If you’ve heard the term “bleisure,” you won’t be surprised to learn that business events are an economic driver of Canada’s tourism economy, representing 40% of all tourism spending.

Conferences, trade shows and other business events take place year-round, helping to fill hotels, convention centres, attractions and restaurants during times when leisure tourism has slowed down. Additional tourism dollars are generated when business visitors return later to vacation with friends and family.

The business events sector’s tremendous potential for growth is getting a boost from the new International Convention Attraction Fund, which provides funding to help cities attract major international business events to Canada. Minister of Tourism, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, said it best when she noted that business events “...showcase the best of Canada, extend our tourism season and attract business people – who typically spend twice as much as leisure travellers.”

Learn how TIAC and Meetings Mean Business Canada are working to support the business events sector:

https://tiac-aitc.ca/_Library/Tourism_Week_Documents/2024_National_Tourism_Week_-_Fact_Sheet_MMBC.pdf