Destination Canada has unveiled at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 the final findings of its groundbreaking Business Events Legacy & Impact Study, revealing how international meetings and conventions can create long-term economic, social and environmental benefits well beyond tourism.
The three-year research initiative, launched in 2022, examined 15 business events held across Canada in sectors including advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, life sciences, natural resources, digital industries, and finance and insurance.
The study found that strategically designed business events can influence public policy, accelerate industry growth and enhance a destination’s global competitiveness.
Building on previous phases of the research, the final report identified several key elements required to deliver meaningful event impact, including intentional planning, strong legacy drivers, collaboration, and clearly defined success factors.
“For decades, the business events industry has shared powerful stories about legacy,” said Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada. “Now we have the data — and a clear blueprint for delivering extraordinary event impact.”
All the findings were presented at IMEX Frankfurt, reinforcing Canada’s growing reputation as a leading destination for international meetings, conventions and incentive travel.
Among the study’s key conclusions:
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Business events create impact across eight different domains beyond direct economic return
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Legacy develops through long-term chain reactions that extend far beyond the event itself
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Lasting impact must be intentionally planned, collaboratively delivered and actively managed
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Eighteen strategic accelerators can deepen event influence across industries and communities
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Diverse perspectives in event planning and governance strengthen long-term legacy outcomes
The research also supports broader national sustainability goals, aligning with the Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan to help reduce environmental impact while maximizing long-term societal and economic value.
De Visscher said the case studies demonstrate how business events can act as catalysts for change by influencing climate policy, advancing scientific partnerships, encouraging community engagement and strengthening international cooperation.
At IMEX Frankfurt, Destination Canada also unveiled a new case study on the 11th International Conference on Isotopes, held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 2023. The event brought together global nuclear science leaders to strengthen isotope supply chains, advance cancer treatment innovation and boost international collaboration.
The report concludes that meaningful impact is not accidental but intentionally engineered, positioning business events as strategic tools for shaping policy, accelerating sector growth and enhancing destination competitiveness for the future.
