Inniskillin Wine's Debi Pratt wins Tourism Industry Lifetime Achievement Award

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is pleased to announce Deborah Pratt as this year's winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the 2013 Ontario Tourism Summit in Toronto, Ontario. The award, designed and hand blown by Ontario artist Kelly Lowe, was presented by Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport at Ontario's most prestigious tourism awards gala.

Debi Pratt is a veteran of the wine industry. Considered by many in the industry as a pioneer of Niagara and Canada's wine industry, Debi started her career in teaching and traded that profession over 35 years ago to become Inniskillin Niagara's media and public relations point person.

Pratt was presented the Ontario Wine Society's Exceptional Hospitality Award on March 28, 2009, the Women in Tourism Award at the Binational Star Awards on April 30, 2009 and most recently the Business Citizen of the Year by the 2013 Niagara Grape and Wine Festival and by RBC.

The Ontario Tourism Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the multi-billion dollar tourism industry, which is a key contributor to Ontario's economic prosperity. Nominations were open to all individuals in the tourism industry operating in Ontario and were judged by an independent, third-party panel of industry experts.

Quotes

"Our thanks go out to Debi for all that she's contributed to grow the tourism industry over the years. Congratulations Debi!"

Beth Potter, President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Quick Facts:

• Tourism is an important part of Ontario's economy, supporting over 300,000 jobs, according to preliminary numbers.
  
  
• According to preliminary results, visits to Ontario increased by 1.4 per cent to 105.2 million for the year 2011 over 2010.
  
  
• Preliminary results show that tourism receipts increased by 4.8 per cent in 2011 to over $23 billion.

Learn more:

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - www.tiaontario.ca

Ontario Tourism Summit - www.ontariotourismsummit.com

Inniskillin Wines www.inniskillin.com

SOURCE: Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Catarina Cunha
Executive Assistant
TIAO
416.483.1691
[email protected]