October 16, 2024 - October 18, 2024

TTRA Canada Chapter is thrilled to announce its upcoming annual conference, slated for October 16-18, 2024, in the picturesque city of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. This year’s conference theme, BRIDGING RESEARCH FRONTIERS, reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering diverse and sustainable partnerships within the global travel and tourism community.

In an exciting collaboration with Mi’kmaq artists Loretta and Shianne Gould, we’ve crafted a logo that perfectly encapsulates our theme, symbolizing the union of traditional knowledge and modern research methodologies to propel the tourism and hospitality industries forward.

The 2024 conference promises a rich tapestry of activities designed to engage, enlighten, and inspire our global community of researchers, academics, students, and industry practitioners. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect:

  • Innovative Research Sub-themes: Dive into sessions featuring the latest, most relevant research across a spectrum of topics critical to the advancement of tourism and hospitality.
  • Student Engagement: Building on the success of our inaugural event last year, the 2nd annual Student Case Competition and the return of the Student Symposium are set to ignite the minds of the next generation of industry leaders.
  • Cultural Excursions: Experience the heart and soul of Eastern Canada through excursions that celebrate Acadian culture and the region’s renowned culinary scene.
  • Collaborative Forums: Participate in workshops, panel discussions, and roundtable conversations to foster active collaboration between academia and the tourism industry.

With the official Call for Papers (CFP) on the horizon, we invite you to stay tuned for more details on how you can contribute to and benefit from this unparalleled gathering.

The TTRA Canada conference in Charlottetown is more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to be part of a movement that values research, education, and networking to positively impact the travel and tourism industry worldwide. Whether you’re an academic researcher, a student, or an industry professional, this conference will provide you with valuable insights, meaningful connections, and the inspiration to push the boundaries of what’s possible in travel and tourism.

Mark your calendars for October 16-18, 2024, and prepare to join us in Charlottetown for a conference that promises to be both enlightening and transformative. Let’s bridge the research frontiers and pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future in tourism and hospitality.

Follow TTRA Canada on LinkedIn and keep an eye on the TTRA website for updates and more information. Let’s make history together in Canada’s cradle of Confederation. See you in Charlottetown!

In the evolving landscape of tourism, forming effective research collaborations is crucial for solving complex challenges and driving meaningful innovation. This year’s conference theme, ‘Bridging Research Frontiers, encourages participants to explore new connections and partnerships to discover creative solutions and share transformative ideas.

Whether delving into sustainable tourism, the impacts of disruptive technologies, or exploring non-traditional or unique career paths in tourism research, the conference invites tourism researchers to broaden their professional connections and consider diverse perspectives on key issues.

The theme highlights the vital role of partnerships among various stakeholders in tourism, including academics, students, industry practitioners, and government entities.

The deadline for submissions is July 5, 2024.

  • Under-utilized Research Methodologies: Experimentation, Qualitative techniques, Indigenous ways of knowing, Network analysis, Educational excellence.
  • Sustainability and Island Tourism: Crisis management in tourism, Regenerative tourism trends, Building tourism resilience, Island tourism.
  • Technology and the Future of Tourism: AI, automation, big data, AR impact, Tech trends.
  • Tourism Workforce: Tourism career opportunities, Inspiring tourism workers, Tourism’s impact on jobs and growth.
  • Collaborations and Partnerships: Academic-practitioner bonds, Joint strategic planning, Interdisciplinary research, Indigenous perspectives, and Community trust-building.
  • Tourism Ethics and Responsibility: Ethical tourism research, Promoting responsible tourism, Cultural exchange, and heritage preservation.

Submissions for presentations, roundtables, workshops, panels, and student posters relating to the overarching theme of Bridging Research Frontiers and its related subthemes are invited.

The Conference Program Committee also encourages presentations on travel and tourism-related topics outside the conference’s subthemes. We aim to provide our members with relevant, timely and engaging content.

Accepted submissions will be eligible for one of three non-monetary awards for Best Academic Abstract (peer-reviewed), Best Practitioner/Industry Presentation (non-peer-reviewed), and finally Best Student Poster or Presentation.

We strongly encourage submissions that demonstrate collaborative research projects and studies comprised of both academics and practitioners.

  1. Academic (Peer-reviewed) Abstract: Submit a two-page, single-spaced abstract for presentations related to conference subthemes. The abstract should include Title, Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Findings or Expected Findings, and Conclusion, with separate References not counting toward the page limit. Also submit a cover page file with the abstract title, author(s)’ contact information, up to five keywords, and a brief 250-character statement linking the topic to the conference theme. Accepted submissions require a 15-minute presentation with 5 minute Q&A on either October 17 or 18, 2024. Refereed abstracts will be included in the digital proceedings, provided at least one author attends.

    PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMIC ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS TO LENA LIANG AT [email protected].


  2. Practitioner/Industry (Non-Peer-reviewed) Proposal Submissions: Practitioner/Industry presentations are welcomed and encouraged. Submissions should include: i. Authors and contributors’ names and affiliations. ii. Preferred presentation format (concurrent session, interactive workshop, panel, roundtable, or a detailed alternative). iii. A 150-250 word session description. iv. A 100-word statement on how the topic aligns with the conference theme. v. A brief biography (250 characters max) for each presenter. vi. (Optional) Any specific requirements or accommodations for the presentation day. Accepted presentations will either be a 15-minute concurrent session with 5 minute Q&A, or a 50-minute interactive format with 10 minute Q&A. At least one author must attend and present. All practitioner sessions will occur on October 17 and 18, 2024.

    IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PRACTITIONER/INDUSTRY SUBMISSIONS, PLEASE EMAIL JEANNETTE LYE AT [email protected].


  3. Student (Peer-reviewed) Poster Symposium: Students are invited to submit a one-page, single-spaced abstract for a 36″ long x 48″ wide poster designed to showcase their work to conference delegates. Submitted abstracts must include a Title, Introduction, Literature, Method, Findings, Conclusions, and Implications. References should be included but do not count toward the one-page limit. Accepted student submissions will be part of the poster session. The student symposium will take place on October 16, 2024.

    If students prefer to present their work in a presentation format (versus a poster), they must follow the Academic (Peer-reviewed) submission procedures outlined above.


  4. Annual National Student Case Competition: We are pleased to announce the return of the TTRA Canada Student Case Competition, which will be part of our annual conference and will feature data provided by Tourism HR Canada! Prior to the conference, participants will analyze a topic related to a specific challenge facing the Canadian tourism industry and prepare a slideshow featuring their results which will be pitched to an audience of academic and industry professionals during the conference.

    The competition is limited to up to six four-year University or College programs in Canada for a team of four students who are still completing their studies by the date of the competition. Only one team per institution will be permitted to enter. Each team member will be required to pay the conference student registration rate and will receive full access to all conference activities and proceedings.

    Starting May 1st, interested student teams may submit an application in the online submission portal, including their names, institutions, and programs). Please also provide the contact information for a faculty advisor from the same program or department who will join the students at the conference if they are selected.

    PLEASE SEND ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT STUDENT SUBMISSIONS TO KIMBERLY THOMAS-FRANCOIS AT [email protected].

Artists: Loretta and Shianne Gould
https://mikmaq-artist.com/

The logo for this year’s conference depicts a bridge surrounded by a bright sun, eagle, and Turtle Island using vivid imagery and a complex colour palette of rich pink, blue, and yellow hues. It was designed and painted by two amazingly talented Mi’kmaq artists from Canada’s East Coast, Loretta Gould and her daughter, Shianne. According to her bio, Loretta’s art is spiritual, and she dreams in bright, beautiful colours.

Oh, by the way, the original artwork will be available for purchase as a silent auction item during the conference, with all profits going back to the artists!

For over 50 years, TTRA has been the industry’s leader for go-to, evidence-based global travel and tourism data and analysis.

The Canada Chapter is composed of all Canadian provinces and territories, which reflect Canada’s diverse and vast landscape, each with its own unique culture, geography, and history.

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