BC Business House Tourism Showcase Advances Opportunities for BC’s Tourism Industry

Hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre, BC Business House created a dedicated space for international investors, business leaders, and partners to connect with BC industries. As the opening sector showcase, the tourism-focused event positioned the sector as a major driver of economic growth and investment.

Creating Value for BC’s Tourism Industry

The Tourism Sector Showcase delivered meaningful value for tourism businesses and partners across the province by:

• Connecting operators, destinations, and Indigenous tourism businesses with global investors and decision-makers
• Showcasing investment-ready opportunities spanning experiences, infrastructure, and destination development
• Elevating tourism within broader trade and investment conversations
• Supporting new partnerships that can drive long-term growth across communities throughout BC

The event directly supports the Province’s goal to double tourism revenues to $48 billion by 2036, reinforcing tourism’s role as a key economic driver.

Destination BC’s Role in Supporting Government

Destination BC played a key role in supporting the Province’s BC Business House initiative by helping shape and deliver the Tourism Sector Showcase.

Through this work, Destination BC:

• Positioned tourism as a competitive investment sector, ensuring it was strongly represented within the broader BC Business House program
• Supported content and storytelling that highlighted BC’s world-class tourism experiences, destinations, and partnerships
• Brought together industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and regional organizations from across the province
• Helped amplify the opportunity to industry, encouraging engagement and participation during a globally significant moment

Industry Leadership and Speaker Perspectives

The showcase featured a strong lineup of speakers representing the breadth of BC’s tourism sector, including:

• Royce Chwin, President & CEO, Destination Vancouver
• Richard Porges, President & CEO, Destination BC
• Paul Hawes, President & CEO, BC Hotel Association
• John Hawkings, Executive Lead, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
• Brenda Baptiste, Director At-Large, Indigenous Tourism BC
• Erik Fisher, CEO, Tourism Kamloops

Together, speakers highlighted British Columbia’s competitive advantages—including its global reputation, connectivity, and skilled workforce—while reinforcing tourism’s role as a catalyst for investment and economic growth.

Building Connections that Support Long-Term Growth

Following the presentations, attendees participated in a networking reception, creating opportunities for meaningful connections between tourism operators, investors, government representatives, and Indigenous and regional partners.

By bringing the sector together in one place, the Tourism Sector Showcase helped translate global attention into tangible opportunities for B.C.’s tourism industry.

Turning a Global Moment into Lasting Impact

As part of BC Business House, the Tourism Sector Showcase demonstrates how British Columbia is leveraging the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to deliver lasting economic benefits.

For the tourism industry, this means increased visibility, stronger partnerships, and new pathways for investment—helping ensure the impacts of this global event extend well beyond the final match.