Forward Motion

Forward Motion shares an episode of Table Talk with Rosanna Caira exploring the future of hospitality education in Canada.Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, brings together Forward Motion host and TIAO President and CEO Andrew Siegwart with four leading hospitality educators: Bruce McAdams of the University of Guelph, Frank Menezes of George Brown Polytechnic, Michelle Caine of Centennial College, and Rudi Fischbacher, principal of Staycraft Strategies.Together, they examine how funding cutbacks and program changes are affecting hospitality education, students and the industry’s future workforce. The panel also explores practical responses, including adapting programs, creating stronger community partnerships and building closer connections between educators and industry.It’s a timely conversation about developing the skilled people Canada’s tourism and hospitality sectors will need in the years ahead.Enjoy this episode, then follow Table Talk with Rosanna Caira. You’ll find a link in the show notes to explore the podcast’s 86 other episodes.Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:Ontario Travel & Tourism MonthlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Queen’s Park prepares to return for the fall session, Ontario’s tourism industry is facing both significant challenges and new opportunities.In this episode of Forward Motion, TIAO President and CEO Andrew Siegwart sits down with Nathan Olmstead, Senior Manager of Public Affairs, Policy and Strategic Communications, for a wide-ranging look at the policy priorities TIAO will be advancing this fall.Against the backdrop of continued Canada-U.S. trade uncertainty, Andrew and Nathan explore why tourism must be viewed as a core part of Ontario’s economic development strategy. Tourism brings new money into the province, supports businesses and jobs in communities across Ontario, and can play an important role in diversifying markets and strengthening the economy.The conversation builds on TIAO’s recent government engagement at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference and explores several key priorities for the months ahead, including:Increasing investment in international tourism marketing and strengthening Ontario’s ability to compete for global visitorsCatalyzing private tourism investment and supporting the development of new, market-ready visitor experiencesRebuilding Ontario’s tourism workforce pipeline and creating stronger long-term workforce infrastructureModernizing the Municipal Accommodation Tax framework as destination management continues to evolveImproving regional transportation connectivity and ensuring tourism has a stronger voice in major infrastructure planningAndrew and Nathan also discuss the growing importance of data in TIAO’s advocacy work and the opportunity for industry to help shape major investments, including the Alto high-speed rail project.It’s a look at what TIAO is bringing to government this fall, and how the Forward Motion strategy is translating into practical policy recommendations designed to grow Ontario’s visitor economy.Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:Ontario Travel & Tourism MonthlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Forward Motion, host Andrew Siegwart sits down with Peter Paz, Senior Director of Public and Government Relations at Alto, to explore what Canada’s first high-speed rail project could mean for Ontario’s tourism industry, communities and economy.Alto is developing a high-speed rail corridor connecting Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Laval, Montréal, Trois-Rivières and Québec City, with trains expected to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h. But as Peter explains, the opportunity extends far beyond faster travel. Better connectivity could create new possibilities for leisure and business travel, strengthen access to destinations, unlock investment and reshape the way visitors move throughout Ontario and Québec.Andrew and Peter dive into Alto’s research on the potential tourism impact of high-speed rail and why tourism needs to be considered from the beginning. Peter shares that Alto’s research found the tourism impact could vary dramatically depending on the level of coordination, from approximately $177 million in additional GDP and 2,000 tourism jobs under a low-coordination scenario to approximately $3.9 billion in additional GDP and 43,000 tourism jobs through a highly coordinated approach. The takeaway: realizing the full opportunity will require collaboration between Alto, governments, municipalities, destination organizations and tourism businesses.The conversation also looks at what communities can do now to prepare, from connecting local and regional transportation systems to thinking about visitor experience, transportation access and destination development. Peter discusses the importance of considering everything from local transit connections and station access to wayfinding, bike parking and the overall passenger experience.Peter also shares Alto’s approach to consultation, Indigenous engagement and community benefits, including workforce development, social procurement and opportunities to leave lasting benefits in communities along the corridor. He explains how public input is already shaping the project, including the consideration of Kingston as a potential station and efforts to protect the Frontenac Arch Biosphere.Looking ahead, Andrew and Peter discuss what it will take to turn high-speed rail into a broader tourism and economic opportunity, and why collaboration needs to begin long before the first train leaves the station.About Peter PazPeter is Senior Director of Public and Government Relations at Alto, the Crown corporation leading the development of Canada’s high-speed rail project. With more than 15 years of experience in the transportation sector, including leadership roles at Metrolinx, he specializes in building partnerships with governments and communities. At Alto, Peter oversees the development and implementation of Alto’s Community Benefits Plan and engagement program, ensuring the project creates inclusive opportunities and lasting benefits along the Corridor.Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:Ontario Travel & Tourism MonthlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, host Andrew Siegwart is joined by Vinay Sharda, President of Destination Markham Corporation; Councillor Andrew Keyes, City of Markham Councillor and Chair of Destination Markham; and Jeff Atkinson of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, President of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham.Together, they explore why moving the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy from Toronto’s Exhibition Place to Markham represents much more than a venue change. It offers a blueprint for destination development.The conversation examines how Markham has deliberately built its tourism identity around its culinary depth, cultural institutions and year-round festivals, then leveraged that foundation to attract a world-class motorsport event.The guests discuss why Markham’s technology-driven economy, diverse food scene and established events such as Jazzlicious made the city a natural fit. They also look at how the municipal accommodation tax is supporting stronger tourism marketing, infrastructure and performance measurement.Jeff shares the analytics behind the move, details about the new 12-turn street circuit and how the Indy has evolved into a family-first festival with significant economic potential.If you want to experience the inaugural Indy in Markham, head to the official Ontario Honda Dealers Indy site: https://hondaindy.com and explore what’s happening around the race at Destination Markham: https://visitmarkham.ca.Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:Ontario Travel & Tourism MonthlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Artificial intelligence is transforming tourism, but it is only one part of a much larger technological shift.In this episode of Forward Motion, Andrew Siegwart is joined by Mike Jacobs, founder of The New Business and Whereabouts, to explore how emerging technology is changing the way tourism businesses operate, market themselves and connect with visitors.The conversation moves beyond the hype surrounding AI to examine what these tools can realistically do for tourism organizations today. Andrew and Mike discuss how businesses can use AI to improve internal systems, analyze customer information, rapidly test ideas and make their products and experiences easier to discover.They also explore how AI could reshape the entire visitor journey, from the first moment of inspiration to trip planning, booking and the experience itself. As technology becomes increasingly capable of creating highly personalized recommendations, tourism businesses will need to ensure their online information is accurate, organized and accessible to the platforms visitors are using.While AI can reduce friction and improve efficiency, Mike emphasizes that tourism’s greatest competitive advantage remains distinctly human. Creativity, authenticity, personal interaction and genuine hospitality will become even more important as technology becomes embedded in everyday life.The episode also examines customer data privacy, the risks of ignoring emerging technology and how businesses can experiment with new tools without feeling pressured to adopt everything at once.Andrew and Mike close the conversation by discussing Whereabouts, a platform designed specifically for tourism organizations. By bringing business listings, events, communications, surveys and industry data into one connected system, Whereabouts aims to reduce duplication, strengthen collaboration and help Ontario’s tourism industry make better use of its information and technology.The message for tourism leaders is clear: businesses cannot afford to ignore AI, but the goal should not be to replace the human side of hospitality. It should be to use technology to create more time and space for it.About Mike JacobsMike Jacobs is the founder of The New Business and Whereabouts. He works at the intersection of tourism strategy and technology, helping destinations and tourism organizations use emerging tools to improve operations, collaboration, marketing and the visitor experience.Learn moreExplore Whereabouts and The New Business.Forward Motion thanks its partners for their support of this show:Ontario Travel & Tourism MonthlySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.