KITCHENER, Ont. — Regional Tourism Organization 4 Inc. (RTO4) has promoted Andrea Gardi to the executive director of the organization, one of 13 regional tourism offices established by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries in Ontario.
“Andrea joined RTO4 in 2015 and has put to good use her undergraduate degree in Honours Business Administration from Ivey School of Business and a Master’s degree in Tourism Policy and Planning from the University of Waterloo,” says Robert Harris, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Her professional background includes positions with economic development and destination-marketing organizations across Ontario. Previously she served as project manager, senior project manager and director of Projects and Operations at RTO4.”
Gardi’s appointment follows the retirement of CEO David Peacock in 2019. Since 2011, Peacock has driven RTO4’s innovative, analytical and non-traditional approach to tourism growth and economic development. He will continue to serve RTO4 as executive advisor and chief strategist on a part-time basis.
“Andrea brings strong organizational and analytical skills and a passion to address the challenge of growing tourism in the region she was born and raised in,” says Peacock. “Her work has contributed significantly to the regional-tourism model that RTO4 has developed for Waterloo, Wellington, Perth and Huron and for the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. I look forward to her future work as she builds on the solid foundations of RTO4 and steps into a well-deserved role as a recognized leader in the province.”
“As executive director, I look forward to serving the industry-led board and championing research and data driven decision making,” says Gardi. “I strongly believe the key to successful destinations is highly engaged communities taking an active role in shaping their collective tourism future and will continue to develop and refine the RTO4 model for the region, province and Ministry.”
