About Us
Phone
Office
2 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 1A3
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest office operates on an appointment-only basis. To get in touch or arrange a meeting with our team, please reach out to us via phone at 519-570-HANS or through email. Please note that we no longer have a physical retail store; however, you can conveniently purchase merchandise and souvenirs through our online store.
Job Opportunity
Job Title: Tourism Coordinator
Reports To: Executive Director
Type: Full Time, Contract, 35 hours per week, August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025
Application Deadline: Resumes will be accepted by email at tracy@oktoberfest.ca until 4:00 p.m. on July 5, 2024.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Tourism Coordinator oversees all tourism and hospitality programming, plans and strategies for KWO.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
•Create, implement and coordinate tourism/hospitality plans and strategies.
•Assess needs and opportunities for KWO’s tourism development.
•Evaluate, monitor and leverage existing Festival tourism assets.
•Research, explore and develop new Festival tourism products, attractions, markets and opportunities.
•Recommend, administer, monitor and coordinate tourism communications and budgets.
•Manage tourism grant programs.
•Cultivate productive working relationships with tourism partners.
•Work with partners to develop and market Festival packages.
•Engage Festival partners, businesses and communities to better leverage assets and increase return on investments, overnight stays and tourism activity within Waterloo Region.
•Ensure KWO remains viable and attractive to those offering tourism opportunities.
•Assist the Executive Director with preparation of annual budget, as needed.
•Represent KWO at community events.
•Assistance with event management, when required.
Strategic Initiatives:
•Assist with funding/grant applications related to tourism and hospitality or other relatable areas, when required.
Strategic Plan 2023-2025
Given the massive changes in context globally, regionally and as an organization in recent years, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Inc. (KWO) engaged Dr. Rebecca Sutherns of Sage Solutions in the fall of 2021 to facilitate a collaborative strategic planning process.
Like most tourism and festival operations, KWO has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the anticipation of returning to normal programming in 2022, the time was right to do a substantial rethink to reimagine the future of the festival. The Oktoberfest festival has changed significantly over its first 50 years, and it will continue to adapt to changes in the community, festival patrons’ desires, and in its contribution towards the economic vitality of the region.
Rebecca worked with KWO’s strategic planning project team, comprised of its Executive Director, President, and representatives from staff and the Board of Directors to develop the resulting strategy that is focused but adaptable, centered around a refreshed vision for the future of the festival.
Annual Infographic
Annual General Meeting
2023 AGM Recording – Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the SDG Idea Factory
Audited Financial Statements
2023 KWO Audited Financial Statements
2022 KWO Audited Financial Statements
2021 KWO Audited Financial Statements
