Working Together to Build Tourism in Northern Ontario
We’re excited to announce that the 2026 Northern Ontario Tourism Summit will take place in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Stay tuned for more details and program updates!
This year’s summit will feature more than 20 dynamic sessions focused on the trends, opportunities, and innovations shaping the future of tourism, along with valuable networking opportunities for industry professionals.
We look forward to bringing together tourism leaders, partners, and stakeholders from across the region for meaningful conversations, practical insights, and valuable connections.
Agenda
This year’s program will feature more than 20 sessions designed to explore the key forces shaping the future of tourism and lots of networking opportunities, including:
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We look forward to bringing industry leaders together for insightful discussions, practical strategies, and meaningful connections.
Stay tuned for the release of our full agenda.
Tuesday November 3rd
Having trouble viewing on mobile? Rotate the screen or swipe to the right to read full agenda.
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | Indigenous Tourism Ontario - Bridging the Waters Session This half-day (3.5 hr) workshop is created to guide participants through a learning journey to a place of improved understanding and better working and personal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, communities, and businesses across the province. A full conference registration ticket is required to attend this workshop. Space is limited to 35 participants. | Main Ballroom |
| 7:00 pm | Opening Reception Hosted by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie Transportation will be provided to and from the event from Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre. | Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre |
Wednesday November 4th
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| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) | Main Ballroom |
| 8:30 am | Tradeshow Floor is Open- Visit our exhibitors! | Main Ballroom |
| 8:30 am | Program Starts | Main Ballroom |
| 8:50 am | Keynote Speaker - Dan Kelly, President, CEO and Chair of Canadian Federation of Independent Business Dan Kelly serves as CFIB’s President and CEO and, in this role, is the lead spokesperson and advocate for the views of the organization’s 100,000 members. | Main Ballroom |
| 10:00 am | Unlocking NOHFC: How to Turn Your Tourism Idea into Funded Reality, Presented by Melanie Muncaster, Director of the Regional Economic Development in the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth | Main Ballroom |
| 10:30 am | Break - Sponsored by Smoker Craft | |
| 11:00 am | From Chatbot to Coworker: Making AI Actually Earn Its Keep presented by Mike Jacobs, CEO, The New Business | Main Ballroom |
| 11:55 am | A few words from the owner and CEO of Village Media, Jeff Elgie | Main Ballroom |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch Sponsored by Village Media | Main Ballroom |
| 1:00 pm | Redefing Paths to Growth in Tourism Careers | Main Ballroom |
| Culinary and Agritourism Product Development in Action: Culinary Tourism Alliance and Destination Northern Ontario Join us at Northern Superior Brewing Co. and The Tap Room in Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, November 4th from 1:00-4:00pm for a hands-on look at what's driving culinary tourism forward in the region. Sample dishes and drinks from local chefs and producers while exploring the strategies behind their success, including building strong industry partnerships and creating value-added products, to extending the shoulder season and spotlighting the work of Indigenous chefs shaping the region's food identity. Cost: $25 per person added to your full conference ticket. Transportation: Bus pickup and drop-off at the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre | OFF SITE | |
| Emergency Preparedness: Flood, Fire, Certifications | Erie Room | |
| Growing the Next Generation of Hunters - A Collaborative Workshop | Ontario Room | |
| 2:00 pm | Building Better Relationships: Tourism, Forestry & Resource Stewardship Agreements | Main Ballroom |
| Northern Ontario Travel Insights: How to Use the Destination Ontario Insights Portal (DO-IP) | Erie Room | |
| Indigenous Tourism Ontario Session: Title TBA | Ontario Room | |
| 2:30 pm | Break Sponsored by TBA | Main Ballroom |
| 3:00 pm | Main Ballroom Closed for Gala Set Up | |
| Updates on the Geo Park | Erie Room | |
| Students Panel Discussion | Ontario Room | |
| 3:30 pm | ATS Cyber Security: What happened, How to resolve, How to protect. | Erie Room |
| Get Involved: WSIB Health and Safety Excellence Program | WSPS | Ontario Room | |
| 6:00 pm | Cocktail Hour & Hors d'oeuvres Sponsored by The New Business | Main Ballroom Foyer |
| 6:30 pm | Gala + Presidents Dinner at Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre | Main Ballroom |
Thursday November 5th
Having trouble viewing on mobile? Rotate the screen or swipe to the right to read full agenda.
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) | Main Ballroom |
| 8:30 am | Tradeshow Floor - Visit our exhibitors | Main Ballroom |
| 8:35am | Key Traveller Segments to Northern Ontario: Fresh Insights from Destination Ontario and Destination Northern Ontario Consumer Segmentation Research | Main Ballroom |
| 9:30 am | Indigenous Tourism Ontario Session: Title TBA | Main Ballroom |
| 10:30 am | Break Sponsored by TBA | Main Ballroom |
| 11:00 am | Tourism Roundtable Discussions | Main Ballroom |
| WMU 13 Moose Research Project Updates | Erie Room | |
| Access in Action: Programming, Partnerships, and Adaptive Design | Ontario Room | |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch Sponsored by TBA | Main Ballroom |
| 1:00 pm | Porter Airlines Prize Giveaway - Complete your NOTSOPLY square for your chance to win TWO round-trip flight vouchers valid for travel to any Porter Airlines destination. | Main Ballroom |
Event Information
This is where you'll find everything you need to know about NOTS 2026. If you can't find what you're looking for, or if you have any questions, please contact us. Additional event information to come, be sure to check back for updates!
Ticket Pricing
Full Conference Registration - $400.00
All access pass to everything from the Opening Reception to the President's and Gala Awards Dinner.
Operators receive $50 off the full conference registration rate. Please contact us to request your promo code.
Full Conference Registration and Tradeshow Booth - $900.00
Includes one tradeshow booth ($500) and one full conference pass ($400). Early bird rate for the booth is $450 if the tradeshow booth is confirmed and paid for by August 31st. Please contact us to request your promo code.
Opening Reception - $75.00
Access to the Opening Reception on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.
Wednesday Day Pass - $200.00
Includes access to Wednesday's sessions. Excludes the President's and Gala Awards Dinner
Thursday Day Pass - $150.00
Includes access to Thursday's sessions. Sessions end at 1:00 pm.
Gala Only Ticket $100.00
Includes registration to the President's and Gala Awards dinner only on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026.
Limited-Time Offer: Save 20% on Porter Airlines Flights
Porter Airlines is proud to offer you a discount on available base fares: 20% for travel to and from the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit 2026. The discounted fares are available for booking until October 16, 2026, and are available for travel:
Please book online here or through your travel agent using promo code “NOTS26”
Accommodations
Host Hotel - Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre
229 Great Northern Road,
Sault Ste. Marie, ON,
Canada, P6B 4Z2
Phone: 705-942-2500 or Toll-free: 800-563-7262
Call and mention the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit to reserve your room.
The cutoff date for this block is October 5th, 2026.
Overflow Accommodations - Super 8 by Wyndham
184 Great Northern Rd,
Sault Ste. Marie
ON P6B 4Z3
Phone: (705) 910-2585
Call and mention the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit to reserve your room.
Opening Reception
Stay tuned for updates.
Awards
Northern Ontario Tourism Industry Leader Awards
The Northern Ontario Industry Leader Awards recognize excellence in the province's tourism industry. Recipients provide outstanding leadership, exemplify best business practices, innovative marketing and deliver tourism experiences that contribute to the success of Ontario's tourism industry.
For more information click here.
NOTO Awards
The NOTO Awards were created to recognize the incredible individuals who bring Ontario’s outdoor tourism industry to life. Each year, we honour members who have gone above and beyond by protecting our natural environment, enhancing tourism products, or taking the time to participate in meaningful ways to advance tourism across the province.
For more information click here.
All awards will be presented at the Presidents & Gala Awards dinner.
FAQ
01 | What should I wear to the summit? Pack business casual attire. Evening events are casual. The President's and Gala Awards dinner is a black-tie event. |
02 | When does the room block close? The room block will close on October 5th, 2026. We strongly encourage you to book your room as early as possible. Once the block is full, the special rate will no longer be available. Guests booking outside of the block should expect to pay approximately $100 more per night. |
03 | What's on the menu for the Gala Award Dinner? The gala dinner menu includes a garden salad and bread, followed by penne pasta, chicken cutlets, jumbo cheese raviolis, meatballs, and chocolate cheesecake for dessert. |
Building on 80+ years of successful conferences for the outfitting sector, the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit was developed as a partnership event between Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) to bring together tourism businesses, organizations and suppliers as well as all levels of government at a single event to find solutions to challenges facing the industry.
Sponsorship
Interested in sponsoring the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit? Contact us to learn more and get involved!
Tradeshow Exhibitors
Interested in becoming an exhibitor at the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit? Contact Kate at kate@noto.net to learn more and get involved!
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Stay tuned for updates.
Diamond Sponsors
Ruby Sponsors
Emerald Sponsors
Sapphire Sponsors
Tradeshow Exhibitors
2026 Exhibitors List
Hear from past attendees!
“Thank you for all the hard work in pulling off another great event. We got so much out of it, and I heard so many people talking about the opportunities, learning, and incredible networking.”
— 2024 Northern Ontario Tourism Summit Attendee
