The 2023 Big Applause Awards
RTO12’s 2nd Annual “Big Applause Awards” recognizing the hard work and dedication of regional tourism employees and students are now OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS!
All nominees and winners in SEVEN CATEGORIES will be announced and honoured at the 2023 Regional Tourism Summit on September 20th in Gravenhurst and will be recognized in an upcoming RTO12 industry newsletter. Winners from each category will receive $100 Cdn to spend at regional accommodations, attractions, events, shops or restaurants, and will also be invited to attend a special luncheon after the summit.
Nominations in 7 Categories are now OPEN (see below) and will close Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 12pm.
Please review the 2023 Awards Guidelines located at the bottom of this page before submitting a nomination (required).
The 2023 Big Applause Awards Categories
1. Transferable Skills
The Exceptional Communications Award
Recognizing an employee who consistently demonstrates exceptional communication skills with guests/patrons and fellow staff, including: courtesy; clear and concise speaking or writing; positive body language; and active listening.
If you are an employer/manager and would like to nominate a staff member for this award, CLICK HERE.
The Above & Beyond Customer Service Award
Recognizing an employee who consistently goes above and beyond when working with guests/patrons, resulting in a positive response/feedback for the offered experience and for the company’s overall reputation.
If you are an employer/manager and would like to nominate a staff member for this award, CLICK HERE.
The Innovative Problem-Solving Award
Recognizing an employee who demonstrated effective and innovative problem solving that resulted in an improved offering or service by the company, or which positively impacted a guest/patron experience that might otherwise have had a negative outcome.
If you are an employer/manager and would like to nominate a staff member for this award, CLICK HERE.
2. Contribution
The Employer Applause Award
Recognizing an employee who exemplifies dedication to and exceptional performance in his/her/their role within the organization, contributing significantly to the overall success and/or development of the company.
If you are an employer and would like to nominate a staff member for this award, CLICK HERE.
The Guest / Patron Applause Award
Recognizing an employee of a regional tourism property you visited (i.e. accommodations, attractions, events, restaurants, shops, etc.) whose positive customer service and interaction contributed to making your visit/experience particularly enjoyable.
If you are a patron/visitor to the region and would like to nominate a regional employee for this award, CLICK HERE.
Fellow Staff Applause Award
Recognizing a fellow staff member at a regional tourism property (i.e. accommodations, attractions, events, restaurants, shops, etc.) who consistently demonstrated positive and helpful contributions at your shared workplace, which led to greater enjoyment of the work environment by other staff.
If you currently work in the regional tourism industry and would like to nominate a work colleague for this award, CLICK HERE.
The Future Of Tourism Award: Regional Secondary Schools
Recognizing one hospitality and tourism student at each regional secondary school with sector education who demonstrates a keen interest in the sector and who positively contributed to the class environment.
Secondary Schools located in the RTO12/Explorers’ Edge catchment include:
- Almaguin Highlands Secondary School
- Bracebridge & Muskoka Lakes Secondary School
- Gravenhurst High School
- Huntsville High School
- Parry Sound High School
- St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School
PLEASE NOTE: The 2023 Future of Tourism Award Winners have been announced to coincide with the school calendars and have been awarded! Click here for a list of exceptional students from our regional high schools.
NOMINATION GUIDELINES: Please Read
- The 2nd Annual Big Applause Awards will honour nominees who currently work in this specific regional tourism industry. Students from each high school in the catchment area with sector education who demonstrate a keen interest in the sector and positively contribute to the class environment will also be nominated and honoured.
- The current annual awards will be relative to a period of employment from June 2022 to September 2023
- The region consists of six sub-regions, including: Algonquin Park, the Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Muskoka, West Parry Sound District and South Algonquin.
- All award categories pertain to employment in this region only, and only at an establishment that considers tourism a main revenue source for operations. The student award category pertains to high schools in the region only as well and those institutions that have a Tourism and Hospitality course or component in their curriculum.
- A Nominee may be entered in more than one category.
- Nominators may enter only ONE nominee in each category.
- Only one Nominee per category will be judged winner of the category award.
- Nominations must be filled out in full using the dedicated online link in order to be considered for judging by the Nominations Review Committee.
- Nominations must be submitted on or before September 14, 2023 by Noon (12pm) to be considered.
- Nominations will be screened for adherence to the guidelines by the Explorers’ Edge Regenerative Projects Manager, and then successfully completed nominations will be submitted to the Nominations Review Committee, whose members will use a ranking system to select the winner in each category.
- The Nominations Review Committee consists of: One (1) RTO12/Explorers’ Edge Board Member; the RTO12/Explorers’ Edge Chief Executive Officer; One (1) Independent HR Consultant; and One (1) representative from OTEC Workforce Solutions.
- Winners will be announced at the annual RTO12/Explorers’ Edge Regional Tourism Summit that will take place on September 20th in Gravenhurst, Ontario at the Muskoka Discovery Centre.
- Category winners will be informed of their award prior to the ceremony, and details of the awards luncheon will be relayed.
