Tourism Congress 2026
2026 Tourism Congress Program and Schedule
This year's theme: ACCESS - Unlocking Canada's Tourism Advantage
Attend expert-led sessions focused on tourism's biggest opportunities: accessing talent, securing capital, and bringing visitors to destinations. Discover practical solutions for your business and contribute to the conversations shaping Canada's tourism future.
Program Highlights
Explore some of the featured experiences and sessions taking place during Tourism Congress 2026.
The Cost of Perception: A Career in Tourism
Acclaimed HR specialist Jean-François Bertholet begins Congress by inviting us to redefine what it means to work and succeed in tourism.
The Access Gap: Research Reveals the Canadian Travel Truth
National poll findings uncover what motivates and prevents Canadians from travelling within their own country.
Maritime Kitchen Party Welcome Reception
Kick off the 2026 Tourism Congress with a night of food, fiddles and fun. (Transportation to/from the event will be provided.)
Fiddles and Feet
Canadian Tourism Awards
Celebrate the people and organizations creating exceptional tourism experiences across Canada.
Full Program and Schedule
Review the complete Tourism Congress schedule below. Program subject to change.
Day One
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
3:00 p.m.
to 6:00 p.m.
Registration
Location: Conference Office, Fredericton Convention Centre
6:30 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Maritime Kitchen Party
Kick off the 2026 Tourism Congress at TIAC's Maritime Kitchen Party. Join us for a night of food, fiddles, and fun!
Location: Boyce Farmers Market
(Transportation to/from the event will be provided.)
Fiddles and Feet
Day Two
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
7:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m.
TIAC Members Lounge
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
7:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m.
Registration
Location: Conference Office, Fredericton Convention Centre
7:30 a.m.
to 8:30 a.m.
Congress Marketplace - Coffee & Connect
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
8:30 a.m.
to 8:40 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
8:40 a.m.
to 9:00 a.m.
SebTalk
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
9:00 a.m.
to 10:00 a.m.
Featured Session
The Cost of Perception: A Career in Tourism
Acclaimed HR specialist Jean-François Bertholet begins Congress by inviting us to redefine what it means to work and succeed in tourism.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
10:00 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
10:30 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
From Credential to Credibility
We unpack what tourism professionals need to feel recognized, and what goes into creating a designation that is valuable to workers and credible to customers.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism & Hospitality Management
Mount Saint Vincent University
Ask a Leader: Workforce Edition
Learn from leaders as they make decisions in the moment to navigate real-world workforce challenges.
Location: Barkers Point AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
11:30 a.m.
to 12:00 p.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
12:00 p.m.
to 1:00 p.m.
Air Canada Luncheon
Emerging Voices: Youth Ideas for Canada's Tourism Future
Selected through the 2026 Air Canada Future Tourism Leaders Contest, students from across Canada will share their vision for the future of tourism. Through fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and personal experiences, these emerging leaders will explore new ideas that can help strengthen Canada's tourism sector and inspire the next generation of industry leaders. Join us for a conversation about the opportunities, trends, and possibilities shaping the future of tourism in Canada.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
1:00 p.m.
to 1:30 p.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
1:30 p.m.
to 2:30 p.m.
Featured Session
Access to Capital: What Does it Take to Get Investment?
Discover how tourism businesses can navigate the funding landscape to fuel their next phase of growth.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
2:30 p.m.
to 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
3:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
The Infrastructure Funding Gap
Join tourism operators, lenders and developers for a deep dive into why projects succeed, how they stall and what needs to change to unlock future development and grow tourism.
Location: Barkers Point A&B, Fredericton Convention Centre
Dave McKenna
President
Ridge North America
The Lasting Value of Events
From hotel stays to renown and repeat visits, discover the short- and long-term potential of hosting events in your region.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
6:00 p.m.
to 6:30 p.m.
Canadian Tourism Awards Finalists Private Reception
Location: Barkers Point A & B, Fredericton Convention Centre
(Transportation to/from the event will be provided.)
6:30 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m.
Canadian Tourism Awards Reception
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Foyer, Fredericton Convention Centre
(Transportation to/from the event will be provided.)
7:30 p.m.
to 10:00 p.m.
Awards Gala
Canadian Tourism Awards
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
(Transportation to/from the event will be provided.)
Day Three
Thursday, November 19, 2026
8:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
TIAC Members Lounge
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
8:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
Registration
Location: Conference Office, Fredericton Convention Centre
8:30 a.m.
to 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast
(Sponsored by WestJet)
Start your morning with breakfast, conversation, and insights from WestJet as we look ahead to the day’s discussions.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
9:30 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m.
Featured Research
The Access Gap: Research Reveals the Canadian Travel Truth
National poll findings uncover what motivates and prevents Canadians from being tourists in their own country. Come, challenge your assumptions and focus your efforts.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
10:30 a.m.
to 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
11:00 a.m.
to 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Access to Canada: People, Policy, and Practice
Access to Canada is more than just booking a flight. Hear from leaders across the tourism ecosystem as they examine how access can be expanded across the tourism sector.
Location: Barkers Point AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
Decision to Destination: Seamless Travel Partnerships
Explore how partnerships across the tourism sector and traveller journey - from planning and booking to arrival - can create seamless experiences that bring more visitors to their destinations.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
12:00 p.m.
to 12:30 p.m.
Networking Break & Congress Marketplace
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre
12:30 p.m.
to 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon &
Destination Canada Presentation
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne AB, Fredericton Convention Centre
1:30 p.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
featured session
Closing Plenary
Wrap up the 2026 Tourism Congress with a look at what's ahead.
Location: Pointe Sainte-Anne Atrium, Fredericton Convention Centre