— Growth of Indigenous Tourism in the USA Market —
Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) was pleased to attend Virtuoso Travel Week, with support from Destination Canada, for a second year, from August 10 – 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Virtuoso Travel Week is the ultimate annual global travel community event.
Exclusive to the Virtuoso network, it features personal networking appointments, extensive professional development opportunities, Community Globetrotting, and a celebration of Virtuoso, the world’s top luxury travel network. ITAC Director of Marketing Tamara Littlelight and ITAC Sales and Marketing Manager Markus Kruse attended Virtuoso Travel Week for two days in partnership with Destination Canada, participating in professional development sessions and formal meetings with key travel trade representatives.
Virtuoso Community Globetrotting Event
ITAC was invited by Destination Canada to present at the Community Globetrotting Event. The two-day event, held on Saturday, August 10, and Sunday, August 11, provided an opportunity for luxury travel advisors to connect with various destination management organizations.
This year, the event had four pavilions, each with a specific theme that was to be the focus for each presentation: Adventure Travel, Cruise Travel, Luxury Accommodations, and Sustainability. ITAC Sales & Travel Trade Manager Markus Kruse was invited as a guest presenter to the Destination Canada booth to speak on sustainable tourism and how it relates to Indigenous tourism in Canada.
During the two-day event, Markus took 60 appointments, each with up to eight travel advisors, tour operators, and media from across the globe, to share insight on Indigenous stewardship, conservation efforts, and sustainable initiatives. ITAC members Klahoose Wilderness Resort, Haida Tourism and Métis Crossing were showcased as leading by example with their sustainable initiatives.
Professional Development for Travel Advisors
Tamara Littlelight and Marc Telio, CEO of Entrée Destinations, co-presented on “Indigenous Tourism across Canada: Truth, and Powerful Stories”. Tamara highlighted key aspects of contemporary Indigenous history, shedding light on the truths about the challenges Indigenous Peoples have faced in Canada and where they stand today. She shared her personal story, as well as that of her First Nation, and spoke about the mission of ITAC.
Marc shared his deep passion for uncovering this history and using his company to share it through tourism and media. Participants discovered the diverse range of Indigenous experiences available and learned how to present them to the right audience. Additionally, he shared some of the most unforgettable Indigenous moments he encountered in the traditional territories during the creation of The Stories of Canada.
ITAC is grateful for Destination Canada’s invitation to attend and participate in Virtuoso Travel Week’s exclusive and prestigious event, which supports ITAC’s strategy towards helping Canada become the global leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.