About Us
Founded in 2007, Explore Waterloo Region is the Destination Organization for the Region of Waterloo. We are a member based, non-profit organization responsible for promoting the community as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, we strengthen the economic position and provide opportunity for people in our community.
We also work with our partners to promote festivals and events, hotels, attractions, restaurants and local businesses that provide services and support to the traveling public and to develop new product offerings.
Explore Waterloo Region is an initiative of the Region of Waterloo and its seven member municipalities. The goal: to deliver a single, focused message that Waterloo Region is a dynamic, year-round destination with much to offer the individual traveller, families on vacation and corporate visitors.
Explore Waterloo Region maintains an events calendar covering the region. It is a storehouse of information on area entertainment, restaurants, attractions and accommodation choices. We also offer information and assistance specific to the needs of business event planners, tour operators, sport event planners and travel media.
Explore Waterloo Region is pleased to sponsor the Waterloo Region Tourism Master Plan
Tourism is an important contributor to the local economy. It drives almost 5 million visitors to our region annually, resulting in $557 million in spending. In addition to supporting local employment, the tax dollars associated with this spending are reinvested into such things as education, healthcare, and housing. The Waterloo Region tourism brand helps create an identity for the area and assists in attracting people that may not only wish to visit, but may decide to live, work, invest, or send their children to school here.
The Waterloo Region Tourism Master Plan provides a roadmap for the future of the region’s visitor economy by 2030. The goal of this roadmap is to position Waterloo Region as one of Ontario’s most dynamic and connected destinations for the leisure, business events, and sport hosting markets.
Collaboration will be critical to the success of the Waterloo Region Tourism Master Plan.
While Explore Waterloo Region will take the lead role in coordinating the various elements of the plan and the tracking of its implementation, its overall success will require close cooperation between the Region of Waterloo, municipalities, townships and Explore Waterloo Region, as well as many tourism industry stakeholders and economic development partners.
Find out more about the Waterloo Region Tourism Master Plan by using the link below.
Destination Marketing Accreditation Program
Explore Waterloo Region is proud to have accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), an international accreditation program developed by the Washington, DC-based Destinations International (DI). In earning the DMAP accreditation, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their community, buyers and potential visitors that their DMO has attained a significant measure of excellence.
DMAP accreditation standards cover a wide variety of topics including governance, finance, management, human resources, technology, visitor services, group services, sales, communications, membership, brand management, destination development, research/market intelligence, innovation and stakeholder relationships.
For additional information on DMAP, visit their website
Mission
Our mission is to increase visitation, by capitalizing on the inherent strengths of events, outdoor experiences, and the thriving knowledge sector within Waterloo Region.
Vision
Explore Waterloo Region is recognized as the leading force within the Region’s tourism industry, inspiring growth through destination development.
Meet the Board
Tracy Van Kalsbeek Chair Executive Director, Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area Tracy has spent most of …
Meet the Staff
Michele Saran Chief Executive [email protected] Allister Scorgie Director of Sport [email protected] Jennifer Eddings Director of Business …