Canada has always been an alluring choice for international conventions and corporate meetings across a variety of sectors , but the country ’ s strength in both the emerging and established finance & insurance ( F & I ) arenas holds particular value for event planners in this sector .

Not only are Canada ’ s knowledge hubs safe , affordable and conveniently located for ease of travel , but the sector specialisation within the cities , and their surrounding regions , provides event planners with access to best-inclass knowledge capital .

Knowledge capital here can take several forms . Firstly , there is the access to Canadian industry and academic thought leaders in the F & I space , as well as a highly educated sector workforce . These local subject-matter experts , and the extensive talent pools within these

hubs , can enhance speaker schedules with keynote presentations , aid in membership recruitment and help champion events .

Secondly , there is the opportunity for exceptional site visits . Here , delegates can learn from industry innovators while engaging in educational tours of research institutions , disruptive start-up headquarters , established sector businesses and more . These informative visits can aid in contextualising delegates ’ learnings and provide valuable , on-the-ground insight into how these industry leaders operate .

Thirdly , since Canada ’ s F & I hubs are home to some of the most forward-thinking organisations in this space , there is an almost unparalleled opportunity for networking and accelerated business progress . Hosting in any of the country ’ s

Above : Toronto , ( Credit : Hiroaki Fukuda )

sector hubs gives event organisers and attendees the chance for B2B exchanges , collaboration , networking and , through all of these experiences , the sharing of best practices .

Capitalising on the country ’ s leadership in this ever-developing industry can elevate events in several key ways . By engaging in these unique opportunities to leverage local knowledge , planners who choose Canada as their host destination will watch their event attendance and engagement rise , in turn increasing event revenues . Organisers will also observe Canada , and the country ’ s innovative approach to the F & I space , leaving an indelible mark on attendees and their approach to the industry . This will have them eager to attend future events , in the hope that they will have the same transformational experiences that they encountered in Canada .

8 CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD