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July Issue

News

Message from the President & CEO


We recently received the results of a survey we commissioned with support from the Provincial and Territorial Tourism Industry Association (PTTIA). The focus of this survey was to gauge the outstanding debt load from federal government loans, lines of credit and other credit facilities that sustained a business’ operations during periods of inactivity related to the pandemic as well as the businesses level of confidence in their capacity to service this debt. 


Forty-five per cent of Canada's tourism businesses reported that they are likely or somewhat likely to close within the next three years without government intervention into their mounting debt load. The survey found that 55 per cent of tourism sector businesses who share their views are somewhat not or not confident that their company will be able to make debt payments (principal and interest) that are due over the next two years. This includes loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), and the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP).  


An overwhelming percentage of tourism businesses who participated in the study say that they face tremendous financial pressures due to mounting debt loads from both government and private loans that allowed them to weather the storm of COVID-19 pandemic-related business interruptions, new operating costs and labour force shortages. (...)

Read More

This week the Government of Canada unveiled the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy


The strategy, titled Canada 365: Welcoming the World. Every Day., aims to build back this once $105 billion industry and solidify Canada's position as a top global destination. Informed by extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including tourism businesses, industry associations, Indigenous organizations, and destination marketing organizations, this new strategy addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian tourism sector. 

Read More

Canada Expands the Francophone Mobility Program to Increase Francophone Immigration 


Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has just announced important changes that will help facilitate the hiring of French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers outside Quebec. The temporary changes took effect on June 15, 2023, and will be valid for a period of two years. They include: 

 

  • Intermediate level French-language skills for oral expression and comprehension (equivalent to a Canadian Benchmark 5 or higher); and, 
  • Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 4 and 5 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) (with the exception of primary agriculture occupations) are now eligible.  


Applicants must also now provide proof that they meet the language requirements through documentary evidence that may be but is not limited to: a French evaluation test or French competencies test, a diploma or degree from a French college or university, or a document that confirms studies were completed at a French-language institution. 


For more details, please contact the Dedicated Service Channel at Promotion@cic.gc.ca

Unlocking New Talent: Exciting Changes to Canada's EMPP Program for Tourism Businesses in Newfoundland 

 

On June 13, 2023, Minister Fraser, IRCC, announced that Canada was launching two new streams to the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot program, fulfilling a commitment made on March 27, 2023. The new immigration streams – that will be offered in accordance with existing program streams – provide Canadian employers access to a talent pool of skilled refugees and other displaced people from around the world. One of the new streams will be tailored to candidates who have a current job offer from a Canadian employer, while the other is available to highly skilled refugees who do not have a job offer. 

  • EMPP Federal Skills Job Offer Stream: in this stream, Canadian employers can hire qualified candidates to fill a wide range of in-demand jobs, including nurse aides, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, logistics and warehouse workers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers. 
  • EMPP Federal Skills Without a Job Offer Stream: in this stream, the government recognizes that certain candidates are qualified through skills that are in high enough demand to enable them to access employment after they arrive in Canada. 
Learn More

Access Grants and Expertise to Transform your Business 


The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), a $1 billion program announced in Budget 2021 to help SMEs adopt digital technologies. Launched in March 2022, the CDAP provides grants and loans to SMEs to support the cost of technology adoption, ultimately helping them meet customers’ needs and compete in the online marketplace. The program consists of two streams: 


  • Grow Your Business Online is designed to help customer-facing businesses digitize and take advantage of e-commerce opportunities. Eligible businesses can receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies, as well as support and advice from a network of e-commerce advisors. The micro-grant can help pay for things such as developing a new e-commerce website, adding functionality to an existing website, or hiring a consultant to help with digital marketing. The department has partnered with local service providers across Canada for the delivery of Grow Your Business Online services. 
  • Boost Your Business Technology helps SMEs that require more comprehensive support to adopt more complex technology. The grant enables SMEs to access expert advisory services for digital adoption planning and financing options needed to put these technologies in place. Eligible SMEs can receive a grant covering up to 90 percent of the cost of the plan, up to a maximum of $15,000. Additionally, SMEs can apply for zero-percent financing of up to $100,000 from the BDC. SMEs can also apply to receive a wage subsidy of up to $7,300 for a youth work placement to assist with their digital transformation. 
Learn More

Top Four Highlights from the recent TIAC Debt Survey  


The results of the recent survey on current levels of debt being carried by tourism operators commissioned by TIAC with support from our provincial and territorial counterparts show that more than half of our businesses in Canada are worried about keeping their doors open for the next three years without further government intervention. Here are the four main highlights coming out of the survey results.   


Forty-five per cent (45%) of Canada's tourism businesses report that they are likely or somewhat likely to close within the next three years without government intervention into their mounting debt load. The survey finds that 55 per cent of tourism businesses who shared their views are somewhat not or not confident that their company will be able to make debt payments (principal and interest) that are due over the next two years. This includes loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), and the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP).  

 

Nearly a third (30 per cent) of tourism businesses report having more than $250,000 in total outstanding debt from loans, lines of credit or other credit facilities and 22 per cent state that their total current debt load from loans is between $100,000 and $250,000.(...)

Read More

Members

A Word from Our Member

"Baxter Media joined TIAC many decades ago, recognizing that it was and would continue to be the voice of Canada's tourism industry. Over the years, it has proven its value time and time again, and in the past two years, its hard work and advocacy have been a beacon for the industry to follow and find comfort in. 

 

There are many reasons to join TIAC, and these are just a few reasons Baxter Media finds their membership valuable. These include the fact that TIAC: 


  • Represents Canadian organizations and promotes Canada to the world. 
  • Advocates on behalf of the industry – that was particularly apparent during COVID. 
  • Provides a welcoming environment to interact with and do business with other industry members. 
  • Works to connect and facilitate engagement between domestic and international industry contacts/organizations. 
  • Provides access to useful resources. 
  • Works with industry to help develop product and ensures it is market ready. 
  • Acts as a friendly intermediary between industry and government. 
  • Develop multiple platforms to showcase brands/products on a larger scale. 

 

Keep up the good work, TIAC … the industry needs you." 


- Baxter Media, David McClung, President and CEO


Would you like to be featured in our monthly TIAC Talk, social channels and on our website? TIAC Member Testimonial provides visibility and exposure to the tourism industry and a wider audience. If you want to be featured in an upcoming TIAC Talk and other platforms, click here to submit your testimonial. 

Did You Know? TIAC Member Benefits


As a TIAC Member, you enjoy a range of benefits, including: 

  • Voting Rights 
  • Opportunity to post an Employment Opportunity on our Job Board
  • Opportunity to post an Event on our Event Schedule   
  • Option to be highlighted in our Member Spotlight in a TIAC Talk. Click here to complete the form.  
  • Access to savings with AVIS and Budget as well as QUASEP 
  • Member Advantage Program at Rendez-vous Canada 
  • Registration savings for the Tourism Congress and more 

 

Click here for a complete list of TIAC Member Benefits.

TIAC Advisory Committee Application 

 

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is still accepting expressions of interest by Members in good standing (excludes Associates or non-Members) to participate in one of four committees: Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism, Investor Development, Digital Readiness and Export Readiness. 

 

If you are a TIAC Member and interested in submitting your name for one of these committees, please complete the online form here.

 Thank You, Industry Patrons


On behalf of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), we express our deepest gratitude for Industry Patrons’ invaluable support and patronage.  

 

Industry Patrons include representatives from leading companies in their sector who are creating positive change in international tourism growth and investment and advancing the travel and tourism portfolio. 

 

Their financial contribution and support to TIAC enable the association to address industry issues and barriers that impede growth effectively. 


Their decision to support and invest in TIAC further endorses the associations' credibility on a national level and as the industry's official voice of tourism. 

 

Your generous contributions have enabled us to implement impactful initiatives, advocate for our industry's needs, and create meaningful opportunities for our members. Your dedication to advancing the tourism industry is truly commendable. 

Member Spotlight

Each month we highlight a member (excluding Associates) in the associate’s newsletter TIAC Talk. The TIAC Talk is circulated to over 8,000 qualified industry and stakeholder email addresses, so this is a great opportunity to share information about your organization or company including what’s new, accomplishments and innovative ideas, with peers across Canada. If you would like to be showcased in the TIAC Talk, we would love to hear from you! Please complete the online form found here.

Ask an Expert Sessions

We were pleased to work with our partners at RDÉE Canada to deliver an insightful and thought-provoking session on Canada's Francophone and Bilingual Tourism Industry and the many offerings available by RDÉE Canada to help grow your business. Members who participated in the FREE webinar offered by TIAC engaged with the presenters in a lively question-and-answer period learning about the Salut Canada program, complimentary services and the untapped francophone market. 

 

The webinar (and previous sessions) was recorded and is available in the Member Area of the TIAC Website. Click here to view recordings and presentations.

 

TIAC's Ask an Expert Webinar Series will resume on Wednesday, September 20.   

Member Survey

Thank you to members who took time out of their busy days to complete the Annual TIAC Member Survey. 

 

Congratulations to Laura Barry Walbourne, Manager of Travel Trade with Pacrim Hotels Atlantic Canada, for winning the VIA Rail gift certificate. 

 

We are pleased to share some of the highlights of the survey. 


Summary of findings:  

  • 169 total responses (21.5% response rate) 
  • Response received from every province and territory.  
  • 94% rated the value of TIAC's membership benefits as valuable. 
  • 94% recommend joining the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to other industry professionals. 


Click here for a full summary of the challenges respondents identified that negatively impact Canada's Tourism Industry. 

Welcome to the TIAC Team

Joshua Gottlieb, Project Coordinator


The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is delighted to welcome a new member to the Business Development and Member Services Team; Joshua Gottlieb has joined as Project Coordinator. 

 

Josh started his "project planning" career, running his first concert at the age of 15 for a school project. He called it "Punks Against Racism, " which ran for 20 years, raising money for various charitable organizations. 

 

Moving forward several years, Josh found himself in downtown Vankleek Hill, organizing Beau's Oktoberfest for five years. (Yes, that was a full-time, year-round job!). Then the pandemic hit, and Josh shifted his career from event producer to project manager, taking advantage of the pandemic to obtain his PMP designation.  

 

Still working at Beau's Brewery, Josh led the execution of a few interesting projects, such as certifying a product as carbon neutral and eventually managing the merger between Beau's Brewing Co. and Steam Whistle Brewing. 

  

On his time off, Josh finds the time to sing (or yell, as his spouse would say) in two punk bands, loves attending concerts, travelling, and finding good restaurants to enjoy great food and craft beers with friends.  

Kimberley Meijer, Policy and Government Affairs Manager


Kimberley Meijer has a diverse background and pool of experience, having a focus on political science, political processes, and the practice of government and governance in society; providing regular government relations updates to senior leadership and helping develop government and stakeholder relations strategies, including engaging with organizations and other key stakeholders. 

Nik Mills, Director of Policy and Government Affairs


Nik Mills has over 10 years of experience providing strategic advice and research in support of public advocacy and policy development; has in depth knowledge of economic trends and key policy issues for the Canadian tourism industry, including with respect to labour; and a considerable track-record of success managing multi-stakeholder projects with partners from government, industry, and higher education. 

Cecilia Reaburn, Event Manager


Cecilia Reaburn is a passionate event creator and connection builder. With close to a decade of nonprofit experience, Cecilia is thrilled to merge her expertise in event planning with her love for exploring Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis and discovering hidden gems in the culinary scene. With a wealth of knowledge in both nonprofit work and event management, Cecilia is excited to work with the TIAC team to create events that foster connection, and inspire knowledge exchange, and innovation within Canadian Tourism.

TIAC READI Program

Last year, TIAC was fortunate to receive Tourism Relief Funding through the Government of Canada to launch an aggressive program. 

 

To recover to pre-pandemic levels and grow again, businesses must rethink their strategies and how best to navigate a post-pandemic world. To that end, TIAC has developed a robust program designed for the industry to do just that, called READI (R-E-A-D-I). 

 

TIAC’s READI program includes ten projects, each with multiple phases. Several projects are complete, including the Town Hall Series, which saw an in-person event in every province and territory. 

 

Other programs underway include Sustainable Development and TIAC’s first-ever Investor Forum. 

 

By the end of the year, TIAC’s new READI Platform will include: 

  • Training and Education 
  • Real-Time Domestic Insights Dashboard 
  • A Data Bank of registered Businesses and destinations with experiences and services that meet specific criteria. 
  • Business Development 
  • And much more. 

 

For more information about TIAC’s READI Program, contact Anne-Marie Forcier,  

Director of Program Development at aforcier@tiac-aitc.ca 

TIAC Investor Forum


The inaugural TIAC Investor Forum 2023 will be hosted at the beautiful Hilton Meadowvale/Mississauga, November 26-28.   

 

The Investor Forum is specifically designed to facilitate meaningful interactions between entrepreneurs and potential sources of capital who possess the resources and expertise to drive expansion and secure investments to fuel the growth of your tourism business.  

 

Curious? Want to learn more? Mark your Calendar for July 13, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST and join the TIAC Investor Forum, Informative webinar: “Unlocking Opportunities for Tourism Growth and Investment!" During this 1-hour session, we will provide an overview of the Forum, and expectations, including a Q & A to ensure you have answers to your questions and are capital seeker ready for the Investor Forum.

*This informative session is complimentary to join.  

 

Click here to register for TIAC Investor Forum, Informative Webinar: “Unlocking Opportunities for Tourism Growth and Investment!" 

 

Participating in the Investor Forum will give you a wealth of knowledge, networking opportunities and expert insights.  

 

Registration includes pre- and post-educational webinars to ensure you are READY to meet the capital providers! Your registration at the Investor Forum will also give you complimentary access to the following webinars:

 

Webinar #1 – How Companies are Financed – Debt and equity - August 15, 2023 

Webinar #2 – Why you want more debt than equity and what lenders look for – September 12, 2023 

Webinar #3 – Equity risk and what is it? – October 24, 2023   

Webinar #4 – Bringing it all together, approaching Capital Providers – November 7, 2023 

Webinar #5 – Post event debrief – now what? – December 5, 2023 

  

The investor forum also offers impactful partnership opportunities. By joining as a partner, your brand will take center stage, capturing the attention of a targeted audience of industry enthusiasts and decision-makers.  

 

Click here to learn more.

 

For further inquiries, please email Jennifer Beatty, Director of Partnerships, at Jbeatty@tiac-aitc.ca to maximize this exceptional opportunity.  

 

TIAC’s Investor Forum is part of the READI Program, made possible by the support of the Government of Canada.    

Learn More

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is delighted to welcome our newest members who joined us in June.



Hello to New and Renewed TIAC Members

 

New Associate Members: 

  • Cranbrook and Region Tourism Society (through their TIABC membership) 


Thank you to the TIAC Members who have renewed and continue to support our advocacy efforts. Our success depends on you!  TIAC is the Champion of Canada’s Tourism Industry with a 90-year track record of creating positive change and growth opportunities and driving success for our members. 

 To learn more about what TIAC does and the benefits of membership, contact Jennifer Taylor, VP Business Development & Member Relations at jtaylor@tiac-aitc.ca or Julie Gauvreau, Manager, Member Services at jgauvreau@tiac-aitc.ca


Not a member? Become one! 

Join TIAC

Members in the News

CGLCC Entrepreneur Program 


On June 15, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, announced that the Government of Canada has selected Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) to administer Canada’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. The $25 million investment will assist entrepreneurs who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ in overcoming the systemic barriers they face when starting and expanding their businesses. 


The Minister made the announcement at CGLCC’s Global 2SLGBTQI+ Business Summit and Supplier Diversity Forum. Joining the Minister was Darrell Schuurman, Co-founder and CEO of the CGLCC and Sylvie Ouellette, President and Co-founder of Versatil, BPI Inc, a member of CGLCC’s Supplier Diversity Program. 


“Entrepreneurs who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ play a crucial role in contributing to the Canadian economy. Yet they continue to encounter systemic barriers when starting and expanding their businesses,” said Schuurman. “Over the past two decades, the CGLCC has been a leading advocate for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs. The new 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program marks a significant stride towards tackling these obstacles. We are honoured to assist the Government of Canada in this important work.” 


Managed by CGLCC, the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program comprises three primary programs: Business Scale Up program, the Ecosystem Fund, and the Knowledge Hub. Together, these programs provide invaluable resources such as business advice, networking opportunities, and mentorship to assist 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs in launching, growing, or expanding their businesses, both domestically and internationally. The initiative also builds a robust network of existing and new organizations dedicated to supporting these entrepreneurs and generates essential data to enhance our understanding of 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs and the specific challenges they face. 


More information will be made available in the upcoming months. Additional details on the initiative may be found here.


From Our Partners

Tourism HR Canada Update

Contributed by Tourism HR Canada


As peak summer season gathers momentum, many tourism operators are facing challenges as they try to enhance their workforce to match rising visitor demand. Whether it’s determining how to offer competitive compensation, keeping pace with changing HR practices, or exploring how to access the web of international worker programs, tourism employers can tap into a wide range of newly launched features from Tourism HR Canada to ensure they have the talent to rebuild and thrive. Here’s a taste of what’s available: 


Check Whether Your Compensation Measures Up 

If you want to attract, recruit, and retain skilled workers for peak performance in your workplace, you need to know that your total compensation package is competitive. Tourism HR Canada has released its latest Canadian Tourism Sector Compensation Report, along with a new, interactive dashboard. Access in-depth compensation data on fifteen key occupations across the tourism sector. 


Examine the Latest Nation-Wide Business Intelligence 

Tourism HR Canada has published the latest results from its nation-wide survey of tourism businesses. Find out how operators are faring with recruitment and retention, training, product and service innovations, and operational challenges...plus what action they've taken in the lead-up to peak summer season. Read the highlights and download the full report here. 


Get Back to HR Basics: Discover Tourism’s Employer Compass Series 

Alongside a plethora of career awareness resources, the new Discover Tourism website features a range of management, leadership, and HR tools and tutorials for employers. Amongst them: the Employer Compass series. These quick videos offer tips on common HR themes, from interviews to performance management to mentorship. Watch them here. 


Navigate Immigration Programs 

Facing a very tight labour market, many tourism businesses may be feeling squeezed as they look to ramp up their workforce to meet increasing visitor demand. To help you meet your staffing needs, Tourism HR Canada has created a series of downloadable infographics covering practical tips and resources for creating a blended workforce: a mix of Canadian and international talent. Explore the range of programs available, including step-by-step guides and tips to help you get started. Download the suite of infographics here. 


Take Action to Make Safer Workplaces 

Tourism HR Canada recently launched Make Safe, a training program aimed at mitigating sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry. How? By being aware of what constitutes sexual violence, learning how to safely take action, and taking a zero-tolerance approach. This resource is available free for a limited time, in both English and French. Sign up on Emerit.ca. 


Connect with Early Talent and Wage Subsidies 

Created specifically for the tourism sector, the Propel Student Work Placement Program connects employers with post-secondary students looking to complete a paid work-integrated learning opportunity: a co-op placement, an internship, and more. Numerous tourism-related businesses across Canada are benefitting from these placements and the related wage subsidies, helping them emerge from the pandemic and ensure they have a skilled team ready to meet the growing influx of travellers. Hear from employers and students on how they’ve benefitted from work-integrated learning

Great Taste of Canada - the Ultimate Guide to Food and Drink Experiences Across The Country 

Contributed by The Culinary Tourism Alliance

The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA), a trailblazer in the culinary tourism industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Great Taste of Canada, the ultimate field guide to mouthwatering eats, hands on food experiences, and unique tastes of place across the nation. 

 

Made possible through support from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Government of Canada, the Great Taste of Canada brings together over 40 destinations, sector organizations, and tourism stakeholders from coast to coast to coast to share and tell the delicious stories of Canadian foodways and taste of place experiences.  

 

More than just maple syrup and poutine (though there certainly is that), Canada’s food scene is a true smorgasbord of gastronomic journeys, shaped by the rich history, heritage, and cultures across the country. This new initiative promises to showcase a plethora of experiences where food enthusiasts can embark on unforgettable adventures and unparalleled sensory experiences. 

 

The Great Taste of Canada will provide travellers with the inside scoop on how to truly experience Canada's foodways. Whether you're helping a beekeeper with apiary work, learning to filet a fish with an Indigenous chef, or sipping your way through a new wine region, we have the distinct pleasure of telling the stories of the people behind it all. 

 

“It is through savouring local flavours, sharing stories, and celebrating our foodways that we invite visitors from around the world to visit Canada and go somewhere delicious,” says Rebecca Mackenzie, President and CEO at the Culinary Tourism Alliance. “Destination partners across the country have helped to inform and create this incredible resource for foodies and food connected consumers. Every bite becomes a gateway to unforgettable experiences.”  

 

"By developing a robust national culinary tourism campaign, we showcase Canada’s diverse culinary heritage and increase our global competitiveness as an international gastronomic destination,” says Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. “The Great Taste of Canada is a delicious catalyst for exploration, cultural exchange, and economic growth. We are thrilled to support an initiative that not only feeds the appetite of travellers, but also ignites a passion for Canada's culinary treasures.” 

 

For more information, visit canadaculinary.com/great-taste or follow us @canadaculinary on social media. 


Tackling the Plastic Problem in Tourism

Contributed by GreenStep Solutions

The Problem 

Inside and outside of the tourism industry, single-use plastic has been a regular talk of the town over the past few years, and even more so with the discovery of the Giant Plastic Patch in the Pacific Ocean, microplastics being found in fish, and plastic straws found stuck in the noses of turtles. As we enter the month of July, which has been coined as Plastic Free July across the globe, now is a great time to get a handle on the enormity of the pervasiveness of plastic in our tourism businesses, destinations, and lives. 


So, just how much plastic do Canadians consume each year? In our businesses and homes, we use and throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every single year (for context, that equates to more than 125 BILLION 20 oz plastic bottles every year, more than 3,000 bottles per Canadian resident). Only 9% of this is sent for recycling, while the rest ends up in landfill, waste to energy facilities or at worst, the environment. 


This plastic comes in many forms, much of it as single-use items including polystyrene, plastic bags, plastic bottles (both beverage and other products), food packaging, and product packaging. The often forgotten plastics that most consumers don’t see are the plastic embedded in supply chains, from the packaging of products to consumables used behind the scene in businesses, including in the tourism and hospitality industry.  


Plastic takes from 20 to 500 years to decompose in a landfill, but one of the biggest challenges is that the degradation of plastic can lead to the generation of microplastics, which make their way into waterways, the ocean, and our environment. Further to this, plastics are found in so many modern-day products that managing their disposal has been a challenge for consumers, businesses and governments. 


This is important from two perspectives, the businesses who share this beautiful country with visitors and the travellers who explore the world inside and beyond our borders. Both of these groups can play a role in making strides to do better with plastic use and plastic waste.  


The Plan Forward 

Many of the actions taken to reduce plastic waste and single-use plastics focus on the retail consumer level. This is a powerful move, but there is a huge opportunity for bigger outcomes in the coming years. What does this plan forward look like? (...)

Read More

Events

Tourism Congress 

  • November 21 – 22, 2023 in Ottawa 
  • Registration opening soon 


Canadian Tourism Awards 

  • November 22, 2023 in Ottawa 
  • Registration opening soon 


TIAC’s Investor Form 

  • November 25 – 29, 2023 in Mississauga 
  • Registration opening soon 

Save the Date!

TIAC's Tourism Congress to take place November 21-23, 2023


The 2023 edition of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's Tourism Congress will take place at the Westin Ottawa on November 21 and 22. This annual event brings together over 500 industry leaders and peers from across the country and includes innovative programming, motivational speakers, expert panelists and a balance of networking and gathering opportunities. 


The two-day event concludes with an evening of celebration at TIAC's Canadian Tourism Awards. 


Registration will be opening soon!



Tourism Congress Sponsorship Opportunities 


Interested in becoming a sponsor at TIAC’s Tourism Congress? Check out our sponsorship guide for all opportunities! 

2023 Canadian Tourism Awards (CTA) Nominations Now Open


TIAC is thrilled to announce submissions for the 2023 Canadian Tourism Awards are now open! 


Nominate a person, place or organization that is truly one of Canada’s best, offering travellers superior experiences, authentically present the very best of Canada. These coveted awards are highly competitive and showcase the best-of-the-best in the Canadian tourism industry. 


Any Canadian tourism-related product, business, association, initiative, or service that occurred from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 is eligible. (...)


Nominate someone today! Submissions close on August 15.


New Award – Culinary Tourism Award 

Keep Reading

We’re looking for enthusiastic people to judge the CTAs! 


TIAC is now accepting submissions for judges for the Canadian Tourism Awards (CTAs) taking place at the Westin Ottawa on November 22, 2023. 


Why judge the Canadian Tourism Awards?  


In addition to the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the Canadian tourism and travel industry, becoming a judge means so much more. You will:  


  • Raise your profile within the industry  
  • TIAC will identify you as a judge of the website (pic and profile required)  
  • TIAC will acknowledge your contribution the event of the awards  
  • Learn and be inspired by new ideas, innovations and solutions shared in the nomination forms  


TIAC will be accepting judge applicants up to July 31. To submit your name for consideration, please click here. TIAC will advise judge selection by August 15.  

More Details