Unleashing
The Power of Events

Sport Tourism Canada is an organization founded through a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission with the goal to increase Canada’s capacity to attract and host sport tourism events.

FUN FACT

Did you know that sport tourism is now the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry?

Our Vision

Canada is the world’s leading sport host nation.

Our Mission

We help increase Canada’s capacity to attract and host sport tourism events.

Our Values

Excellence
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Alignment
Leadership
Collaboration

OBJECTIVES

  • Establish Canada as a preferred sport tourism destination
  • Enhance the image and profile of the sport tourism industry
  • Facilitate networking, educational and communications opportunities
  • Develop and facilitate access to industry tools
  • Build investment in sport tourism from the public and private sectors
  • Coordinate research and data collection of activity within the sport tourism industry

HISTORY

  • Created in November 2000 through a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission
  • STC (formerly known as CSTA) has grown from 18 founding members to over 500 members including 200+ municipalities

  • 250+ national and provincial sport organizations
  • 20+ educational institutions and a variety of product and service suppliers to the industry

EVENTS

We organize the largest annual gathering of everyone connected to the over $7.4 billion sport tourism industry in Canada, called Sport Event Congress. In addition, we host the PRESTIGE Awards to celebrate the people, places, and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic. Moreover, we host [un] GOLF and Sport Tourism FORE-um, a sociable golf-themed competition, which offers learning and B2B networking opportunities with your sport tourism colleagues from destinations across Canada, sport organizations, venues, hoteliers, educational institutions and other sport event professionals.  

ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS

Today’s decision-makers need credible data when assessing funding requests. We offer economic impact assessments that provide critical information for municipal, provincial, and federal government funding applications, grants, and all types of private sector financial support. As an event organizer, venue, or host city, this data will help you to:

→ Explain why your community should invest in bidding or hosting events.
→ Build a business case and gain support for hosting a future event.
→ Advocate effectively for business development and new facilities.
→ Demonstrate the value of your event property.

CONSULTING SERVICES

Our team of expert consultants offer high-level training and strategic advice for organizations or staff needing assistance on either a short-term or long-term basis. Our services cover a wide array of topics ranging from financial to legal advice. 

MEMBERSHIP

STC membership grants our various types of members access to exclusive offerings and discounted event rates. This includes an extensive list of access to directories, Canadian and international industry data, the Sport Hosting Index and cooperative marketing programs and sales missions.

WEBINARS

Join the webinar series to access online learning opportunities that focus on trends, success stories and key learnings in the sport tourism industry. Topics cover event bidding and hosting, event marketing, sponsorship and other hot topics!

UP FOR BID

The Up for Bid service connects communities seeking to host events in their cities with events rights holders who have an RFP for events open for bid.

SPORT TOURISM CANADA BYLAWS

Read the latest bylaws of Sport Tourism Canada

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

STC publishes sport tourism industry data annually from custom data tabulations via Statistics Canada, including comparisons on a year over year basis. The data is broken down on a national and provincial basis.

2018 sport tourism spending in Canada

 

 

Curious to know where your city ranks across Canada when it comes to Sport Hosting? Each year, STC releases a Sport Hosting Index that ranks cities by number and scope of events hosted in their community. This index provides interesting insight and perspective.

2020 Sport Hosting Index

Want to become an active participant in the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry?  Are you a host destination, event organizer/rights holder, venue, or accommodations provider? Become a STC member and build your business in the sport tourism industry through a variety of networking, business-to-business and educational opportunities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT, EXACTLY, IS MEANT BY ‘SPORT TOURISM’?

Sport tourism is any activity in which people are attracted to a particular location as a sport event participant, an event spectator, or to attend sport attractions or business meetings.

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE STC? SHOULD I BE A MEMBER OF THIS ORGANIZATION?

STC’s members include municipalities from every province including major metropolitan areas and small communities across Canada. Many national, provincial and multi-sport organizations are also members as well as suppliers to the industry (hotels, event management companies, airlines, etc.). STC also has an international membership category. More information, including a list of STC’s members, membership categories and benefits can be found in the Membership page of the website.

IS THERE BENEFIT IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES JOINING STC OR DOES STC MAINLY SERVE LARGER MUNICIPALITIES?

The recent increase in activity in the sport tourism industry is a phenomenon that has been evident not only in major metropolitan areas, but in smaller communities across Canada as well. Although major international events such as the Olympic Games tend to receive most of the media profile, the critical mass of activity in sport tourism continues to occur at the community level. The programs and activities of STC are reflective of this reality as it continues to develop the tools necessary for communities of all sizes to become active in the industry at all levels.

HOW IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED AND FOR HOW LONG?

The Board of Directors is comprised of nine individuals, elected in staggered terms of two years duration. Elections are conducted annually at the Annual General Meeting.

HOW OFTEN DOES THE MEMBERSHIP GET TOGETHER?

The STC members gather annually at STC events and at the Annual General Meeting in April. Committee members may meet more regularly via conference or video calls.

WHAT IS SPORT EVENTS CONGRESS?

Sport Events Congress is Canada’s largest annual gathering of sport, tourism organizations, event management firms and other industry professionals. Delegates are treated to best-practices presentations, keynote speakers, networking socials and the business-to-business Sport Events Exchange, an events marketplace where national and multi-sport organizations have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with municipal representatives interested in hosting events in their communities. Sport attendees typically include event volunteers and staff, executive directors and CEO’s of national sport organizations, event managers & planners, marketing personnel and individuals responsible for partnership development. Municipal attendees include marketing personnel, city representatives, sport council staff and more!