Meeting Community

Conference Bookings Robust in Victoria
2025/02/06

The Victoria Conference Centre (VCC) is beginning 2025 with a near-record number of city-wide conferences booked for the year, following strong performance in 2024. In 2024, the VCC hosted 147 events, including 65 large-scale conferences, of which 20 were city-wide conferences. According to Business Events Victoria, the division of Destination Greater Victoria on contract to manage the sales and marketing of the VCC, the venue helped generate: • 94,200 delegate days – an increase of 12% over 2023. •…
Paul Hawes is New BCHA President and CEO
2025/02/05

The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) has announced the appointment of Paul Hawes as its new president and CEO. Bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience across travel and hospitality sectors in Canada and the United Kingdom, Hawes is poised to guide the BCHA into its next phase of growth. His journey in the industry began in the UK where he studied tourism and hospitality. In 1995, he moved to Canada and joined Banff Caribou Properties, marking the…
Floating Hotel Proposed in Vancouver
2025/01/24

A new 250-room floating hotel is being proposed for Vancouver by Finnish hotel developer, Sunborn International Holding. In partnership with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), the hotel will be a unique, world-class hospitality venue, bringing new jobs, economic growth, and creating a new destination on the water. “The new floating hotel will be a jewel for the crown of Vancouver’s waterfront,” said Graham Clarke, chairman of VHFC. “The new property will contribute to the urgent need for hotel rooms in…
Incentive Trends Report Reveals Major Shifts
2025/01/24

The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) announced the release of the IRF 2025 Trends Report. Incentives continue to be an effective tool that businesses are using to gain competitive advantage, but programs and rewards are poised for change to maximize their motivational impact in 2025. “In 2025, incentive programs and rewards will see significant shifts in response to evolving corporate priorities, changing audience preferences, and budget demands,” said Stephanie Harris, president, IRF. “As competition for talent and employee retention continue, a…
Tourism HR Canada Welcomes New Directors
2025/01/24

Tourism HR Canada announced the appointment of two new directors to its board. Bringing a mix of experience in non-profits, governance, workforce development, and the tourism sector are Beth McMahon, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), and Tracy Breher, vice-president, Destination and Workforce Development, at Tourism Saskatchewan. They join a highly engaged and experienced board that plays an integral role in helping Canada’s tourism sector reach its full potential with a vibrant, diverse, skilled workforce.…
Canada invests in Calgary cultural spaces
2025/01/23

The Government of Canada announced a $3-million investment in Calgary’s cultural infrastructure. “The funding announced underscores our government’s commitment to culture. We are proud to invest in cultural infrastructure that preserves and celebrates our country’s heritage while creating spaces that inspire and engage Canadians of all backgrounds. These funds are helping build an inclusive and accessible future, enriching the cultural fabric of our country,” said Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge. The Glenbow Museum will receive $2.5 million over three years,…
Four First Nations Acquire Hilton Quebec
2025/01/23

Four First Nations, united under a newly created entity, Atenro, announced a partnership with InnVest Hotels to acquire a majority stake in Hilton Québec. Hilton will continue to manage the hotel. The four First Nations represented are the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach by the Taasipitaakin Trust, the Mi’gmaq of Gespe’gewa’gi by Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Resources LP, the Huron-Wendat Nation by the Wendat Investment Corporation LP and the Cree Nation by the James Bay Eeyou Corporation. Together, they created the Atenro limited partnership,…
JetBlue Lands in Halifax This Summer
2025/01/23

Starting in June 2025, JetBlue will launch service at Halifax Stanfield, its second Canadian airport with daily, summer seasonal non-stop flights between Halifax and Boston. The carrier began flights in and out of YVR in 2022. This exciting development will provide travellers with a swift and convenient link between two vibrant coastal cities and their flight network beyond. With JetBlue’s reputation for low fares, and award-winning service, travellers can look forward to a seamless journey across the border. “We’re…
Kelly Jackson Joins Destination Toronto
2025/01/10

Destination Toronto announced the appointment of Kelly Jackson as vice president of destination development, effective January 20, 2025. With 20 years of experience in government relations, stakeholder and community engagement, and communications, Jackson joins the organization to help elevate Toronto’s destination experience and drive community engagement with its visitor economy. ”Kelly Jackson is a passionate Torontonian with a strong record of building strategic stakeholder relationships,” said Andrew Weir, president and CEO of Destination Toronto. “She joins in a critical…
Marketplace Events Joins Clarion Capital
2025/01/10

Clarion Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of Marketplace Events, the largest organizer of business-to-consumer shows in North America. Marketplace Events currently operates more than 110 consumer shows in the home and garden, sport and outdoor, and holiday sectors, as well as 11 recently acquired trade shows, across 54 markets in the U.S. and Canada. Leveraging scale, technology, and predictability, Marketplace Events brings together 30,000 exhibitors, more than 2.2 million consumers, and 5 million unique web visitors on an…

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