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Need Help Securing Approval to Attend IMPACT 2027?
Tools & Templates

If you would like to attend but require approval from your manager or organization, use the information below to help build your business case.

Why Attend IMPACT 2027?

You already know why you want to attend: to gain new ideas, expand your knowledge, connect with industry peers, and be inspired by innovative approaches shaping the future of tourism. IMPACT is a gathering of destination leaders, tourism businesses, governments, Indigenous leaders, academics, and sustainability practitioners who are working to create a more sustainable and regenerative visitor economy.

When making the case to your manager, focus on how your attendance will benefit your organization. IMPACT is designed to deliver practical insights, real-world case studies, meaningful networking opportunities, and actionable solutions that can support organizational priorities, improve decision-making, and help address industry challenges. The knowledge, connections, and ideas gained at the conference can create value long after the event concludes.

Before approaching your manager, take time to review the conference program, speakers, learning opportunities, and networking events. Consider how the topics align with your organization’s objectives, current projects, sustainability commitments, destination strategies, or business goals. The clearer you can demonstrate the connection between IMPACT and your organization’s priorities, the stronger your case will be.

 

Ask yourself:

  • What are our organization’s current priorities and strategic goals?
  • Which conference sessions, speakers, or networking opportunities are most relevant to our work?
  • What challenges or opportunities are we currently facing that could be addressed through new knowledge or industry connections?
  • How can I apply what I learn at IMPACT to improve our programs, projects, policies, or business practices?
  • How will I share key takeaways and recommendations with colleagues after the conference?

By approaching the conversation with a clear business case and a plan to bring value back to your organization, you can demonstrate that attending IMPACT is not only a professional development opportunity, but an investment in your team’s future success.

 

Gain Practical Industry Knowledge

Tourism and sustainability are evolving rapidly, with new expectations, regulations, technologies, and best practices emerging every year. Staying informed helps professionals make better decisions, identify opportunities earlier, and ensure their organizations remain competitive, resilient, and prepared for the future.

IMPACT focuses on turning sustainability from ideas into action. Attendees gain access to:

  • Real-world case studies from destinations and organizations worldwide
  • Actionable strategies related to climate action, destination stewardship, community impact, and visitor economy development
  • Emerging research, trends, and best practices shaping the future of tourism
  • Innovative approaches that can be adapted and implemented within your organization
  • Insights into funding opportunities, financing mechanisms, and business cases that can help support sustainability initiatives

This practical knowledge helps attendees return with actionable ideas, proven solutions, and valuable insights that can be applied directly within their organization.

Build your Professional Network

The networking opportunities at IMPACT are a strategic advantage for your company. They can lead to valuable connections, partnerships, and insights not accessible via the usual work channels.

IMPACT brings together a diverse mix of:

  • Destination marketing and management organizations
  • Tourism operators and businesses
  • Government agencies and policymakers
  • Indigenous tourism leaders
  • Sustainability practitioners
  • Researchers and academics

These connections can lead to future partnerships, collaborations, knowledge exchange opportunities, and access to industry expertise long after the conference concludes.

Bring New Ideas Back to Your Organization

Sharing the insights, skills and connections you gain by attending the IMPACT 2027 Summit creates a multiplier effect, exponentially increasing their value. As each team member applies and further refines the knowledge you share, the ripples lead to greater collaboration, better decision-making, continuous improvement, and a culture of learning that drives long-term success.

Attending IMPACT can provide immediate value to your team through:

  • New strategies and tools
  • Industry benchmarking
  • Fresh perspectives on current challenges
  • Insights into successful programs and initiatives from other destinations and organizations

Many attendees return with practical ideas that can improve organizational effectiveness, strengthen sustainability efforts, and support long-term planning.

Invest in Professional Growth

Professional development opportunities help employees remain informed, engaged, and effective in a rapidly evolving industry. The better you are at your job, the better your team’s performance and efficiency. And the better we are at our jobs, the more confident we are, which means enhanced decision-making, problem-solving and engagement.

Attending IMPACT enables participants to:

  • Expand their industry knowledge
  • Develop new skills and competencies
  • Strengthen leadership capabilities
  • Stay current on emerging issues affecting tourism and destination management

This investment benefits both the individual and the organization.

Addressing Common Employer Concerns

Concern: The Cost of Attendance

Conference registration, travel, and accommodation require investment, but attendees often return with:

  • New knowledge and practical solutions
  • Access to industry experts
  • Valuable professional networks
  • Ideas that can help improve organizational performance and decision-making

Solution: Frame attendance as an investment rather than an expense by identifying the specific knowledge, industry connections, and practical solutions your organization will gain from your participation. Consider how the conference content aligns with current priorities, strategic goals, sustainability commitments, destination management challenges, or business opportunities, and demonstrate how these insights can be applied within your organization.

For example: “The investment in attending IMPACT provides access to global case studies, industry leaders, and proven approaches to sustainable tourism that would otherwise require significant time and resources to source independently. The sessions I’ve identified align directly with our organization’s priorities around destination stewardship, community impact, and sustainable tourism development, and I will return with practical ideas, industry contacts, and recommendations that can help inform future projects and decision-making.”

 

Concern: Time Away from Daily Responsibilities

Time away from the office can be managed through:

  • Advance planning and task delegation
  • Prioritization of key responsibilities before departure
  • Out-of-office communication and coverage plans

Solution: Demonstrate how you’ll maximize the value of your time away by creating a focused conference plan that aligns directly with your organization’s priorities and current projects. Identify the sessions, speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities most relevant to your role and outline how you’ll share key takeaways with colleagues upon your return.

For example: “I’ve reviewed the IMPACT program and created a schedule focused on sessions related to destination stewardship, community impact, sustainable tourism development, and climate action. The insights and case studies from these sessions will support several of our current initiatives, and I will prepare a summary of key learnings and recommendations for the team following the conference.”

 

Concern: Staying Connected While Away

Attendees can remain accessible through:

  • Email and messaging platforms
  • Scheduled check-ins with colleagues
  • Mobile communication tools

Solution: Reassure your manager that you’ll remain connected while taking full advantage of the learning and networking opportunities available at IMPACT. By establishing clear expectations before departure and identifying how urgent matters will be handled, you can minimize disruption while maximizing the value of attending the conference.

For example: “Before leaving, I’ll ensure key projects are up to date, provide colleagues with any necessary information, and identify appropriate contacts for time-sensitive matters. I’ll remain accessible for urgent issues and provide a brief mid-conference update highlighting key insights, industry trends, and opportunities relevant to our organization, ensuring the team benefits from the conference even while I’m attending.”

 

Proposal Template

Subject: Request to Attend IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit

Hello [Manager Name],

I would like to request approval to attend the IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit taking place January 24-27, 2027, in Victoria, BC.

After reviewing the conference program, I believe attending would provide significant value to both my professional development and our organization’s objectives. IMPACT brings together tourism businesses, destination organizations, government agencies, Indigenous leaders, researchers, and sustainability practitioners to explore practical solutions and emerging trends shaping the future of travel and tourism.

The conference aligns with our organization’s priorities in the following ways:

  • [Insert organizational goal or strategic priority]

  • [Insert current project, initiative, or challenge]

  • [Insert specific topic, session, speaker, or networking opportunity that supports your work]

By attending, I hope to gain insights related to:

  • [Insert relevant learning objective]

  • [Insert industry challenge or opportunity you want to explore]

  • [Insert skills, knowledge, or connections that would benefit your role]

In addition to the educational sessions, IMPACT offers opportunities to connect with industry peers, share best practices, and learn from organizations addressing challenges similar to our own. I believe these conversations and connections could provide valuable ideas, perspectives, and partnerships that can support our organization.

To ensure the organization benefits from this investment, I will:

  • Share key conference takeaways with colleagues upon my return

  • Provide a summary of relevant sessions, trends, and recommendations

  • Identify actionable ideas and opportunities that could support our organizational goals

  • Remain accessible for urgent matters during the conference and ensure appropriate coverage arrangements are in place before departure

I am confident that the knowledge, connections, and practical insights gained at IMPACT will provide value that extends well beyond the conference itself and support our organization’s continued success.

Estimated costs:

  • Event Registration: [Insert estimate] – early bird ends November 30

  • Travel: [Insert estimate]

  • Accommodation: [Insert estimate]

  • Meals: [Insert estimate]

  • Estimated Total: $X,XXX

Thank you for considering my request. I would be happy to discuss how attending IMPACT aligns with our team’s objectives and how I plan to apply and share the learnings afterward.

Thank you,

[Your Name]

Links/attachments to consider including:

  • Conference agenda

  • Detailed breakdown of estimated costs

  • Articles/information about key speakers you plan to see