Indulge yourself this fall – we’ve been waiting for you!

Fall in Ontario is a feast for all your senses…breathtaking vistas emblazoned with fiery colours of crimsons, reds, golds and more… Indulge yourself at an Ontario resort or inn this Fall, where an amazing array of packages such as Fall Colour Packages, Reconnect Now…Just the two of you, Spontaneous Getaways and Thanksgiving Packages and celebrations can be enjoyed with those closest to you for just that special reason. Just a short drive away, often only three or four turns from where you are. For a taste of Fall, browse through our web site at http://www.resortsofontario.com

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Romantic Escapes in Resort Country

Christie's Mill Inn & Spa

Ontario provides such a stunning array of varied landscapes that lends itself perfectly to those seeking a romantic getaway. Regardless of the season, there is a charm when visiting Ontario Resorts that is unmatchable. Scattered throughout the province these hidden treasures provide serenity and a mysticism that will help your love blossom. Resorts of Ontario offers 100 unique resort hotels, lodges, cottages and inns, each with their own unique qualities. From sunrise to sunset, our goal is to make every moment of your stay worth sharing with your loved one to create lasting memories and romance that will carry on past your vacation.

Our resorts are the ideal location for a picture perfect wedding. Imagine saying your vows surrounded by lush and beautiful forests or overlooking a calm lake. Your guests will love sharing in the scenic ceremony and reception as much as you. They will thank you for providing them the perfect reason for their own romantic escapes.

Couples Massage at The Pillar and Post at Niagara on the Lake

When you stay at an Ontario Resort, you control the days events. So whether you’re the type that wants to go for a morning stroll with coffee in hand to watch the sunrise across the lake or if you prefer to sleep in and have breakfast in bed; we work with you to make sure your day starts off right.

After any vacation, people always talk about the food. Our resorts recognize the importance of providing exceptional meals. It’s not often that people can feel pampered when dining but that is what you can expect from these culinary teams. Each course is prepared to the highest quality. The aromas from the kitchen will cause your mouth to water. The visual presentation is a photographic delight and the flavours are to die for.

What could be more romantic than treating yourselves to a couples massage, letting your muscles loosen while soaking in a hot tub and detoxifying in the sauna. Of course that is just a taste of the treatments and relaxing experiences available through our resort spas and you can add to and customize your relaxation with things like a mud wrap, facial, manicures and pedicures.

As your day winds down, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the silence of the surrounding nature in each others arms. One those cooler nights, a crackling fire adds to the perfect ambiance of your romantic getaway. Next time the two of you need to getaway, come on up to our place and visit www.resortsofontario.com to find your perfect romantic retreat.

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Resorts of Ontario announces new board of directors president

Celebrating the presidents evening

On March 28, 2011, Resorts of Ontario held its annual general meeting and preferred supplier’s tradeshow at Nottawasaga Inn and Resort, located in Alliston, Ontario. Sheila Maxwell of the Briars Resort and Spa was elected as the new president of Resorts of Ontario.

Born in Scotland, Sheila grew up in Toronto where she attended York University. During her summers she worked at seasonal resorts in Haliburton and fell in love with the tourism industry. With an educational background from York, Sheila also graduated with honours from Hotel Management at George Brown College. Sheila has worked in the industry for 25 years and is currently the Director of Food and Beverage at the Briars Resorts and Spa.  

Sheila has served on the Board for Resorts of Ontario for the past 8 years. She succeeded Mark Rich – Director of Sales at Blue Mountain Resort who served as president from March 2009 – 2011. As outgoing president Mark will continue to serve the board of directors as chairman of the board.

As part of the evenings festivities, Resorts of Ontario also took the time to recognize the dedication and contribution of individuals from the industry who have facilitated the growth and progress of the Association.

The George Martin Award which shows outstanding contribution to the growth and success of Resorts of Ontario, was awarded to Anne Marshall of Elmhirst’s Resort. Anne has been involved with the association as a board member for 20 years. Anne is also a past president and represented the industry on the provincial and national level. Her passion, experience, leadership and dedication are greatly appreciated.

The second award given was for Outstanding Contribution. The recipient of this award went to Jamie Staring of Raesgo Advertising Graphics. For nearly 20 years, Jamie has made enormous contributions and has played a significant role in portraying our image. He understands the essence of “ resorting in Ontario “ , the culture of Resorts of Ontario, playing a key role in conveying our story in print, electronically, and to our key audiences.  

Congratulations to Sheila and thank you to Mark, Anne and Jamie for your contributions and dedication to Resorts of Ontario.

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Congrats to the 2010 Big Fish Winners

The 2010 edition of the Resorts of Ontario Big Fish Competition has come to a close and we wanted to send out special congratulations to all the winners. This year’s competition resulted in some really nice catches including a monster large mouth bass weighing in at over 7lbs. This fish was caught by a very skilled young fisherman named Kody. Another lucky catch and big fish was for a 27 lbs Muskie.

Here is a list of all our winners and some pictures of the big catches as well as what resorts and lakes the fish were caught on.

Catch and release

31 inch Pickeral/Walleye: Caught by Jerry Martin on Buckhorn Lake while staying at Scotsman Point Resort.

7lbs 2 oz monster Large Mouth Bass: Caught by Kody Williams on Kasshabog Lake while staying at Blue Mountain Lodge in the Kawarthas.

5 lbs 5oz Small Mouth Bass: Caught by Harry Hipkiss on Georgian Bay while staying at Pleasant Cove Resort.

27lbs 7 oz Muskie: Caught by Mark MacFarlane on Buckhorn Lake while staying at Scotsman Point Resort.

Catch and Keep

3lbs 15oz Large Mouth Bass: Caught by Mike Matthew on Rice Lake while staying at Southview Cottages.

3lbs 14oz Small Mouth Bass: Caught by Stan Hullah on Rice Lake while staying at Southview Cottages.

Pan Fish

14oz Perch: Caught by Heidi Sielicki on Rice Lake while staying at Southview Cottages.

1lb 6oz Crappe: Caught by Norman Weaver on Rice Lake while staying at Southview Cottages.

Congratulations again to our winners. For details on how you can participate in the Big Fish Competition visit our website.

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Past Presidents Dinner

Resorts of Ontario celebrated the tradition of resorting at a special Past President’s Tribute Dinner in September at Nottawasaga Inn Resort.  Fifteen (15) Past Presidents were in attendance at this special dinner.  The tribute was organized to honour the contribution of the Past Presidents over their terms of leadership.  Resorts of Ontario’s roots began in 1942 during WW2, when rations were instituted, and vacationers still needed to be accommodated.  The industry came together as a lobbying force to advocate for the resort sector of Ontario’s tourism industry.  Through the years, each President has left their leadership stamp on the organization, taking the association on paths which facilitated growth for the industry.   This celebration was also an opportunity to celebrate the tradition of resorting in Ontario.  Today the association continues to represent resort hotels, resort lodges, country inns and cottage resorts.  These properties provide a rich experience for families, couples and groups.   

 

Marketing has always been a key mandate for the organization, with quality, service and dependability being at the core of hospitality. 

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Attention to detail…

I was recently able to visit the all new JW Marriott Resort – The Rosseau and was amazed at the detailed craftsmanship throughout. Everything from the seamless wallpaper to the leaves on the lights was incredible. The standard rooms were very large and comfortable. The decoration in the hotel rooms followed the central theme of Muskoka while also looking contemporary. The view from the main patio deck was incredible as it overlooked the waters of Lake Rosseau. The vast halls looked perfect for holding events of all types and sizes whether it would be a wedding or exhibit. Offering different pool areas is another bonus and with one being an indoor/outdoor pool, I cannot wait to go back in the winter to experience swimming while surrounded by snow. The exercise facility featured state of the art equipment and would be perfect for those following a workout plan. Dining at Teca is another must do as you get to enjoy the sight through the open kitchen. With lots to do on site and nearby The Rosseau has thought of everything in making a stay here a great experience.

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New Resorts of Ontario Website!

The new resortsofontario.com homepage

 

Resorts of Ontario has been working hard the last few months on preparing a new website to be launched. While it has been a lot of work getting the website ready, we are pleased to announce that our new website launched successfully on July 10. If you haven’t already visited this site please do at www.resortsofontario.com.   

The goal of launching this new website was to make searching and visitor navigation easier and more robust, give our resort members more exposure to showcase their unique experiences and to have a more dynamic updated feel. We hope that you will notice the difference and appreciate the efforts that went into building this website.   

We appreciate hearing from you with comments on the look and usability. To share your thoughts feel free to comment on this post or email barrie@resortsofontario.com.

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Fishing with the guys

I recently had the opportunity to go fishing with my dad and father in law. We had been trying for a while to make time for a trip out together and after carefully watching the weather forecast we  picked a day just before Father’s Day to do some much-needed fishing. Venturing out on the waters of Sparrow Lake in a boat rented from Bayview Wildwood Resort, we were determined to catch fish. We were on the water by 7:15am and had cast our lines by 7:20.  Throwing every possible lure at the fish, we casted for hours, trying different weed beds, shoals, drop offs, and sunken logs with hardly any luck at all. We had a few bites and a few very small perch follow lures in but nothing that resulted in a fish being landed in the boat. The sense of frustration and discomfort from the days heat was starting to take its toll on us. At one point we even tried to net a fish that was a foot beneath the boat was we drifted by but it quickly retreated from our presence.

My dad and I had only been out once before this trip in the last few years so I was really hoping he would catch something. He let us know that he was about to call it a day and was trying his last “lucky” lure – the “Wobblin’ Minnow,” when he got a hit. After a quick fight he landed his first bass of the season (and actually first one in a few years as he doesn’t have the time to get out fishing very often.) After he released his fish, I quickly had a hit but was unable to land the fish. Just as quickly as I lost one my dad hooked his second. After hours of trying it seemed the fish had finally decided they were hungry. While the action didn’t last long, it was long enough for us to remember why we enjoy fishing so much.

My father in law and I went back empty-handed but my dad ended a several year-long drought and was happy which is all any of us could ask for. We were able to relax and enjoy each others company and learned that next year we leave my dad at home but take his “Wobblin’ Minnow” with us.

Ontario has so many great fishing opportunities and if you enjoy relaxing while casting a line please check out some of these resorts: Sand Beach Lodge, Sunny Point Resort, Pleasant Cove, Southview Cottages and Shamrock Lodge to name a few. If you hook into a nice sized fish be sure to enter the Resorts of Ontario Big Fish Competition.

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Kick off Summer with Resort Week

Resorts of Ontario has been busy planning and preparing for its kick off to summer event – Resort Week. Spanning from May 21 through May 31, Resort Week covers both the Victoria Day long weekend and the Memorial Day long weekend which is the typical time when resorts start to see their summer visits increase.  The concept was developed with the idea of helping Camp Trillium which is the recognized charity for Resorts of Ontario. With special offers from the resorts posted at www.resortweek.ca, people can book a stay during this 10 day period for a vacation at a number of participating resorts. Visitors to this site are also rewarded with delicious s’mores recipes which can be made during their resort week getaway. When a booking is made 10% of the revenue is collected and donated to Camp Trillium.

Camp Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Center is funded through the generous donations of individuals, groups, foundations and the Canadian Cancer Society – Ontario division. With only 6-8% of the funds being reserved for administrative costs, Camp Trillium, the children and their families all benefit from donations made to them.

Come on up to our place and kick off your summer with a great vacation and help send a child to Camp Trillium.

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The Dramatic Scenery of Viamede Conference Resort and Spa

As you drive through the beautiful towns of Fenelon Falls, and beautiful Bobcaygeon, you enter such dramatic scenery of the Kawarthas – raw beauty in some ways, reminiscent somewhat of some of the beauty captured in the Group of Seven’s paintings — tall pines, landscapes crafted by pink granite rock, and the feeling that you are in Resort Country.  Resorts of Ontario recently held a board of directors meeting at Viamede and as you arrive at the resort you feel an instant calm washing over you.  The Lake is absolutely spectacular and the waterscape is dotted with a few islands.  The food at Viamede is incredible!!!  Dining on the patio is such a lovely experience with the sunset over the lake…. Food which is not only pleasing to the eye, but incredibly delicious. 

Weddings are a specialty of Viamede’s and they have a church right on site which is a delight for first time brides or a repeat wedding.  Viamede, in typical resort fashion, caters to the needs and wants of their clients …. So if evening buffets are of interest, Viamede serves up some wonderfully creative buffets for your special day.

Whether you are looking for a place to hold your next meeting, a wedding, family getaway or  just a quiet escape for two, Viamede Conference Resort and Spa is a place to consider.

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