Vaughan shines as a premier tourism destination
From vibrant events and activations to industry tradeshows and standout marketing campaigns, the Tourism Vaughan team kept the momentum going in 2025 – strengthening Vaughan’s reputation as a top destination for leisure, sport and business visitors.
Highlights of these accomplishments are captured in the 2025 Tourism Year in Review. They include:
- Product development: The team supported the delivery of 281 events, activations and festivals, 42 business conferences, 30 sports tournaments and two familiarization tours.
- Tourism development: Twenty-seven recipients were awarded a total of $231,640 in grant funding to host local fairs, festivals and sporting events, contributing an estimated $4.2 million in economic impact to Vaughan’s local economy through the Host in Vaughan Grant Program launched in 2024.
- Partnerships: The Tourism Vaughan team attended seven tradeshows, conferences and events, including several notable events hosted in Vaughan, such as the Ontario Motor Coach Association Marketplace, Canada Soccer’s Player-Development Program National Championships, the Central Counties Tourism Symposium and more. The team also visited nine accommodations and 15 sports venues during annual site tours. More than 80 people attended the Vaughan tourism networking event. Tourism Vaughan actively shared 171 news items through its business-to-business eNewsletter and promoted and facilitated three development programs.
- Marketing and communications: The team continued to execute seasonal campaigns to drive leisure visits using social, digital, television, out-of-home and print ads, as well as other owned channels, resulting in more than two-million impressions for the Summer in Vaughan campaign, more than 51,000 impressions for the Winter in Vaughan campaign and 20 published blog posts. Tourism Vaughan’s Instagram channel featured more than 220 social posts, earning more than 2.1-million organic impressions and reaching more than 5.7-million users.
- Research and data analysis: Actual Municipal Accommodation Tax collection at year-end in 2025 was more than $3.7 million. The Tourism Vaughan portion of this revenue was 50 per cent or roughly $1.8 million.
Looking ahead, the Tourism Vaughan team, which is part of the City of Vaughan’s Economic Development department, will continue to champion Vaughan as a premier overnight destination for leisure, sport and business travellers, and will undertake initiatives to strengthen Vaughan’s tourism industry, in alignment with the Vaughan Destination Master Plan (PDF). Through product development, marketing and education, and strong collaboration with and in support of operators, this plan lays out a comprehensive approach for developing Vaughan’s tourism-related industry cluster.
To learn more about tourism in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/TVC and follow Tourism Vaughan on Instagram.
QUOTES
“Vaughan is a destination of choice, driven in large part by Tourism Vaughan’s dedication to strengthening industry partnerships and drawing new visitors to our city. From exciting events and activations to impactful tradeshows and marketing campaigns, this team delivered a year of strong results. Their efforts elevated Vaughan’s profile as a premier destination for leisure, sport and business visitors, supporting our local tourism sector. This momentum continues into 2026, with exciting opportunities ahead, including the highly anticipated JCC Maccabi Games. I want to congratulate the Tourism Vaughan team on their many achievements outlined in their 2025 Year in Review. Thank you for your efforts in showcasing Vaughan on a regional, national and international stage.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
“Thank you to the City’s Tourism Vaughan staff for their great work throughout 2025. Their efforts played a significant role in marketing Vaughan as a destination of choice for both tourists and business travellers. As Vice Chair of the Tourism Vaughan Advisory Committee, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the creativity and innovation this team brings to everything they do. As we move forward, I look forward to building on last year’s success and continuing to promote all that Vaughan has to offer.”
- Local and Regional Councillor Mario G. Racco, Vice Chair of the Tourism Vaughan Advisory Committee
“I extend my congratulations to the Tourism Vaughan team on their many accomplishments in 2025. Their dedication and leadership continue to set new standards, establishing Vaughan as a premier tourism destination. The 2025 Year in Review highlights the impressive work underway to advance Vaughan’s tourism industry, and I look forward to the continued success of this outstanding team.”
- Raphael Costa, Director, Economic Development
“The City’s Tourism Vaughan team had an incredible year. Throughout 2025, the team attracted new audiences, strengthened industry relationships and promoted the experiences that make Vaughan unique – whether it’s our festivals and cultural offerings, sports facilities, exceptional dining or world‑class accommodations. Guided by the Vaughan destination Master Plan, each initiative reinforced Vaughan’s position as a city that is dynamic, welcoming and ready to host. Thank you to the team, and congratulations on another successful year!”
- Don De Los Santos, Senior Manager, Economic Services
QUICK FACTS
The Tourism Vaughan team undertakes key strategic projects that align with the Vaughan Destination Master Plan (PDF).
The Tourism Vaughan: 2025 Year in Review showcases the Tourism Vaughan team’s recent initiatives and achievements.
Connect with the Tourism Vaughan team by email at tourism@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-8526.
LEARN MORE
- Economic Development’s Tourism Vaughan: 2025 Year in Review
- Tourism Vaughan’s website
- Tourism Vaughan’s Instagram
- Economic Development’s webpage
- Economic Development department’s eNewsletter
- Economic Development’s LinkedIn
