tourism conference in canada 2023

Tourism Conferences in Canada 2024/2025/2026

• May 20 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• May 23 International Conference on Cultural Studies and Art History (ICCSAH) - Montreal, Canada
• May 23 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 13 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 13 International Conference on Migration, Development and Human Security (ICMDHS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 13 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Jul 11 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Ottawa, Canada
• Jul 15 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Quebec City, Canada
• Jul 18 International Conference on Culture, Society and Humanity (ICCSH) - Toronto, Canada
• Jul 18 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Aug 05 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Aug 05 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Aug 08 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 19 International Conference on Migration, Development and Human Security (ICMDHS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 19 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 19 International Conference on Management, Law and Humanities (ICMLH) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 26 International Conference on Cultural Policy (ICCP) - Vancouver, Canada
• Sep 26 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Oct 17 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Quebec City, Canada
• Oct 24 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Oct 28 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Nov 18 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Nov 25 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Dec 09 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Dec 16 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Dec 23 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Quebec City, Canada
• Jan 11 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Feb 11 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Mar 29 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Ottawa, Canada
• May 24 International Conference on Cultural Studies and Art History (ICCSAH) - Montreal, Canada
• May 24 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 14 International Conference on Migration, Development and Human Security (ICMDHS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 14 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Montreal, Canada
• Jun 15 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Jul 12 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Ottawa, Canada
• Jul 19 International Conference on Culture, Society and Humanity (ICCSH) - Toronto, Canada
• Jul 19 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Aug 09 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 20 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 20 International Conference on Migration, Development and Human Security (ICMDHS) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 20 International Conference on Management, Law and Humanities (ICMLH) - Toronto, Canada
• Sep 23 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Sep 23 International Conference on Cultural Policy (ICCP) - Vancouver, Canada
• Oct 21 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Quebec City, Canada
• Oct 25 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Nov 15 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Nov 29 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Toronto, Canada
• Dec 09 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Vancouver, Canada
• Dec 16 International Conference on Humanities, Administrative and Social Sciences (ICHASS) - Quebec City, Canada

Destination Canada

Land acknowledgement.

As storytellers, marketers and representatives of Canada’s tourism sector, we recognize our position of influence, and the importance of our work, workplace and workforce in reflecting the many voices and places that make up Canada.

At Destination Canada, we also acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples of all the lands that we work and live on. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between Nations and to improving our own understanding of local Indigenous Peoples and their cultures. From coast to coast to coast, we acknowledge the territory of the First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and people who have called this place home for generations beyond measure.

At Destination Canada we believe in the power of tourism. Our aspiration is to enhance the quality of life of Canadians and enrich the lives of visitors.

Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, building alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad.

We believe that Canada’s diversity, its greatest asset, is also what touches travellers’ hearts most deeply. To that end, we are committed to inclusive leadership within our workforce, workplace, and interactions with partners and travellers alike.

www.destinationcanada.com

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Politique de confidentialité | Conditions d'utilisation

• Become A Member
• Partnerships
• Member Testimonials
• Media Coverage
• News & Articles
• Subscribe to TIAO
• IMPACT Regional Ontario
• Building Inclusive Tourism
• Forward Motion
• Living Wage Week Workforce Sustainability Series
• Industry Event Calendar
• Funding & Grants
• Sustainable Tourism
• Accessible Tourism
• Tourism Skillsnet Ontario
• Tourism & Hospitality Emergency Recovery
• Francophone Tourism Operator Resources
• Tourism Workforce Sustainability Program
• Take the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge
• Elevating Ontario Experiences
• A Three Fires Collaborative Quest
• DiscoverAbility Network
• 2024 Ontario Tourism Summit
• 2023 Ontario Tourism Award Winners

2023 Ontario Tourism Summit

• Conference Information
• OTS23 Conference Details
• Accommodation & Transportation
• Artisan Marketplace
• Sponsorship

Cancellation Policy

Ontario tourism summit 2023 is sold out.

Join us for OTS23 – where for the first time ever, we will be in beautiful Mississauga.  Ontario’s 3 rd  largest city, gateway to the nation, multiple sports fields, cultural centres and amazing food.  

We will be welcoming tourism professionals from around the province to gather, share, and collaborate.  As our industry has seized the opportunity of reopening, rebuilding, and operating again, the days, weeks and months have been flying by.  This relentless pace is promising, but also one that we need to be aware of its sustainable pace.   

Over the past 2 years, TIAO has been a partner in the Three Fires Collaborative Quest with OTEC and ITO. As its name suggests, this initiative will only be successful with the collaboration of the three partners involved. In this model, no partner is more important than the other and each must share their individual strengths to help the communal good. By doing so, the communal result is greater than any individual effort. Each fire has a role and responsibilities.   In this Three Fires Confederacy inspired governance model, TIAO is responsible for maintaining the fire that encompasses the spirit of the warrior . This includes taking on the role of advocacy and amplifying the message to drive the change we wish to see in the world.   In addition, OTEC is responsible for maintaining the spirit of the fire of being a provider of knowledge and training . This role includes providing the training tools required to achieve our collective goals while allowing for guidance and new knowledge to embrace change.   And finally, ITO is responsible for ensuring all the fires are burning strong and serve the end communal goal for all to benefit.   Understanding the Three Fires Collaborative Quest model and your organization’s role can highlight opportunities with other members within the industry. Embracing this model leads to an environment resulting in enhanced collaboration, amplified & leveraged strengths amongst partners, and stability for growth for everyone involved. 

This year's summit is about  KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING  and  CONFIDENCE . Join us as we recognize the areas of focus that are impacting our industry, our decisions, and how our industry is embracing the need to embrace change, try new, and have confidence in the opportunities that this provides.  

First glimpse of speakers that will be joining us –  Janette Roush,  from New York City Tourism who will be sharing how AI/Chat GPT is impacting Destination Marketing – what should be aware of, and how to embrace.  Deborah Flint, Greater Toronto Airport Authority and James McDonald, WTTC – author of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel’s Study from a tourism lens. 

Come...Join us… and Collaborate to be Stronger Together.

Tourism Mississauga, is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the City of Mississauga. The organization is industry-led and responsible for developing a tourism strategy and leading tourism marketing and development efforts for Mississauga. 

Learn About Membership

James McDonald

Director, Travel Transformation

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) 

James joined the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in early 2020 as the Director of Safe and Seamless Travel, to advance safe, quick and efficient end-to-end travel experiences across all modes of international travel, through the use of innovative processes and state of the art technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, James led WTTC’s efforts on testing, contact tracing and the interoperability of digital health passes and digital travel portals. James is currently the Director of Travel Transformation. responsible for WTTC’s Travel & Mobility initiatives and industry Transformation efforts, covering everything from the use artificial intelligence (AI) in travel, to the return of supersonic air travel and the potential that space tourism and the metaverse could play in travel and tourism of the future.

Prior to joining WTTC, James worked at London City Airport and at the UK Government Department for Transport. Earlier in his career James also worked at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in both passenger experience and aviation security roles, including leading the Checkpoint of the Future and Smart Security programmes. James started his career as an engineer in the defence industry, working on a range of projects for NATO.

Deborah Flint

President and Chief Executive Officer

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)

Deborah Flint joined the Greater Toronto Airports Authority as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020, following more than 4 years as CEO of Los Angeles World Airports and 24 years serving in executive roles in the aviation industry.

At Los Angeles World Airports, Deborah initiated the $14-billion modernization of its terminals, runway improvements, and a comprehensive ground transportation and transit program that brings the first rail line to LAX. 

At GTAA, Deborah began her leadership at the onset of the global pandemic and has led Pearson to being globally recognized and awarded for its Healthy Airport program.  She has developed a new Strategic Plan for the GTAA that is framed by the North Star Statement: “Pearson Strong:  Creating the Airport of the Future by building our business in a Smart, Healthy, and Profitable Way”.

As a recognized leader within the international and U.S. aviation community, Deborah serves as a member of the Airports Council International World Board and the Airports Council International – North America board.

Donald Guse Salah

Inclusive Workforce Specialist

Canadian Partners in Workforce Innovation

Donald Guse Salah is an Inclusive Workforce Specialist supporting the national expansion of Canadian Workforce Innovation (CAN WiN), responsible for strategic partnership development, consultation and training for businesses to facilitate inclusive recruitment and retention, and providing recruitment support. In his previous life, Donald was a Program Manager for the Discover Ability Network at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, as well as the developer and Supervisor of a supported employment program for job seekers with disabilities. He also founded and leads the Supported Employment Alliance, a collaborative network of supported employment programs operating across the Greater Toronto Area. Donald has appeared on TVO’s The Agenda, sits on the Program Advisory Committee for the Developmental Services Worker program at Humber College and maintains professional ties to Humber College through various partnerships. In his leisure time, astronomy, history, philosophy, and science-fiction have Donald’s heart. Or rather, his brain

Samantha Corway

Sustainability Manager

Centennial College

Samantha Corway (pronouns she/her) has worked at Centennial College for the past 7 years, currently as Sustainability Manager in the Real Estate Strategy and Facilities Operation department. Her teams mandate is to foster a culture of sustainability and embed sustainable development principles and goals throughout the organization. Areas of focus include, waste reduction and diversion, biodiversity, active transportation, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) through the colleges built infrastructure and operations. Core to this work is also developing opportunities to engage staff and students along Centennial’s journey to climate action. Previous to her time at Centennial College, Samantha worked in environmental consulting for 7 years, focused on Environmental Site Assessments. Samantha received her Honours Bachelors of Arts from the University of Toronto, completing a double major in Environment and Resource Management, and Urban Economic and Social Geography. She recently completed her Masters of Environment and Business with the University of Waterloo. Samantha is a Project Management Professional and has also completed a certificate in Project Management from the University of Toronto.

Adam Spencer

Adam Spencer is recognized as one of the top international experts in PDF and PDF accessibility technologies. Adam is committed to reshaping the PDF accessibility industry through investment and the development of new and exciting approaches to document accessibility. 

Adam has been an active member of the standards-authoring community for 8 years and continues to contribute to ISO 32000-1/2 and ISO 14289-1/2. Adam is also the Vice-Chair of the Standards Council of Canada for PDF and PDF accessibility.

Samantha White

Account Executive, Northeast North America

Samantha has been involved in the short-term rental market for over 10 years. She was first an STR host and guest, then she joined the Granicus Host Compliance team in 2019. She has helped local communities across the Northeastern part of North America, address their short-term rental related challenges. She works with communities in both Canada and the US providing insight into the creation of enforceable regulations and using data to drive compliance. Samantha has over 20 years of international corporate experience. She began her career in Pharmaceuticals in the UK then transitioned to Pharmaceutical and Healthcare research for the physician platform medeConnect Healthcare Insight (part of the M3 Group). Through her work at medeConnect, Samantha became a strong advocate for using digital platforms to drive results. She first became involved in the short-term rental market in 2013 when she rented out her home while growing her business selling African-inspired goods across Europe and North America. As a relatively early adopter, she experienced the advantages and disadvantages of the short-term rental market, which lead her to her work at Granicus Host Compliance. Samantha currently resides in Mississauga and holds a Business degree from the Ivey Business School and a Sociology degree from the University of Western Ontario

Jon Bromstein

Head of Industry

Following a six-year career in credit analytics and product management at Capital One Canada, Jon joined Google as an Analytical Lead in 2013. He spent more than 4 years working with the Travel and Tourism industry across Canada, creating custom analyses & modern marketing solutions as the industry transitioned into the digital-first world, before expanding to work in industries like Finance, Entertainment, and Consumer Packaged Goods. In 2019, Jon became the Head of Industry for Google Canada's public sector team and now leads Google's partnership with governments, public agencies, and crown corporations across the country.

Rebecca Godfrey

Rebecca Godfrey, CMC, MBA, is a Senior Vice President and practice lead of CBRE Tourism Consulting. Although based in Toronto, Rebecca has responsibility for the group nationally. She has worked with CBRE since their acquisition of PKF Consulting Canada in 2015, where she had worked since 2005 after completing her MBA in Hospitality & Tourism Management. With over 17 years of direct consulting experience, and 30 years working with the tourism & hospitality industries, Rebecca’s expertise is far-reaching.

She specializes in strategic plans for tourism organizations, tourism master plans, market and financial feasibility studies and business plans, RFP processes, economic impact studies, and custom industry assessments. Rebecca has extensive experience working within both the public and private sectors, as well as 3P environments – with clients ranging from government agencies to international investors in tourism experience development. She believes in taking an integrated evidence-based and creative approach to her client work. Organizations need to attend to all areas of their triple bottom line: people, planet and profitability.

Rebecca is also a member of the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation’s (OTEC) Board of Directors.

Justin Lafontaine

Tourism Innovation Lab

Justin has been developing innovative and award-winning tourism initiatives for over 20 years, and currently leads Tourism Innovation Lab, an incubator created to find, foster and support new tourism ideas and entrepreneurs through seed grants and mentorships. The Lab and its "Spark" Program were launched in Windsor Essex in 2018 and have now expanded to regions across Ontario and British Columbia.

Steven Hellmann

Toronto Attractions Council

Steven Hellmann is chair of the Toronto Attractions Council and the founder of Little Birdie Media and The Foodies Group, award-winning tourism and food events, catering, consulting, and promotions companies. Steven is a prominent voice in the food and tourism industries, helping grow food businesses and tourism through innovative events, storytelling, business development strategy, and promotions. In the last 11 years, the Foodies Group and Little Birdie Media Inc. have grown from a tiny seed to a bumper crop. In that time, Steven has put together over 1700 innovative food and tourism experiences and tasted well over 2000 restaurants and F&B products, while exploring the world. Steven is entrenched in the food and tourism scenes and knows what drives conversations, sold-out events, and generates attention - and it's not mastering the marketing flavor of the week, but rather connecting with the community and partnering to bring the stories of the passionate people in food and tourism to life.

Victoria Clarke

Visit Mississauga

Victoria Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Mississauga, joined their dynamic team just over two years ago and hasn’t looked back! Clarke brings almost a decade of hands-on tourism experience to Mississauga’s newly formed DMO, along with 15 years of philanthropic industry leadership and digital marketing knowledge. She has won numerous Canadian and global tourism industry awards, launched new campaigns, earned her CDME designation and sits on the newly formed Canadian Destination Leadership Council representing Canada’s DMO needs with Destinations International. Victoria also proudly serves on both the CDME Board and the Foundation Board of Trustees with Destinations International.

Tyneisha Thomas

Ty The Poetess

Poet Laureate - City of Barrie

Tyneisha Thomas aka Ty the Poetess is the fourth Poet Laureate to be appointed in the City of Barrie. Ty is the first Black person and mother to be given this prestigious title. Ty was crowned only in late 2022 but has vowed to be the "Peoples Poet" Ty hosts monthly open mics downtown Barrie for artists of all kinds and her own unique event Rap is Poetry! Ty hires local Simcoe County artists in this show and pays them for their participation. Ty uses her creative writing abilities to uplift, inspire, and support those going through tough times. Ty often writes from personal experiences, lessons she has learned, or her desires and dreams. Ty is also the author of a best-selling poetry book titled Bearing Fruit which can be found in libraries across Canada and the US as well as Chapters and Amazon. 

Lisa LaVecchia

Destination Ontario

Lisa LaVecchia is the President and CEO of Destination Ontario. Lisa joined Destination Ontario in 2013 in the role of Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer where she led the organization’s Brand Management, and Consumer and Digital Marketing. Since 2017, as President and CEO, she is inspired to elevate Ontario as a preferred four-season tourist destination in a globally competitive tourism market. Lisa’s dynamic leadership style motivates excellence in those around her and is a testament to the ‘power of team’ to achieve success. Her passion and forward-thinking approach to integrated marketing strategies have led to innovative brand campaigns that are progressive and powerful and showcase the best of Ontario, including the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games “Epic Is ON” campaign and the “Where Am I?” campaign, both award-winning campaigns. Most recently Lisa has led the Destination Ontario team to support the tourism industry through the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before joining Destination Ontario, Lisa led the development of mass marketing plans and implemented cross-channel integrated marketing for Indigo Books and Music. As Senior Director, Marketing Strategy and Advertising, Lisa played a key role in establishing Indigo as a leading retail destination. Previously, Lisa was Director of Advertising and New Media for the Province of Ontario, where her portfolio included a variety of health, post-secondary and tourism projects. 

Janette Roush

Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital

NYC & Company

Janette is the Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, for NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization.  She oversees the organization’s paid media strategy, digital initiatives and media insights to raise the profile of NYC and to inspire visitation to the five boroughs.  She is also responsible for the organization’s domestic and international promotional campaigns, B2B marketing for the travel trade and meeting planners, partnerships, and promotional strategy for campaigns like NYC Restaurant Week and NYC Broadway Week.  She represents NYC & Company on US Travel’s IPW Advisory Board and their Sustainable Travel Coaliltion.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Roush holds an MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College.  Prior to joining NYC & Company, she spent more than two decades marketing Broadway at organizations such as Broadway.com and AKA, a global leader in entertainment advertising and strategy.  She is a two-time Ironman and an adjunct assistant professor of Arts Marketing at Hunter College.

Agenda is available to OTS23 Registered Guests on the  Conference APP as of October 17th.

Accommodation

We have a room block reserved at Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites for October 23, 2023, through October 26, 2023. Booking your room is simple; select "Book a Room" to receive your group's preferred rate.

Cick here to get started!

Rate includes:

• Discounted parking $10 per vehicle per day
• Complimentary WIFI

Transportation VIA Rail Get 10% off VIA Rail travel to the Ontario Tourism Summit from October 20-27, 2023! Use promo code 14408 for discounts on Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, and Sleeper class fares. Valid for up to 2 passengers per booking.

One free stopover allowed in Toronto, Montreal, or Ottawa. Not valid on Escape fares or Prestige class.

Travel dates: October 20-27, 2023 Discount code: 14408 Fare types: Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, Sleeper (not Escape or Prestige) Details: 10% off best available fare, up to 2 passengers per booking, 1 free stopover in Toronto/Montreal/Ottawa  

UP Express & GO Transit

Exclusive Transit Offers :  Attendees of the Ontario Tourism Summit can save 40% off on UP Express tickets and 15% off on GO Transit tickets using promo code OTS 2 3.  Simply visit the UP or GO website and use the code at time of purchase. Note that for GO Transit tickets, tickets are only valid for 7 days from the time of purchase.  UP Express  https://www.upexpress.com/ GO Transit  https://www.gotransit.com/en/

Abstractly Jen

BLACKWOOD Self-publishing Made Easy

Bubbly Library

Clouds Clothes

Deep Ganguly

Devon Ross Visuals

Just For You

JustClayYes

Mel.By.Design

Nisreen Art

Shanny's Shortbread Cookies

Norm Tendall

Alice and the Hatman

Anne Christi

MJ Made That

Dorothy Heldt

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) promotes the growth & prosperity of the tourism industry by working with businesses, stakeholders & government. 2023 marks TIAO’s 16 th anniversary— the association has earned the respect of Industry stakeholders as an organization that has the knowledge & vision to be a  great partner.

At TIAO, we work on behalf of our membership, collectively representing the majority of tourism businesses & employees across the province, to take on pressing policy issues that impact the Ontario tourism industry.

TIAO leads the way in government relations on behalf of the Ontario tourism industry, including tourism businesses & operators, destination marketing organizations, regional tourism organizations, & educators. We provide evidence-based policy recommendations to ensure the provincial government understands & addresses the multifaceted needs of the tourism industry..  TIAO propels the powerful & innovative Ontario tourism industry by connecting tourism leaders, innovators, government, &  educators through events and conferences. We are proud to host the largest gathering of tourism leaders, educators, businesses, & government officials in Canada, at our annual Ontario Tourism Summit.

✔ Reach over 17500+ followers via social media. ✔ Over 10 000 active readers weekly.

Application Form Link here:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:fcd92fb6-3ff2-487b-914b-704df4a33cfc

We are following all Public Health & Hygiene Protocols at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotels for OTS23. as well as Municipal | Provincial | Federal protocols.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected] .

PRESENTING PARTNER

VISIONARY PARTNERS

Conference Admins

« All Events

• This event has passed.

2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference

March 1, 2023 - march 3, 2023.

Visit HERE for Registration, sponsorship opportunities, travel & accommodation and conference highlights

• Google Calendar
• Outlook 365
• Outlook Live

• Our Identity
• Our Collaborators
• Leadership Alumni
• Youth Alumni
• Leadership Residency Program
• Leadership Accelerator Program
• Leadership Primers
• Youth Knowledge Gatherer Program
• Webinar Series
• EDID Research Project
• Horizon Scan
• Parks Knowledge Mobilization Project
• Nature For All Project
• CRP (External Site)
• Park Seek (External Site)
• CMN (External Site)
• Casiopa (External Site)
• Resource Pages
• Knowledge Base
• 2023 eSummit
• 2022 eSummit
• 2021 eSummit
• IPCA Knowledge Basket (External Site)
• Leadership Stories
• Events Calendar
• Job Listings
• Member Profiles
• Communities of Practice

2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference

The 2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) is being hosted in Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from March 8 – March 10, 2023.

The International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) is an annual conference that brings people together in a spirit of learning and inspiration. As the biggest Indigenous tourism conference in the world, IITC contributes greatly toward the advancement of the Indigenous tourism industry.

This year your Indigenous hosts invite you on an “ Adventure to Understanding, ” as you experience the rich and varied tapestry of Indigenous tourism. Adventure to Understanding represents the bringing together of Indigenous cultures – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – and their unique stories.

When it comes to reconciliation, there is no road map to how we get there. But through tourism, the journey of reconciliation is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to walk together to learn about the culture, invite them in and start to move together in a different way.

Join us for three days of cultural tours, keynote speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions to grow your business — whether you are in development or exploring markets for export, this is the conference for you.

Adventure to Understanding is your invitation to experience Indigenous tourism in Manitoba.

• + Add to Google Calendar
• + iCal / Outlook export

Search for other Park Leaders, Learners, Knowers, and Doers

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Join the Conversation

Go to forums.

• Biodiversity and Connectivity
• Industry and Corporate Partners
• Interpretation and Public Engagement
• Outdoor Recreation in Protected Areas
• Park Leaders Development Program Forums
• PanCanadian Parks and Protected Areas Research Forums
• Community of Practice Forums
• CPCIL Program Forums
• Conversations by Location
• Conversations By Type of Work

The Canadian Parks, Protected, and Conserved Areas Leadership Collective (CPPCL) is a project of the Mount Royal University Institute for Environmental Sustainability and the University of British Columbia Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. CPPCL and the Research Network are funded in parts by the Canadian Parks Council, Parks Canada, and program registration fees.

ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst

Home > TTRA Canada > TTRACANADA_2023_CONFERENCE

TTRA Canada 2023 Conference

To submit your Academic Oral Presentation, Student Poster Session, or other Academic Session Type, please select "Submit Abstract" on the right-hand side of the screen. Be sure to use the provided template to ensure proper formatting of your submission.

If you are submitting an industry report or professional workshop, please review the guidelines in the Call for Participation and send them by email to Michael Lever at [email protected].

Submit Abstract from 2023 2023

Immigration and Workforce Diversity in the Canadian Hospitality and Tourism Sector: An Opportunity Not to be Missed , Frederic Dimanche and Maggie Perzyna

Exploring Post-secondary Students’ Perceptions of the Quality of their Summer Tourism Jobs , Rebecca Gordon and Bruce McAdams

Hosting Friends and Relatives in the Yukon , Tom Griffin Dr. and Department of Tourism and Culture, Yukon Government

The use of historical heritage as a factor in sustainable tourism development: the case study of Akbarieh Garden, a UNESCO world heritage site in Birjand , Mahdieh Jahangir Bolourchian, Mahdi Hajikhani, and Eghbal Chehri Dr.

From Crisis to Recovery: Analyzing Government Support for Canadian Restaurants during the COVID-19 Pandemic , Julie Kellershohn, Wayne W. Smith, Stephen W. Litvin, and Robert Frash

Why it Matters: The Tourist/traveller Dichotomy in the Context of Pandemic-era Overtourism , Kelley A. McClinchey

Volunteer Preparedness for Emergency Management at Festivals , Debbie Toluwanimi Olotu and Christine Van Winkle PhD

How Do Restaurants Grapple with Stress when Attempting to Achieve and Keep the Michelin Star? A Qualitative Investigation in the Canadian Market , Alexander Owens, Mark R. Holmes, and Cyrus Cooper

Does the rising tide lift all boats? : Navigating datascapes at the local level , Scott Peters MSc and Peter Keller PhD

Examining Sustainable food practices in luxury gastronomic restaurants: A comparison between Michelin-starred restaurants and Luxury fine dining restaurants , Hiran Roy, Thomas Gomes, and Vikas Arya

Destination Design: A Design Thinking Approach to Tourism Development Through the Evolution of Destination Management Organizations , Matthew Hardy Thomas

Advanced Search

• Notify me via email or RSS
• Collections
• Disciplines

Author Corner

• Submission Guidelines
• Submit Abstract
• Login for Faculty Authors
• Faculty Author Gallery
• Expert Gallery
• University Libraries
• UMass Amherst

This page is sponsored by the University Libraries.

© 2009 University of Massachusetts Amherst • Site Policies

Privacy Copyright

Cycle Tourism Conference Canada 2023

Ontario By Bike and Transportation Options are pleased to host the 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference, a full-day conference to be held in Toronto on March 2, 2023.

International, Canadian and local speakers will address the latest trends and developments in cycle tourism in sessions under the following pillars:

• Developing Cycle Tourism Destinations and Products
• Knowing the Market & Measuring Impact of Cycle Tourism
• Growing Cycle Tourism through Cycling Events
• Growing Cycle Tourism through Bike Tours
• Marketing Cycle Tourism Products and Experiences
• Lightning Presentations & Award Ceremony - A Showcase & Celebration of the Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses in Ontario

Registration includes access to a full-day of speakers, presentations, networking, post-conference report, 2 meals, snacks, coffee, tea and post-conference social.

For full information on conference, speakers, programming, hotel & travel please visit: www.ontariobybike.ca/ctc23

All sales are final. There are no cancellations, exchanges or refunds.

Registration fees

Conference registration closed.

(Date of Birth required under COPPA)

Early Bird Pricing

Regular Conference Pricing

Thank you to our Sponsors!

The 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference is made possible by the generous support of the following partners and sponsors:

Destination Sponsor

Gold Spoke Sponsors

Carbon Spoke Sponsors

Contact information

How can we help you, questions about the event.

Looking for information on the event including packet pick up, schedule of events, or refunds?

Account and event settings

Looking to manage your registration, change your password, or update your account information?

Technical support

Having difficulty registering, fundraising, or transferring?

If you have a question not pertaining to online registration, please contact the event directly.

Welcome To Race Roster, our online registration partner. Please sign in to proceed.

Let's get started

Don't have access to the authentication code? Send a text message instead.

Don't have access to your phone? Enter the authentication code from an app instead.

Manage cookies

• Your privacy
• Performance & Analytics
• Targeting, Marketing & Social Media

We value the trust that you place in Race Roster by sharing your personal data with us and we are committed to handling your personal data in a way that is fair and worthy of that trust. Therefore, please keep in mind that when you visit our site, we and third parties may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. However, you can learn more about cookies and exercise choice regarding non-essential cookies by navigating the sections above. We encourage you to click on the different sections above to access a description of each category and to choose your settings for our site. Your settings do not automatically apply to all Race Roster sites you visit, and you must set your choices on each browser and device you use. If you block or clear cookies on your device you may lose your Race Roster settings. For more information, including other ways to control cookies, please also read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and are therefore set to "always active". They are often set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your (privacy) preferences, remembering items in your shopping cart, logging in or completing forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the website will not then work.

These cookies allow us to measure and analyze our website audience so we can improve the performance of our sites. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the website. They also allow us to improve the speed with which we can process your request, allowing us to remember the website preferences you have selected. It also helps identify issues faced by users on the website. Not allowing these cookies may result in poorly-tailored recommendations and slow site preferences.

These cookies allow us to make your user experience more personal and to recommend certain products. We do this, among other things, based on your behavior on the Race Roster website across the various devices you use. Furthermore, these cookies collect information to tailor advertising to your interest. They can be set by us or by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertising on our websites or on other websites. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Social Media cookies offer the possibility to connect you to your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn) and share content from our website through social media.

International Garden Tourism Conference

It’s a wrap.

Over 90 delegates from 40 gardens and 12 countries joined us in Victoria BC from 1-4 November to seize the moment . These gardens alone host more than 17 million (ticketed) visitors each year and growing. Thank you for your participation and inspiring stories, looking forward to the next conference in 2025! This innovating event revolves around the theme “Seizing the Moment,” recognizing the abundant possibilities for gardens and the tourism sector to collaborate to enhance the appeal of gardens as well as destinations, especially post-pandemic, thereby attracting more visitors. 

We are delighted to announce the first line-up of speakers who will join our conference this fall. This list will be updated on a regular basis as we move closer to August when we finalise the detailed programme and topics. We expect to announce a total of 20 speakers from the Gardens and Tourism industry.

Gerald Dieleman

Assiniboine Park Conservancy - The Leaf, Canada

Giuseppe Sigurtà

Parco Giardino Sigurta, Italy

Wanda Heimbecker

Whistling Gardens, Canada

Darren Heimbecker

Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, USA

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Jessica Boatright

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Paul Guthrie

Kew Gardens, United Kingdom

Anders J. Lindstrom

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Thailand

Richard Benfield

Garden Tourism Author, USA

Thomas Pintal

Moment Factory

Cao Guangshu

Classical Gardens of Suzhou, China

Robert Price

Vallarta Botanical Garden, Mexico

The Butchart Gardens, Canada

Michael Harvey

Adelaide Botanic Garden, Australia

Angela Cassie

Travel Manitoba, Canada

Mary Pat Matheson

Atlanta Botanical Garden, USA

Michelle Day

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Canada

Judith de Graaff

Urban Jungle Bloggers, France

Jill Smillie

Communities in Bloom, Canada

Pascal Garbe

Igor Josifovic-Kemper

Urban Jungle Bloggers, Germany

Gwen Auwerda

Tulip Time, USA

This conference will be all about the destination development and promotion of your garden. The main topics and presentations titles are listed in the schedule below. More details will be added on a continuing basis towards July.

Registration at Victoria Conference Centre

Please collect your conference badge and schedule at the conference desk at the Victoria Conference Centre

Welcome to Victoria @Butchart Gardens!

Delegates are welcome to visit the famous Butchart Gardens for a tour and welcome reception & buffet. Departure from the Doubletree Hotel at 14:00

Seizing the Moment Rendez Vous

Social gathering at Bartholomew’s (downstairs of the Doubletree Hotel)

Conference Registration

Please collect your conference badge and schedule at the conference desk at the Victoria Convention Center

Opening Speeches

Welcome and conference warm up speeches.

What Makes a Garden a Destination?

Panel sessions consist of 2-3 speaker presentations followed by a discussion

In the conference hall

Trends in Garden Tourism

A key-note by Richard Benfield, acclaimed international researcher and author on Garden Tourism.

Gardens by the Bay: Where Innovation, Technology and Nature Meet

Luncheon - canadian garden tourism awards.

Lunch will be served at the conference center

Knowing and delivering your tourist expectations

The Pleasure Garden: the garden as a stage for cultural, art and social activities, exhibitions and events

Coffee break.

Coffee and refreshments will be served in the lobby

Keeping it real: garden identity and stories

International garden tourism awards gala dinner.

Enjoy an evening with fine food, people and awards at Victoria's Union Club.

Creating Visibility and a Following

Emotional appeals of Gardens, Flowers and Food

Key Note Presentation

Served in the conference hall

Working with Tour Operators

North american garden tourism award luncheon.

During this lunch we will recognise gardens across North America for their destination development and promotion accomplishments.

Working with Online Travel Platforms

Festival/event appeal to tourists

Treve evans, conference wrap-up and closing remarks, victoria dine around.

Explore Victoria's dining scene together with old and new friends from the international gardens. You can select any of these fine restaurants: 1) The Courtney Room - https://thecourtneyroom.com/menu 2) 10 Acres Restaurant (The Bistro) - https://10acres.ca/bistro-restaurant 3) Milestones - https://milestonesrestaurants.com/locations/victoria 4) Fathom (Hotel Grand Pacific) - https://www.fathomvictoria.com/dinner-menu 5) Bard and Banker - https://www.bardandbanker.com/dinner-menu

Option 1) Victoria Garden City Walking Tour

From the conference hotel we will take a leisurely walk through several gardens in the nearby Parliamentary Precinct, then start wending our way through the James Bay neighbourhood, the oldest in the city. Here we will walk past well-preserved heritage houses on tree-lined streets (including the birthplace of Emily Carr). Along the way, we have made arrangements to visit some of the small private gardens that showcase many different styles of home gardens: a forest garden, a heritage garden, an urban farm, and a secluded, hidden shade garden (a true gem). On the return route to the hotel, our path will take us through the main garden features in Beacon Hill Park, with its artificial lakes, bridges and formal landscapes, as well as through the park's beautiful natural areas. The restored grounds of St. Ann's Academy, an 1871 convent now a National Historic Site, will be the last stop before we return to the hotel.

Option 2) Vancouver Island Gardens Bus Tour

Stop 1 – Abkhazi Garden Website : https://www.abkhaziteahouse.com/abkhazi-garden The Abkhazi Garden is an exquisite heritage home and garden Prince and Princess Abkhazi began creating their garden in 1946. They immediately began to develop their one-acre property, and continued to maintain and improve the garden throughout their lives together. Stop 2 - Hatley Park Gardens Website : https://hatleypark.ca/visit-us/hatley-park-gardens The gardens at Hatley Park Historic Site, home to Royal Roads University, are among the finest Edwardian gardens in Canada. The extensive grounds include a magnificent forest of old growth Douglas Fir. The Japanese, Italian, and rose formal gardens have existed for more than a century on the shores of Esquimalt Lagoon. Stop 3 – Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP) Website : https://hcp.ca/visit/gardens/ The Gardens at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP), home to the Pacific Horticulture College, presents a year-round garden experience that all can enjoy. The HCP is recognized as a welcoming place that inspires a love of gardens and nature, shares horticultural knowledge and experience with everyone, produces certified horticultural professionals, and demonstrates environmental stewardship fur future generations.

Seizing the Moment Farewell Reception

Farewell reception at Bartholomew’s (downstairs of the Doubletree Hotel)

Event venue

• Victoria Conference Centre
• +1 6133014554
• [email protected]

TOP 3 REASONS TO ATTEND SEC

Business Development & Sales/Partnership Leads

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL / NETWORKING

Sec: a sustainable event.

Here are a few examples of how Sport Events Congress has become a more sustainable event over the years:

• Host Hotel – We choose host hotels that offer greener options for guests and meeting attendees.
• Printing – STC is using environmentally friendly materials and printing fewer hard copies of documents, including event schedules, handouts and reports.
• Gifting – STC’s delegate gift has a shelf life beyond the Congress.
• Travel – STC routinely offers ecological transportation options at SEC.
• Event Volunteers – STC gives back to its community hosts by offering professional development and networking opportunities to local students through volunteer opportunities at SEC.
• Speaker Gifts – in lieu of offering gifts to speakers, STC gives back to the local community by making a donation to a local charity.
• Delegate Bag Inserts – SEC sponsors are placing less paper in the Congress bags and offering re-usable items.

SAVE THE DATE!

Winnipeg, MB  

Contact Us About SEC

Frequently asked questions, who normally attends sport events congress.

Sport Events Congress attracts delegates from a variety of sectors:

• Events rights holders  (organizations/companies who own the rights to sporting events and are seeking potential host cities to partner with them to host their next event.  Events range from community level sporting competitions such as minor hockey tournaments to international elite sporting events to conferences and meetings and special events).
• Sport Tourism and Economic Development professionals  (people who are working to promote their city/town as a destination for sport events and are interested in hosting events)
• Suppliers to the Sport Tourism Industry  (companies who offer services to the sport tourism industry, such as hotels, airlines, magazines, event marketing firms, etc.)
• Education sector and researchers  (students, professors and researchers who are in the tourism or sports administration fields).

Approximately 400 delegates attend Sport Events Congress each year.

What is the difference between Sport Events Exchange and Vendor Alley?

Sport Events Exchange  is a business-to-business marketplace that provides an opportunity for events rights holders and destinations to meet one-on-one to explore sport events hosting opportunities.  Participants are assigned brief appointments to conduct a short business meeting.  The format is similar to ‘speed dating’ whereby both parties have a short period of time (8-10 minutes) to determine if there is potential to work together and then a bell rings prompting people to move on to their next appointment.

Vendor Alley  is the trade show element at SEC.  It offers companies the opportunity to set-up kiosks and promote their products and services to SEC delegates during the conference.  Each year, approximately 30 exhibitors take part in the trade show and pay the appropriate fees for their kiosk space that is allocated to them in the trade show area.  Conference delegates are encouraged to visit booths, pick-up promotional material and speak with company reps who are exhibiting.  Exhibit space in Vendor Alley normally sells out well in advance of the Congress so any company interested in exhibiting should confirm their intentions to STC at least 5 months prior to the Congress.

WHERE AND WHEN DOES SPORT EVENTS CONGRESS TAKE PLACE?

Sport Events Congress has typically always been hosted in the spring. Past host cities include Toronto, Ottawa, Richmond, Edmonton, Halifax and Gatineau. There is a bidding process in place for hosting SEC.

View upcoming dates and locations for SEC here.

Do you offer special rates for delegates who only want to attend portions of the Congress or one-day only?

Congress delegate fees are based on the attendee taking part in the full Congress. A limited # of one-day passes for Day 3 only are available.

View registration information here.

Do I have to be a member of Sport Tourism Canada to attend SEC?

Congress is open to anyone, however, STC members have discounted rates on registration fees and may have access to certain activities or events that are restricted to members only. View the program of events for details or view the membership section of our website for more info on how to become a member of STC.

How do I find out if my company/organization is a member of Sport Tourism Canada?

Is sec a sustainable event.

Since 2015, Sport Tourism Canada has been implementing sustainable event practices at Sport Events Congress. More info about SEC: A Sustainable Event is posted on our website .

I am interested in speaking or presenting at SEC? How do I submit my request or topic idea?

STC is in the process of developing a list of engaging topics for SEC23 that will provide learning and inspiration to assist the sport hosting system to be more successful and resilient in the future. If you would like to recommend a topic or have interest in speaking/presenting at SEC23, please submit to: [email protected] . View our schedule of events here .

Registration Open – 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference!

Registration is now open for the 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference (BC THC), presented by the British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) and Tourism Industry Association BC (TIABC)! The conference will take place at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre from March 1 – 3, 2023. Early bird registration rates are available until January 19, 2023.

The 2023 conference theme is All Systems Go ! After navigating through many pandemic-related challenges, the BC tourism and hospitality industry is ready to launch into a new season with strategies and tactics to build business, expand into new markets, develop new products and services, nurture relationships, and tackle issues such as sustainability, diversity/equity/inclusion, reconciliation, and other priorities as a strong, resilient and determined sector.

The 2023 BC Tourism & Hospitality Awards recognize and celebrate excellence, leadership, and innovation within BC’s tourism & hospitality industry. These awards recognize the province’s most exceptional products, services, experiences, and people who exhibit the utmost standard of excellence. The award nomination submission deadline is December 15, 2022.

Learn more: https://www.bctourismandhospitalityconference.com/ 

Destination BC

Official websites.

HelloBC.com

Be inspired to start planning your BC Vacation.

Travel Media

Information for journalists, editors and broadcasters.

Tourism Business Portal

Online, self-service business listings system for tourism industry.

Subscribe to our newsletter

• Open twitter social link
• Open facebook-f social link
• Open instagram social link
• Open youtube social link

Cycle Tourism Conference 2023

The 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference, Canada, a full-day conference was held in Toronto on March 2, 2023

Hosted by Ontario By Bike / Transportation Options

Download Post Conference Report – HERE

Over 160 cycling and tourism industry leaders attended the 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference Canada on March 2, 2023. The conference was coordinated by Ontario By Bike, a program of Transportation Options , a not for profit organization that for the past thirty years has been dedicated to fostering sustainable mobility and tourism solutions. Transportation Options has coordinated a number of significant conferences in the past, including four cycle tourism conferences in 2019 ,  2016 ,  2013  and  2009 .

The theme of our fifth conference was Destination Bike: Rolling On

Attendees learned from and joined conversations and discussions with keynote presentations and concurrent sessions from Canadian and international speakers that featured the latest trends and opportunities relating to one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in Canada, and worldwide: cycle tourism.

See above tabs for more information on conference presentations, program and speakers. The exciting and informative conference program was curated under the following:

Developing  cycle tourism destinations and products Growing  the cycle tourism market through emerging trends Marketing  cycle tourism product and experiences Serving  the cycle tourist market Measuring  the impact on destinations and businesses

2023 Conference Location –  Centennial College Event Centre, Toronto

Located at: 937 Progress Avenue, Toronto We are pleased to have hosted the 2023 conference at this extraordinary location and state of the art event centre, located near Hwy 401 & Markham Road. Attendees enjoyed the beautiful facility, panoramic views of the city and supported the learning of students in this professional setting, a part of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts – our future workforce.

Who Attended the 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference Ontario, Canadian and International

• Destination marketing and regional tourism organizations
• Economic development and transportation staff from municipal and provincial governments
• Parks staff and trail stewards
• Bicycle event organizers and tour operators
• Tourism consultants
• Bicycle and trail advocates
• Business owners and entrepreneurs
• Bicycle industry representatives
• Interested organizations and individuals

About the 2023 Conference

What 2023 Conference Attendees Had to Say

• 99% felt the conference provided them the information and tools needed to further develop their cycle tourism product
• 90% made useful connections through networking with other conference attendees and speakers
• 100% were interested in attending another Cycle Tourism Conference
• Respondents gave the 2023 conference a rating of 8.92 out of 10 in terms of usefulness for their destination, business or event

At the 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference Attendees Learned About

• Businesses and destinations successfully attracting cycle tourists
• Turning a cycling network into a cycle tourism product
• The characteristics and behaviour of cycle tourist segments
• Economic impacts and related values of cycle tourism for communities
• Current key issues and emerging trends in cycle tourism markets and product development
• Effectively planning, executing and evaluating marketing campaigns in cycle tourism
• Leveraging the intersection between cycling events, destinations and partnership opportunities
• Connecting cycling and cycle tourism to the broader tourism industry

Conference Coordinators

The 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference was coordinated by Ontario By Bike, a program of Transportation Options , a not for profit organization. For thirty years, Transportation Options has been dedicated to fostering sustainable mobility and tourism solutions across Ontario, developing and supporting a range of innovative programs. Transportation Options has coordinated a number of significant conferences in the past, including four cycle tourism conferences. See the reports, agenda and speaker bios from 2019 , 2016 ,  2013  and  2009 .

Contact Info

For more information on the conference, please call 1-866-701-2774 / 416-827-2774 or contact through email  [email protected]

The 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference was Made Possible by the Generous Support of the Following Partners and Sponsors:

Lunch Sponsor:

Destination Sponsor:

Gold Spoke Sponsors:

Carbon Spoke Sponsors:

About the Author: Ontario By Bike

TIAC Events

As the national private-sector advocate for the tourism industry, TIAC conducts a number of leading events which complement and advance our advocacy activities. Our events provide a platform to showcase our successes and share knowledge within the sector and with key decision-makers.

Upcoming Events

• National Tourism Week 2024
• Rendez-vous Canada
• 2023 Tourism Town Halls
• Image Gallery (2023)
• Start a Nomination
• Application Fees
• Past Recipients - Lifetime Achievement Award
• CTA Image Gallery
• What to expect
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Who is Attending
• Program @ a Glance
• Registration
• Capital Connections - 1:1 Meetings
• Menu Options
• CapitalX Talks: Speakers
• CapitalX Talks: Education Sessions & Fireside Chat
• Travel & Accommodations
• Educational Webinars
• Look who's coming!
• Sponsor showcase
• Know before you go!
• Inductees to the Hall of Fame

Join our mailing list

Pledge to Support Vision 2030

Join Indigenous Tourism Team Canada and help make Canada the global leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.

Destination Indigenous opens doors into the living cultures of Indigenous Peoples in Canada today through Indigenous nature and wildlife tours, cultural sharing, accommodation and relaxation, culinary experiences, shopping and more.

We have a story to tell.

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a global leader in the marketing and development of Indigenous tourism experiences. ITAC’s members are Indigenous-owned and controlled businesses from every province and territory in the country.

Partner to Grow Indigenous Tourism in Canada

The Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF) offers an innovative way for Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses to partner with ITAC to grow the Indigenous tourism industry from coast to coast to coast.

Upcoming Events

Programs & Services

Tools & Resources

Plans & Reports

With an ITAC membership, there are many benefits and many opportunities to grow your business. Any person or organization that has an interest in advancing Indigenous tourism in Canada may apply to become an ITAC Member.

Membership Benefits Highlights

• Participate in marketing and sales programs
• Access training and business development programs
• Networking opportunities with industry partners

For more information on becoming a member, select your province or territory:

British columbia, new brunswick, newfoundland & labrador, northwest territories, nova scotia, prince edward island, saskatchewan, you're in good company.

ITAC represents Indigenous-owned and controlled tourism businesses from across the country, including  export-ready and market-ready companies as well as businesses still in development. Any person or organization that has an interest in advancing Indigenous tourism in Canada may apply to become an ITAC Member.

ITAC Staff Members

Led by the CEO, ITAC staff are responsible for the day to day operations of the organization including activities and plans as approved by the Board of Directors.

ITAC Board of Directors

I TAC’s board of directors is made up of representatives of organizations owned and controlled by indigenous people in every province and territory.

ITAC is glad to provide supports to our travel trade partners. Our staff is available to answer questions and provide any information you need to create the perfect and genuine itinerary for your individual clients or groups.

From story starters, storytellers, spokespeople, background information, industry research, images, videos and other assets, ITAC has resources available to support the development of compelling stories.

Our site uses cookies. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy .

Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island

2023 Tourism Conference and AGM

TIAPEI Annual Tourism Conference – November 1-2, 2023

TIAPEI would like to thank all the Members and Tourism Operators who joined us for the 2023 Tourism Conference last week. It is with support like this that TIAPEI can continue to best meet the needs of tourism operators in Prince Edward Island.

We would like to know how we did! We would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes to fill out or post-conference survey. The results will help us improve the conference in years to come. Please click the button below to participate in the Survey .

As promised, we have attached all the slide decks below for your reference. If there is something that you are looking for that isn’t available below, please contact us at [email protected] or by calling 902-566-5008.

Day 1 – Wednesday, November 1st

State of the Industry – Tourism PEI

T31 Strategy Development Session – Greg Klassen

2SLGBTQI+ Travel Market – Connor McKiggan

Moving Forward Together – Indigenous Tourism Integration in Epekwitk – Jamie Thomas & Mitchell Rennie

Day 2 – Thursday, November 2nd

2023 TIAPEI Annual General Meeting

CEO’s Report – Corryn Clemence

President’s Report – Keith Samuel

CCOA/Charlottetown Festival – Steve Bellamy

Regenerative Tourism – Kaitie Worobec

Revenue Management Dynamic Pricing – Gabrielle Caron

Seasonal Expansion Tourism Strategy – Trevor Jonas Benson

• Terms & Disclaimer
• Join or Renew Membership

Lewiston Sun Journal

Account Subscription: ACTIVE

Questions about your account? Our customer service team can be reached at [email protected] during business hours at (207) 791-6000 .

Promotion of Wabanaki cultural tourism gains momentum in Maine

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, is slated to open this summer. Designed in collaboration with Wabanaki leaders, it is one of the first major efforts in the state to boost Indigenous tourism.

You are able to gift 5 more articles this month.

Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more .

With a Lewiston Sun Journal subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month.

It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page .

Loading....

An artist’s rendering of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station on Lookout Mountain in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The visitor center, slated to open on Aug. 17,  has displays and architectural features that highlight Wabanaki culture. Courtesy of Saunders Architecture and Mir

Tucked just below the ridgeline on Lookout Mountain, Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is designed to deliver breathtaking views of Mount Katahdin and the Wabanaki homelands that surround Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Visitors to the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, set to open this summer, will experience one visual surprise after another and be immersed in Wabanaki culture along the way. That’s intentional, according to Jennifer Neptune, a member of the Wabanaki advisory board that collaborated with the architects who designed the building.

Jennifer Neptune, a Penobscot artist, writer and educator, took this selfie last fall while standing in front of an art panel she designed that has been installed in the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The center opens this summer. Photo by Jennifer Neptune

The contact station is aptly named Tekαkαpimək, pronounced “de gah-gah bee mook,” which means “as far as one can see” in the Penobscot language. The approach road rises and meanders through thick forest toward the station. An overlook frames a stunning eastern view of the landscape that the Indigenous tribes in Maine call Dawnland.

From the parking area, gravel paths mimic the nearby East Branch of the Penobscot River, scaling Maine granite steps to the station’s front doors. Once inside, visitors will be drawn past soaring timber columns and interpretive displays on Wabanaki culture, arriving finally before a massive window and balcony with an astonishing view of Mount Katahdin.

“The building has the most beautiful view of Katahdin,” said Neptune, a Penobscot artist, writer and educator. “Visitors will be oriented to that place with a Wabanaki world view.”

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is emblematic of the attention and awareness that’s building around opportunities to increase travel, tourism, recreation and education related to the culture and heritage of the Wabanaki, or “People of the First Light.” In addition to the Penobscot Nation, whose ancestral lands include the national monument established in 2016, the Wabanaki include Maliseet, Mi’kmaq and Passamaquoddy tribes that have lived in the region for millennia. Advertisement

The mounting effort to promote Wabanaki cultural tourism was featured at the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held last month in Portland, and it’s part of a global trend that’s mining growing interest in Indigenous tourism worldwide . The U.N. Tourism General Assembly identified the potential for growth in this segment of the travel industry in 2017, defining cultural tourism as activity that taps a visitor’s desire to experience a community’s distinctive history, lifestyle, beliefs and traditions.

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, founded by tribes in 1998, serves a $14 billion Native hospitality sector, which today includes Indigenous cultural sites in California, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, the Grand Canyon and along Route 66. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada was formed in 2009 to promote authentic Native tourism experiences, and there are similar travel opportunities in New Zealand, Australia and Scandinavia.

“Travelers are interested in the culture and heritage of the destinations they are visiting and the Wabanaki culture goes back 12,000 years,” said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism.

DEVELOPING A FORMAL PLAN

Wabanaki leaders say cultural tourism is nothing new to their people, whose basket-making skills and other talents have long fostered cross-cultural exchanges with European colonizers and their descendants.

Often the outcome was disastrous, as the newcomers seized land and relegated Indigenous people to remote areas. Sometimes there was recognition, even parity. In the mid-1800s, Henry David Thoreau hired Penobscot guides to lead him on trips that resulted in “The Maine Woods,” a popular collection of his essays and poems . Advertisement

Artisans make clay tiles for the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station on Lookout Mountain in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Photo by Erin Hutton

But now, the state tourism office is supporting Four Directions Development Corp. in forging its Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Initiative, providing over $270,000 in grant funding and technical assistance. The initiative grew out of the state’s first Tribal Economic Development Summit, which was convened in 2019 by the office and Four Directions, along with representatives of each tribe.

Four Directions is a nonprofit community development corporation and a Native community development financial institution certified by the U.S. Treasury Department. Established in 2001 by the Penobscot Nation, it strives to improve socioeconomic conditions for the four Wabanaki tribes in Maine through education and investment in affordable housing and business ventures.

Indigenous tourism gains traction in the U.S. but faces head winds

Many of the nearly 8,700 Wabanaki members live in Aroostook and Washington counties – the northern and eastern portions of the state – in what are among the most economically challenged counties in the country, according to Four Directions. In addition to the Penobscot Nation at Indian Island, near Old Town, they include the Mi’kmac Nation in Presque Isle, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Passamaquoddy communities at Pleasant Point and Indian Township, near Calais.

An artist’s rendering of the eastern lookout at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Rendering by Reed Hilderbrand & WeShouldDoItAll

The cultural tourism initiative has been surveying tribal leaders and assessing existing community resources and infrastructure to develop a comprehensive tourism plan that will promote Wabanaki heritage and contemporary culture, said Charlene Virgilio, a Penobscot member who is executive director of Four Directions.

Charlene Virgilio, executive director of Four Directions Development Corp.  Courtesy of Charlene Virgilio

The tourism plan is expected to include strategies to engage Wabanaki youth in career development and cultural preservation. It also aims to establish an Indigenous Maine Guide program, a native tourism alliance and a Wabanaki tourism destination marketing organization.

“The goal is, by 2030, the Wabanaki tribes will have a robust tourism industry,” Virgilio said. “They’ll decide what they want to do.” Advertisement

Critical to the decision-making process will be figuring out how to promote access to Indigenous places and build the infrastructure to host visitors – hotels, restaurants, gathering spaces, parking areas, shuttles – without compromising Wabanaki values or destroying the locations tourists want to see, including sacred sites that will remain off limits.

Important aspects of the tourism plan will include developing community pride and sustainable economic vitality for the tribes. Gaining economic and political sovereignty has long been a goal of the Wabanaki tribes, including 2023 legislation Gov. Janet Mills vetoed because of legal concerns and that the Legislature failed to override . The tourism plan also will call for public education and environmental awareness efforts to foster cross-cultural understanding and break down stereotypes.

“Some people come to Maine and they don’t even know we have tribes,” Virgilio said. “But the tourism industry is shifting to be more culturally aligned with who we are as a people. With the emphasis on nature and sustainability, that’s who we’ve always been. It definitely resonates with who we are, our cultural beliefs and how we take care of the land.”

RECOGNIZING WABANAKI CULTURE

On the front end of the trend, the Portland Museum of Art has emphasized Wabanaki artists in programming since its “You Can’t Get There From Here” exhibition of contemporary Maine art in 2015. It’s part of the museum’s commitment to representing artists and patrons of all backgrounds in its displays and collections.

“It’s all about wanting to be more equitable and diverse in the stories we tell,” said museum spokesman Graeme Kennedy. “We’re tapped into what people are looking for from their museums.” Advertisement

An artist’s rendering of the south wing of the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The visitor center, which opens Aug. 17, features displays about Wabanaki culture and history. Rendering by Aleksey Mokhov and WeShouldDoItAll

This summer, the museum will feature the work of Jeremy Frey, a seventh-generation Passamaquoddy basket maker in what the museum describes as “the first-ever major retrospective of a Wabanaki artist in a fine art museum in the United States.”

Running May 24 through Sept. 15, “Woven” will present 50 of Frey’s baskets made from black ash and sweetgrass. “It’s a love letter to the Maine landscape,” said Ramey Mize, the museum’s American art curator.

Harvard study finds sovereignty constraints on Maine tribes caused them enormous economic damage

In Bar Harbor, the Abbe Museum, which is dedicated to advancing Wabanaki heritage, culture and homelands, will hold its first Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas on July 12-14 at the College of the Atlantic.

Tekαkαpimək Contact Station under construction in April 2023. Photo by Gary Stern

Supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the state tourism office, the free festival is billed as an evolution of the museum’s former Indian Market and Native American Festival, which featured invitation-only native arts and performances.

The Dawnland Festival will add talks by Wabanaki and other Indigenous leaders on some of the biggest questions facing society today, including climate change, democracy and food systems. Speakers will include Penobscot attorney and author Sherri Mitchell, James Beard Award-winning chef Sherry Pocknett, of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Native rights attorney Michael-Corey F. Hinton, who is Passamaquoddy.

“Native arts and cultures cannot be separated from Native ways of knowing,” Betsy Richards, a Cherokee Nation citizen, executive director of the museum and senior partner with Wabanaki Nations, said in a statement. Advertisement

Other museums that feature Wabanaki culture and heritage include the Penobscot Nation Museum at Indian Island, Passamaquoddy Cultural Heritage Museum at Indian Township, Wabanaki Culture Center in Calais, Hudson Museum at the University of Maine and the Maine State Museum.

SHARING INDIGENOUS HERITAGE

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness also plans to embrace aspects of Native cultural tourism at The Healing Lodge in Millinocket, which offers intensive outpatient services and traditional healing practices to tribal members battling substance use disorder, trauma and other mental health issues.

Nearby is The Gathering Place, a 50-acre property in the shadow of Mount Katahdin that includes 40 campsites, a sweat lodge and areas for smudging circles and other culturally centered healing experiences.

The agency plans to open the Millinocket sites to nonindigenous people as soon as summer 2025, recognizing that others may benefit from Native healing programs and wellness excursions with Mount Katahdin as the backdrop.

Lisa Sockabasin,co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness Courtesy of Lisa Sockabasin

“There are so many nonindigenous people who want to heal the way we heal,” said Lisa Sockabasin, a Passamaquoddy member who is the agency’s co-CEO. “It’s about connecting people to each other and to the land.” Advertisement

In the meantime, the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and its partners are preparing to open Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to the public Aug. 17-18.

Managed by the National Park Service, the 87,000-acre monument beside Baxter State Park was donated to the United States by Roxanne Quimby, who founded Burt’s Bees and made a fortune when she sold it. It includes a 17-mile loop road, trails for hiking, mountain biking and snowmobiling, and paddling access along the Penobscot River’s East Branch.

The privately funded contact station is the focus of a $35 million fundraising campaign that received $10 million from the Quimby family and foundations and $1 million from the National Park Foundation. The campaign still has to raise $5 million to complete the project, which includes sustainable off-grid heating and cooling systems, accessible paths and access routes, and interpretive exhibits and artwork reflecting Wabanaki culture.

An artist’s rendering of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Courtesy of Saunders Architecture and Mir

Neptune, who consulted on the design of the building, was also a member of the Wabanaki advisory board that led the development of exhibits and programming. She wrote the text for the exhibits and designed art panels that have been installed above three fireplaces in the contact station.

Printed on large wooden panels, the design features a bear and birds on a brown background resembling a birchbark etching. The panels and all of the materials on display in the contact station that reflect Indigenous cultural knowledge and intellectual property are owned by the Wabanaki Nations.

The recognition of Wabanaki culture within the contact station is extraordinary and moving for Neptune and other tribal members involved in the project. It’s an aspect of cultural tourism that validates their place in the world and the symbiotic relationship they have with the land and the water and all other beings.

“Often, we’re lucky to get a paragraph recognizing Wabanaki people,” Neptune said. “It’s hard to belong to a place and never see yourself in the visitor centers or museums and other places.”

At Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, she said, the Wabanaki will be able to share their traditions and keep them strong for future generations.

Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.

Enter your email and password to access comments.

Forgot Password?

Don't have a commenting profile? Create one.

Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Already have a commenting profile? Login .

Invalid username/password.

Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.

Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate.

Already registered? Log in to join the discussion.

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why .

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

Send questions/comments to the editors.

• Enter your email
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Boys lacrosse: Lewiston coach Ben Fournier and assistants step down midseason

Goodbye rocking chair, hello bar stool for these nice and naughty knitting lessons, body discovered in woods near vietnam veterans memorial bridge in lewiston, maine’s liquor prices are a mystery, and some say unfair. that may change., survivors recount their struggles to overcome brain injuries after motorcycle crashes, member log in.

Please enter your username and password below. Already a subscriber but don't have one? Click here .

Not a subscriber? Click here to see your options