With the help of the new conference fund, twenty-one international conferences have been held in Canada in the past seven months. An estimated 51,000 international delegates are expected to attend the meetings.
The multi-million dollar International Convention Attractions Fund (ICAF), launched in March 2024, has supported 21 successful bids from Canadian Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs). In addition, there are 30 event bids waiting to be decided by the event owner.
ICAF is administered by Tourism Canada. It is funded by the government. Bids must be in key Canadian economic sectors. They include advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, life sciences, natural resources, digital industries, and finance and insurance. The focus is on attracting group business to Canadian destinations where activity has yet to return to pre-COVID levels.
USD 1 million per event
The three-year program provides a financial commitment of up to $1 million per event bid. Canadian DMOs must have an international business events strategy and the infrastructure to host groups. Additionally, marketing and dedicated finance must be in place. In addition, the international congress must bring economic benefits to the region. Additionally, it must be citywide.
Business events are an important part of Canada’s tourism industry. Direct economic impact of approximately $47 billion supports more than 240,000 jobs.
Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Quebec City, Victoria, Calgary, Ottawa and Saint John hosted events with the help of ICAF. In addition, Tourism Winnipeg just announced that it will host the 2026 World Indigenous Business Forum.
“When government priorities align with the mission and purpose of targeted international event organizers, it’s a win-win situation. We anticipate not only an incredible direct economic impact on destinations across Canada, but also on The potential legacy and larger impact will be felt long after these meetings take place.
