Expedia Group Invests in Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund to Foster Economic Advancement in Support of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Destination Canada

Press Release

February 11, 2025

SEATTLE, WA. — Expedia Group has announced a $100,000 USD investment in the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund, continuing its commitment to supporting the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and Destination Canada for the second consecutive year.

The Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund was created to drive reconciliation efforts and foster growth within Indigenous tourism. Managed by ITAC, the national nonprofit and voice of Indigenous tourism in Canada, the fund supports initiatives designed to benefit Indigenous communities across Canada.

“Our contribution marks a significant milestone, reinforcing our dedication to fostering a sustainable and equitable tourism industry alongside our valued partner, Destination Canada,” said Aditi Mohapatra, Vice President, Global Social Impact and Sustainability. “This support will directly benefit the underserved Indigenous tourism sector in Canada, with a focus on empowering Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-controlled businesses.”

This investment aligns with Expedia Group’s Destination Giveback Initiative, a program designed to promote fair and sustainable tourism practices while collaborating with DMO partners, such as Destination Canada. Through these partnerships, Expedia Group aims to create meaningful impacts in local communities and advance the global tourism industry.

“We thank Expedia Group for their ongoing commitment to Indigenous tourism in Canada. ITAC values Expedia Group as an early adopter of the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund, helping us work towards our Vision of making Canada the world leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030,” said Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “By investing in Indigenous tourism businesses and communities across Canada, we can move towards tourism as reconciliation in action together. We encourage other businesses to join the growing list of partners of the Fund to help achieve this crucial goal.”

ITAC focuses on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada and address the demand for development and marketing of authentic Indigenous experiences.

To learn more about the Destination Giveback Initiative, contact the Media Solutions team here.

To learn more about the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund, visit here.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group’s three flagship consumer brands include: Expedia®, Hotels.com®, and Vrbo®.

© 2024 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

About ITAC

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a national non-profit Indigenous tourism industry organization established in 2015. ITAC is the lead organization tasked with growing and promoting the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with groups and regions with similar mandates to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous tourism businesses in a respectful protocol.

For English Media Requests:

Expedia Group
Press@expediagroup.com

Bojana Duric
tartanbond on behalf of ITAC
1-647-271-2274
bojana.duric@tartanbond.com

For French Media Requests
Jen Dulude-LeBlanc
tartanbond on behalf of ITAC
1-403-707-7549
Jen.leblanc@tartanbond.com

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