IMPACT Summit looking for solutions in 2024
More than 300 sustainable tourism advocates and experts are expected to gather in Victoria, BC, Jan. 21 to Jan. 24, 2024 for the IMPACT Summit and continue the journey of ensuring Canada and the global tourism industry builds a legacy of positive impact while actively reducing over tourism and unsustainable practices which negatively affect communities, cultures, and the environment.
IMPACT is now in its seventh year and has grown to include licensed events (IMPACT Event Series) across Canada and beyond, allowing the important learning and conversations to happen globally.
Renamed the IMPACT Summit, the annual January conference in Victoria focuses on introducing global experts, accessible resources, and invaluable tools to delegates so the work can continue throughout the year within their communities, ensuring tourism brings positive social, environmental, cultural and economic impacts.
The program will cover IMPACT’s four pillars of Ecology & Environment, Community & Sense of Place, Culture & Heritage, and the Economy.
Teresa Ryder, Director of Partnerships, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and Greg Klassen, Senior Director, Skift Advisory will be the Co-MCs for the 2024 Summit.
The speakers line-up includes Bob Sandford, Senior Government Liaison, Global Climate Emergency Response, United Nations University Institute for Water Environment & Health, Gemmeke De Jongh, international association expert with Visit Flanders, Nancy J. Turner, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Michelle Holliday, founder Thrivable World, Alyssa McCall, Director of Conservation Outreach and Staff Scientist, Polar Bears International, and Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC.
Also back in 2024 will be the 7 Minute Solutions — a storytelling format that is as quick as it is impactful — offering climate solutions ready to be implemented now. Plenary and breakout sessions will cover key themes of healing and reconciliation through regenerative tourism, biodiversity conversation, and climate action.
New sessions this year include a World Café to foster conversation around the possibilities that emerge when we embrace a regenerative approach to tourism, strengthening sense of place and preserving culture through food, and an opportunity for aspiring future tourism leaders to speak about their hopes, fears and burning questions.
A special guest this year is keynote Guy Bigwood who will present on his experiences helping cities, governments and the events industry step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programs. As the founder of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, Bigwood has played an instrumental role in helping Canada emerge as a sustainable events leader.
In addition to the 2.5 day conference, IMPACT offers a Day of IMPACT on Jan. 21, 2024, with delegates experiencing sustainability in action which includes visiting Canada’s only United World College – Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.
Delegates can choose to include the DAY of IMPACT with their registration which ranges from $1,569.75 (with Day of IMPACT) to $1,312.50 (Conference only).
Registrations will be accepted until Jan. 15, 2024 and to register, CLICK HERE.
For more on the conference, go to https://www.tourismvictoria.com/impact
