Canadian Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Destination Toronto
This award, handed out annually at the Canadian Tourism Awards gala, recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution of energy, service and talent towards the growth of the Canadian tourism industry, through volunteer work, service or business accomplishments. Focusing on tourism building, the recipient demonstrates leadership, vision and innovation built on a solid foundation of strong values and sound business strategies.
Nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award should be individuals who have:
- Dedicated the majority of their professional career to the tourism sector;
- Made an outstanding personal contribution to the tourism sector;
- Helped to create growth in Canada’s tourism sector through innovation, astute business practices and the development of new opportunities;
- Demonstrated leadership in the industry through their engagement with tourism partners at the local, provincial and/or national levels;
- Left a positive and lasting legacy with the people with whom they have worked.
Nominees are generally retired or in the twilight of their tourism careers.
2022 Destination Toronto Canadian Tourism Lifetime Achievement Recipient
William (Bill) Knowlton
A seasoned professional and accomplished leader with more than five decades in the industry, Bill’s storied career has taken him from tour directing for Tauck Tours in the 1970’s to becoming a partner at Jonview Canada, where he was instrumental in growing the company to become one of the country’s leading inbound receptive tour operators.
Bill served as Jonview’s EVP from 2017 to 2022, after leading sales, marketing and product development for almost three decades as VP Marketing and Sales. He pioneered the expansion of the company’s product base, introducing a new product approach to cater to the emerging market for independent travelers. Bill firmly believed that creating trusting relationships with clients and suppliers alike was critical to long term success. As such, he regularly travelled within Canada as well as attending international trade shows and spent weeks each year visiting clients in person in their offices.
Bill has also been a major contributor to tourism boards such as Destination Canada and Destination Ontario, and an active member of various committees and volunteer organizations that have led towards the improvement of the industry as a whole; including serving on TIAC’s Board of Directors from 2003 to 2009, in addition to multiple terms in the late 1980’s into the 1990’s, as well.
