News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Fredericton has been selected to host the Atlantic Canada Showcase from Oct. 2 to 4, 2016.

“I am happy to have the 2016 Atlantic Canada Showcase in New Brunswick and I congratulate the City of Fredericton on being chosen as host city for this important tourism industry event,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister, Bill Fraser.  “Tourism not only brings visitors to our province, but investment too. For every dollar invested in promoting New Brunswick as a tourism destination, there is a return of $3.50 that we can reinvest towards job creation and helping to make New Brunswick the best place to raise a family.”

The Atlantic Canada Showcase is a biennial marketplace designed especially for the motor coach, group, F.I.T. and specialty travel industry. The event includes three days of business meetings, networking events and educational sessions that will allow international buyers an opportunity to do business with sellers of tourism products and service providers from all four Atlantic provinces.

The event, which rotates throughout the Atlantic provinces, was last held in Prince Edward Island in 2014. It hosted 61 buyers from around the world and 128 sellers of tourism products and services.

“The Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick is thrilled to welcome travel trade operators from across Canada, the United States and other countries to New Brunswick,” said association president Kathy Weir. “I have full confidence that Fredericton will provide delegates with an experience to enhance their knowledge of what Atlantic Canada has to offer and create special Maritime memories.”

 A committee comprised of private and public representatives from each of the Atlantic provinces have been working on the 2016 event.

“Fredericton Tourism is thrilled to have been selected as host city for the Atlantic Canada Showcase next fall,” said Mary Ellen Hudson, group tour co-ordinator with Fredericton Tourism. “As the region’s most important travel trade marketplace, this will be an exceptional opportunity to showcase Fredericton to tour operators from Canada, the United States and Europe and receptive tour operators that work with the China market.”

“Our committed and experienced local host team is excited to pull out all the stops and present an event that is both fun and productive which highlights our new Convention Centre, unique off venues, and great hotels,” said David Seabrook, Fredericton Tourism manager.

The tourism industry supports more than 30,000 employees that comprises almost nine per cent of the province’s labour force. These jobs sustained by tourism extend beyond the sector itself and have an impact on retail and other industries. Reports indicate that in 2013, visitors spent an estimated $1.1 billion in New Brunswick.

This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership. More information on Atlantic Canada Showcase 2016 is available online.