Sunday
Sun
January 26, 2025
Jan 26
Monday
Mon
January 27, 2025
Jan 27
Tuesday
Tue
January 28, 2025
Jan 28
Wednesday
Wed
January 29, 2025
Jan 29
Departure for Day of IMPACT
Meet and depart from the Victoria Conference Centre.
Location
720 Douglas St
Time
7:00 am
Adventure on the Salish Sea
Spend an unforgettable morning on the Salish Sea with Eagle Wing Tours & Prince of Whales. A light breakfast, coffee, tea, & hot chocolate will be served.
Location
Salish Sea
Lunch with Big Wheel Burger
Enjoy a Big Wheel Burger lunch, where the motto is "Sustainable food comes from more than just compostable containers and recycling". GF + vegan available
Location
Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion - 1070 Tillicum Rd
Helping out at FED Farm
Increasing food security for underserved populations, FED Farm is transforming Victoria's urban food ecosystem with a model that is emulated globally.
Location
Galloping Goose Trail
Return to the Victoria Conference Centre
Return to the VCC, after which you have the option of attending an evening mixer at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub.
Location
720 Douglas St
Time
5:00 pm
Evening Social at Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub
Head to Spinnakers' taproom for an informaI meetup. Enjoy specials on flights and a 20% "Welcome to Victoria" discount on the menu! PROMO CODE: IMPACT 2025
Location
308 Catherine Street
Time
5:45 pm
Registration & Breakfast
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
7:00 am
-
8:30 am
Welcome & Conference Kick-off
Location
Theatre
Time
8:30 am
-
9:00 am
Climate Reality Check with Bob Sandford
Bob Sandford will provide our annual reality check on the state of climate change.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Bob Sandford
Time
9:00 am
-
9:15 am
Staying the Course: The Business Imperative for Sustainability Despite Political Headwinds
This panel brings together leaders and experts to discuss how organizations can navigate political challenges while maintaining sustainability goals.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Isabel Hill, Paul Nursey, Matt Morrison, Beth Potter, Walt Judas
Time
9:15 am
-
10:00 am
Indigenous Tourism Reality Check
Our speakers will dive into the complexities of integrating Indigenous perspectives and practices into tourism development.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Keith Henry, Teresa Ryder
Time
10:00 am
-
10:30 am
Morning Coffee Break
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
10:30 am
-
11:00 am
Panel: From Passive Visitors To Active Participants: Regenerative Practices from Destination Management Organizations
The panel will revolve around best practices in regenerative tourism through the DMO lens—what is regenerative tourism applied to a DMO and destination?
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Dave Holder, Taniell Hamilton, Julie Dubord, Vanessa Bechtol, Brad Parsell
Time
11:00 am
-
12:15 pm
Lunch
Featuring an introduction to the School of Gustavson and our keynote speaker, Carmen Yulín Cruz on Leadership and Resilience in the Eye of the Storm.
Location
Carson Hall (Level 2)
Speaker
Carmen Yulín Cruz
Time
12:15 pm
-
1:45 pm
Interactive Workshop: Circular Thinking: From Waste to Business Wins
Transforming your perspective, we will reveal how circularity is a powerful business model that drives resilience, innovation, & competitive edge.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Paul Shorthouse, Jeremy Loveday, Georgia Lavendar
Time
1:45 pm
-
2:15 pm
Breakout Panel: The Path Less Traveled: Redesigning Tourism for Balance and Regeneration
This interactive workshop will explore how collaboration, innovation, data and digital tools can shape visitor patterns and drive regenerative tourism.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Mathieu Roy, Jill Doucette, Taniell Hamilton
Time
2:15 pm
-
3:00 pm
Navigating the Crossroads of Tourism with Responsible Travel
Award-winning travel journalist Lebawit Lily Girma draws on her experiences reporting on tourism-dependent countries to offer unique perspectives.
Location
Lecture Theatre
Speaker
Lebawit Lily Girma
Time
1:45 pm
-
2:10 pm
Elevating Sustainable Tourism: Influencing Traveler Behaviour through Strategic Brand and Media Efforts
MMGY presents the "More Essential Than Ever" campaign, highlighting how various marketing strategies were used to showcase Costa Rica's natural treasures.
Location
Lecture Theatre
Speaker
Julie Averay Cuesta
Time
2:10 pm
-
2:35 am
Tourism Lexicon: Crafting Emotional and Value-Based Messaging for Advocacy and Impact
This keynote presentation revolves around the newly developed Tourism Lexicon, unveiled at the Destination International Conference in July 2024.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Sophia Hyder Hock
Time
2:35 pm
-
3:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee Break
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
3:00 pm
-
3:30 pm
Dose of Innovation: Telling the Right Story: Connecting Travelers to your Sustainability Actions
Based on Dr. Aaron’s research, travelers are eager to hear about sustainability—even if eco-certifications aren’t the deciding factor in their choices.
Location
Lecture Theatre
Speaker
Dr. Aaron Tkaczynski
Time
3:30 pm
-
3:45 pm
Dose of Innovation: Building Inclusive Destinations & Community Empowerment
We’ll explore how destinations can integrate innovative approaches to ensure they are accessible, equitable, and supportive of diverse populations.
Location
Lecture Theatre
Speaker
Lauren Semple, Carly Pereboom
Time
3:45 pm
-
4:00 pm
Seven Minute Solutions
Speakers will speak about their respective innovative products or services that can be invaluable to the tourism industry.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Stefanie Rondou Pontbriand, Mark Anson, Amzy Vallenas, Marcelino Alvarez, Annie Dahan, Marina Winterbottom, Kyle Bouwknecht
Time
4:00 pm
-
5:00 pm
Solutions Forum
Networking & Tables
Location
Foyer
Time
5:00 pm
-
6:30 pm
Registration & Breakfast
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
7:00 am
-
8:30 am
Mayor Alto's Remarks & Kickstart
Location
Theatre
Time
8:30 am
-
8:55 am
Destination Canada - Wealth & Wellness Index
Presenting a groundbreaking tool designed to measure the Canadian tourism industry’s progress in economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Gracen Chungath
Time
8:55 am
-
9:05 am
Collaborative Pathways: Learning, Leading, and Acting Together for Sustainability: Innovation Norway
In this keynote session, Hege Vibeke Barnes will examine the connections between biodiversity, tourism, and governance in Europe.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Hege Vibeke Barnes
Time
9:05 am
-
9:30 am
Exploring the Arctic: Tourism at the Edge of a Changing World
This panel brings experts from sustainable tourism, environmental science, and indigenous leadership to discuss tourism in the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
John Gunter, Amy Nungent, Hege Vibeke Barnes, Dr. Jennie Knopp, Edward Bearksin
Time
9:30 am
-
10:30 am
Morning Coffee Break
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
10:30 am
-
11:00 am
Interactive Panel: Carbon-Conscious Eating: How to Reduce Waste and Boost Local Agriculture
Delve into principles of carbon-conscious eating, emphasizing the importance of reducing food waste and sourcing ingredients from local producers.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Megan Chan, Paul Stewart, Treska Watson, Calen McNeil
Time
11:00 am
-
12:00 pm
Dose of Innovation: BCTCRI Initiative
This initiative prepares BC’s tourism sector for climate change by providing sustainability + adaptation planning, micro-grants for implementation, & more.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Alison McKay
Time
12:00 pm
-
12:15 pm
Panel: Indigenous Tourism & Land Stewardship: "Guardians of the Land"
Explore the vital relationship between Indigenous tourism and land stewardship, emphasizing the role of Indigenous communities as "Guardians of the Land".
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Frank Brown, Teresa Ryder, Anna Atleo
Time
11:00 am
-
11:45 am
Keynote Speaker: Wade Davis
Draw from renowned anthropologist Wade Davis's extensive fieldwork & perspective, offering insight into the challenges & opportunities shaping our planet.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Wade Davis
Time
11:45 am
-
12:15 pm
Lunch
Presenting the 2025 IMPACT Awards with Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert.
Location
Carson Hall (Level 2)
Time
12:15 pm
-
1:45 pm
Dose of Innovation: Sustainability Good Stories
In this session, Beyond Green highlights its member hotels' inspiring biodiversity and conservation success stories.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Nina Boys
Time
1:45 pm
-
2:00 pm
Panel: Protect our Winters: Using Sport Tourism as a Lens into Climate Change
Panelists will discuss how changing climates affect winter sports & recreational activities, exploring the implications for local economies and ecosystems.
Location
Saanich Room
Speaker
Mike Douglas, Michael Pidwarny, Dave Butler, Brenda Holder, Walt Judas
Time
2:00 pm
-
3:00 pm
Case Study: The Economics of Stewardship: How Valuing Landscapes Promotes Conservation
In her presentation, Julie Dubord will explore the role of economic valuation in advancing conservation efforts & responsible land stewardship.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Julie Dubord
Time
1:45 pm
-
2:05 pm
Visual Journeys: Harnessing Filmmaking and Storytelling
Join award-winning filmmaker and storyteller Gunjan Menon as she delves into the transformative power of storytelling in tourism.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Gunjan Menon
Time
2:05 pm
-
2:40 pm
Dose of Innovation: Nature-Based Solutions
Explore the transformative potential of Nature-based Solutions in tourism, addressing negative impacts while enhancing community resilience & biodiversity.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Susanna Shankar
Time
2:40 pm
-
3:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee Break
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
3:00 pm
-
3:30 pm
Dose of Innovation: Certified Green
With the EU Green Claims Legislation setting higher accountability standards, hotel sustainability certifications are essential for building credibility.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Anick Levesque
Time
3:30 pm
-
3:45 pm
Dose of Innovation: Leading with Impact
Discover how to create change through travel by fostering a more equitable future. We will explore three actionable pathways to drive positive impact.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Rochelle Turner
Time
3:45 pm
-
4:00 pm
Panel: Building Resilient Destinations: Climate Preparedness and Emergency Response
This panel will focus on strategies for building resilient tourism destinations that effectively respond to climate-related challenges.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Wanda Bogdane, Wendy Magnes, Robert Ezelle, Tyler Riopel, Dave Cowen
Time
4:00 pm
-
5:00 pm
The Gathering
Please wear your name badges to enter. You won't want to miss this very special evening!
Location
Parkside Hotel & Spa
Time
6:00 pm
-
9:30 pm
Registration & Breakfast
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
7:00 am
-
8:30 am
Kickstart
Location
Theatre
Time
8:30 am
-
8:45 am
Panel: Reinventing the Workforce in an Ever-Changing Industry
This panel will explore strategies to empower employees at all levels, making sustainability a lived reality, not just a top-down directive.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Dr. Altaf Sovani, Sophia Hyder Hock, Lexa Bergen, Lauren Semple
Time
8:45 am
-
9:30 am
Panel: Aspiring Leaders
Stories from students, young entrepreneurs, and people in the workforce.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Christian van Buskirk, Ching Hei Cheung, Dilan Ilhan, Guilherme Alves Ferreira
Time
9:30 am
-
10:30 am
Morning Coffee Break
Location
Pre-Function Area
Time
10:30 am
-
10:45 am
Thriving Destinations: Leveraging the GDS Index for Regenerative Tourism
Sarah will explore how the GDS Index supports destinations on their sustainability journey by providing a roadmap for resilience and regeneration.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Sarah Fallavollita
Time
10:45 am
-
11:00 am
Unite. Commit. Act.
Location
Theatre
Speaker
Celes Davar, Jill Doucette
Time
11:00 am
-
11:45 am
Closing Remarks
Location
Theatre
Time
11:45 am
-
12:00 pm