Victoria, British Columbia to Host 2017 Canada's West Marketplace

VICTORIA, BC--(Marketwired - November 16, 2016) - Victoria, British Columbia, has been chosen to host one of Western Canada's premier travel trade shows, the 2017 Canada's West Marketplace^®.

Held in November 2017, the 30^th annual Canada's West Marketplace will provide a dynamic local forum for promoting Western Canadian tourism products to tour operators and wholesalers from around the world.

More than 300 Alberta and British Columbia tourism suppliers are expected to attend the event, meeting with and promoting their products to international tour operators and wholesalers from across Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.

"Tourism is booming and Canada's West Marketplace gives tourism operators the opportunity to showcase experiences and services to buyers from around the world," said Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination British Columbia. "Next year, Victoria will host this major sales event and also build exposure for local tourism businesses on an international scale."

"It is great news that Victoria will host Canada's West Marketplace next year," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour. "British Columbia is experiencing record tourism growth and many of the more than four million international visitors that have come to our province this year have made a stop in our capital city. The trade show provides another opportunity to showcase our beautiful province and encourage even more visitors to explore BC."

Established in 1989, Canada's West Marketplace is a partnership between Travel Alberta and Destination British Columbia. Each year, the trade show alternates locations between Alberta and B.C. To learn more, visit canadaswestmarketplace.com.

"Canada's West Marketplace provides tourism operators with direct access to global tourism buyers, social functions, networking opportunities and familiarization tours in an intensive and highly productive industry forum," said Royce Chwin CEO of Travel Alberta. "Building on the success we have seen in Jasper this year, we look forward to welcoming our partners to Victoria in 2017."

"Victoria is thrilled to be hosting the 2017 Canada's West Marketplace," said Paul Nursey, President and CEO of Tourism Victoria. "Victoria has experienced over $100 million in major hotel renovations in the past two years, new access with flights and ferry service and a rejuvenation of experiential tourism product, a reinvigorated food scene and a vibrant downtown. Victoria was recently ranked as the #7 favorite destination in the world by Outside USA in the Conde Nast Traveller readers' poll. Victoria is on a roll, and working with our partners, Tourism Victoria is looking forward to showcasing what all the excitement is about when we work together to host Canada's West Marketplace in 2017."

Destination British Columbia is an industry-led Crown corporation that works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders across the province to coordinate marketing at the international, provincial, regional and local levels. For more information on Destination BC, please visit www.DestinationBC.ca.

Travel Alberta is the tourism marketing agency of the Government of Alberta. A team of youthfully spirited adventurers lead in marketing Alberta's authentic experiences in breathtaking landscapes at home and around the world. For more information on Travel Alberta, please visit www.industry.travelalberta.com.