Collaboration Provides Canada a Competitive Edge in Online Tourism

Sherman, Conn. USA and Ottawa, Canada, August 13, 2009—The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and PhoCusWright Inc. are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to produce groundbreaking research and innovative events. The partnership will empower tourism industry leaders to maximize their investment and exploit the full potential of Canada’s online tourism market.

The agreement covers two principal projects: PhoCusWright’s 2009 Canada Special Report on the Canadian travel market, and the next three editions of TIAC's Canada-e-Connect conference, the Canadian tourism industry's premier online strategy conference.

"TIAC is excited to join forces with an industry leader such as PhoCusWright on these two important projects for our membership and our industry," said Randy Williams, president and CEO of TIAC. "Through the information gleaned in the 2009 Special Report and the innovative sessions at the Canada-e-Connect conference, we will provide TIAC's members and our industry with a competitive advantage in the online travel sphere."

"Canada is an important market for PhoCusWright. TIAC's reputation and leadership in the travel industry make them an ideal partner," said Philip Wolf, PhoCusWright's president and CEO. "With the combined resources of our two organizations, we will delve into this vital market to promote innovation and sound strategic planning in Canada's tourism industry."

Canada-e-Connect, Canadian Tourism's Online Strategy Conference, examines how technology, online communications and Web applications can catalyze growth in the tourism sector. The conference provides delegates with fresh intelligence on the most relevant topics in the online area, including e-distribution and e-marketing strategies; social media marketing and e-communities; mobile marketing strategies; technology for small businesses; e-business strategies; analytics; and strategic blogging. Canada-e-Connect 2010 will take place January 27-29, 2010 at the Delta Centre-Ville in Montreal, QC.


About PhoCusWright Inc.
PhoCusWright is the travel industry research authority on how travelers, suppliers and intermediaries connect. Independent, rigorous and unbiased, PhoCusWright fosters smart strategic planning and tactical decision-making.

PhoCusWright delivers qualitative and quantitative research on the evolving dynamics that influence travel, tourism and hospitality distribution. Our marketplace intelligence is the industry standard for segmentation, sizing, forecasting, trends, analysis and consumer travel planning behavior. Every day around the world, senior executives, marketers, strategists and research professionals from all segments of the industry value chain use PhoCusWright research for competitive advantage.

To complement its primary research in North America, Europe and Asia, PhoCusWright produces several high-profile conferences in the U.S. and Germany, and partners with conferences in the U.K., China and Singapore. Industry leaders and company analysts bring this intelligence to life debating issues, sharing ideas and defining the ever-evolving reality of travel commerce.

The company is headquartered in the United States, with offices in Germany and India.

About TIAC
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is the voice of Canadian tourism. Founded in 1930 to encourage the development of tourism in Canada, TIAC serves today as the national private-sector advocate for this CAD$70 billion industry, representing the interests of the tourism business community nationwide.
 

Contact:
Bruce Rosard, PhoCusWright Inc.
+1 860 350-4084 x375
brosard@phocuswright.com

Kevin Dejardins, TIAC
+1 613 238-6251
kdesjardins@tiac.travel