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Rendez-vous Canada 2025 - LogoWinnipeg. Say it out loud. There’s a touch of mystery in its name, like the sort of place Agatha Christie might send Hercule Poirot for a rest cure—only to find him hot on the trail of a moose-related murder. But come May 2025, it won’t be moustachioed Belgians or murder mysteries drawing the crowds. Instead, the world’s top travel buyers and media will descend on Manitoba’s capital for Rendez-vous Canada 2025 — the country’s flagship international tourism showcase.

From 27 to 30 May, the RBC Convention Centre will host this juggernaut of a trade event, jointly presented by Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). Think thousands of meetings, millions in deals, and enough brochure swapping to give your average travel agent carpal tunnel syndrome.

But behind the name tags and espresso-fuelled networking sessions lies something bigger: a national moment to shine. And shine, Winnipeg intends to do.

Setting the Global Stage

Rendez-vous Canada, affectionately dubbed RVC, isn’t just a calendar filler—it’s the Olympics of tourism marketing. And for Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg, who’ve put their collective hands up to host, it’s a chance to broadcast Manitoba’s compelling story on a world stage.

According to Cody Chomiak, the sharp-suited Vice-President of Marketing for Travel Manitoba and co-chair of the RVC 2025 planning committee:

“Canada’s premier travel marketplace is an incredible opportunity to showcase Manitoba’s unique wildlife viewing experiences, life-changing northern lights, vibrant capital city and renowned attractions and events.”

Translation? Pack your warm boots, your camera, and your sense of awe—because Manitoba is about to sell itself as the beating heart of Canadian tourism.

The Stats Behind the Spectacle

If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, allow us to present the cold, hard, beautifully touristy facts:

  • 1,400 delegates from around the world

  • 400+ buyers and media, including from Australia and New Zealand

  • 4,000+ hotel room nights booked across 9 host hotels

  • 22 guided city tours and 11 famils across Manitoba

  • 12 local attractions showcased

  • 800 tour participants

  • $4.6 million in economic impact for Winnipeg

  • A forecasted $65 million in business from the show floor alone (based on 2024’s tally)

That’s not just good for Manitoba—it’s tourism gold dust.

What’s in it for Australia?

Plenty. RVC 2025 is extending the red carpet to Australian travel buyers and media, offering a front-row seat to Canada’s evolving tourism narrative. Whether it’s heli-hiking in the Rockies or beluga spotting in Churchill, Manitoba, is offering experiences that can’t be downloaded or digitally faked. Authenticity is Canada’s calling card, and Aussies, with their love of adventure and nature, are high on the invitation list.

And let’s be honest: for travel writers, it’s a rare delight to cover a city where you can go from an art gallery to a bison reserve in one afternoon.

Winnipeg’s Moment to Dazzle

For Natalie Thiesen, Vice President of Tourism at Economic Development Winnipeg and co-chair of RVC 2025, the event is as much about the city’s future as it is about its present.

“This event allows us to connect directly with international travel buyers and share the story of Winnipeg’s growth, creativity and diversity. From our world-class attractions to our warm hospitality, we’re proud to show how much our city has transformed since RVC last came to town in 2010.”

Since then, Winnipeg has blossomed. It now proudly flaunts The Forks Market, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the architectural marvel that is The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, and, of course, a fiercely loyal arts and culinary scene that defies prairie stereotypes.

Not Just Business—It’s a Celebration

Beyond the numbers and handshakes, Rendez-vous Canada is about celebrating the power of travel. It’s about reminding the world that Canada’s story is vast, diverse, and—crucially—wide open for exploration.

For Manitoba, it’s a welcome mat on a grand scale. For Australia’s travel trade, it’s a golden ticket. And for Winnipeg? It’s a once-in-a-decade curtain call.

So here’s the rallying cry: dust off the winter jackets, book your direct flights, and prepare to rendezvous in a city that’s ready to greet the world with a grin.

For more details, visit rendezvouscanada.ca and travelmanitoba.com.

By Michelle Warner

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