The days may be getting shorter, but Team TIAC is busier than ever. Last month, we held our first in-person Hill Days advocacy campaign in two years; meeting with dozens of key parliamentarians and federal officials over three days to voice our industry’s concerns and recommendations for government action. Thank you to the more than 100 TIAC Members who joined us on the Hill to show our public-sector partners just how much tourism counts.

Earlier this month, I appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (watch the session here) and I also recently appeared before the Standing Committee on Finance for a pre-budget consultation in advance of the 2023 Federal Budget (watch the session here). I and my team are taking every opportunity to ensure that the needs of our member-businesses remain front-and-centre to government; to ensure that our squeaky wheel gets the grease it needs to carry on.

This month, we’ll continue our hard work ensuring private-sector input and guidance in the development of the government’s new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. It will be very much needed to regain the ground loss, to build tourism back to the $105 billion-dollar economic powerhouse it was prior to the pandemic. I’ll also be headed to Vancouver mid-month for the Passenger & Commercial Vessel Association (PCVA) Conference and looking forward to reconnecting with our cruise sector there. We’ve all had rough waters the last two seasons, but I agree with the PCVA that a sea change is on the horizon…

In other good news, we were recently honoured to receive the Canadian Society of Association Executives’ Award of Distinction for our work on the Hardest Hit Coalition, alongside our fellow co-chair the Hotel Association of Canada. We are so proud of what we have achieved together this year, representing the hundreds of businesses and the thousands of workers in the sectors of travel, arts and culture, events and festivals, motor coach, accommodations, and Indigenous tourism. The Award highlights the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in our coalition, and we thank the CSAE for recognizing the difference that the Coalition has made.

It will be very much needed to regain the ground loss, to build tourism back to the $105 billion-dollar economic powerhouse it was prior to the pandemic. I’ll also be headed to Vancouver mid-month for the Passenger & Commercial Vessel Association (PCVA) Conference and looking forward to reconnecting with our cruise sector there. We’ve all had rough waters the last two seasons, but I agree with the PCVA that a sea change is on the horizon…

I’ve saved the best for last. If you haven’t yet, please register and attend TIAC’s annual Tourism Congress, which will take place Nov. 22-23, 2022. In partnership with Ottawa Tourism, we are looking forward to welcoming over 400 delegates to The Westin Ottawa to this year’s conference and its great sessions on the Future of Business Events, Attraction/Retention Strategies for Labour Market, Border Modernization, and Regenerative Tourism; to name just a few. Join us then at a gala ceremony to celebrate the winners of our Canadian Tourism Awards, as well as the the esteemed recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award this year, industry luminary Bill Knowlton.

Registration is still open – but hurry, we’re almost sold out. I hope to see you there so we can reimagine tourism together!