BREAKOUT 5: From Competition to Cooperation: Regional Case Studies that Changed the Game

Sport tourism success rarely happens in isolation. This session explores real-world case studies where Destination Management Organizations and municipalities have moved beyond working alone to collaborate regionally across municipalities, destinations, First Nations, sport organizations, and hosting partners. Participants will hear how alignment on vision, roles, and shared priorities helped unlock larger events, amplify impact, and accelerate targeted facility investment. The session highlights both the enablers and the tensions of working together—what worked, what didn’t, and what evolved along the way. Attendees will leave with transferable insights they can apply within their own regional contexts. The emphasis is on collaboration that is intentional, structured, and outcomes-driven.

Discussion Points

●      Why sport trend research is becoming essential for sport tourism and community planning

●      How municipalities and destinations can use sport trend data to guide strategy and investment decisions

●      What effective regional collaboration looks like in practice, including municipal, post-secondary, and sport community alignment

●      Governance and decision-making models that support successful regional collaboration

●      Key considerations when engaging key partners and gathering meaningful, actionable input

●      Managing trade-offs and tensions in regional collaboration, including competition, capacity, and access

●      How sport trends can inform facility master planning, sport hosting priorities, and community access needs

●      Aligning investment timelines and resources across partners to maximize regional impact

●      Measuring success beyond economic impact, including community benefit, utilization, and legacy outcomes

●      Turning research into action by moving from findings to implementation and measurable results