Movers and Shakers

Niagara Falls Tourism Partners with Scotiabank Convention Centre to Form Niagara Falls Business Events 

Niagara Falls Tourism has entered into partnership with the Scotiabank Convention Centre to manage and deliver their Meetings, Conventions and Incentive Travel (MC&IT) program. As part of this new partnership, the former program has been given a full rebrand under the name Niagara Falls Business Events. 

 

Corporate meeting planners and association executives are encouraged to visit the website and discover some of the many reasons why their next business event should take place in Niagara Falls. The team can also be reached individually by phone and email. For more information, please contact: Jeff Dixon, Vice President Sales at jdixon@fallsconventions.com or Forest Kenney, Communications Manager, fkenney@niagarafallstourism.com.

Robert Kawamoto Hired as Tourism Kingston's New Executive Director

Tourism Kingston has a new boss, bringing Rob Kawamoto, who had been living and working in the big city, back home. "Tourism continues to be a major economic driver in Kingston, generating thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in spending," said Murray Matheson, chair of the Tourism Kingston Board of Directors. "Rob Kawamoto has the experience and skill set to bring the entire industry together and take Tourism Kingston to the next level."

Robert grew up in Kingston and graduated from La Salle Secondary School before attending Ryerson University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He graduated in 1991 with a degree in commerce and decided to stay in the Toronto area.

Robert also served as president of the MPI Toronto Chapter, as a board member of the Toronto Sports Council, as a board member of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, and on the board of the Mississauga Toronto West Tourism Advisory board.  

The International Centre Announces Partnership with the MPI Foundation

The International Centre is excited to announce its newest partnership with the Meeting Professionals International Foundation (MPIF). In an effort to fuel the growth of the global meeting and event industry in Canada, this partnership enables The International Centre to create more than 30 industry scholarships that will be distributed to Canadian Students and Business Event Professionals over the next five years. Some note-worthy highlights include: 

• 10 college scholarships for indigenous students enrolled in hospitality and tourism

• 5 scholarships for Canadian show managers to attend the Canadian Association of Exposition Managers (CAEM) Canada Conference

• 5 scholarships to the MPI World Education Congress

• 15 scholarships for "The Event" regional education conference

This philanthropic agreement strongly aligns with the direction in which The International Centre is moving towards as a thought leader and innovator within the global meetings and events industry. The International Centre is a long-term supporter and a strong advocate of industry academia and acknowledges the value and opportunities that these scholarship programs provide to industry recipients.

Heidi Welker Appointed Senior Vice President, Business Development & Industry Partnerships

David Campbell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Freeman Audio Visual Canada, is pleased to announce the promotion of Heidi Welker to Senior Vice President, Business Development & Industry Partnerships.

 

"This new role is truly one Heidi alone created after leading the Marketing Group at Freeman since inception" said Campbell. "Heidi will lead the development of new and exciting cutting-edge research and development initiatives to help our customers and partners achieve their goals."