OHRMA (The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association) held it’s third Ontario Hospitality Conference in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The conference run by long-term ORHMA Board Director Jason Cheskes, hit records with over 450 registered attendees, 50+ vendors in the marketplace and the largest sponsorship support yet. The conference opened with a networking reception where ORHMA provided an update on activities to support the development of people into the hospitality industry. This was followed by the awarding of “OHI – We Are Hospitality” Hall of Fame Awards (formerly knows as Fellows of the OHI). 10 inductees as well as past winners were recognized for their involvement in the hospitality industry over their careers. Winners can be viewed at https://www.weareohi.ca/hall-of-fame
The conference took place the following day with a full day of sessions lead by Master of Ceremonies, and highly regarded Chef John Higgins who led the conference through the day’s educational sessions on current key hospitality topics. This year’s opening included an extended segment on Human Sex Trafficking with survivor, Michelle Furgiuele representing Timea’s Cause, sharing the harsh realities of this issue followed by several important and relevant topics that owners, operators and General Managers could benefit from applying tot their businesses
The day also included a supplier marketplace of over 50 vendors from across the spectrum of hospitality goods and services and saw delegates awarded over $12,000 in supplier provided raffle prizes at the end of the conference.
Aaron Laurie, President and CEO, and recently appointed Director with ORHMA shared “We are thrilled to have put on another successful conference to assist the industry and those within it. We have been receiving tremendous feedback since, especially on how the subject matter and speakers delivered on our commitment to offer sessions that provide useful and actionable take-aways for the delegates when they return to their businesses. We are very appreciative of the support from our sponsors, marketplace participants, speakers and the industry as a whole, and we look forward to beginning work on next year’s conference October 20-21, 2025 and other events in the coming months. Save the Date!”
Information and photos from the conference can be found at https://www.ontariohospitalityconference.com/
Special thanks to Frank Yeo of Mercury Publications / Eastern Hotelier magazine for his support in providing the conference photographer.