County marketing organization appoints first executive director

Visit The County, Prince Edward County’s new tourism-industry-led Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMMO), has appointed Eleanor R. Cook as its first executive director.

Following a competitive search, Cook joins Visit The County from a neighbouring Regional Tourism Organization (RTO) where she worked with small business owners, accommodators, creative culturalists, community ruralists, and food and drink producers.

“Eleanor’s experience with the Ontario tourism industry, along with her past municipal experience, make her the perfect fit for this much-anticipated and high-profile position in Prince Edward County,” said Rebecca Mackenzie, Visit The County board chair. “The board, our digital marketing and communications analyst – Samantha Porter-Mills, and I are excited to be working closely with her to accomplish Visit The
County’s many and varied goals.”

In addition to her work with an RTO, Cook has also served as a professor of tourism marketing,
mentoring students with a focus on regenerative tourism. She has also been a part-time resident of Carrying Place since 2015, a residency she plans to make permanent in the coming months.

“Ontario business owners are unstoppable. They bring vision, integrity, energy, and are a privilege to work with,” said Cook. “I am genuinely humbled to be able to continue to work with tourism business owners and community partners in Prince Edward County, and to have found such an intrinsic appointment with Visit The County.”