CEO’S MESSAGE: JUNE 2022

For over 45 years, Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) has developed a reputation as Canada’s premier marketplace for the tourism industry. Tourism Richmond has represented our destination at this event for many years.

In 2020, the event was cancelled, and in 2021, the event was virtual (and we participated in the virtual meetings). And now in late May 2022, I was thrilled to represent Richmond at the in-person portion of RVC+ 2022.

This year, the format was a buyer-seated marketplace and I met with 40 tour and travel trade partners and clients, over three days.  My objective was to continue to inspire and motivate these planners to include Richmond in their itineraries.

It provided a critical opportunity to connect Richmond with international and domestic buyers, ultimately helping support the recovery and resilience of our sector.

As well, we partnered with Destination BC the weekend prior and hosted a 10-person FAM group – with representatives from Germany, England, Quebec, Thailand and Australia. They were touring Vancouver, Richmond, Nanaimo and Victoria.

It was an outstanding weekend of weather (no rain – just sun!) and in Richmond the group was very excited about our Bird Watching tour in Terra Nova, their boat tour on the boat the Gikumi (Fraser River), and their culinary and cultural experience called Pacific Plates at the Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotel.

There is a ton of follow up to do as we enter back into this market and build on the connections and relationships we established, and I see excellent potential in these markets as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Nancy Small

Tourism Richmond Team Member

Chief Executive Officer