Kingston’s John Wright honoured with Ontario tourism Lifetime Achievement Award

Local business leader John Wright has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.

According to a release from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), the 2025 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are presented annually to organizations, businesses, and individuals that represent the quality of offerings that make Ontario a destination of choice. They aim to celebrate success and recognize those who have made outstanding impacts on Ontario’s tourism industry.

The awards gala dinner and ceremony took place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at the Ottawa Conference & Event Centre, while Wright was presented with his Lifetime Achievement Award at a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.

Earlier this year, Wright was honoured with the inaugural Gary Poupore – Exceptional Dedication Award by the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA). As previously reported, the Gary Poupore – Exceptional Dedication Award was created to honour an individual who has shown remarkable dedication and made noteworthy contributions to the downtown business community.

John Wright’s career spans over four decades of transformative contributions to Ontario’s visitor economy, the TIAO said in an earlier statement. From his early days in Kingston radio to his pioneering work in destination development, he has consistently elevated the region’s tourism profile through innovation, collaboration, and storytelling. After relocating from Montreal to Kingston at age 21, Wright quickly recognized the city’s potential as a tourism hub, according to the tourism association. His leadership in radio, culminating in ownership of Kingston’s top-rated stations, refined his signature strengths: entertainment, community connection, and cross-sector partnership.

“Throughout his career in media and tourism, John has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to the betterment of our community. His numerous accomplishments include the development of a waterfront accommodation, known today as the Confederation Place Hotel, the revitalization of Kingston’s tour boat industry, the introduction of unique attractions such as the dinner cruise boat, and the establishment of new radio stations that have amplified our local talent beside national and international talent,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson.

“Moreover, John’s relentless efforts in lobbying for the construction of the Large Venue Entertainment Centre (LVEC) have transformed downtown Kingston into a thriving hub for arts and culture. The LVEC has attracted world-renowned artists and performers, significantly boosting our city’s profile as a premier tourist destination.”

Besides Wright’s achievement award, TAIO also celebrated two Tourism Champions, Brad Kozak, Program Director of Golf in Ontario, and Trevor Norris, Senior Manager, Destination Development, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board. According to the release, both were honoured for their passion, innovation, and leadership within their respective tourism communities.

Tourism Kingston also took home an award under the Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence umbrella. The local organization was recognized with a Tourism Marketing Partnership Award for its work marketing and highlighting the Total Solar Eclipse in April 2024.

“This year’s Ontario Tourism Summit was a powerful reminder of the strength and spirit of our industry, bringing together tourism professionals from every corner of the province. We applaud all nominees, finalists, and winners for their remarkable achievements. Your passion and commitment to excellence continue to elevate Ontario’s tourism industry,” said Andrew Siegwart, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.

The TIAO reiterated that the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence celebrate the industry’s best — the innovators, events, employers, and tourism champions whose passion and quality make Ontario a premier destination.

Details on the winners of this year’s awards were provided in the release, and are as follows:

• Tourism Innovator Award – Sleeping with the Wolves – Cedar Meadows Resort and Spa
• Tourism Event of the Year – Destination Markham – 2024 LNHL Tournament
• Tourism Employer of the Year – Culinary Tourism Alliance
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Thrive Tours
• Accessible Tourism Award – Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO 4)
• Indigenous Tourism Award – Six Nations Tourism
• Culinary and Agritourism Award – The Royal Hotel’s Restaurant

Tourism Marketing & Travel Media Awards of Excellence celebrate the excellence and innovation of those who contribute to Ontario’s tourism industry through impactful tourism partnerships, marketing activities, and media relations provincially, nationally and internationally.

• Tourism Digital Marketing Award – Muskoka Tourism – Discover Muskoka Social Media and Rebrand
• Tourism Marketing Partnership Award – Tourism Kingston – Total Solar Eclipse
• Tourism Marketing Campaign Award (Over 50K) – Resorts of Ontario – Website
• Tourism Marketing Campaign Award (Under 50K) – Mistletoe Trail – Explore Waterloo Region
• Travel Media Story Award – Okla Jones – Essence Magazine, Toronto serves as a haven of Food
• Travel Media Photography Award – Marie Michele Doucet – Guide to visiting Belleville, Ontario this Christmas

The OTEC Workforce Innovation & Collaboration Award recognizes a business or organization that has developed an innovative, local solution to a workforce challenge, accomplished through collaborative partnership(s).

• Workforce Innovation & Collaboration Award – Toronto Zoo – A Zoo for All

Ontario’s Choice Awards (Attractions Ontario) calls upon tourists and locals to vote for their favourite attractions in eight different categories, with the overall top-voted nominee earning the distinction of the Attraction of the Year.

• Ontario’s Choice Awards – Aga Khan Museum

The Doug Smith Award is presented by Nieuport Aviation andis given to a post-secondary individual who has expressed a desire to work in finance and embodies the spirit of tourism in Ontario.

• The Doug Smith Award – Justin Purnoko, George Brown College

Future Leaders Award is presented by Air Canada and recognizes young leaders (under 30) poised to shape the future of our sector.

• Future Leaders Award – Libby Worden, Toronto Metropolitan University

The Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence are jointly presented by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Attractions Ontario, Culinary Tourism Alliance, Indigenous Tourism Ontario, OTEC, Nieuport Aviation and Air Canada.

In the release, the TIAO congratulated all nominees, finalists and winners on their remarkable contributions.

For more information on the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence, visit the TIAO website.