the experience (20%)
5. Commitment to cultural sustainability (20%)

The Parks Canada National Cultural Tourism Award

The National Cultural Tourism Award will recognize a cultural organization that has demonstrated a commitment to the development and promotion of authentic, innovative and enriched cultural tourism visitor experiences, or a tourism organization that has demonstrated a commitment to culture as a key aspect of encouraging and promoting tourism growth in their region.

Note: "Cultural" and "cultural tourism" refer to the organizations and/or activities within the Canadian sub-sectors of the arts, culture and/or heritage.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Commitment to visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction and product development (20%)
2. Promotion and advancement of culture in the community (20%)
3. Stimulation of tourism and economic activity in the host community (20%)
4. Social/cultural impact or legacy in the community (20%)
5. Commitment to cultural sustainability (20%)
   
   

The Hilton Worldwide Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award

The Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award will be presented to a tourism business (with fewer than 20 employees) that exemplifies industry best practices in all aspects of its operations, and is thus an example of all-round business excellence in the tourism industry.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Overall strength & long-term viability of the business/business model/strategy (20%)
2. Commitment to visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction (20%)
3. Commitment to growth, innovation and product development (20%)
4. Contribution to or enhancement of the tourism industry (20%)
5. Commitment to human resources development (20%)
   
   

The WestJet Social Media/Digital Marketing Initiative of the Year Award

The WestJet Social Media/Digital Marketing Initiative of the Year Award will be presented to the tourism business or organization that has devised and implemented the year's most outstanding social media marketing campaign or initiative.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Efficacy & viability of the campaign strategy (20%)
2. Demonstrably attracts or enhances awareness (20%)
3. Engagement/Interactivity with the target audience (20%)
4. Converts awareness into visitor traffic (conversion) (20%)
5. Contributes to or enhances the local, provincial and/or national tourism industry (20%)
   
   

The Transat Sustainable Tourism Award

The Sustainable Tourism Award will be presented to an organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the practice and promotion of sustainable tourism in Canada.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Protects and preserves natural and cultural heritage resources (20%)
2. Fosters appreciation and enjoyment of natural and cultural heritage resources (20%)
3. Raises awareness among visitors and influences them to enjoy resources sustainably (20%)
4. Mitigates negative impacts of tourism on the natural and cultural environment (20%)
5. Respects, involves and engages other stakeholders and host communities (20%)
   
   

The Tourism Employee of the Year Award

The Tourism Employee of the Year Award will be presented to the front-line employee whose professionalism, dedication, attitude, and quality of service best exemplify excellence in the tourism industry.

Owner/operators and senior management personnel are generally not eligible for this award.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Attitude and dedication (20%)
2. Leadership, cooperation and teamwork (20%)
3. Maintains exemplary work standards (20%)
4. Goes above and beyond to improve his/her organization (20%)
5. Commitment to visitor/participant/spectator satisfaction (20%)
   
   

NEW! The Culinary Tourism Experience Award

The Culinary Tourism Experience Award recognizes an organization or business that delivers an authentic consumer experience showcasing Canadian food and beverage.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Demonstrates innovation in showcasing authentic culinary experiences in their region/destination (25%)
2. Exemplifies Canada as an international culinary destination (25%)
3. Promotes quality Canadian food or drink products (25%)
4. Contribution in promoting regional culinary tourism experiences (25%)
   
   

NEW! The Brewster Travel Canada Adventure/Outdoors Award

The Adventure/Outdoors Award will be presented to an organization that provides outstanding outdoor adventure tourism experiences.

The judging criteria in this category are:

1. Promotes visitor participation and personal challenge (20%)
2. Provides outdoor experiences that showcase and promote regional tourism (20%)
3. Contribution to or enhancement of the tourism industry (20%)
4. Commitment to visitor/participant satisfaction and product development (20%)
5. Fosters an appreciation and enjoyment of the great outdoors (20%)

 Questions?

For more information, please contact Jessica O'Dacre at 613-688-1468 or [email protected]