Sessions
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
11:00 am
Access to Growth: Moving People, Goods, and Visitors
Explores how transportation capacity and connectivity drive tourism growth and economic sustainability in Newfoundland and Labrador. Bringing together perspectives from aviation, cruise tourism, and the trucking and goods-movement sector, this panel examines how visitors, workers, and essential supplies move into and around the province. The discussion will focus on real-world challenges related to capacity, reliability, seasonality, and regional connectivity, including how marine access constraints impact supply chains and tourism operations. Designed for operators, business leaders, and policymakers, this session emphasizes practical insights and collaborative solutions to support resilient communities and year-round growth.
2:30 pm
Ready When It Matters: Emergency Preparedness for Tourism
As extreme weather events, service disruptions, and public safety incidents become more common, tourism operators are increasingly on the front lines. Being prepared is no longer optional, it is essential to business continuity, visitor safety, and destination confidence. This session brings together provincial emergency management leadership and national tourism partners to explore how emergency preparedness and response frameworks connect to tourism operations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Panelists will share practical insight on roles, responsibilities, and resources, along with lessons learned from recent events. Designed for operators, this session will help businesses better understand the emergency management landscape and how proactive planning can reduce risk, improve coordination, and support faster recovery when it matters most.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
8:30 am
From National Strategy to Provincial Impact
National tourism strategies and policies shape how destinations show up in market, but their impact is ultimately felt at the provincial and local level. This session brings together national and provincial tourism leaders to explore how national priorities translate into real outcomes for Newfoundland and Labrador. Panelists will discuss alignment between national policy, advocacy, and marketing efforts, what’s working, and where challenges remain. Designed for industry, this session will help operators better understand how national decisions connect to provincial delivery, and how that connection influences visitation, demand, and growth.
9:30 am
Showing Up Strong: Provincial and National Tourism Marketing
This session dives deeper into how national and provincial tourism marketing strategies work together to move travellers along the path to purchase and drive visitation to Newfoundland and Labrador. Panelists will explore how national marketing builds awareness, how provincial efforts convert that interest into travel, and where regional and operator marketing fits into the overall ecosystem. Designed for industry, this session will help operators better understand how marketing roles align, what markets matter most, and how businesses and destinations can plug into provincial and national efforts to strengthen performance in market.
11:00 am
Immigration in Practice: What Tourism Employers Need Now
With tourism employers continuing to face tight labour markets, immigration remains critical to workforce stability and service delivery. This session focuses on how immigration and temporary foreign worker programs are working in practice for tourism employers today. Bringing together employers, government, and settlement partners, the discussion will highlight what’s working, where challenges remain, and how better alignment and partnerships can support businesses, workers, and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
2:30 pm
Beyond Peak: Designing a Year-Round Tourism Economy
Building a stronger, more resilient tourism sector requires moving beyond the traditional peak season. This session explores how coordinated planning, experience development, access, and pricing strategies can encourage travel in the shoulder seasons. Panelists will share practical examples of how destinations, operators, and transportation partners are working together to spread demand, extend the season, and create compelling reasons for visitors to travel earlier in spring and later into fall, supporting sustainable growth for communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.