The big tourism conference at Blue Mountain Village has wrapped up with a gala announcing this year's Ontario Tourism Excellence Award winners.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) and Attractions Ontario gave out the awards Wednesday night (Oct30).

Of note, the Blue Mountain Village Association's Blumination won Tourism Event of the Year.
From November to March, the Village is lit up with interactive light displays and a musical light show in the evenings. There is also a one kilometre Blumination Dream Trail winter stroll through a big light display.  

Cowbell Brewing Co. In Blyth took home both the Accessible Tourism Award and a Sustainable Tourism Award

The Manitoulin Island based Wikwemikong Annual Cultural Festival took home the Indigenous Tourism Award.

Here is a list of the winners:

Tourism Innovator OETC

Tourism Event of The Year : Blumination (Blue Mountain Village Association)

Tourism Champion of the Year: Phil Casey

Tourism Employer of the Year: Elmhirst's Resort

Sustainable Tourism Award: Oxford County - Tourism Oxford (Large Organization) Cowbell Brewing Co. (Small Organization)

Accessible Tourism Award: Cowbell Brewing Co. as well as the CN Tower

Indigenous Tourism Award: Wikwemikong Annual Cultural Festival

Lifetime Achievement Award: Guy Lamarche, Iam McMillan     

Tourism Marketing Campaign Over $50K: Where Can WE Take You (Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island)

Tourism Marketing CampaignUnder $50K: Meet the Makers Campaign (Kingston Accommodation Partners)

Tourism Digital Marketing Award: 25 Things Campaign (Kingston Accommodation Partners)

Tourism Marketing Partnership: Grand River Paddling Marketing Campaign (Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association)

Travel Media Award: Culinary Trails in Ontario's Southwest (Arienne Parzei)

Culinary Tourism Experience Award: From Tree to Table (Ottercreek Woodworks)

Culinary Tourism Event of the Year: Big Cheese Days (The Oxford County Cheese Trail)    

Culinary Tourism Leadership Award: Radical Gardens    

Ontario's Choice Awards Attraction of the Year: Science North