Festival And Events Ontario Assistant Development Manager Debbie Mann talks about announcing Sault Ste. Marie as the host city for the 2017 FEO annual conference during the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit on Tuesday.

Sault Ste. Marie has been named the host city for the 2017 Festival and Events Ontario Conference. The city was selected from among a shortlist of four municipalities throughout the province to host the 30th annual conference. Debbie Mann is the Assistant Development Manager for Festival and Events Ontario. She says promotion was key in Sault Ste. Marie’s selection, but not the only reason why the city’s bid was successful…

The 2017 spring conference is expected to attract well over 300 festival and event professionals from across Ontario. The conference features a major tradeshow marketplace, an awards ceremony and numerous showcase entertainers. Further details regarding the conference will be made available in the coming weeks. It has been at least 20 years an event like the FEO Conference took place in the North. Mann talks about how important the annual event is for her group…

Mann reacted positively to the 2nd Northern Tourism summit, saying it was wonderful to see the tourism industry come together at an event that differentiates itself from festivals. She added that she could see where festivals can fit or do fit in the community in her conversations with people attending the summit. The conference is ideal with it taking place in the same year as Ontario’s and Canada’s 150th birthday, and FEO’s 30th anniversary. Tourism Sault Ste. Marie Executive Director Ian McMillan says the event will result in an economic boost for the region…

When asked what he hoped to showcase when the event happens in March 2017, McMillan answered that tours of some attractions would be made available for delegates, with a focus on smaller event presenters to share their experiences with the rest of the province. This is already being done at the regional level during the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit.