Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) Achieves Gold in Sustainable Tourism

Raising the Bar for Sustainable Tourism in Ontario

Since 2018, the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) has partnered with GreenStep Solutions to define and advance sustainable tourism practices across the province. Through collaborative initiatives and industry-wide learning, TIAO’s goal has always been clear: make sustainability a practical reality for Ontario’s tourism sector.

From Bronze to Gold: Achieving Industry Excellence

TIAO’s journey began in 2018 with a partnership with GreenStep Solutions to better understand and advance sustainable tourism practices. After completing the Sustainable Tourism assessment, TIAO first achieved Bronze status—a strong baseline that set the stage for ongoing progress.

Through commitment, innovation, and active engagement with GreenStep’s tools and recommendations, TIAO has now reached Gold certification, a prestigious recognition that places them among Canada’s leaders in sustainable tourism.

This achievement is the result of years of purposeful action, staff and stakeholder collaboration, and a steadfast dedication to continual improvement.

TIAO’s success demonstrates what’s possible for any organization ready to take the next step, and they continue to encourage Ontario tourism organizations to join them by taking the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge.

The Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge: Your Next Step

The Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge invites tourism businesses and destinations to commit to improving their sustainability performance by 2030. The Pledge, powered by GreenStep, provides a complimentary measurement tool, making it easy and accessible for organizations of any size to benchmark their progress.

Benefits of the Pledge:

• Access to a free measurement tool
• Industry-specific templates and resources
• Ongoing support to improve your sustainability practices
• A common framework for global benchmarking

Learn more and take the Pledge

Why Sustainability Matters for Ontario Tourism

Industry focus groups and consultations have consistently identified sustainability as a top priority for Ontario’s tourism businesses and destinations. By working together, Ontario is building a more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism industry—one step at a time.

Learn More About TIAO’s Sustainability Journey

To discover more about how TIAO is advancing sustainability across the province, listen to this episode of the Let’s Talk Northern Ontario Tourism podcast, featuring Carol Greenwood, TIAO VP, Operations & Partnerships, and Karen Peacock from Destination Northern Ontario and a conversation on why sustainable tourism is essential to workforce retention and industry growth.