Ottawa Tourism Names New VP of Marketing and Communications
Ottawa Tourism is welcoming a new voice to its leadership team this summer. Julie Kinnear has been appointed vice-president of marketing and communications, with her start date set for August 2026.
The appointment signals a continued investment by Ottawa Tourism in building the city's profile as a destination — both for leisure travellers and business visitors. As VP of marketing and communications, Kinnear will be responsible for shaping how Ottawa is positioned and promoted to audiences across Canada and internationally.
A Strategic Hire for a Competitive Tourism Landscape
Tourism in Canada's capital has rebounded strongly in recent years, with major events, festivals, and cultural institutions drawing visitors back to the city. Ottawa regularly competes with larger markets like Toronto and Montreal for conventions, major sporting events, and cultural tourism dollars.
Bringing in dedicated senior marketing leadership suggests Ottawa Tourism is doubling down on storytelling and brand strategy — key tools for any destination looking to punch above its weight. The role of VP of marketing and communications is central to that effort, overseeing everything from advertising campaigns and digital presence to media relations and partnership communications.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
For a city that sometimes struggles to stand out from the national capital narrative — parliament, museums, government — strong destination marketing can shift the conversation toward Ottawa's food scene, its outdoor lifestyle, its festivals like Winterlude and the Ottawa Bluesfest, and its growing reputation as a tech and innovation hub.
Kinnear's arrival in August gives Ottawa Tourism the summer season to get oriented before the busy fall conference season and the ramp-up to winter programming. Expect her influence to start showing in campaigns heading into 2027.
Details about Kinnear's background and previous roles were not included in the announcement, but her appointment to a VP-level position at one of the region's most prominent tourism bodies speaks to her experience in the field.
What's Next
Ottawa Tourism has been active in recent years growing the city's profile, and this hire adds senior capacity to sustain that momentum. As the organization looks ahead to major events and tourism milestones, Kinnear's leadership in marketing and communications will be a key part of how Ottawa tells its story to the world.
Watch for more details on her priorities and focus areas once she officially joins the team in August.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal — obj.ca
