News release

Mississauga: A winning conference destination

Business and innovation | December 1, 2023

Since the formation of the City’s official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) in 2020, Visit Mississauga has hit the ground running. They are making great strides showcasing Mississauga’s tourism offerings nationally and internationally and positioning the city as a destination for meetings and conferences.

On November 21, 2023, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Canada announced that Mississauga is hosting their 2025 Canadian Innovation Conference. PCMA is the world’s largest community for business events strategists, bringing approximately 350 delegates into the city.

“Securing the PCMA Canadian Innovation Conference is a big win for Visit Mississauga. I’m thrilled that we’ve been selected,” said Victoria Clarke, CEO of Visit Mississauga and Director of Tourism. “This is a testament to our team’s hard work in positioning Mississauga as an ideal destination for meetings and conferences. As home to an international airport, more than 7,000 hotel guestrooms, 60 plus international brand hotels and 750,000 square feet of conference and event space, we have so much to offer. We are getting the word out across Canada and internationally about all the reasons Mississauga should be at the top of the list for conference locations.”

Visit Mississauga will host the PCMA Canadian Innovation Conference November 16 to 18, 2025, at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites & the International Centre.

The PCMA Canadian Innovation Conference is just one of several high-profile conferences that Visit Mississauga has successfully brought to the city. Visit Mississauga staff have been busy putting together winning bids for conferences and making a name for Mississauga among the business and events industries. Earlier this year, Visit Mississauga hosted the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) Summer Summit, with 280 delegates attending. In October, it hosted a record 500 delegates at the 2023 Tourism Industry of Ontario Annual Summit, held annually across Ontario by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). Visit Mississauga staff have also spread the word about Mississauga by attending more than 20 industry events in 2023.

Other upcoming conferences coming to Mississauga

  • Tourism Industry Association of Canada Investors Forum – February 2024
  • Canadian Society of Association Executives 2024 Symposium – February 2024
  • The Ontario Business Improvement Area Association– April 2024

Clarke adds, “The delegates attending the PCMA Innovation Conference, and others we’ve hosted in 2023 and will be hosting moving forward, are tourism industry professionals who will see all that Mississauga has to offer while they’re here. They can then help tell our story and promote the city as a destination for meetings and conferences. Conferences support our economy and many local businesses while they are here and help position us for more tourism in the future. The future is bright for tourism in Mississauga.”

Mississauga is more than just conferences

In addition to cementing Mississauga’s position on the conference scene, Visit Mississauga staff have been busy promoting the city as a destination for sporting events, leisure travel, festivals, and business travellers. In 2023, Mississauga hosted approximately 20 major sporting events, resulting in $22.5 million in estimated economic impact. Mississauga has also been selected by the Country Music Association (CMA) of Ontario to host the prestigious CMA Ontario Festival and Awards in 2024 and 2026, bringing live music, concerts and activities to the city.

If you are planning an event, meeting or conference and would like to see what Mississauga can offer, please contact Visit Mississauga’s sales team.

For more information about Visit Mississauga, visit visitmississauga.ca or follow @VisitMississauga on social for more tourism recommendations, contests and upcoming events.

Visit Mississauga hosts a full house at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario annual conference in Mississauga

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City of Mississauga Media Relations
media@mississauga.ca
905-615-3200, ext. 5232
TTY: 905-896-5151