14 Muskoka Outstanding BusinessWomen’s Awards 2009
Muskoka Businesswoman of the Year – Tourism
AWARD
Recipient
Nominees
Murphy, who nominated
her for the award.
In the early 1980s, a
notably, the 2010 G8 Summit.
retail component was added
Haywood was behind the
to the marsh in the form of
creation of an initiative called
a store that offers every
Marketing Our Communities,
manner of cranberry prod-
which aims to promote the
uct, as well as souvenirs,
area as a premier destination
candles and other items. It
during the shoulder season
is now open to visitors
while attracting and retaining
year-round and owes much
sport and cultural events and
of its success to Hogarth.
conferences.
Hogarth credits the
Prior to working for the
store’s growth to others
chamber, Haywood worked as
besides herself, but Musko-
a usability consultant for Nor-
ka Lakes Winery, which
tel in Ottawa, which allowed
WENDY was founded in 2001, is, as
her to hone her customer
HOGARTH she puts it, her baby. She
KELLY HAYWOOD skills.
saw Muskoka’s only win-
General manager, “Those skills have been
Co-owner, Johnston’s ery through its infancy,
Huntsville/Lake of Bays translated into this position in
Cranberry Marsh and which involved a few chal-
Chamber of Commerce looking at it from the broader
Muskoka Lakes Winery lenges and struggles along
If tourism has put Huntsville perspective of the whole com-
Johnston’s Cranberry the way, but the business
and Lake of Bays on the world munity,” she says. “We’ve cre-
Marsh is not just a cranber- has since grown enough to
stage, Kelly Haywood is the ated a bit more of a niche to
ry farm. It’s also a produc- necessitate the hiring of a
one working behind the scenes identify why people should
tion facility, retail outlet, full-time winemaker.
to ensure the spotlight never come here, of Huntsville as an
winery, educational centre “Our wines have been
dims. outdoor playground.”
and tourist attraction, well-received,” Johnston
The general manager of the Haywood credits her new
boasting wagon tours in the says. “We’ve won awards,
In addition to establish- grown like nothing else in
Huntsville/Lake of Bays resident experience as part of
summer and helicopter we’re in the LCBO, and it’s
ing her farm as a tourism the world, and they’re one
Chamber of Commerce is a her inspiration.
rides during the harvest created a tourist attraction
destination, Hogarth is a of the few indigenous crops
key figure in the area’s tourism “I was a user, if you will –
season when visitors can for Muskoka.”
founding member of in North America. People
industry. During her tenure, someone who came here need-
see the process first-hand. Her innovative approach
Savour Muskoka, which are fascinated with that.
the chamber has become a ing to understand the area,
It has even been featured on to business and tourism was
promotes culinary tourism I’ve been telling the same
leader in bringing event what’s available to do, the
the Rick Mercer Report. one of the reasons Murphy
in the area. She is also stories for years, and it nev-
tourism to Huntsville. It has parks . . . I needed maps, and
This expansive approach cited in his nomination of
involved with the Bala er gets old. I feed off the
bid on events such as the 2006 everything,” she says. “My
is largely due to Wendy Hogarth.
Cranberry Festival. Mur- enthusiasm of other peo-
Ontario Winter Paralympic philosophy is to grow the com-
Hogarth, who co-owns the “Ten to 20 years ago, the
phy believes her contribu- ple.”
Championships, the Muskoka munity in a positive way, and
Bala marsh with her hus- tourism community in
tions have aided in creating Hogarth’s business and
Ironman, the 2010 Ontario find opportunities that best
band Murray Johnston. Canada was only beginning
an image of the region as a personal philosophy
Winter Games and most match the area”
Founded by Johnston’s par- to recognize and conceptu-
year-round destination. encompasses lifelong
ents in 1951, the farm is alize the potential of agri-
“The agritourism part learning, which is no doubt
140 hectares in total, with cultural and culinary
springs naturally from my a contributing factor to her
for experiences encompassing
11 hectares cultivated. tourism,” he says. “While
teaching background,” says success and happiness.
all senses. She also empha-
“The business that government policy makers
Hogarth, who gave up “I never stop taking
sizes service.
Wendy has created encom- and academics began
teaching at the elementary courses,” she says. “I try to
“You can have the most
passes a single farm prod- organizing different
level in 1996 to concentrate be the best person I can be
beautiful property, but if you
uct and has turned it into a tourism opportunities,
on the business. “People in whatever role I’m being,
don’t have that intuitive serv-
regional tourism experi- Wendy was hard at work
want to see where their and to recognize that that is
ice, with that sense of style and
ence,” says Savour Musko- putting together a cranberry
food comes from and how a constantly evolving
balance, you’re not happy.
ka general manager James experience.”
it’s made. Cranberries are process.”
And then there’s how we get
the guests to the hotels; we
have proprietary tools that are
more sophisticated than what
some of the large hotel brands
are currently using, and we’ve
developed them at a fraction of
Valerie J. (Tingey) Ferguson,
ANNE LARCADE the cost.”
B.A., LL.B., Acc. FM President and COO, Sequel Although Larcade acknowl-
Hotels and Resorts edges that Sequel is known
Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Family Law Mediator
As general manager of better nationally and interna-
Deerhurst Resort, Anne Lar- tionally than in Huntsville, she
cade left a key position in the wants to stay right here.
world of Muskoka tourism in “I want to grow a world-
2005 to start her own hotel wide and world-renowned
Congratulations to all of the Nominees.
management and development company based in Huntsville,”
company. she says.
Sequel Hotels and Resorts Larcade has recently been
now has 250 employees and nominated and asked to join
manages five upscale hotels the Toronto chapter of Women
and resorts, two of which, HV Presidents’ Organization, a
Hidden Valley Resort and non-profit membership organ-
Touchstone, are located in ization for women presidents
Muskoka. Another property, of multi-million dollar compa-
640 Muskoka Road North Chateau Beauvallon in Mount
nies. She has also been a fea-
Tremblant, has just been voted tured speaker at notable hotel
Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1E7
best hotel overall in the world association conferences and is
by users of the online travel currently on the international
Tel: 705-687-6782
service Expedia. lecture and interview circuit
“We’re being inundated with speaking on how to market
Fax: 705-687-6772
calls,” says Larcade, president hotels online.
and COO of Sequel. “We’ve “Being a leader is about
vferguson@prolawsolugid19fons.com
recently had calls from Kuala inspiring and motivating peo-
Lumpur, the United Arab Emi- ple, giving them tools, and
rates, and the U.S.” allowing them to do what they
Larcade’s hospitality philos- do best, which is innovation,”
ophy is that hotel guests look she says.
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