We Earned It. All of Us.

Industry

Posted By Stephanie Pocha , June 03, 2026

Discover Saskatoon becomes one of three Canadian destinations to receive distinction-level accreditation.

I was in the office when the message arrived.

Eight months of work. Every corner of our organization touched - governance, financial stewardship, marketing, sales, research, community engagement, destination development. Our team had poured themselves into this process with discipline and real belief. And then, in the ordinary quiet of a regular workday, the acknowledgement came.

Discover Saskatoon had earned the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) seal with distinction from Destinations International.

The excitement that erupted was anything but quiet.

One of only three Canadian destinations to receive distinction-level accreditation.

One of only three in the country.

I want you to sit with that for a moment. Not as a credential. Not as a line in a press release. As a statement about what Saskatoon has become — and what it has always deserved to be recognized as.

More Than A Seal

DMAP is the global accreditation standard for destination organizations. It doesn't measure how good your city looks in a sales sheet. It measures the systems, strategy, and leadership required to compete — truly compete — for visitors, conferences, sporting championships, investment, and international attention.

Saskatoon is now Saskatchewan's only accredited Destination Marketing Organization and one of only three Canadian destinations to earn distinction-level accreditation. That means we sit at tables with the leading destinations in Canada and around the world. It means we qualify for programs like Destination Canada's International Convention Attraction Fund. It means our city's voice is part of the conversations shaping the future of travel, tourism, meetings, and major events.

$900M+ in visitor spending flowing into our community annually — external dollars that fuel local businesses, create jobs, and keep Saskatoon vibrant.

That number happens because of a conference delegate who extends their stay and discovers a neighborhood restaurant. Because of an athlete's family who travels across the country for a championship and tells everyone back home what they found here. Because of a travel writer who shares our story and shifts perceptions in markets we've never reached before.

Those opportunities do not happen by chance. They are earned through reputation, relationships, and credibility. It happened because we secured the CCAMs. Because we are bringing the 100th Year Brier to this city. Events of that scale don't land without credibility, without relationships, without the infrastructure that accreditation confirms we have.

This Belongs to All of Us

I am proud of our team and partnership. Deeply, genuinely proud. This recognition is not ours alone.

It belongs to Saskatoon's Best Hotels, whose partnership and investment make destination marketing possible. It belongs to our municipal partners who believe that tourism is not a luxury; it is infrastructure. It belongs to every business owner, cultural organization, Indigenous partner, sport organizer, and community leader who shapes what a visitor experiences when they arrive here.

It belongs to this city, which keeps showing up with authenticity, generosity, and a kind of quiet pride that visitors feel the moment they land.

Saskatchewan's motto is Multis e gentibus vires — from many peoples, strength. I believe that with everything I have. This accreditation is proof of it.

Built for What’s Ahead

This is not a finish line. Saskatoon is evolving. Our visitor economy is growing. New opportunities in business events, sport tourism, Indigenous tourism, and major cultural events are emerging. We intend to be at the forefront of every one of them.

What this distinction confirms is something many of us have long known: Saskatoon is a destination worthy of the world's attention. We have the story. We have the people. We have the proof.

What's your view from here?

Industry

The Author

Stephanie Pocha

As the CEO of Discover Saskatoon, Stephanie's responsibilities transcend the boundaries of traditional leadership. At the core of her role is the pursuit of championing Saskatoon's unique identity on the global stage, bridging its historic legacy with contemporary aspirations.