Dear Members
The year has started strong for the association. We are busy planning Canada’s largest bus show, the Ontario Transportation Expo (OTE). The OTE conference is happening April 15th-17th at the Delta Marriott Toronto Airport and the FREE-to-attend trade show is on April 16th at the Toronto Congress Centre across the street. OTE is celebrating its 25th year, trade show booths are already sold out and space is limited at the conference, so please don’t wait to register for OTE.
With the great weather we are experiencing, we’ve decided to get you in the mood for summer by inviting our members to register for our 2024 Golf Tournament. This year the tournament will be on August 20th at Legends on the Niagara golf course in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We are anticipating another sold-out tournament, and members will get priority registration. Sponsorship opportunities are available, please connect with our team to help determine the best opportunity for your organization.
Members would have received bulletins regarding Air Canada’s newly announced transfer service in Ontario. The association is deeply disappointed in Air Canada’s decision not to offer this opportunity to OMCA members. We have voiced our concerns with Transport Canada and the Air Canada management team. We are not sitting idle and will continue to fight for our members by encouraging airlines and others to use our association members first.
Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced changes to Mexican visitor visa requirements that will have negative impacts on visitations from this key market. The association has been in contact with IRCC and has outlined the immediate negative financial impact on the industry that this change imposes. To help save spring and summer visitations, the association is asking for expedited visa processing times for those visitors who have pre-booked departures to Canada but do not meet the ETA requirements.
Members are encouraged to follow us on social media and tag the association on your #MemberInAction posts. It’s as simple as taking pictures of the group you are hosting, posting on your social channels and tagging @ontmotorcoach or @motorcoachcan. If possible, we will share your post on our channels and expand your audience.
Thank you again, to all of you that have renewed your membership, your support is what fuels our work. We look forward to helping your organization prosper in 2024 and beyond.
Vince Accardi, CAE
President
OMCA – Ontario Motor Coach Association