2006 Tourism 1st Vision Award Winner
Gordon Stewart, Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia
The Tourism 1st Vision Award recognizes significant contributions to achieving the vision of doubling tourism revenues in Nova Scotia. What better recipient could there be for this award than the author of the Vision process?
Gordon Stewart has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for almost six years in the shaping and launching of this unprecedented and ambitious province wide project. Spanning public and private sector organizations and entities, the Vision process was designed after extensive consultation with stakeholders. Gordon has always recognized that key success factors include a focused multi-year dialogue and he has consistently worked with partners to focus efforts and resources on the Vision for tourism.
He has been a tourism trailblazer – with other provinces such as British Columbia and New Brunswick setting long term revenue goals and in doing so, following in Nova Scotia’s footsteps. Prioritization of the eleven key recommendations has always been important to Gordon and his most recent work has centered around building the economic metrics required to predict economic results from the layers of activities the Tourism Vision have implemented. Gordon served in the capacity of Chair of the Tourism Vision Team since its inception in 2002 and currently serves as past Chair.
Gordon has been a staunch advocate to the tourism industry and all stakeholders to continually challenge ourselves and the way we do business. His mantra is one of raising the bar, of asking more from each and every participant in our industry. In his capacity as founder and Chair of the Vision process, Gordon has contributed a variety of talents – from financial planning to project management, from proposal and report writing to research and communications. His knowledge, persistence and focus has enabled him to be an accomplished lobbyist for the cause that is the Nova Scotia Vision.
Gordon honed his skills for years at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and currently holds the position of Executive Director, Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia where he has strengthened that organization by increasing membership and expanding programs. His relentless focus on the consumer, the visitor, the marketplace and its changing demands guide his strategies and his implementation regardless of what position he is serving.
He also sits on numerous Vision Recommendation Committees including the Transportation Committee, the Quality Vision Team and the Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council.
As the Nova Scotia Tourism Vision is designed to be the catalyst for growth – Gordon Stewart has been the catalyst for the catalyst. His critical thinking and focus on the future has led to an identification for Nova Scotia, of the actions required to achieve positive economic spin-offs. While Gordon has long led this innovative approach to achieving long term growth in Nova Scotia’s tourism industry, he has always recognized that success will only be possible through collaboration. His ability to align diverse organizations with varying mandates and resources toward a common goal is truly visionary.
For all of these reasons, Gordon Stewart deserves the 2006 Tourism Vision Award.
