Just like that, we arrive at the last issue of TIAC Talk this year, and what better way to cap things off than with a look at Tourism Congress 2022! Months of planning, weeks of excitement, and dizzying days of frenzied activity culminated in a Congress to remember for all of us. Over two days at the end of November, we heard from an incredible line up of speakers and panelists, who collectively challenged us to reimagine what a better tourism industry could look like. From the opening keynote delivered by Destination Think’s CEO Rodney Payne that sparked conversations on the need for transformative change in tourism, to lively discussions around the future of business events, to a look at how Destination Canada is pivoting from disruption to renewal – this year’s Congress was as much about the opportunities before us as it was about the challenges we have yet to overcome.

Perhaps that’s why this year’s Canadian Tourism Awards, given out at the end of Congress, felt even more special this year. While I couldn’t be there in-person, my team on the ground kept me in the loop on the mood, which was positively electric. Each of the nine recipients not only went above and beyond to offer travellers superior Canadian experiences; but proved that they were able to do so under the enormous pressures of 2022: travel restrictions, supply chain issues, a labour shortage, high inflation, and so on. And as such, they embody the true spirit of the awards – the values of courage, hard work, and dedication to our beloved industry.

It was wonderful to end the festivities with a few words from Bill Knowlton, our Lifetime Achievement Award winner this year. His storied career has taken him from tour directing for Tauck Tours in the 1970’s to the lofty heights of becoming a partner at Jonview Canada, where he was instrumental in growing the company to its present status as a leading inbound receptive tour operator. With this award, we were able to recognize the significant achievements of someone many of us have been lucky enough to call a colleague over the years, and – for the luckiest among us – a friend.

On behalf of TIAC, I would like to thank our speakers, panelists, and sponsors this year. We could not have accomplished Congress and the awards without you. I would also like to extend our gratitude to Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, who participated in a lively fireside chat with us (pictured above). And I would like to thank my entire team here at TIAC, for their hard work in putting together yet another wonderful industry event.

Last, but certainly not least, I thank all delegates – those who attended online, and especially those who came in-person. As we head into 2023, let’s keep up the momentum and continue to reimagine tourism together!  


Sincerely,

Beth Potter
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Canada