Words by Guy Hall

Canada offers an exceptional setting for hosting inspiring and impactful meetings and events.

The world's second largest country is home to diverse and distinct destinations from coast to coast to coast, each with their own unique charm and offerings for business events.

^{Photo credit: Mike Peters}

This Destination Guide is designed to provide all the basics that you will need to know when bringing delegates to this impressive country.

Our guide will look at some of Canada’s industry-leading convention facilities – with a particular focus on their sustainability features. It also highlights some of the ways that the country facilitates the creation of truly valuable and meaningful event experiences.

First, however, it's worth examining some of the reasons that Canada makes the ideal destination for your next meeting or event. And an important one is the blend of openness in Canada that is hard to find elsewhere.

The country is home to some of the world's preeminent thinkers and innovators across a range of sectors – from agribusiness to advanced manufacturing – and their willingness to connect and collaborate with visiting delegations means that you can meet with real purpose in mind.

What makes Canada special is that these open minds can be found in the country's famed open spaces.

Known around the world for its natural beauty, Canada's landscapes vary from the red sand beaches of Prince Edward Island to the pristine tundra of the Northwest Territories, and from the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the rolling farmland of the Prairies.

Canada is home, too, to thriving, cosmopolitan cities – with vibrant cultural districts, world-class restaurants and amazing accommodation options.

And they are positioned right on the cusp of this untold natural beauty, in settings that attract and inspire delegates.

Canada is also a country of open hearts and open arms, where your attendees can feel safe and welcome – wherever you host your event.

Home to some of the most diverse cities in the world, Canada regularly ranks among the globe's safest countries. You can rest assured that your delegates will feel comfortable when attending your event, and that their ideas – and identities – will be accepted and celebrated.

Canada is also forging a reputation as a global leader in hosting events that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

As well as the admirable efforts already well underway in destinations across the country, in 2022, Destination Canada launched its Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan.

This first-of-its-kind national programme has the ultimate goal of helping international associations and corporations create events in Canada that have a focus on sustainability at their core.

^{Photo credit: Destination Canada}

By providing Canadian tourism partners with the tools, resources and knowledge needed to enhance their existing sustainability initiatives, and to aid the development of new ones, Destination Canada hopes to propel the sustainability movement forward in Canada – and create a better industry.

Travel essentials

Local currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Power: 120V/60Hz

Plugs: Two flat parallel pins, with or without a circular grounding pin underneath

Time zone: Ranging from Pacific Standard Time (GMT-8) to Newfoundland Standard Time (GMT-2.5)

Main airports:

Canada has many international airports but here are some of the major options: 

• Montréal: Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
  • 20 km (12 miles) to downtown
  • Around 7 hours from London Heathrow

• Toronto: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  • 30 km (19 miles) to downtown
  • Around 8 hours from London Heathrow
• Calgary: Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  • 18 km (11 miles) to downtown
  • Around 9 hours from London Heathrow
• Vancouver: Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
  • 15 km (9 miles) to downtown
  • Around 9.5 hours from London Heathrow

^{Photo credit: Travel Alberta}

Business sectors of expertise:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Agribusiness
• Digital Industries (Technology)
• Finance and Insurance
• Life Sciences
• Natural Resources

Sustainable convention venues

Canada is establishing itself as a leader in sustainability in the business events space.

Not only has Destination Canada recently launched the Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan, but destinations from coast to coast to coast already have plenty of innovative sustainability initiatives in place.

While hosting sustainability-conscious events relies on buy-in from all stakeholders – from suppliers to destination partners, accommodation providers to attendees – hosting at venues that take sustainability seriously is a key component.

In Canada, you can find many such venues and here's a glimpse at some of the country's most sustainable options:

The Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) – As the world's first double LEED platinum certified convention centre, it's safe to say that the VCC is a global leader in sustainability.

^{Photo credit: Destination British Columbia}

Vancouver's most celebrated conference venue is home to a six-acre living roof – the largest in Canada – which features more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses.

The roof also acts as an insulator, reducing rising temperatures in summer and heat losses in winter.

The design of the building, its use of the latest green technologies and the implementation of other responsible operating practices have helped the VCC win numerous sustainability awards.

With stunning Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains views, attendees are able to easily connect with the natural environment that this beautiful building protects.

Palais des congrès de Montréal – Montréal was the first city in Canada to join the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, and its premiere convention centre is as committed to sustainability as the city.

^{Photo credit: Palais MTL and Caroline Bergeron}

The Palais was one of the first convention centres in the Americas to have a carbon-neutral building. It also has a full-time staff member in charge of sustainable development and houses an Urban Agriculture Lab featuring, among other inspirational initiatives, Canada's first rooftop vineyard.

Its team is committed to helping international organisations and corporations achieve sustainability success.

For example, ‘Palais Boréal' – launched in 2018 – is a programme run by the Palais that guides event organisers and participants through the process of offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions locally.

Edmonton Expo Centre - The Edmonton Expo Centre is one of two award-winning conference venues in Alberta's capital city – the other being  The Edmonton Convention Centre.

^{Photo credit: Jeff McDonald}

Aside from being Greenkey Global Meetings and Climate Smart certified, the Expo Centre works to support the local community.

Thirty-five per cent of its food comes from local growers and producers – allowing them to re-invest more than $400,000 into the local economy and reduce transportation emissions.

Edmonton was the first city in Western Canada to embark on the GDS annual benchmarking process, and the Expo Centre and Explore Edmonton team are eager to share their sustainability prowess and help organisations reduce their impact when hosting events.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) - Canada's largest city is home to a wealth of forward-thinking events venues, one of which – the MTCC – has diverted 90 per cent of its waste from landfill since 2014.

^{Photo credit: Destination Toronto}

The MTCC was also the first convention centre in Canada to offer clients clean energy with Bullfrog Power and the first to partner with Voyage Control – a cutting-edge logistics software provider – to reduce emissions during event move in/out. 

The convention centre makes hosting sustainable events turnkey by providing the option for clean energy use, for the donation of leftover items – including everything from food and clothing to furniture and carpet – and more.

Since 2014, the MTCC has donated more than 340,000 meals to food rescue organisations in Toronto and they are truly a leader in the sustainable events space.

Elevate your event in Canada

Pioneering work in Canada doesn't stop at sustainability.

A nation of innovators, the country has all of the elements required to create extraordinarily impactful events.

The country's immense knowledge capital allows associations and corporations that host in Canada to leverage these intellectual resources for their benefit.

^{Photo credit: Michel Feist}

Hear from industry innovators

Across the six sectors identified above, Canada is home to changemakers who are pushing their industries to new heights.

Many Canadian cities have ambassador programmes – like the Champion Program in Calgary or the Leaders Circle in Toronto – that act as one-stop shops for access to a city's innovation ecosystem.

Partnering with such organisations allows you to tap into local industry, enhance collaboration and ensure programming success for your event.

In 2023, Destination Canada also launched its Canadian Visionaries Network (CVN) to showcase Canada's strengths as a leading destination for business events, and to connect organisations from around the world with the inspiring ideas and experiences of Canadian industry leaders.

At destinations right across this vast and varied country, visiting organisations can hear from the experts that are defining the future of their field as keynote speakers, panel hosts and more.

Tour state-of-the-art facilities

Want to visit the world's largest flume tank, to learn how performance evaluations, gear tests and other ocean-focused R&D work is undertaken?

You can do that in Canada – at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Or perhaps you're looking to tap into the latest developments in autonomous vehicles or smart agriculture?

A visit to Area X.O – home to one of the world's most advanced 5G communications infrastructures – near Ottawa is sure to enhance your agenda.

Across a vast range of arenas, Canada is host to the institutions and R&D complexes that are sparking change and promoting innovation.

By touring these facilities, visiting organisations can elevate their programming, draw more delegates and enhance the impact of their meeting or event.

Engage with the best in your business

Whether you're looking to meet with established industry giants or the disruptive start-ups building the future of your sector – you can do so in Canada.

For example, the Toronto Region is home to the highest concentration of AI start-ups in the world, while Vancouver is home to one of the world's largest digital media and interactive entertainment industries.

The Calgary Region has roughly 1,000 agribusinesses ready for you to engage with and, as a whole, the country is home to the world's second largest number of biotechnology companies.

This means that no matter what type of organisations you're looking to meet and conduct business exchanges with, you're almost guaranteed to find the perfect partner in Canada.

The innovation ecosystems that run deep within Canadian cities also provide visiting organisations with access to potential sponsors, and the country's highly engaged sector workforces create the potential for increased event attendance.

Canada: Where bright ideas come to life

Hosting events in Canada fosters innovation and collaboration.

The unique blend of agenda-enhancing intellectual capital, stunning cities and world-class convention infrastructure – combined with Canada's world-famous welcoming spirit – make this a destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression on your attendees.

^{Photo credit: Maurice Li}

And no one knows the country better than Destination Canada's Business Events team.

They can help you with…

Impartial insights and inspiration

Describe your dream event and let the Destination Canada team help you make it a reality.

The team can provide unbiased suggestions for destinations, venues, accommodation and experiences that will suit your needs, your programme and your attendees' preferences.

Introductions

With contacts across the country, the Destination Canada team can put you in touch with the Team Canada partners that will work with you to create a truly unique event.

Bid assistance

Need help gathering bids from cities throughout Canada? The team can lend a hand.

From a simple dates and rates check to co-ordinating multiple venues in multiple locations, Destination Canada's team can help make this process as simple as possible.

Planning tools

Destination Canada can also provide you with all of the planning information that will help make your meeting a success – such as border requirements, registration insights and more.

Looking to learn more about hosting events in Canada?

Get in touch with their team directly by contacting:

Virginie De Visscher
Acting Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 204-802-0920

Or visit the website to dig a little deeper into what makes Canada so special.