FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Caitlyn Blizzard
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1.202.835.4202
Washington, D.C., USA (August 31, 2022) – Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) announce a partnership to elevate awareness of the role and impact of destination organizations in Canada, to advise Destinations International members of emerging issues affecting Canadian destination organizations, and to support development of resources that empower destination organizations to become more effective advocates within their own communities.
“Destinations International has 48 destination members in Canada and is continuing to grow throughout the country,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “This partnership will significantly bolster Destinations International’s advocacy programs in Canada and will ensure that the collective voice of destination organizations is represented in Ottawa and the regions.”
In May of 2022, Destinations International announced Canadian Destinations Leadership Council, an industry group consisting of chief executives from nearly 50 Canadian destination organizations. The council serves as a forum for executives from Canada’s destination organizations to collaboratively elevate the voice of Canadian destinations and organize to tackle key issues affecting the destination organization industry.
Founded in 1930 to encourage the development of tourism in Canada, TIAC serves today as the national private-sector advocate for this once $105 billion sector. Based in Ottawa, TIAC takes action on behalf of Canadian tourism businesses and promotes positive measures that help the industry grow and prosper. TIAC is responsible for representing tourism interests at the national level, and its advocacy work involves promoting and supporting policies, programs and activities that will benefit the sector's growth and development.
“As the only Canadian organization representing the full cross-section of the tourism industry in Canada, we are delighted to enter into this new partnership with Destinations International, the leader in professional development for destination management organizations,” says Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). “We are aligned in our goal of making our respective members as successful as they can be, and this partnership enables us to work together to achieve just that. We look forward to the greater collaboration between our organizations that will ultimately drive job growth, economic impact, and the prosperity of all our members.”
“As the stewards of tourism in their communities, destination organizations in Canada need a voice that represents their specific interests at the national level,” said Michael Crockatt, president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Bringing together the expertise of two powerful organizations—Destinations International and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada—ensures that Canada’s destination organizations will have that national advocacy voice in their corner. This agreement emerges from the key view that tourism is a shared community value and a significant economic contributor, from coast to coast to coast.”
For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
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About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.