Destination Vancouver’s meetings and convention sales teams have increased their activities in the Asia-Pacific region, bolstered by the launch of Air Canada’s four-times-weekly flight between Singapore and Vancouver in April 2024.
“Our team attended the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) in Melbourne this February for the first time since the pandemic. We are now considering other shows in the region as interest from event planners rises,” said Michael Drake, director of sales, meetings & conventions, Canada & International at Destination Vancouver, in an interview with TTGmice.
Drake highlighted that strong economic links and shared business interests in sectors such as life sciences and green technology between the two destinations will likely increase corporate travel and business events.
Additionally, both Singapore and Vancouver are members of the BestCities Global Alliance, a network of 13 cities that collaborate to share ideas, leads, and best practices in business tourism.
Besides hosting the MDRT Annual General Meeting this month, Vancouver has secured major global events like the Invictus Games 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026, which will pave the way for related business events in the coming years.
The new Air Canada flight connects Singapore and Vancouver and opens up opportunities to target corporates from other South-east Asian countries. This also marks Air Canada’s return to Singapore since 1991, with Singapore being the only year-round destination in South-east Asia for the airline; as flights between Bangkok and Vancouver are seasonal.
“Traditionally, we’ve seen strong interest from China, South Korea, and Japan. Our increased connectivity through Singapore could create more opportunities in markets like Malaysia and Thailand,” Drake added.
Destination Vancouver plans to host several fam trips for the travel trade from Singapore and the broader South-east Asia region to showcase Vancouver’s business events capabilities.
“Vancouver offers a unique blend of urban amenities and natural beauty. Our city features world-class hotels, restaurants, and shopping, with easy access to mountains, parks, forests, and the ocean. This provides meeting planners and incentive organisers with unrivalled experiences such as whale-watching, night skiing, and mountain-top dining,” Drake explained.
Sustainability is also a key selling point, as many hotels and meeting spaces in Vancouver emphasise eco-friendly practices. The Vancouver Convention Centre, for example, is the world’s first double LEED Platinum-certified convention centre, thanks to its green technologies and operating practices.
“For 2024, our forecasts suggest that both business and leisure visits from Singapore will outpace average visitor growth from all markets. We look forward to welcoming more business events from South-east Asia,” Drake concluded.
