In our rapidly evolving tourism landscape, RTO3 – Hamilton Halton Brant is championing sustainable and regenerative tourism development across our diverse region. Our commitment to sustainability is driven by four key pillars: 

Community Resilience and Economic Growth: We engage stakeholders in creating sustainable visitor experiences while maintaining the socio-economic viability of local tourism businesses. Our strategy promotes year-round tourism that supports sector growth, job creation, and workforce capacity building. By dispersing visitation throughout the year, we avoid over-tourism and promote the retention and expansion of operations and market reach. 

Environmental Stewardship: We prioritize protecting and preserving our region’s natural landscapes, ensuring they remain vibrant and accessible for future generations through responsible tourism practices and conservation efforts. 

Cultural Heritage: We are dedicated to nurturing meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities, advancing truth and reconciliation through tourism, and enhancing cultural awareness and inclusivity across our destination. 

Inclusive Tourism: By championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, we ensure our destination welcomes everyone. Our initiatives promote accessibility and inclusion across all aspects of the visitor experience. 

Our Destination Sustainability Journey 

GreenStep Certification Achievement &
Destination Sustainability Action Plan 

We earned a GreenStep Bronze Destination certification on November 2024, marking our commitment to sustainable tourism development. This achievement coincides with the implementation of our Destination Sustainability Action Plan that was completed in Spring 2024 and endorsed by our Board of Directors in June 2024 following collaborative development with stakeholders and GreenStep’s guidance.

The plan provides strategic benchmarks for regional sustainability efforts, with implementation already underway. RTO3 continues to work with DMO partners to prioritize initiatives that support communities, local businesses, and protect our region’s natural and cultural assets while creating positive impacts for both visitors and residents.

Read the announcement article and full press release here.

Destination Sustainability Stakeholder Committee 

To drive our region’s sustainability agenda, RTO3 formed the Destination Sustainability Stakeholder Committee (DSSC). This volunteer committee meets regularly to collaborate on sustainability initiatives and align with the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Framework. Their work involves engaging stakeholders, fostering partnerships, and ensuring that sustainability efforts reflect our region’s unique needs and opportunities. The committee was instrumental in developing the RTO3 Sustainability Action Plan and continues to guide its implementation. 

Our committee comprises regional stakeholders who bring diverse expertise and perspectives to our sustainability initiatives: 

Bev Scott, Manager, Business and Visitor Experience Development, RTO3 – Hamilton Halton Brant 

Jenn Burling, Director of Sustainable Tourism, GreenStep Sustainable Tourism 

Jaquie Jamieson, Manager of Tourism & Community Development, Six Nations Tourism 

Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director, Waterfront Regeneration Trust 

Sherry Lucia, Tourism Product Development Specialist- Convention Sales, Tourism and Culture, City of Hamilton 

Ashleigh Montague, Co-Founder, BLK Owned 

Nancy Rowland, CEO, Royal Botanical Gardens 

Shaylyn Robertson, Sustainable Tourism Specialist, GreenStep Sustainable Tourism 

Rebecca Szczepanowski, Climate Change Officer, City of Brantford 

Colleen Ryan, Associate Director, Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport 

Maria Fortunato, Executive Director, RTO3 – Hamilton Halton Brant 

Maureen Beatty, Executive Assistant, RTO3 – Hamilton Halton Brant 

Sustainable Tourism Industry Survey 

In collaboration with GreenStep and our Destination Sustainability Stakeholder Committee, RTO3 began conducting a regional stakeholder survey in October 2024 to understand the sustainability challenges and opportunities within our region’s tourism sector. This valuable feedback will help benchmark current practices, refine our Action Plan priorities, and develop tailored training and support programs that align with regional needs. The survey results will guide our next steps in the Action Plan, ensuring our efforts address the specific needs and opportunities identified within our region. 

Training and Development Initiatives 

Industry Development and Education 

Through funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) Tourism Growth Program, RTO3 – Hamilton Halton Brant is undertaking a comprehensive 16-month initiative to enhance sustainable tourism development and workforce growth. This multi-faceted approach focuses on creating, curating, and delivering relevant content and training to benefit tourism operators, with an emphasis on sustainable tourism practices. 

Leading these efforts is Hamid Dwyer, who joined RTO3 in August 2024 as Destination Sustainability Officer. His expertise in environmental sustainability and strategic planning strengthens our ability to deliver impactful programs through 2025. 

Our initiatives include: a year-long Sustainable Tourism Learning Series featuring three Industry Exchanges (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Fall 2025), 2025 Southern Ontario Tourism Conference (co-hosted with RTO1 – Ontario’s Southwest), and a new comprehensive online sustainable tourism resource library (coming soon). To review our existing sustainability resources, training content and research, visit our Resource Library here.

Transformational Travel Design Program 

With FedDev Ontario funding, RTO3 has partnered with the Transformational Travel Council to help tourism operators create purpose-driven, sustainable experiences. Led by Bev Scott, this program combines training and support to develop offerings that create meaningful connections while preserving our region’s assets. These market-ready experiences, launching in 2025, will strengthen our competitive position while advancing our broader sustainability goals. Read our news article here to learn more about the program.

Responsible Traveller Pledge 

RTO3 is currently developing a Responsible Traveller Pledge video initiative to highlight responsible tourism practices and encourage visitors to respect our environment, culture, and communities. This program supports our broader goals of balancing tourism growth with conservation and community well-being, ensuring our destination remains vibrant and resilient for years to come. 

Set to launch in 2025, the pledge will help set clear expectations for visitor behaviour, enhance experiences, reduce negative impacts, and promote long-term destination sustainability. By setting clear expectations for visitor behaviour, this initiative will support our commitment to responsible tourism while protecting the unique characteristics that make our region special. 

Get Involved

For more information about our Destination Sustainability initiatives or to learn how you can get involved, contact: Hamid Dwyer, Destination Sustainability Officer, or Bev Scott, Manager, Business & Visitor Experiences Development. To review our existing sustainability resources, training content and research, visit our Resource Library here.