As we countdown to Congress 2019, we salute the inspirational leaders who joined TIAC’s spearheaded initiative to advance women in tourism, as co-signatories to the Catalyst Accord 2022 - Accelerating the Advancement of Women. 

In this edition, we salute: 

Minto Schneider CDME Chief Executive Officer Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation TIAC Board Vice-Chair

“It is essential that we act to grow the workforce for our tourism industry and encourage tourism as a career to young women, not just as a summer job. Female board members serve as role models for younger women, opening the door for their leadership and advancement—including into the boardroom.”

Minto Schneider Biography

Minto is currently the CEO of the Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation. She joined the organization in 2013.

Minto has a strong background in the tourism business. She began her career with Hilton International in Vancouver after graduating from the Hotel program at BCIT. After a few moves with Hilton in Sales and Marketing positions – from Vancouver to Saint John, N.B., Toronto and Halifax, she left the hotel business to join Tourism Nova Scotia. She spent over a decade with the Provincial Marketing Organization before trying her hand as a tour operator and moving south of the border to Westport, Connecticut where she joined Tauck World Discovery as a Product Manager initially and eventually moving to sales.

In 2003, Minto retuned to Canada and worked with Horizon & Co., the Canadian Experiential Travel Network and as a consultant in tourism marketing with Broad Reach Strategies Inc. and The Economic Planning Group of Canada.

In 2013, Minto took the helm at the Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corp as CEO. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and on the board of directors of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Destination Ontario and the Conestoga College Board of Governors. 

About the Catalyst Accord:

The Catalyst Accord 2022 calls on Canadian boards and CEOs to pledge to accelerate the advancement of women in business through these actions:

1. Increase the average percentage of women on boards and women in executive positions in corporate Canada to 30% or greater by 2022.
2. Share key metrics with Catalyst for annual benchmarking of our collective progress.

For further details click:

https://www.catalyst.org/solution/catalyst-accord-2022-accelerating-the-advancement-of-women/