Ottawa Tourism hosted a group of more than 20 association, sporting event and travel trade buyers at an exclusive networking event in Scotland this weekend.
The highlight was an inspirational education session delivered by Canadian swimming Olympic gold medallist and former world record holder Mark Tewksbury.
The event, which was held over three days at the Gleneagles resort in Scotland saw buyers, influencers, media and partners gather to learn more about Ottawa, share knowledge and build relationships with the Ottawa Tourism team.
Nick Newland, Advocacy Director & Chief Privacy Officer of the ACWW, who is working with Ottawa Tourism to deliver the 31st Associated Country Women of the World Triennial World Conference in 2026 commented: “This event clearly demonstrates Ottawa Tourism’s unique approach to the creation of long-term friendships and relationships. There was no hard sell, just an opportunity to get to know each other and build partnerships that will reap dividends for all in the long term. Mark’s session was truly outstanding, as was the hospitality and on-site activities. Using a CVB is a new experience for the ACWW and this weekend once again demonstrated the many benefits of such a working style.”
Kate Sargent, Deputy Managing Director at Bioscientifica added: “The whole event was an inspiration and a masterclass in how to network, build relationships and bring people together as a community. It was a pleasure to be hosted by the Ottawa team and to see what the city has to offer. I had no idea what to expect before arrival but was genuinely overwhelmed by their perfect balance of generosity and knowledge sharing. From the friendships extended by the individual Ottawa team members and the experiences shared by a truly inspiring Olympian, to the opportunity to meet new friends working across our industry – the whole weekend was delight to be a part of.
Glenn Duncan Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from Ottawa Tourism concluded: “This was the third time we have organised this style of exclusive networking and relationship building event. It is a wonderful opportunity to establish friendships and build relationships that bear fruit in the long term for our versatile destination. We are truly grateful to all those who took time out of their busy schedules to learn more about our quintessentially Canadian destination, hear from Mark Tewksbury and discover why Ottawa Tourism is #heretoinspire.”
