WHITEHORSE, YUKON – The Yukon Convention Bureau (YCB) held its 17th Annual Bravo Awards, sponsored by Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, Thursday March 7th at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. “Yukon is seeing a change and increase in the number of meetings and conferences being hosted in the territory, that’s very encouraging.” said Alida Munro, Managing Director at the Bureau. “2023 was yet another banner year for economic impact over $6.5 million. April – Dec 2023 YT had over 42 meetings/conference with over 2100 visiting delegates. 2024/25 fiscal we expect to see over $6.5million again in economic impact, as the sector continues to rebuild post pandemic.” The Yukon Convention Bureau markets Destination Yukon for conferences and events, marketing its 115+ members. “We are seeing more events of smaller sizes. The benefit of hosting a greater number of smaller groups is that we still see the economic benefits to the territory, from groups that are more manageable in size and are more diverse in spreading their business throughout the industry. However, the decrease in both meeting/ venue spaces and hotel rooms from the Coast HCI & Yukon Convention Centre closures, as well as increase in traffic, is pointing to a significant need for new, larger spaces for both inbound & local conferences rentals”
YCB’s Bravo Award is in recognition of successful business events in Yukon, involving Yukoners who have worked to bring meetings and conventions the territory. This years Bravo Award was presented to the Equal Futures 2023: A Gender Equality Summit, supported by over 16 Yukon organizations, for their significant efforts with their May 17-18th, 2023 conference. This was the first time the event has been held in Yukon. Their event hosted 220 total delegates, from across Canada, with many arriving early or staying after to travel throughout the Yukon. This one event generated over $390,000 in economic impact to the Yukon.
YCB’s Golden Bravo Award is in recognition of a YCB member who has gone above and beyond in service excellence in the meeting & conventions sector. This year’s winner Luke Legault – The Wandering Bison, nominated by the Equal Futures 2023: A Gender Equality Summit for service excellence & efforts with their successful 2023 Yukon event.
Congratulations and thank you to each of this year’s winners!
YCB would like to thank the following members and partners for door prizes at the Bravo Awards:
Air North – Yukon’s Airline
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre
Belly of the Bison
Beringia Interpretive Centre
Firebean Coffee Roasters
Klondike Kettle Corn
Klondike Photo Booths
Lumel Glass Studio
Northern Vision Development – Yukon Hotels
Whitehorse Curling Club
Yukonstruct
Yukon Association of Communities
Yukon Chamber of Commerce – Office of Employee Advisors
Yukon Soap Company
Yukon Plastics
Yukon Rendezvous Society