Resorts of Ontario
Sparked creates an award-winning website for Ontario’s leading resort association.
01
About the Client
Resorts of Ontario is a provincial non-profit trade association that represents the diverse and beautiful resort sector across the province. Serving both vacationers and resort owners, the association acts as a trusted guide to Ontario’s best getaways. From lakeside lodges to luxury spas, they connect travellers with unforgettable experiences while providing their member resorts with vital marketing and advocacy support.
02
The Challenge
As part of a broader digital adoption strategy, Resorts of Ontario needed to reimagine their online presence to maintain their position as the go-to resource for Ontario travel. They wanted to improve the user experience for vacationers, making it easier to find specific experiences, while simultaneously driving more qualified traffic to their member resorts. They required a robust, accessible, and mobile-friendly platform that could support e-commerce and complex content filtering.
03
The Solution
Sparked Digital embarked on a comprehensive redesign to uplift the brand and streamline the user journey. We began with a deep dive into strategy, conducting an SEO audit and developing a content strategy to ensure the site would rank for key tourism terms. Visually, we reimagined their identity to feel more elegant and sophisticated, updating the colour palette and typography while maintaining brand recognition.
To help travellers find their perfect trip, we engineered a custom WordPress solution featuring a user-friendly interactive map and advanced filtering for “Hot Deals” and vacation packages. We also rewrote the website copy using conversion rate optimization (CRO) techniques to encourage bookings.
On the technical side, we implemented a secure e-commerce solution for gift certificate sales and integrated the site with their CRM and email marketing platforms. The final build was optimized for mobile, ensuring a seamless experience for all users. The site was built on WordPress, empowering their internal team to manage content easily and keep it fresh and inspiring.
04
The Results
The redesigned website has successfully transformed how the association connects with travellers, driving higher engagement and traffic to member resorts.
The project’s success was officially recognized with a 2025 Tourism Marketing Award of Excellence from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). Learn more about the award.
“Winning this award reaffirms our dedication to advancing Ontario’s resort sector through strategic, data-driven marketing and innovative storytelling. The redesigned website is a key step in that journey — a powerful platform that inspires travel, enhances member visibility, and showcases the best-in-class resort experiences that define our province.”