Building a More Sustainable Visitor Economy in Kingston: how can Kingston’s tourism, travel, food, and hospitality sectors grow and thrive while becoming more sustainable, resilient, and accessible? How can you as a traveller help and participate in a more sustainable visitor economy?

We’re bringing people from across these sectors together for a conversation exploring exactly that. The event will create space to share ideas, consider challenges, learn from one another, and look at opportunities for building a visitor economy that works for both our community and the people who come to experience it.

The event will feature two concurrent panel sessions:

Concurrent Session 1: From Kitchen to Community: Building a More Sustainable Food System

Food sustainability is about more than what happens to food when it becomes waste. From purchasing and menu planning to preparation, surplus food, redistribution and organics, decisions made throughout the food system can have significant environmental, social and economic impacts.

Moderator: Katie Ardington is the Managing Director of the Kingston Culinary Association, where she works with restaurants, producers, hospitality businesses and community partners to strengthen Kingston's culinary sector. A Red Seal Chef and culinary professor, Katie brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, including serving as Executive Chef with Beckta Restaurant Group and Resident Executive Chef to the Prime Minister of Canada. She holds an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management and currently serves on Sustainable Kingston's Food Working Group and the Culinary Tourism Alliance's Education & Training Committee.

Panelists will share what’s working, where challenges remain, and practical ideas that hospitality businesses and organizations can apply in their own operations.

Concurrent Session 2: Travelling Sustainably

Explore the ways we can rethink how people travel to, from, and around destinations, and consider the opportunities for making travel and more sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable.

Moderator: Megan Zelle is a Communications Specialist and Policy Advisor at Kingston Accommodation Partners (KAP), the leading advocacy voice for Kingston’s tourism and accommodation sector. A key focus of her role is fostering positive resident sentiment toward tourism, ensuring that local community members remain the primary beneficiaries of the industry's growth. Megan holds an MA in Global Development from Queen's University, where she focused on climate change, health equity, and tourism. An avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, she is passionate about promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Both sessions are an opportunity to expand what we know about sustainability from the perspectives of both providing and participating in hospitality. Whether you work in one of these sectors or are simply interested in how Kingston can welcome visitors in a more sustainable way, we invite you to come learn, share ideas, and connect with others.

Share Your Knowledge

Following the panel discussions, we’re looking to connect with organizations and individuals who are passionate and informed about additional topics related to Hospitality and Sustainability and interested in sharing their knowledge as experts with others.

If you have experience, ideas, resources, or expertise that could help educate and engage people who are curious to learn more about other topics, we’d love to hear from you. There will be an opportunity to share your knowledge and connect with attendees following the panels.

Topics can include:

Refillery & Reuse, HVAC, Laundry & Cleaning, Biodiversity, Transportation, Travel Agent, Training & HR, Food & Beverage, Consultant, and more!

Interested in participating? Please complete the form below.

🎟️ Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

📍1550 Princess St, Kingston ON K7M 9E3

If you have any questions, curiosities, or would like to learn more about the event, please reach out to info@sustainablekingston.com.

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