September 16, 2019, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – Keith Henry, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s President and CEO, will be a keynote presenter on how Indigenous tourism is reshaping tourism overall in Canada, during the American Indian Tourism Conference, Tulsa Oklahoma, September 17, 2019.

Henry will be joined on stage by Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association, who will be discussing how the association elevates the entire travel industry. Both were invited to present by the American Indian Alaska Native Association (AIANTA), who organizes the only national conference for Indigenous tourism.

“In 2017 we signed an MOU with AIANTA, focused on collaboration between the two organizations and to enrich understanding, education and cultural exchange among our member communities. I am honoured to share the stage with Roger Dow who is a significant thought leader for tourism in the US,” says Henry. “My goal will be to highlight how Indigenous tourism has accelerated its growth in just a few short years and how our Indigenous communities across Canada are helping drive new tourism demand among international visitors. It is a good news story I am very proud to share.”

Joining Henry at the American Indian Tourism Conference will be ITAC’s Director of Marketing, Sébastien Desnoyers-Picard who will speak on “Giving a New Voice to Your Marketing Through Story Telling” during a panel discussion with Kainoa Daines of the Hawai’i Visitors & Convention Bureau.

“The opportunity to share our knowledge with our neighbours to the south is definitely a highlight for me,” says Desnoyers-Picard. “We can learn so much from each other while promoting the exceptional Indigenous experiences we have across Canada. I look forward to sharing how our powerful storytelling through media and video has significantly raised the profile of Indigenous tourism across our key markets.”

About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a national non-profit and membership association focusing on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders across Canada to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada. ITAC publishes an annual experience guide, detailing Indigenous tourism experiences available for visitors across Canada. This year’s guide features more than 170 experiences, stories and businesses to inspire you to visit and learn more about the many Indigenous nations, peoples and communities across Canada. To download the full 2018/19 Guide to Indigenous Tourism in Canada, click here. 

About the American Indian Alaska Native Association.
AIANTA is a national non-profit association whose mission is to define, introduce, grow, and sustain American Indian and Alaska Native tourism that honors traditions and values. As the only organization specifically dedicated to advancing Indian Country tourism across the United States, AIANTA serves as the voice and resource for tribes and tribal organizations engaged in cultural tourism. www.AIANTA.org

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Contacts:
Jenna Hickman, Beattie Tartan

Keith Henry, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

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