TravelPulse Canada is on the ground in Winnipeg as Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), the country’s largest tourism trade show, officially opens with more than 1,400 registered attendees.
According to a release, the event brings together over 500 Canadian tourism businesses and more than 400 international and domestic buyers from 22 global markets—including Destination Canada’s nine key target markets—for a schedule of more than 50,000 pre-arranged appointments aimed at driving future travel to Canada.
"Rendez-vous Canada showcases how strong, vibrant, and globally in demand our tourism industry truly is. When buyers from across the world come here to do business, they're not just purchasing travel packages - they're investing in Canada's story," said Nina Kessler, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
"They're choosing our landscapes, our cultures, our communities, and most importantly, our people. That kind of trust and enthusiasm speaks to the extraordinary standard of excellence our industry has worked so hard to build. RVC is proof that Canada continues to set the bar and raise it year over year."
This marks the first time RVC has returned to Winnipeg since 2010, and the city is expected to benefit from a total economic impact of $4.6 million. That includes approximately $2.8 million in direct spending and another $1.8 million in indirect and induced economic activity. Organizers say at least 4,000 hotel rooms have been booked locally for the event.
"Canada stands out as a destination on the world stage,"said Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada.
"With our long-standing reputation as friendly, open, and welcoming, we're well positioned to win the hearts of even more international travelers this year. Rendez-vous Canada is our moment to secure a larger share of the $2.9 trillion in global travel spending projected for 2025—driving prosperity in communities from coast to coast to coast."
Nearly 200 buyers and travel trade media will also explore Canada through pre- and post-event familiarization tours, including immersive trips through Manitoba.
According to Destination Canada, in 2024, tourism contributed $130 billion to Canada’s economy—more than $350 million a day—supported by 265,000 businesses in 5,000 communities from coast to coast to coast.
Rendez-vous Canada is co-produced by Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).
TravelPulse Canada will continue to report from RVC 2025.
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