Gordon Orr will serve a dual role as CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Invest WindsorEssex
Windsor-Essex, Ont. – Today the board of directors for both Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Invest WindsorEssex have announced the appointment of Gordon Orr, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island as Chief Executive Officer of Invest WindsorEssex effective Wednesday July 2, 2025.
The appointment as a dual CEO was unanimously approved by the board of directors for both organizations. Orr will act to provide excellent executive leadership to both regional entities, while leading a strong team with senior leaders Jason Toner, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Joe Goncalves,Vice-President of Investment Attraction and Strategic Initiatives at Invest WindsorEssex.
This dual appointment will further deliver upon the mandates of these two strong award-winning organizations and reflects a growing collaboration between the organizations as we continue to build a unified vision for promoting economic development and tourism across the region. While this change marks a significant step forward, it is important to highlight that Orr will remain in his current role as CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee, while also taking on the executive leadership responsibilities of Invest WindsorEssex.
Gordon has held the role of CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee since September 2011, effectively streamlining the operation and turning the organization into an award-winning Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). Orr has been working in the tourism industry for over 30 years including roles as the Managing Director of Convention & Visitors Bureau of Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island as well as roles in the industry as a hotelier. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario in 2023. In the tourism industry Gordon is a member of the DMO Council for Ontario’s Southwest as well as a member of Destination International’s Canadian Destination Leadership Council. In addition, Gordon is actively engaged with the community including current/past positions with the University of Windsor Alumni Association Board of Directors, University of Windsor Board of Governors, Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Maryvale Adolescent & Family Services Board of Directors, and the St. Clair College Public Relations Program Advisory Committee among others.
The Invest WindsorEssex Board of Directors extends thanks to Keith Andrews for stepping up to serve, and for his impactful work as Strategic Advisor and Chief Operating Officer for the organization over the last six months.
QUOTES
“On behalf of the Board of Directors for Invest WindsorEssex, I am pleased to welcome Gordon Orr as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. For over three decades, Gordon’s leadership, vision, commitment, and follow-through has helped to grow and sustain a thriving tourism and hospitality sector in our region, with significant positive spinoffs for economic development. Now, as Windsor-Essex is identified as one of the fastest growing communities to watch in Ontario and Canada, it is more important than ever to have strong and dedicated leadership to attract new investments and businesses, along with the residents and visitors needed to sustain the upward growth trajectory in our region. Economic development and tourism are both key pillars of community development, and Gordon will leverage the synergies between these important portfolios to align initiatives with the overall mandates of each organization that ultimately support growth and prosperity in our region. Gordon has a proven track record as a tireless champion for Windsor-Essex, and for every individual, business, corporation, organization, asset, amenity, place and experience that makes Windsor and Essex shine locally, and on the world stage. We look forward to seeing what Gordon accomplishes to build and strengthen our region through this new opportunity.”
– Mayor Drew Dilkens, Chair of the Board of Directors Invest WindsorEssex and Mayor, City of Windsor.
“The Board of Directors of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island welcomes the opportunity to share the talented executive leadership of Gordon Orr with Invest WindsorEssex. Gordon has been our CEO since 2011, and he will continue in that role going forward. During the last 14 years he has demonstrated great political acuity, strong governance principles, and superior leadership skills. Gordon’s greatest strength is his relationship management skills, and he has built trust among the team he leads, the Board he reports to, the organization’s funders (City and County Councils), and the industry he serves. We know his leadership abilities will help stabilize the c-suite at Invest WindsorEssex as their new CEO.”
– Mayor Crystal Meloche, Chair of the Board of Directors Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, and Mayor, Town of LaSalle
“I am grateful for this career opportunity, and I thank the Boards of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Invest WindsorEssex for the trust they are placing in me to be the CEO of both organizations. I very much understand the meaningful roles both regional entities have in being economic generators and job creators. With a strong bench of senior leaders and equally talented staff at both organizations, I look forward to leading these teams for the betterment of the entire region.”
– Gordon Orr, CEO Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, and CEO, Invest WindsorEssex
“I want to thank the Board at Invest WindsorEssex for this wonderful opportunity to serve as their Strategic Advisor and COO for the last six months, and more importantly I want to thank the professional, hardworking and dedicated team at Invest WindsorEssex. The team, under Gordon’s leadership, is well positioned to carry out and execute Invest WindsorEssex’s new strategic plan that builds upon past successes and underscores growth for future prosperity.”
– Keith Andrews, Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer, Invest WindsorEssex
ABOUT TOURISM WINDSOR ESSEX
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the regional tourism industry. We are a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and selling Windsor, Essex and Pelee Island as a remarkable destination for tourist, convention goers and business travelers.
As the leading tourism industry collaborative, we are committed to enhancing the region’s economy and quality of life through supporting industry development and individual operators, actively facilitating partner engagement and effectively marketing our destination.
ABOUT INVEST WINDSOR ESSEX
Invest WindsorEssex is a not-for-profit organization supported by the City of Windsor and County of Essex. We are responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in the region.
As the lead economic development organization in the region, we provide confidential and expert assistance to companies and entrepreneurs in all sectors. Our focus is to develop and execute strategies to retain, expand, attract and help start up new businesses in the Windsor-Essex region.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jason Toner
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island
jtoner@tourismwindsoressex.com | 519-819-4039
Gina Meret-Dybenko
Director, Marketing and Communications
Invest WindsorEssex
gmeret@investwindsoressex.com | 519-791-6223