Podcasts · Travel Trends with Dan Christian
Event Spotlight: Rendez-vous Canada 2026
· 2 h 05 min
Episode Event Spotlight: Rendez-vous Canada 2026
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Sixty thousand meetings. More than 500 international buyers. Over $100 million in future tourism business.
Dan recorded live from Rendez-vous Canada 2026 in downtown Toronto to explore what is driving Canada’s visitor economy and why the country continues to stand out as a global destination for nature, culture, and meaningful travel.
In this special episode, Dan speaks with five leaders shaping Canadian tourism today: Meaghan Ferrigno, SVP, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Destination Canada; Sébastien Benedict, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada; Vincenza Ronaldi, President and CEO of Destination Ontario; Andrew Weir, President and CEO of Destination Toronto; and Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination Canada, as she prepares to retire.
Together, they discuss how tourism acts as export revenue, which markets are growing fastest, and why safety, welcome, and authentic community connection are becoming more important than ever.
The conversation also looks at the future of travel marketing, including Destination Canada’s Canadian Tourism Data Collective and Aurora AI, with its Traveler Twin concept helping tourism businesses test messaging, reach the right audiences, and make smarter decisions without needing a massive analytics team.
From Ontario itineraries beyond Toronto to Toronto’s event-driven demand and the runway to FIFA, one message comes through clearly: Canada’s tourism growth will be powered by partnerships, product, and data.
For more information to learn about these organizations, check out destinationcanada.com and destinationontario.com.
To learn more about Rendez-vous Canada, future host destinations and other opportunities to participate in upcoming events, visit rendezvouscanada.ca
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