Winnipeg Welcomes ETC's Annual Conference

Winnipeg is extending a warm welcome to the global community of professionals in educational, alumni and affinity travel as the city hosts the Educational Travel Consortium (ETC)’s annual conference from February 4th to 8th.

Over 300 delegates from all corners of the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States, will be arriving in early February to experience everything Winnipeg has to offer as one of the world’s acclaimed winter cities.

Attendees include travel program managers and planners, U.S. and international tour operators and suppliers and domestic and international destination representatives. ETC’s conference brings this community together annually to learn new skills, share knowledge and network all in one place as they seek to target guests like university and post-secondary alumni, educators and retirees.

Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg are sponsors of this year’s event and will be meeting with attendees throughout the week. Tourism operators Gangler’s Sub-Arctic Adventures, Lazy Bear Expeditions and Frontiers North Adventures will be joining Travel Manitoba at ETC for meetings with attendees.

The conference also provides an opportunity for Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg to highlight Winnipeg and Manitoba as ideal destinations for alumni and affinity travelers. These lifelong learners are drawn to immersive, cultural, and transformational travel experiences, which aligns with tourism experiences found throughout Manitoba.

Pictured: Conference attendees will get the change to visit one of Winnipeg's newest attractions - The Leaf at Assiniboine Park Conservancy. Credit: Assiniboine Park Conservancy

Leading up to the conference, delegates can immerse themselves in Winnipeg's unique offerings through specially curated “field experiences” or Learning Labs. The official conference kick-off is scheduled for February 6th, marking the beginning of four days filled with learning, networking and even more exploration.

Post-conference, attendees have the opportunity to partake in museum and attraction tours across Winnipeg, featuring iconic sites such as The Leaf - Canada’s Diversity Gardens, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Manitoba Museum, the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint and FortWhyte Alive. Additionally, Travel Manitoba, in collaboration with Frontiers North Adventures, will host pre-registered delegates on a trip to Churchill to share the awe-inspiring northern lights and cultural wonders of this remote northern town.

Pictured: Frontiers North Adventures offers northern lights viewing experiences from Thanadelthur Lodge on the frozen tundra near Churchill.

Beyond the immediate benefits of hosting the ETC conference, Travel Manitoba aims to forge and solidify relationships with travel planners and tour operators. These connections are integral to the broader goal of increasing alumni and affinity visitation to Manitoba, fostering a lasting impact on the province's tourism landscape.

Visit ETC’s website for more information.