On January 30, the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada’s (PPPC) four-city TOPS+ 2019 tour made its first stop in Montréal, Quebec. The show drew attendees from across the region—attendance was up 30 percent from 2018—to meet with an extensive line-up of exhibitors.

“For the first time in years there was a significant switch in our trade show schedule,” says Gladys Kasp, PPPC general manager. “Traditionally, the TOPS+ tour would take place in the fall and our National Convention in the winter. This year we flipped that schedule and it’s clear that kicking off the tour in Montréal was a resounding success. The floor sold out weeks ago and I think that created great anticipation with our attendees and our exhibitors. The weather didn’t cooperate as much as we had hoped but luckily the snow didn’t stop our members or dampen spirits. Everyone was full of energy and ready to connect with each other from show opening to closing.”

The TOPS+ tour moves to Toronto on February 7 and to Vancouver at the Convention Centre on February 13 before wrapping up in Calgary at the Westin Calgary Airport hotel on February 21. Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI® president and CEO, and Anne Stone, PPAI director of public affairs, are joining the Toronto show to speak on strategic foresight for the industry. Their presentation is geared both toward small businesses looking to grow beyond their current set of customers and to larger organizations faced with ever-increasing demands for growth. The session will introduce PPAI’s Strategic Foresight Playbook and discuss its real-world applications in an uncertain world.

Kasp adds, “We are looking forward to carrying this through to our next stop at the International Centre in Mississauga on February 7 and Vancouver on the 13th. Our last stop will be Calgary on February 21 and we are particularly pleased to be back there with our members after a two-year hiatus. From there we will focus on bringing as many of our members together as possible at our 63rd annual National Convention in Toronto this September.”