Rendez-vous Canada 2026 is officially underway! Appointments are now open, with the marketplace floor abuzz with activity. Don’t forget, your time with each delegate is limited to 10 minutes (down from 12 minutes last year). If you need any guidance, the Rendez-vous Canada app is a terrific resource, as is the official website. You will also encounter friendly faces at the all-new Canada Hub, located centrally on the Marketplace floor. Representatives from both Destination Canada and TIAC are available to answer any questions and address any concerns. And one more thing…
For those still making their way to Rendez-vous Canada 2026, we are pleased to share convenient transportation options between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and downtown Toronto via the Union Pearson Express (UP Express).
Watch this video on the official Rendez-vous Canada website to learn how easy it is to travel between either airport (Pearson or Billy Bishop) and Union Station, which is just steps away from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Here is today’s shuttle schedule for those staying at the Chelsea Hotel. Please note: All host hotels are located within walking distance of both sites.
Wednesday, May 27
Chelsea Hotel
● Shuttles to the MTCC North Building
Every 15 minutes 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
MTCC North Building
● Shuttles to the Chelsea Hotel
Every 10 minutes 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
For more shuttle listings, please visit the Rendez-vous Canada website or consult the Rendez-vous Canada app.
The future of tourism data is on display at Rendez-vous Canada this year. Be sure to stop by the Canada Hub to experience Aurora AI, a new suite of AI-powered tools layered into the Canadian Tourism Data Collective that helps tourism businesses turn trusted Canadian tourism data into practical business decisions:
Aurora Search lets you ask questions in plain language and get clear answers grounded in trusted tourism data. No more digging through reports.
Traveller Twin transforms Destination Canada’s Traveller Segmentation Program into an interactive, AI-powered interface that brings your best guests to life. Ask questions about audience motivations, behaviours, and preferences, and their likely response to campaigns, products or experiences, and get clear answers to inform smart business decisions.
Using insights from the Traveller Twin, Explore Edmonton pivoted its Northern Lights campaign strategy, ultimately reaching more than 43 million people and driving nearly 1.83 million website sessions.
Have a success story of your own? Destination Canada is gathering real-world examples and testimonials to showcase the impact of Data Collective tools across the sector and boost visibility for organizations and regions like yours. Visit the Canada Hub to speak with the team, see live Aurora AI demos, and discover how these tools can support your growth!
Ready to use AI and data to grow your business and stay competitive?
Join the Spotlight Sessions at the Canada Hub and walk away with practical strategies to help you get the most out of Destination Canada’s AI and data tools.
Sessions include:
From SEO to GEO: Winning in the Age of AI Search: In this session, you’ll gain practical tips and actionable strategies to keep your content visible, accurate, and competitive in an increasingly AI-driven search landscape.
From Questions to Insights: Mastering Destination Canada's Traveller Twin: In this session you’ll learn how to prompt effectively to gain powerful business insights that will help you better understand and reach your target guests.
Multiple sessions per day, no registration needed. See schedule and details.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of today’s action. For a more detailed look at today’s schedule, please visit the Rendez-vous Canada website or consult the Rendez-vous Canada app.
Coat Check 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
201 EF | Metro Toronto Convention Centre - North Building
We want you to be comfortable for your productive day, so please take advantage of this coat-check service during your time at Rendez-vous Canada.
Prior to the first appointments, join us at the Destination Ontario Networking Zone on the marketplace floor for a special welcome at 8:30 a.m. from the local Indigenous community.
This special ceremony is meant to be interactive, so we encourage you to join us and acknowledge the land upon which Rendez-vous Canada takes place, as well as the places you are here to promote and learn more about.
Luncheon sponsored by Travel Manitoba 12 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Exhibit Hall C
We hope you are working up an appetite with a morning packed with appointments. Today’s lunch will be sponsored by Travel Manitoba. Join us in Exhibit Hall C to enjoy a sit-down meal and continue networking with those delegates you met this morning. Please note: The Marketplace floor will be closed during lunch.
Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada are excited to introduce our new Spotlight Sessions. These 10-minute presentations, taking place at the Canada Hub on the marketplace floor throughout Rendez-vous Canada, will help Sellers make the most of their time between appointments. So, if you have a vacant time slot, head to the Hub!
To learn more about these sessions, please visit the Rendez-vous Canada website or consult the Rendez-vous Canada app.
Today
Session
Presenter(s)
Time(s)
From SEO to GEO: Winning in the Age of AI search
Scott Bielby, Executive Director, AI & Digital Products, Destination Canada
Adam Brownfield, Senior Manager, Global Owned Media, Destination Canada
10:05 AM–10:15 AM (Appt 6)
1:30 PM–1:40 PM (Appt 15)
READI™ Program
Josh Gottlieb, READI™ Program Manager, TIAC
10:31 AM–10:41 AM (Appt 8)
1:56 PM–2:06 PM (Appt 17)
From Questions to Insights: Mastering Destination Canada's Traveller Twin
Joe Amati, Senior Executive Director, Global Market and Brand Intelligence, Destination Canada
Olga Goldin, Senior Program Manager, Technology & Digital Transformation, Destination Canada
10:57 AM–11:07 AM (Appt 10)
2:22 PM–2:32 PM (Appt 19)
Canada's New Tourism Emergency Preparedness Hub
Nik Mills, Senior Director, Strategic Growth & National Partnerships, TIAC
Anne-Marie Fortier, Project Manager, TIAC
11:23 AM–11:33 AM (Appt 12)
Advocacy in Action: A Quick Update from TIAC Leadership
To celebrate the arrival of this year’s Rendez-vous Canada, many of you took in the awe-inspiring view of the city from atop the iconic CN Tower. Here is a selection of photos of our delegates connecting with colleagues both old and new within such an enchanting space.
Some of our delegates chose to explore Rendez-vous Canada’s host city by joining one of our many tours. Whether on foot, boat, bike, or train, they saw the best Toronto has to offer, and, judging from these photos, had a blast doing so!
Join the conversation and showcase your #RendezvousCanada2026 experience by following along on social media. Use one of our official graphics and the event hashtag to share your moments, highlight your meetings, and introduce your networks to the colleagues you’ve met. To help you do this, we’ve created a toolkit with graphics, hashtags and a list of accounts to tag! Click here to access the social media kit!
