The World Education Congress (WEC) will be held in Las Vegas in 2017, followed by Indianapolis in 2018 and Toronto in 2019, the event’s owner Meeting Professionals International (MPI) said on Monday. 

The host cities were allocated through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process that considers factors such as location benefits, meeting venue facilities, pricing, hotel offerings, destination accessibility, unique options and local support.

"We are excited about each of these destinations and believe WEC attendees will enjoy them as well," said Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI during the opening general session of WEC 2015 in San Francisco.

"Each year, MPI strives to enhance the education and programming we deliver at WEC, so we look forward to working with our host city partners to enrich the attendee experience in the coming years."

MPI describes WEC as its signature event through which it delivers education, business and networking opportunities in North America, attracting more than 2,000 attendees including corporate, third party, and association planners, suppliers, students, industry faculty and more. 

From 2016, MPI will hold WEC during the June to early July timeframe, following membership feedback regarding scheduling conflicts with summer vacation plans, school breaks, Canada's Civic Holiday, and other industry events. 

The host of WEC 2016 will take place June 11 – 14, at the Harrah's Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City, N.J.

From July 9 – 12 2017, WEC will be held in Las Vegas for the fourth time at the MGM Grand. Las Vegas welcomed a record 41 million visitors including five million convention delegates last year. 

"We are honored to host WEC 2017 and excited to showcase the energy and excitement only Las Vegas can deliver," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. 

"There's a reason Las Vegas hosts more than 22,000 meetings a year. We offer an exceptional experience for delegates allowing them to conduct serious business and networking while also enjoying world class dining and entertainment found nowhere else."

On June 2 – 5 2018, WEC will be held at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis for the first time. Named America’s top convention city by the readers of USA Today, Indy offers a convention package unmatched in walkability and the number of hotels and hotel rooms connected by enclosed skywalks. 

"Indy has a well-earned reputation as a great event city, having hosted Super Bowl XLVI, numerous NCAA Men's Final Fours and, of course, the Indy 500, but it's also one of the fastest-growing convention and meeting destinations in the world," said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy. 

"As a first-time host of WEC, we're looking forward to welcoming many old friends and also introducing new ones to Indy."

From June 11 – 14 2019, WEC will go to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre located in downtown Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America. Toronto attracted 14.3 million overnight visitors in 2014.

"Our community looks forward to welcoming back MPI and its partners for another exceptional international meeting," said Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President of Tourism Toronto. 

"When World Education Congress brings the leaders of our industry together in Toronto, attendees will find inspiration both in the content of the meeting and the surrounding city experience."

[Source: Explore Edmonton] The City of Edmonton has today confirmed its full support for ambitions to host matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

The news comes with the formal signing of an agreement with FIFA, the final step in the process of FIFA’s Official Host City selection. The agreement includes investment guarantees irrespective of FIFA’s allocation of matches, and a shortlist of firms to assist with the advancement of facilities at the stadium and training facilities.

An announcement by FIFA on the host cities is set to be made on 16 June in New York, completing a thorough two-year process. For Edmonton, this included a visit by FIFA delegates in November 2021, during which the city hosted Canada’s FIFA World Cup 2022™ qualification match against Mexico, selling over 51,000 tickets despite winter temperatures of -9˚ Celsius.

Edmonton is one of three Canadian cities awaiting confirmation as a host city, alongside Toronto and Vancouver. Should FIFA decide to allocate host cities according to the United 2026 bid, all three would become host cities, along with three in Mexico and ten in the United States.

The City’s ambition to become a 2026 host city also enjoys vast local support, with public surveys showing a 93% favourability for the event. Community and business leaders have also been an active part of the process, including via the FIFA Champions Committee, which advises and promotes the work of the candidature. The Committee is chaired by Chief Billy Morin, chief of the Enoch Cree Nation, which forms an especially key part of Edmonton’s candidature given the city’s location on Treaty Six territory.

Edmonton has successfully hosted a range of FIFA tournaments in the past, including the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship 2002, the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015. With such experience, the city has shown unwavering commitment throughout the 2026 process.

Upon signature of the final documents, Traci Bednard, CEO of Explore Edmonton, said: “We are more excited than ever by the partnership between FIFA and the City of Edmonton. We have had tremendous experiences in hosting FIFA tournaments in the past, not only in delivering great matches and events, but also in inspiring future generations of soccer players and fans. In 2026, Edmonton will be ready to deliver once again.”

In a recent interview with Inside World Football, Canadian soccer player Alphonso Davies, who grew up in Edmonton, said: “Whenever an international soccer event has come to Edmonton, people have supported the events very well. Edmonton is a beautiful, diverse place, and I have no doubt they will accept the rest of the world exactly how they accepted me and my family when we moved here. Edmonton has some great facilities and there are a lot of things happening in the city, especially in the summer seasons.”

More information of the vision of Edmonton’s plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ can be seen via their website here.

Register for Host City Americas, online on 29th June, for free here: https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-americas/register

The International Association for Vehicle System Dynamics (IAVSD) has chosen Ottawa to host the 28th IAVSD Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicle on Roads and on Tracks from 21 to 25 August, 2023 at the Shaw Centre.

The IAVSD’s biannual conference brings together international researchers, scientists and engineers from government, academia and industry, in the field of ground vehicle dynamics, to exchange the latest ideas and research results.  It offers an opportunity to promote the development of the science of vehicle dynamics, a discipline that is based upon the theory of motion of ground-based vehicle systems, and to encourage engineering applications in this field of science.

To develop the event, the Ottawa IAVSD organising committee, including the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Carleton University and Ottawa Tourism, has been working closely with Invest Ottawa and the Shaw Centre as well as several key local partners.  This includes Invest Ottawa’s Area XO, a research and development complex that helps accelerate the commercial adoption of next-generation technology.  Specifically, Area XO includes a world leading CAV (connected and autonomous vehicle) test track, which will be built into the delegate experience and conference program. https://areaxo.com/ 

Theresa Gatto, Senior Manager-Business Events at Ottawa Tourism commented: “Invest Ottawa, The Shaw Centre and Ottawa Tourism launched a combined Think Ottawa programme to inspire key sectors and create ambassadors that would drive leading Association Congresses to the City.  This win is a perfect example of the three stakeholders working in partnership to create an inspiring solution for the client. Roll on August 2023, when we will have a chance to see the delegates make the most of our city as they deliver an estimated $850,000 in economic impact to Ottawa.”

The last time the Symposium was hosted in Canada was in 1989 at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.  Previously it has taken place in different countries around the world.

Further information on the IAVSD is available here: https://iavsd.org/

[Source: SportAccord] The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) will support the highly anticipated Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 as a Silver Partner of the inaugural gathering from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

The CSTA – a non-governmental, member-based, capacity-building organisation dedicated to promoting sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level – will have a major presence at the event, where the Pan American, Olympic and International Sport Federation communities will congregate.

By providing services to more than 500 members across Canada, including 150 municipalities, 300 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organisations and a variety of other sport and tourism industry partners, the CSTA is focused on expanding Canada’s flourishing sport tourism sector, which attracts approximately $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors.

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will serve as a launchpad for collaboration between regional, national and international governing bodies and sports commissions, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies. More than 50 international sport federations have already signed up to attend the event at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

“Canada’s track record as a world-class host has been underlined by events such as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015,” says José Rodriguez of the Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Local Organising Committee.

“As an influential and highly effective sports organisation with roots in the Americas, the backing of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is unquestionably significant for the profile and prestige of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019.”

The CSTA’s support for the groundbreaking Regional SportAccord Pan America marks a significant step for an organisation that has been a consistent presence at SportAccord’s World Sport & Business Summit over the years and was a returning Bronze Partner for the 2019 edition of the established annual gathering in Gold Coast, Australia.

Rick Traer, CEO of the CSTA, adds: “Our long-term work to promote the alignment of federal, provincial and municipal hosting programmes is continuing to pay dividends, not just in terms of enhancing Canada’s reputation as an event host, but also with regard to establishing positive legacies in our host communities.

“As we look forward to building on an exciting event calendar, which includes co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will provide an ideal opportunity to connect with like-minded stakeholders from the global sports movement who have a special interest in the Americas.”

Under the theme of ‘A United Approach to the International Sport Landscape in the Americas’, speakers already confirmed for the event include Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations); Stephan Fox, President, AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport), Vice President, GAISF; Francesco Ricci Bitti, President, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations); Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General, AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations); Marisol Casado, President, ITU (International Triathlon Union); Marius L. Vizer, President, International Judo Federation (IJF); and Vlad Marinescu, Vice President, IESF (International Esport Federation), President, UESF (United States eSports Federation).

Click here to register for the event, hosted by SportAccord in partnership with Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sports Foundation, International Sports & Health Associates and MGO. For information about becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, request a brochure or contact the sales team via info@regionalsportaccord.sport or +1 954 204 3081.

Follow Regional SportAccord via Twitter @sportaccord using #RSA2019, or keep up-to-date via LinkedIn and Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.       

[Source: Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance] Figures released by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance demonstrate that the sport tourism industry continued to have a significant impact on the Canadian economy in 2017. According to custom data tabulations from the Travel Survey of Residents of Canada (TSRC) and the International Travel Survey (ITS), Canada saw a continued rise in the value of sport tourism, with a total expenditure of $6.8 billion, an increase of more than $33 million over 2016.

The most significant increases occurred in the spending of visitors from the USA and worldwide.

International sport tourism from both markets continued their steady increase with 2017 up 5 per cent over the previous year.

The volume of sport tourism visitors from the U.S. rose 3 per cent, while the volume of sport tourism visitors from overseas rose 2 per cent.

International visitors accounted for 35 per cent of the total value of sport tourism in Canada, up from 27 per cent in 2014.

“Canada continues to be a very attractive host country for many international events, which draws people coming to compete, support and spectate at those events,” said Rick Traer, CEO, Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance.

“We have a stellar reputation for our expertise in hosting both summer and winter sports, with excellent facilities, organizational abilities, welcoming volunteers, and strong hosting program financial support at the federal and provincial levels.”

There has also been a concerted effort to market Canada as a preferred host for international sport events, said Traer.

“Working with Destination Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, CBC Sports and a number of destinations across Canada, we have successfully marketed Canada on the world stage, at major international conferences including SportAccord and others.

“In 2017, Canada hosted 41 international events that qualified for funding under the federal government’s hosting program, second only to the USA in terms of the number held in any one country. That was a major factor in the growth of the sport tourism industry.”

Traer was also pleased to see the industry continue to thrive without a major multi-sport event held in 2017. “We saw visitation increase significantly in 2015, when Canada hosted both the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 in six different cities and the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto. Seeing the steady increase in the past two years, without a major sport event as a draw, demonstrates just how effective our destinations and sport rights holders have been in bidding for and hosting events.”

Domestically in the sport tourism market, the number of overnight visitors from within Canada was virtually unchanged as compared to 2016 whereas the number of same-day travellers registered a 9 per cent decline. While there was a 4 per cent increase in the overall value of the sport tourism market for domestic overnight travellers, there was a surprising 21 per cent decrease in the value of same-day travellers. However, as the overnight market is significantly larger than the same-day market, the overall value of domestic sport tourism decreased slightly by 2 per cent overall.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has added Montreal to the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series (WTS). The Canadian city will host the WTS for the first time on 5 to 6 August 2017, completing the 2017 WTS calendar that includes eight other city events between March and September.

Montreal featured in the 2016 ITU World Cup schedule for the first time on 7 August.

“Montreal proved to be an impressive host of the World Cup this year, with an incredible turnout for a new race that met all of our standards for a world class event,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “I’m pleased to welcome Montreal to the WTS, which completes our calendar for the coming season.”

The Netherlands city of Rotterdam, which hosted the 2016 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships, is also joining the World Triathlon Series for the first time on 14 to 17 September 2017.

As the final event in the series, Rotterdam will next year welcome thousands of age group athletes, along with junior, U23, paratriathlon & elite athletes to vie for world championship titles at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.

The full 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series calendar is: Abu Dhabi, UAE (3 to 4 March); Gold Coast, Australia (April 8 to 9); Yokohama, Japan (May 13 to 14); Leeds, England (June 10 to 11); Hamburg, Germany (July 15 to 16); Edmonton, Canada (July 28 to 30); Montreal, Canada (August 5 to 6); Stockholm, Sweden (August 26 to 27); Rotterdam, Netherlands (September 14 to 17)

The races at Abu Dhabi, Gold Coast, Hamburg and Edmonton will be contested over a sprint distance course, while the other events will be standard length.