Fun. Friction. Fresh Perspectives.
Spo Ho Xperience™ Live presented by Envision Saint John is heading to Saint John, New Brunswick on November 4-5. Once again, the speakers taking the stage will not be delivering safe, forgettable presentations. They’re ready to challenge assumptions, provoke discussion, and leave the spo ho community thinking differently about sport tourism leadership, performance, the future of sport hosting, and the stakeholders they serve.
Now in its fourth year, SPOHOX™ Live brings together sport event rights holders, destinations, venues, suppliers, and industry leaders for two days of think tank style discussions, networking, and idea sharing focused on the future of sport hosting in Canada and beyond.
Leading the main stage lineup this year is Andrea Parker, whose opening keynote sponsored by City of Charlottetown and Eastlink Centre Charlottetown, WTF: Where’s the Fun?!, explores how pressure has become the default operating system for high-performing leaders and teams. Through an energetic and interactive experience, Andrea demonstrates how fun can be used as a practical leadership strategy to unlock creativity, improve engagement, and build cultures that thrive.
Mark Black closes out the event with his presentation Level Up™: A Championship Mindset presented by Visit Mississauga. Mark brings a powerful perspective shaped by lived experience, from surviving a heart and double-lung transplant to completing multiple marathons. His story resonates strongly within the sport hosting industry, where mindset, discipline, and consistency often determine whether bold ideas become reality. Mark challenges attendees to examine the habits, standards, and mindset required to perform at a higher level.
Also announced are the first six of fifteen Spo Ho Scrum™ discussion leaders. The wildly popular Scrum™ tackles many of the most relevant issues facing the industry today, including conversations on sponsorship, equity and inclusion, resident sentiment, hotel partnerships, event marketing, and emerging sport opportunities. This session features top subject matter experts from Canada and the USA, including:
- Brent Barootes, President & CEO, The Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists®
- Dr. Jen Fry, CEO, Coordle
- Sandra Jackle, President & CEO, Regina Hotel Association
- Rob McLeod (aka Frisbee Rob), Board Member, World Flying Disc Federation
- Dana Purton Dickson, Director of Community Services, Town of Quispamsis
- Chris Rougier, Managing Director, MPH Agency
Players will also experience the return of the Skillz Competition™ & Dinner, where sport tourism professionals put their competitive instincts to work through inventive sport-inspired challenges, while the Spo Ho X™ Field Trips, offer exclusive access to venues, spaces, and experiences throughout Saint John are designed to inspire fresh thinking and new possibilities.
”Our goal has never been to create another conference where people sit quietly and consume content,” said Krista Benoit, Founder and Chief Events Officer of SPOHOX™ and CEO of iSPARK Consulting Inc.® “We’re intentionally building conversations that challenge assumptions, encourage new thinking, and create meaningful connections across the sport hosting community.”
Additional speakers, sessions, and experiences will continue to be announced throughout the summer and fall. To express interest in joining the speaker line-up or to offer a topic suggestion, submit it here.
SPOHOX26™ Live[Text Wrapping Break]November 4-5, 2026 | Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada)
Be ready to challenge your thinking, expand your network, and experience sport hosting differently.
Questions / Information
Spo Ho Xperience™
info@SpoHoXperience.ca
www.SpoHoXperience.ca
