KELLY HAUSSLER
Project: À la Carte – a food recovery program for destinations
Category: Impact Event Award

As Director of Destination Development within one of Canada’s pre-eminent Destination Development units at Ottawa Tourism, Kelly Haussler is a recognised leader and innovator in this fast-growing segment of destination management. The lead on Ottawa’s Destination Stewardship Plan, Kelly’s strategic vision and effective project execution resulted in a multi-stakeholder, 10-year roadmap that choreographs the long-term prosperity of Canada’s capital region. 

Prior to Ottawa Tourism, Kelly spent six years working for a project-based, sustainable tourism consultancy firm in Australia, in which she helped lead numerous major strategic tourism projects, provided experience mentoring support to small tourism businesses, and co-authored national publications on tourism crisis and risk management and experience development.  

In addition to leading Ottawa Tourism’s Crisis Response Team, Kelly is also currently serving on the Ottawa Film Office Board, is the Co-Chair of Destinations International’s Advocacy Committee and serves on the Destination’s International Advisory Leadership Board. She was named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40 in 2021 and holds an MBA Essentials certificate from The London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Marine Biology and Oceanography from Dalhousie University.