The stage is all packed up and the delegates have gone their separate ways, but the reviews keep filtering in: The 2012 edition of TIAC’s Tourism Congress has rapidly become one of the ‘Can’t Miss’ events on the fall tourism calendar. 

Canada’s national tourism conference wrapped up on November 21 after three action-packed days, highlighted by the Canadian Tourism Awards gala dinner on November 20.

Once again in 2012, an exceptional number of stakeholders and decision-makers helped make the event a categorical success, giving invaluable context to the policy discussions and presentations.

2012 Highlights

A number of high points made this year’s conference particularly memorable.

In his Leadership Report session, David Goldstein, TIAC President & CEO introduced a remarkable new report overflowing with information on the state of the Canadian tourism industry, The Canadian Tourism Industry: A Special Report.  A collaboration between TIAC, HLT Advisory and Visa Canada, the report provides a comprehensive set of metrics that help illuminate the current state of Canada’s tourism sector and contextualizes the numbers, finding the narrative thread that runs through all of the figures.

The Canadian Tourism Awards Gala Dinner, meanwhile, continues to grow in popularity and in stature.  Celebrating outstanding achievement in the Canadian tourism industry, more than four hundred guests were in attendance this year as the hardware was handed out in twelve categories.  In all, more than 40 finalists were honoured for their achievements.  The night was made particularly special thanks to the involvement of 27 Parliamentarians, including seven cabinet ministers, two senators and other prominent figures from the government and opposition parties.   TIAC wishes to congratulate all the finalists and recipients and thank all of our partners, including our title sponsors, The Toronto Star and Visa Canada, whose contributions have helped make this the event it is today.

At TIAC’s Annual General Meeting, Michael Crockatt, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing, Ottawa International Airport Authority, was appointed as the incoming chair of TIAC’s Board of Directors.  Two of Canada’s most respected tourism businesspeople were also named as vice-chairs: Heather McCrory, Regional Vice-President, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and General Manager of the Fairmont Royal York and Pat Kelly, President and CEO of the Ottawa Convention Centre.

View our Congress Photo Galleries and Write Your MP

The Tourism Congress continues to be a success year after year thanks to the delegates from across the country who believe in a national sectoral advocate like TIAC and who choose time and again to be a part of the dialogue on tourism policy.

We invite all stakeholders to check out the 2012 photo galleries and welcome delegates and non-delegates alike to use our grassroots advocacy tool to tell your MP that you are a tourism voter and that you support competitive and sustainable funding for the Canadian Tourism Commission.

See you in 2013!