Central Counties Tourism

03/24/2026

Our March newsletter is now live, featuring important updates and opportunities for tourism partners across York, Durham, and Headwaters.

In this issue:

📌 2026/27 Partnership Program Info Session (taking place this week!)
📌 Board of Directors recruitment
📌 Spring marketing campaign callout
📌 New research insights on visitor trends and spending
📌 Industry news and upcoming learning opportunities
..and more!

We’re also highlighting success stories from across the region, including award-winning festivals and new tourism experiences.

If it's not already in your inbox, head over to our website to read it now: https://centralcounties.ca/enews/

03/18/2026

🚨 Planning a tourism initiative in York Durham Headwaters?

Join us on Thursday, March 26 at 12pm for a virtual Lunch & Learn and discover how the 2026/27 Partnership Program can support local tourism initiatives through matched funding.

✨ Get the inside scoop on:

➡️ The program’s four funding streams
➡️ Eligibility criteria and intake timelines
➡️ Tips to strengthen your application

Plus, connect directly with our team during a live Q&A and get your questions answered ahead of the main intake period.

Whether you're applying for the first time or building on a past project, this session will help you put your best application forward.

🔗 Advance registration required: https://bit.ly/4biktv0

Join us on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 12:00pm for a virtual Lunch & Learn session to explore the 2026/27 Partnership Program and how it can support your tourism initiatives through matched funding opportunities for tourism businesses, municipalities, and organizations across the York, Durham, and H...

03/05/2026

✨ What a day! ✨

This week, we welcomed a sold-out room of tourism champions, industry partners, and changemakers to the 2026 Central Counties Tourism Symposium: Local to Limitless… and the energy did not disappoint!

From thought-provoking keynote insights to engaging panels and breakout sessions, the conversations throughout the day reinforced a clear theme: when we collaborate, innovate, and lean into our local strengths, the possibilities truly are limitless. The energy in the room was undeniable, with hallways buzzing between sessions, new partnerships forming over coffee, and thoughtful discussion continuing long after the presentations were through.

We were also thrilled to have a group of Durham College students in attendance, listening, learning, and engaging with industry leaders. Their presence was a powerful reminder that the momentum we’re building today is inspiring the leaders who will shape tomorrow’s visitor economy.

A sincere thank you to our speakers, sponsors, partners, and every attendee who helped make this year’s Symposium such a success.

📢 We’re excited to share that our 2027 Tourism Symposium will be heading to Pickering. Stay tuned for more details later this year!

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Co-Presenting Sponsors:
Durham Tourism -- Durham Region, Ontario, Canada | Town of Whitby - Local Government

Platinum Sponsor:
Destination Pickering

Gold Sponsors:
Tourism Vaughan | York Link - York Region Economic Development

Silver Sponsors:
Choose Brock | Destination Markham | Discover Uxbridge, Ontario | Durham College – Advertise with DC and Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation | Experience King | Orangeville Tourism | Town of Ajax | Tudor Pines Bed and Breakfast | Visit Caledon

02/17/2026

The February newsletter is here!

Catch up on all the latest updates, including the SOLD OUT 2026 Tourism Symposium (Happy Hour Social added!), the upcoming 2026/27 Partnership Program, free Learning Lab Tourism Ambassador Program, Truth2Action Reconciliation Training, Tri-Township Networking Extravaganza (in Durham), funding opportunities, learning events, and more.

Read the full issue here: https://centralcounties.ca/enews/

Not already receiving it? Be sure to sign up on our website.

02/11/2026

🎉 We’re officially SOLD OUT! 🎉

Our 2026 Tourism Symposium, presented by Durham Tourism and Whitby Tourism, will welcome a full room of tourism professionals from across York, Durham and Headwaters to Royal Ashburn Golf Club, on March 2, for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration tied to this year’s theme, Local to Limitless.

Thank you to everyone who secured their spot, and to all of our sponsors for your partnership and support in bringing this event to life. This event truly would not be possible without you.

The full agenda is now live, and we’re excited to share that a Happy Hour Social, presented by Slabtown Cider, has just been added to close out the day. Stay tuned for more details!

🔗 Review the agenda: https://bit.ly/4qxSvQj

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Co-Presenting Sponsors:
Durham Tourism -- Durham Region, Ontario, Canada | Town of Whitby - Local Government

Platinum Sponsor:
Destination Pickering

Gold Sponsors:
Tourism Vaughan | York Link - York Region Economic Development

Silver Sponsors:
Choose Brock | Destination Markham | Discover Uxbridge, Ontario | Durham College – Advertise with DC and Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation | Experience King | Orangeville Tourism | Town of Ajax | Tudor Pines Bed and Breakfast | Visit Caledon

02/10/2026

Have you explored our Tourism Route Development course yet?

Available through the CCT Learning Lab and free for tourism professionals across Ontario, this self-paced course shows you how to collaborate with other businesses to create engaging routes, themed trails, and multi-stop itineraries that attract more visitors and encourage longer stays.

With real-world examples, practical tools, and a bonus lesson on adding events, the course is designed to help you strengthen visitor experiences and build meaningful connections within your region.

🔗 Read our blog to learn more and get started:

Discover how to attract more visitors and boost your business with CCT’s free Tourism Route Development course. Learn step-by-step strategies to create engaging tourism routes, build partnerships, and grow your destination through our online Learning Lab.

02/05/2026

Meet our keynote speaker, Adam Rodricks, who’s excited to join us on March 2 at the 2026 Tourism Symposium, presented by Durham Tourism and Whitby Tourism.

In his keynote, Engage to Earn: Where Authentic Connection Drives Real Tourism Impact, Adam will dig into how authentic connections build trust and drive action — and how turning online engagement into real-world results starts with understanding why people care and why they share. From storytelling and trust-building to social media and AI, he’ll share practical insights tourism businesses can put to use right away.

We’re looking forward to welcoming Adam and exploring how meaningful engagement can translate into measurable results for our industry.

Join us:
📅 Monday, March 2, 2026
📍 Royal Ashburn Golf Club
🔗 View the full agenda, speaker lineup & registration details:
https://centralcounties.ca/featured-events/2026-cct-tourism-symposium-local-to-limitless/

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Co-Presenting Sponsors:
Durham Tourism -- Durham Region, Ontario, Canada | Town of Whitby - Local Government

Platinum Sponsor:
Destination Pickering

Gold Sponsors:
Tourism Vaughan | York Link - York Region Economic Development

Silver Sponsors:
Choose Brock | Destination Markham | Discover Uxbridge, Ontario | Experience King | Orangeville Tourism | Town of Ajax | Tudor Pines Bed and Breakfast | Visit Caledon

02/02/2026

We’re excited to welcome Adam Rodricks as our keynote speaker at the 2026 Tourism Symposium, presented by Durham Tourism and Whitby Tourism.

An international award-winning social media strategist and one of Canada’s leading voices in digital advocacy, Adam will deliver his keynote
Engage to Earn: Where Authentic Connection Drives Real Tourism Impact.

In a digital world where every destination is competing for attention, Adam will explore what actually drives trust, engagement, and action online — drawing from Canadian data, real-world case studies, and proven digital strategies.

Attendees will gain practical insights on:
➡️ Building authentic online connections
➡️ Turning followers into customers
➡️ Leveraging digital and AI tools to increase impact without increasing workload

Join us:
📅 Monday, March 2, 2026
📍 Royal Ashburn Golf Club
🔗 View full agenda, speaker lineup, and registration details: https://bit.ly/452naNv

01/29/2026

This month's newsletter is here!

Catch up on the latest tourism updates across York, Durham, and Headwaters.

Included in this month’s issue:

📌 Tourism Symposium Keynote Speaker announced
📌 Meet our newest team member, Rebecca
📌 Learning Lab spotlight on workplace mental health
📌 Research updates, including 2025 Visitor Data coming soon
📌 Free Rainbow Registered Accreditation - limited-time offer
📌 Ontario’s new Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day

… and more.

🔗 Read the full newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3kHo2Ts

Not already receiving it? Be sure to sign up on our website.

01/21/2026

Today is Bell Let's Talk Day and an important reminder that mental health is a workplace priority, not just a personal one. Mental health affects millions of Canadians and plays a meaningful role in workplace wellbeing, performance, and culture.

To support tourism professionals across York, Durham, Headwaters, and beyond, the CCT Learning Lab offers free access to IncludeMe™ – Workplace Mental Health, a 60-minute interactive module that helps managers and leaders better understand, recognize, and respond to mental health challenges in the workplace.

On a day dedicated to open conversation and reducing stigma, we encourage you to take a meaningful step forward for yourself, your team, and your organization.

➡️ Learn more about IncludeMe™ and how it supports healthier, more inclusive workplaces in our blog:

Support mental health in your workplace with the free IncludeMe™ module. Learn practical strategies to create an inclusive, healthy, and productive environment for employees.

01/20/2026

⏰ Early Bird pricing ends this Friday! ⏰

Join industry peers on Monday, March 2 at this year’s Tourism Symposium, themed Local to Limitless, for a full day of learning, inspiration, and connection featuring engaging keynote and sponsor presentations, interactive breakout sessions, panel discussions, and real-world case studies - all designed to strengthen the visitor economy across York, Durham, and Headwaters.

Presented in partnership with Durham Tourism and Whitby Tourism, this year's Symposium explores how our region’s growing momentum and local strengths can unlock new opportunities for tourism businesses and destinations.

🔗 Register by January 23 to take advantage of the Early Bird rate:
https://bit.ly/452naNv

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Presenting Sponsors:
Durham Tourism -- Durham Region, Ontario, Canada | Town of Whitby - Local Government

Platinum Sponsor:
Destination Pickering

Gold Sponsors:
Tourism Vaughan | York Link - York Region Economic Development

Silver Sponsors:
Choose Brock | Discover Uxbridge, Ontario | Experience King | Orangeville Tourism | Town of Ajax | Tudor Pines Bed and Breakfast | Visit Caledon

01/07/2026

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Central Counties Tourism Symposium!

Presented by Durham Tourism & Whitby Tourism, this year’s Symposium takes place on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Royal Ashburn Golf Club, and explores the theme "Local to Limitless", capturing the momentum of a region that’s growing, innovating, and redefining what local tourism can achieve. Discover how local advantage can spark limitless potential.

Attendees can expect a full day of learning and connection, featuring a keynote presentation, sponsor presentations, interactive breakout sessions, panel discussions, and practical case studies designed to spark new ideas and strengthen tourism businesses and destinations across York, Durham, and Headwaters.

Get your tickets early and save! Early bird pricing is available until January 23.

👉 Visit our website for full event details, draft agenda, and more:
https://bit.ly/452naNv

Detailed program announcements coming soon.

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Presenting Sponsors:
Durham Tourism -- Durham Region, Ontario, Canada | Town of Whitby - Local Government

Gold Sponsors:
Tourism Vaughan | York Link - York Region Economic Development

Silver Sponsors:
Choose Brock | Discover Uxbridge, Ontario | Orangeville Tourism | Tudor Pines Bed and Breakfast | Visit Caledon