HSBC Canada Sevens honoured with two CSTA PRESTIGE Awards
March 20th, 2019
The outstanding events, people and organizations from Canada’s vibrant sport tourism industry in Canada were honoured at the 13th annual Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) PRESTIGE Awards. The awards recognize those who work to bid, host and stage sport events across the country.
“Every person and every event that was nominated helped contribute to Canada’s well-deserved reputation for hosting events. Once again our finalists represented the breadth and depth of sport tourism in our nation,” said Rick Traer, CEO, Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance. “Each one embodies the dedication and commitment that is so critical to successful event bidding, hosting and delivery. We are proud to recognize recipients from across the country, from large and small centers, and a wide range of events with the 2019 PRESTIGE Awards.”
Recipients were named on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 during the 13th PRESTIGE Awards Presentation. The HSBC Canada Sevens tournament took home the following awards:
CSTA International Sport Event of the Year Award - HSBC Canada Sevens
Now a fixture on the Vancouver sporting calendar, HSBC Canada Sevens has seen a 25% growth in attendance since it began in 2016. It drew over 77,000 fans to BC Place Stadium, setting the record for Canadian attendance at a rugby event. This celebration of sport and community brings together people from diverse cultural backgrounds, who support their national teams, but cheer just as enthusiastically for others. It supports Rugby Canada’s vision to grow the sport with grassroots engagement for children and youth and high school rugby players. The unbelievable atmosphere from the enthusiastic fans in the stands creates a remarkable experience not only for the players, but volunteers and visitors, who return year after year.
CSTA Sport Event Legacy of the Year Award - HSBC Canada Sevens & Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships (Two Recipients)
In 2018, HSBC Canada Sevens continued to improve the experience for everyone involved. Over 1,500 children and youth participated through two HSBC Rookie Rugby jamborees, sixteen community visits to Vancouver area schools and a Rookie Rugby demonstration during the tournament. Reducing single-use plastic bottles of water by placing water coolers at venues was well received by World Rugby who has since made plans for the program across the series. Making their volunteers feel engaged has led to a 90-95% volunteer retention rate. New in 2018 the HSBC Canada Sevens Community Visit Program connected teams with local schools and First Nations groups to inspire children to take part in the sport.
CSTA Sport Tourism Organization of the Year Award - Sport Hosting Vancouver
BC Place is also a proud partner of Sport Hosting Vancouver which took home the CSTA Sport Tourism Organization of the Year Award. The largest hosting year yet for Sport Hosting Vancouver, 2018’s success was rooted in very specific strategies that drew out-of-town visitors to the city. The organization worked with official travel package operators to develop and sell packages where interest in a specific sport was high, for example the HSBC Canada Sevens in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final to Japanese tour groups. Record breaking numbers and sell outs were a direct result. They also made events more memorable for athletes with the Tourism Experience Passes and were rewarded with the rugby players voting them the #1 stop on the world series.
The complete list of PRESTIGE Award winners can be viewed here.
About the PRESTIGE Awards
The PRESTIGE Awards are the CSTA’s marquis Program Recognizing Exceptional Sport Tourism Initiatives, Games & Events. In its 13th year, this annual award program shines a spotlight on the dynamic Canadians, places and events that are building our nation’s growing sport tourism industry.
About the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance
The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is a non-governmental, member-based, capacity building organization that promotes sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level. The CSTA services over 500 members across Canada, including 130 municipalities, 300 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organizations and a variety of other sport and tourism industry partners. Sport tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry in Canada with over $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors.