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Cape St James - Windiest Place in Canada!

2011-09-05T13:16:00.000-06:00

Cape St. James, located at the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands is Canada's windiest spot. It holds the Canadian record for having the largest number of days each year (120 on average) with gale force winds. It is British Columbia's windiest location, with winds blowing 99% of the time. Things were no different when we showed up on our 70-foot sailboat. Hold on to your hats!

Praise from a Bluewater Adventures Client on a Haida Gwaii Nature Cruise

2011-09-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

This British Columbia client travelling with Bluewater Adventures had nothing but praise for the staff, their ability to take advantage of wildlife viewing opportunities and the quality of the overall experience. The beautiful beach we all had a chance to explore near the southern edge of Gwaii Haanas National Park likely set the tone for her comments. These would equally be reflective of what the rest of the trip would be like.

Things that might land on a beach in Gwaii Haanas National Park

2011-09-01T19:20:00.000-06:00

Debra Fontaine spends much of her time preparing meals as the chef aboard Bluewater Adventures' motorsailer Island Roamer. So when she gets a chance to walk on the beach and enjoy the simple pleasures of beach combing with Haida Gwaii nature cruise guests, their finds often originate from as far as Japan.

Susan Eaton Loves Snorkeling in Haida Gwaii - Bluewater Adventures

2011-09-01T16:03:00.000-06:00

Going below the surface is an endless source of fascination for naturalist Susan Eaton, a professional geologist who has explored life below in some of the World's most remote wild places, through snorkeling. Haida Gwaii is yet another personal highlight for Susan, as she tells us.

Young at Heart Octogenarian from Saskatchewan Calls Haida Gwaii Experien...

2011-08-31T20:48:00.001-06:00

Les Coleman is an octogenarian who has never lost his natural curiosity for active, meaningful experiences. A Professor Emeritus of Geology at the University of Saskatchewan who doesn't shy away from opportunities to explore Canada's diversity, his Haida Gwaii journey with Bluewater Adventures seems to have met his expectations.

Bluewater Adventures Trip Testimonial - Haida Gwaii

2011-08-31T09:31:00.001-06:00

Later in our trip to Haida Gwaii, I started to record the impressions of the passengers we had been travelling with. Bob and his wife have travelleled extensively to the region. They are from BC, but had never spent time with the Haida, although they had travelled in the Pacific Northwest and journeyed to Alaska before. He notes how different the small vessel experience is from travelling on a cruise ship. He comments on how the small group journey is rewarding in ways a large cruise ship experience cannot aspire to be, because of the room for improvisation a Bluewater Adventures cruise implies, and because the small group makes for easier friendships among strangers. Overall, a great trip for him!

Going Below on Bluewater Adventures' Island Roamer

2011-08-30T16:32:00.000-06:00

While passengers are having breakfast on our trip to Haida Gwaii, our valliant Captain makes his way to the engine room for his morning routine verifications. These will help ensure we enjoy yet another day of safe cruising aboard Bluewater Adventures' 68-foot ketch Island Roamer.

Evening Briefing Before Cape St. James and Kerouard Islands - Bluewater ...

2011-08-24T09:14:00.000-06:00

This is our ritual each night after we moor for the night.. We gather in the wheelhouse. Captain Tom pull out the marine charts and goes over the day's journey, then he shares his thoughts on what tomorrow might bring. There is never a dull day, no matter what the day brings.

Sailing Along Formidable Hecate Strait - Bluewater Adventures

2011-08-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

Asked about how remote Gwaii Haanas National Park is, this is what Captain Tom of Bluewater Adventures' Island Roamer has to say.

How a Bluewater Adventures Captain Found Shoes That Fit

2011-08-22T11:31:00.000-06:00

Captain Tom wasn't born sailing, but just about, as he tells us how he came to find shoes that fit him, on the deck of the Island Roamer under sail on a fine evening in Gwaii Haanas National Park.

Sailor's Impression of Gwaii Haanas - Bluewater Adventures

2011-08-22T08:01:00.001-06:00

Captain Tom takes a moment to reflect on the pristine nature of Gwaii Haanas National Park, as our vessel sails toward the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands archipelago in British Columbia.

Island Roamer's Captain Tom Loves His Job - Bluewater Adventures

2011-08-19T21:13:00.000-06:00

Passengers on Bluewater Adventures' Island Roamer are in good hands with Captain Tom and his crew as their host.

A Watchman explains Haida Worldview on Matriarchy and Sucess as a Society

2011-07-29T11:28:00.002-06:00

At SGang Gwaay Llnagaay (Ninstints), Haida Gwaii, in Gwaii Haanas National Park, a Watchman takes our small group of visitors around the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and shares insight into how the village came to be named Ninstints, the name of the Haida chief that traders enjoyed doing business with most. My video dispatch shows the remains of his massive house and some of the magnificent 26 last standing poles at SGang Gwaay Llnagaay.

Aside from their rich build heritage and artistic traditions, Haida people were tall, strong warriors who lived well, thanks to a bountiful diet provided by the seas intertidal resources.

We also learn in this dispatch how Haida society was founded on principles of matriarchy. We discover how these were weakened during past centuries of trade with Europe, which tended to favour more male dominated negotiations. We also learn how matriarchy has enjoyed a resurgence in more recent times, which has lead to healthier governance within Haida communities, and to more prosperous development practices on social, economic and environmental fronts.

Haida Gwaii's Crab Whisperer at Work

2011-07-25T17:26:00.001-06:00

Bluewater Adventures mate Dustin sets out to check the crab pot in the morning, which delivers a fine catch. Male crabs only are kept and Dustin shows us how to tell males and females apart. A lighthouse, pointed motif on the underbelly indicates a male, and crabs with beehive patterns on their belly are females. We also learn how to gently "put to sleep" these fine specimen.

The Untapped Marketing Power of Equestrian Chronicles

2011-06-27T22:51:00.001-06:00

I will admit quite upfront that I am very partial to horses. I have always loved them and, in general, they don't mind me being around them. It is therefore with great anticipation that my daughter and I made our way to Bridlewood Farms in White City, Saskatchewan, last weekend. A haven for English riding, Bridlewood Stables hosted about 60 or so horses - and their riders - on the occasion of the annual equestrian show it puts on for friends and eager competitors.

First of all, one may not think of Saskatchewan instinctively as a centre of excellence for English riding classes, but I was pleasantly surprised not only by the caliber of the competitors, but most importantly perhaps also by the conviviality, the spirit collaboration among competitors, who often also happen to be friends in all things equestrian. Riders who might be found one day sitting pretty in a Western saddle, checking cows in the pasture might be here at Bridlewood the next, vying for a much coveted ribbon.

Children and adults are all dressed-up for the occasion.

There is no better seat than that which takes you to your class.

A sunny day broken up by the occasional shower is a lucky day.

A day when friends and relatives show-up to support and cheer for you is a perfect day.

There is much to chronicle on a day like this one... as there is on any given day at Bridlewood Stables.

Images and sounds are able to convey atmospheres and impressions better than words. So, sit back and watch this short video that I produced this weekend on a simple family outing just outside of Regina, at White City's Bridlewood Farms.

The Red and the Assiniboine Rivers deliver an impressive performance in Winnipeg at The Fork

2011-05-10T21:28:00.001-06:00

With memories of the 1997 flood etched forever in my mind, I was rather anxious to see for myself where water levels were at last month on a family weekend trip to Winnipeg.

Well.. so much has changed in Winnipeg since the Great Flood.

Much preventive work has ensured a repeat of 1997 would not occur again. The City opened the floodway that very same weekend, to put suspicions of yet another Winnipeg flood to rest.

Knowing that all that water - at least that which flows into the Assiniboine - originates in part from the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan - did not ease the weighy witewaterish notions back home that inspired colourful references to Regina's Mighty Wascana.

It was somewhat reasuring in the end to see disaster averted in Winnipeg.

We are all hoping here in Saskatchewan that Brandon and Manitoba will make it through current challenges relatively unscathe.

Sailors' Storytelling in Gwaii Haanas

2011-04-05T11:17:00.001-06:00

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At the end of every sailing day starts a new phase on our Gwaii Haanas nature cruises. It is time to take in our surroundings in a secluded bay, to discuss the day's discoveries with our sailboat companions. It is time to relax, eat and get into the sailing lifestyle at a deeper level, helping out preparing great meals or cleaning up with the crew. Eventually, we gather and settle in to learn about new Haida Gwaii legends and stories in that most meaningful of ways... by simply listening.

Learn to Sail in British Columbia

2011-04-04T07:18:00.002-06:00

Our nature cruises are definitely immersive. Partcipants can get as involved in the sailing activities as they wish on our 68-foot ketch. Putting out the main sail is always exciting for guests on one of our Haida Gwaii trips last summer.

Miracle Catch in Haida Gwaii... Almost!

2011-03-17T06:54:00.001-06:00

The moment our valiant captain Tom spotted a floating Pacific red snapper, he rushed out to get the "miracle" catch in our sailboat's zodiac... a magnificent yelloweye rockfish specimen... a potentially very tasty meal. These can grow to 1 meter in lenght and to a weight of 23 kilograms. They also have been known to live to the ripe old age of 114 years.

Explore Poole Cave - Haida Gwaii

2011-03-14T06:58:00.002-06:00

Exploring Poole Cave by boat is one of the highlights of sailing to Gwaii Haanas National Park with Great Excursions.

The Art of Whale Viewing - Humpbacks, Haida Gwaii, BC

2011-02-21T09:19:00.001-06:00

Viewing marine mammals is always a priority on our sailboat nature cruises. There usually are many opportunities to view whales in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. This travelogue features choice moments on one afternoon spent cruising in Gwaii Haanas National Park and Marine Reserve.

Producer: Claude-Jean Harel

Moving the sailboat to anchor in Haida Gwaii - BC

2011-02-06T19:12:00.000-06:00

For observing passengers, there is a bit of awe in moving a 68-foot ketch to its anchoring location for the night. The skipper picks a sheltered location. One senses right away that winds have dropped as the engine turns more quietly until the right depth is reached. The anchor is dropped. It drags on the bottom, then hooks and the chain pulls to complete stillness.

Rainforest Tour in British Columbia - Windy Bay, Haida Gwaii

2011-02-05T10:40:00.001-06:00

Exploring British Columbia's rainforest at Windy Bay on Haida Gwaii is a very special experience. This rainforest was at the root of the legendary Haida stand-off in 1985 which led to the creation of Haida Gwaii National Park, now also a marine reserve, recognized internationally. The ancient trees that make up the immense worth of fascinating Moresby Island - now co-managed with Queen Charlottes Haida communities - are very precious indeed. Windy Bay rainforest tours led by Haida watchmen are quite the meaningful journey for seasoned and new visitors alike.

Birding and Volcanic Geology in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

2011-01-29T13:30:00.002-06:00

It may not be the most stable surface for birding and volcanic geology observation, but our sailboat proved manoeuvrable enough for our eager Gwaii Haanas sailing cruise guests off Tuft Islets, on the edge of Lyell Island. The spectacular basalt columns which crystallized eons ago to form Tuft Islets never cease to fascinate, as do the bird sightings we are lucky enough to come across as we exit Laskeek Bay and head southeast along the western slope of Hecate Strait.

Visiting K'uuna Llanagaay with Watchmen - Skedans, Gwaii Haanas

2011-01-27T09:03:00.002-06:00

After a night moored at McCoy Cove, we sail toward K'uuna Llanagaay, formely know as Skedans, where we get our first exposure to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. Although this ancient village is technically outside the boundary of the reserve, is is staffed by Haida watchmen, in partnership with Parks Canada. The watchmen, often seen atop Haida poles in groups of three, were traditionally those who kept watch for unwanted visitors to the village, giving warning when undesirable company showed up at K'uuna Llanagaay. Today's watchmen have pretty much the same role as they had when this was a thriving Haida village with hundreds of inhabitants.

Before we go to shore, we must radio ahead to the watchmen from our sailing vessel and ask permission to come to shore. The watchmen are keepers of the material remains on behalf of the Haida. They do not have to give tours, but will open up for honoured guests such as us, with whom a well-established relationship has been built over time. We meet watchman Paul Rosang of Skidegate today.

Apparently visited by famed artist Emily Carr in 1912 at a time when many glorious poles were still standing, a counscious decision has been made in recent years to let the village's remains go back into the land over time. This is what the Haida see as the most natural and desired outcome. Today many poles covered with moss are virtually indistinguishable from other logs laying on the ground. Howewer, the foundations of majestic long houses are easily made out all around us at K'uuna Llanagaay.

Travel to Moresby Island - Haida Gwaii Sailboat Cruise

2011-01-24T09:01:00.001-06:00

Travelling on Moresby Island is always a bit of an adventure. It seems the old-fashioned school bus remains the ideal people mover to travel across the old, bumpy logging roads. Moresby Camp is our destination. Our sailboat awaits and dispatches one of its zodiacs to first haul out our luggage, then our Haida Gwaii nature cruise participants. A Coast Guard vessel watches as the boarding process unfolds. Our eager adventurers will soon get to set foot on their inviting sailing residence for the next 8 or 9 days. They will soon find out why soft-sided luggage makes life much easier when travelling on a 68-foot sailing vessel such as ours.

Traditional Haida Feast in Skidegate British Columbia

2011-01-14T10:43:00.001-06:00

Before boarding our sailing vessel we are hosted by Roberta Olson, a Haida Matriarch, in her house in Skidegate not far from the Haida Heritage Centre.

Roberta is helped on the occasion of our visit by two young Haida who welcome us into her home with a song. The food is amazing: herring roe on seaweed, different kinds of salmon prepared in traditional fashion, halibut, salads, edible flowers, chowder and lovely tomatoes. The experience is very rich.

Like other First Nations elsewhere in Canada, Haida society is matrilineal. This means that the house, property and many other cultural elements are passed on to the next generation through women.

Skidegate Days generates community pride and celebrates Haida Gwaii living

2011-01-08T14:11:00.001-06:00

What perfect weather for Skidegate Days, one of the Queen Charlottes most awaited summer events.

Families, friends and visitors from around the world who happen to find themselves in the viccinity of Skidegate around that time in July, are naturally drawn to this day of festivities and pride, whose ultimate objective is to raise funds for local projects.

Skidegate is one two major Haida communities in the Islands, which have been losing population over the years, especially among the young, who often must look off the Island to find employment opportunities.

Creating more jobs locally and harnessing the potential of the tourism industry, which is increasingly in the spolight, certainly is one of the best possible ways to encourage the people of Haida Gwaii to keep calling the Charlottes home.

When you grow up in this, a most exotic Island paradise on the edge of the continent, making the call to move away is always a heart-wrenching one.

Top 10 Canadian Adventures by Lonely Planet

2010-12-31T13:52:00.001-06:00

Lonely Planet has come up with a great list of Top 10 Canada activities: "No matter your ability, no matter your taste, Canada has an adventure tailored to you, in accessible locations. From rank beginner to seasoned veteran you can find your thrills on the edge of, and sometimeswithin, city limits."

You will find here a few ideas that Great Excursions can help you with!

Basalt and waves mystery at Tow Hill, Naikoon Provincial Park - Haida Gwaii

2010-12-28T08:38:00.001-06:00

Like mysterious creatures from a distant era, beached at the end of a long journey across the sea, the preserved basalt rocks on display in the Tow Hill area of Naikoon Provincial Park are as beautiful as they are intriguing.

Wave after wave, the surf yields the sounds, lights and the feelings that emerge from finding oneself in a remote part of British Columbia where humans can still experience what it is like to be mere guests in nature's domain.

How sweet it is to take in the sense of place emanating from this magical spot on northern Graham Island; how sweet indeed it is to know that is only one of many others on Haida Gwaii.

Canada Yukon Husky Dogs Hit the Playground

2010-12-18T13:10:00.001-06:00

It’s time for a little fun and games for this team of Yukon huskies just happy to fool around at their favourite playground between training sessions. If the pack instinct makes the team on the trail during Canada’s winter mushing season, it is also at the heart of the chemistry between dog team members. Watching them play is an endless source of entertainment for us mere humans.

Canadian Husky Dogs Fishing in Yukon Stream

2010-12-15T22:01:00.002-06:00

Huskies are born to play. Few games fascinate them more than fishing in a stream. This Yukon wilderness moment will charm any husky lover - a prelude to countless endearing moments awaiting mushers when winter sets in from November onwards.

Yukon Huskies heading to the spa

2010-12-14T22:39:00.001-06:00

All of nature’s creatures deserve a break once in a while - Yukon dog sledding huskies as well...especially during the off season. Watch as these fine distance athletes enjoy a well-deserved dip at their favourite local spa. Their choice offers no special treatments or massages - just the simple pleasure of soaking it up at the local creek.

Yukon Husky Adventure Wilderness Camp

2010-11-21T21:16:00.001-06:00

There is an air of serenity about getting ready to hit the trail after an overnight stay at a wall-tent camp in the Yukon wildernesss. Dog sledding is not only about the trip itself, but also about the wisdom gained while journeying with huskies -- and our companions who may have come all the way from Australia, New Zealand, the United KIngdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland or from elsewhere in Canada.

Travellers experience a sense of getting back to the basics here, in an environment with conditions that may differ from what participants might experience where they usually live. Nature and its rythms rule here. In the winter, daylight is certainly more scarce around mid-December than in other more southerly parts of the world. The dogs... they just want to play with us, with the knowledge that they are well looked after even in the wilderness. They are well-fed, their paws are groomed, the huskies are kept healthy because they need to be kept happy if the trip is to be enjoyed by all.

So... on we go...to the next destination for the day!

Winter Dog Mushing in Canada is a Team Sport

2010-11-16T09:39:00.000-06:00

After 5 days on the trail, a dog mushing expedition participant spends some extra time speaking to the team players "chilling" before launching into another day of exhilarating fun on the trail. This is the mushing equivalent of a the "pre-game interview" with the players and the coach.... self-administered and Yukon style!

Dog sledding is regularly described as an extreme sport, but above all, it gives a chance to those who decide this is something they want to try to learn about themselves, to understand at a different level how people relate to their environment and the creatures that inhabit it. Mushing is a holiday experience that is truly transformational, in the best possible sense. It involves travelling over great distances without mechanical means, rather, by depending on the goodwill of a team eager huskies helping you reach your destination. This means that your satisfaction about your choice of vacation depends on what you will invest in nurturing your relationship with your dog team. There is no more honest proposition than this.

Kayaking with Seals in Vancouver - British Columbia, Canada Commercial

2010-11-15T10:25:00.003-06:00

While most of our Canada kayak trips may involve encounters with wildlife, our guest don't usually get to experience it this closely.

This leads me to share this review submitted this weekend by a client from the UK about one of our Clayoquot Sound kayak trips... I thought I'd share it with you for the record....

“Clayoquot sound trip was wonderful”

By Rebecca McBride, UK

2010-11-15

I had an absolutely amazing time in Canada and the Clayoquot sound trip was wonderful. I can honestly say it is the best organised trip I have ever been on! The guides were fantastic, the food was unbelievable and yes we had a brilliant group - I had a blast!! I'm still in touch with a few of the people I met and we hope to meet up and kayak again soon!

I must thank you for all of your help in organising my trip and the other pieces of advice and knowledge you gave me.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

It is incredibly difficult to come up with a 'most memorable' part of my holiday! The whole 6 days were amazing, from start to finish! Firstly the guides who took us on our adventure were amazing, their knowledge of the area was incredible and it was brilliant that they could create our route on a daily basis according to the weather and how we felt! They looked after us so well. Really, they never stopped and were such good company! We had a blast! The kayaking and scenery were fantastic. The equipment we had could not be faulted. Our food was AMAZING! The daily campfires were idyllic and the beaches we camped on were out of this world! I could write for days about my experience but basically, it was all wonderful - I will never forget it!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Be sure to take clothes which are quick drying as it is difficult to dry clothes which get a bit wet! Take warm clothes for the night time and suncream for the day! Little treats are good too!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

We left nothing behind us. The campfires were burnt right down. We didn't use anything that wasn't biodegradable and we took all our rubbish away. We didn't see another soul for days and took everything we needed in our kayaks - no petrol involved! Being self sufficient was part of the overall experience. The lack of home comforts, internet, phones etc was liberating!!

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

INCREDIBLE - when can I go back?

Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

***** I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on.

Husky Dog Sledding by Moonlight in Yukon Canada

2010-11-14T14:36:00.001-06:00

The great mystery of nighttime under the Yukon full moon takes an entirely different colour when humans venture to explore it in the company of huskies.

Dog sledding at night is earily satisfying. the musher feels perhaps even more in synchronicity with his or her team of dogs. With only a headlamp to light the way in the forest, and moonlight washing the snow with soft brightness where there are no moonshadows over the open terrain, journeying by dogsled at night is unlike any other experience. It bring a level of intimacy with the animals that is very wholesome for all participants.

Yukon Dog Sledding Adventure Holiday - 5 to 15 days

2010-11-10T18:10:00.001-06:00

Nothing quite describes what it is like as well as this short video filmed on the fly in the Yukon wilderness by a musher as his small group of adventurers gets a chance to open up and let the dogs take it away on Ptarmingan Flats. This is one of many opportunities dog sledding participants get to test their skills when they come on one of our 5, 8, 11 or 15 day trips in this mountainous region of the Territory. They travel along forested trails, up mountain sides, and they also get to stop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in which they find themselves along the way. You will notice that every trip participant gets to drive their own team -- they get to develop a rapport with the 3 to 6 dogs that become theirs for the duration of the journey.

Before you sign up we tell you how to prepare. Once you are here, we make sure you are well outfitted and ready for what is -- for many who come from as far away as Australia -- the trip of a lifetime!

Haida Gwaii, Colombie-Britannique - Réflection de Claude-Jean Harel

2010-11-09T11:10:00.001-06:00

Voici une réflexion du fondateur de Great Excursions, Claude-Jean Harel, sur l'évolution de Haida Gwaii comme destination touristique, avec les battures de Queen Charlotte City à marée basse en arrière-plan. Ce témoignage se veut le prélude à une série de reportages qui seront diffusées prochainement sur la chaîne Youtube de Great Excursions afin jeter un regard en profondeur sur l'authenticité en tourisme telle qu'elle est mise en valeurs dans ce magnifique archipel de Colombie-Britannique.

A reflexion on 20-minutes of Haida Gwaii "island time" spent on the Sandspit to Skidegate Ferry

2010-11-01T10:59:00.000-06:00

Haida Gwaii. It takes 20 minutes to cross by ferry from Sandspit to Skidegate Landing. The interconnectedness between the people who live here, the role nature plays in lending the islands their sense of place, and the Pacific Northwest all inspire meaning to any journey to Canada's "Misty Isles". The people here speak of "island time". What is it really? Perhaps, Island time is just time spent living the rhythms that regulate life in the Queen Charlotte Islands. This simply is how it has to be. Surely, it's time well spent!

Sweet Spots Trailer - A Cool idea from MEC

2010-10-20T19:59:00.001-06:00

Here is a cool adventure travel idea from Mountain Equipment Co-op and a great marketing idea. The company has been an outdoor equipment retail leader for years now. Visiting their stores in larger Canadian cities is almost a spiritual experience of sorts -- it certainly is a great way to learn how our woolies have evolved into hi-tech garments event better suited for Canada's adventure trip circuits through the ages.

Saskatchewan.... What visitors appreciate about being here

2010-10-19T01:45:00.000-06:00

Saskatchewan rancher and guest ranch operator Lyle Benz shares guests' reflections about the Land of Living Sky, the landscape and the experience of spending quality time in Saskatchewan's grasslands with people who are passionate about Great Plains wilderness, the ranch lifestyle, natural horsemanship and cowboy culture.

Guest Ranch Adventure Vacation in Canada

2010-09-13T15:14:00.003-06:00

A guest shares her appreciation for the experience her and her family enjoyed on a guest ranch getaway weekend in Canada this summer. A beautiful valley, great meals and company, a pristine setting in a native prairie environment, and great horses all contributed to a rich, authentic and relaxing time... ideal for family reunions, weddings or corporate retreats.

Sailboat adventure on Northern Vancouver Island guest review

2010-09-02T09:25:00.009-06:00

Here are comments just received from a family of 4 which travelled on our 68-foot sailboat last summer to Northern Vancouver Island. The parents let the teens pick the trip. The whole family was the right fit for the trip. We booked the BC wildlife cruise and the wilderness lodge experience for them.

Take a moment to read the review that I pasted below submitted independently to one of our UK & US online travel agency partners.

Those are all Great Excursions’ trips on those two pages. We are adding more every day.

I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on

Orcas, totems and bears, sailing holiday, Canada reviewed by Hilary Mackintosh. UK

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

It was my 14-year-old son who wanted to go on a holiday where we could see bears - out sea kayaking one morning we were able to get really close to a black bear on a beach. He was slightly ahead of the rest of the group and didn't see the leader gesturing to us to not go any closer, and no-one wanted to shout, so he drifted gradually nearer to the bear, while the rest of us held back - watching him totally spellbound by the bear was a memory I'll treasure forever.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

I was concerned about sea-sickness, as I am not a good sailor, but we were never far from land and the sea was very calm. Only on one afternoon did I find it rough. Find tablets that don't knock you out, as you won't want to miss a moment!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

We spent the first week on the boat, travelling round the Broughton Archipelago. We hardly saw anyone else - I've never been anywhere so remote, even though it doesn't particularly look it on the map - so I can't say we benefited local people at that point, but we certainly had little impact on the environment. We spent the second week on Alert Bay island, and certainly supported the local tourist industry there, taking advantage of various First Nation workshops and activities.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The week on the boat was incredible. The scenery was breathtaking, we saw plenty of whales, dolphin, and grizzly and black bears. I found the sea kayaking a very spiritual experience, really feeling at one with nature. And the camaraderie that developed within the group of like-minded people, guests and crew, despite a huge age range, was a delight. I think my family were all completely refreshed, mind, body and spirit, by the experience.

Please don’t hesitate to call if your clients are looking for special trips. Leanne, myself and our entire team are always happy to share information and to guide you through our website to the right trip.

We make it easy for you to work with us and our success hinges on ensuring your success.

Have a great September!

C-J

Be part of the Yukon Quest race in Whitehorse!

2010-08-23T10:08:00.003-06:00

This season, the Yukon Quest starts in Whitehorse on February 5, 2011. Here is your chance to be part of it at the mushers' banquet, on the starting line and on the trail as well. Learn to drive you own dog team. Experience the exhiliration, the wild joy of being a musher yourself.

Every other year the Yukon Quest starts in Whitehorse. Guests will have the opportunity to take part in the start banquet on Feb 3, the Meet the Mushers evening on Feb 2, 2011 as well as to participate as a volunteer at the start line of the race.

The itinerary for this tour will be similar to the 8-day Husky adventure...
http://www.greatexcursions.travel/excursions/a-hus...ky-adventure-holiday-in-yukon-canada.html
– with the Quest extras thrown in. This special tour is for those who want a taste of the Yukon Quest excitement – Yukon Style!

More details on our Facebook event page.

Lake Diefenbaker Ranch gets rave reviews

2010-08-18T13:30:00.006-06:00

Our ranch hosts at Lake Diefenbaker certainly impressed one of our clients from Ontario who came to Saskatchewan last month to visit friends and relatives. Visiting friends and relatives is a key motivator for out-of-province visitors to Saskatchewan. After contacting us about which trip would suit her needs best, we booked her on a 4-day ranch adventure in one of Saskatchewan's most evocative regions. In a quick note upon her return, Eileen writes:

"Had a wonderful vacation... it exceeded my expectations!
Will be retuning next summer because I enjoyed it so much. Thank you, CJ, for your assistance with my adventure.
Eileen"

The funny thing about Saskatchewan is that unless people have been here before, it's hard to convey what it's like. But once they are here, they know they want to come back.

2011 Departures for our Canada and Alaska Sailing Cruises

2010-08-17T10:07:00.004-06:00

A quick note to let you know that we recently published our 2011 departures for our Canada and Alaska natural history sailing cruises. Again we will feature Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Southeast Alaska (with both our 68-foot motorsailer sailboat and our 65-foot motor yacht. Northern Vancouver Island is back in 2011, as are the Gulf Islands, the Inside Passage and the Great Bear Rainforest in Northern British Columbia.

Unwinding after a day of sailing in Gwaii Haanas

2010-08-05T16:31:00.001-06:00

Haida Gwaii Sailing Journey July 2010

2010-08-05T16:12:00.010-06:00

If there is was ever a need to illustrate how people and places interact to create space, nothing comes closer than to board a small-vessel sailing holiday to Gwaii Haanas. To the Haida Nation: thank you for welcoming us as honoured guests as you do. To our travel companions and fellow seekers of meaningful travel experiences: thank you for sharing your generosity of time, thoughts, positive energies and genuine friendship with us. To our most amazing partners -- true tourism pioneers , knowledge keepers and relationship nurturers: may we we keep breaking new ground in shaping Canada's tourism industry of the future for the benefit of our host communities, Canadians and our international guests to discover. Thank you all for being who you are and for making the consumer, career and cultural choices that you make.

2009 Great Excursions & Bluewater Adventures Roadshow

2009-10-01T23:58:00.006-06:00

Join us for a vivid illustration of the changes in what today's consumers demand in the way of travel experiences: trips that are more immersive, transformational and that make a difference in the local communities where they take place. Welcome to the future of travel!

The presentations will feature free, live, audio-visual travelogues introducing some of Canada’s most authentic journeys… and a few exotic new offerings to warmer winter destinations.

SASKATOON:

Tuesday October 13, 7:00-9:00 PM
Hilton Garden Inn
90-22nd Street East

REGINA:

Wednesday October 14, 7:00-9:00 PM
Best Western Seven Oaks Inn
777 Albert Street

The two presenters will be:

Randy Burke
Owner and Director of Bluewater Adventures
http://www.bluewateradventures.ca

Since 1974, Bluewater has pioneered quality wilderness and wildlife eco-adventures. The tours raise the profile of wildlife cruising in British Columbia and Alaska and Bluewater continues to build on its eco-initiatives. At age 27, Randy bought Bluewater from Dan Culver and started on his journey with the company. A Skipper by nature, Randy has taken thousands of guests on memorable adventures along the BC and Alaska Coastline. He has sailed around the Pacific on Tall ships and had some amazing experiences worldwide. When he is not in the office or skippering trips, Randy enjoys spending time with his wife Cathy and his daughters Anna and Heather.

If you are looking for something more off the beaten path and are up for an adventure, Bluewater offers the trip of a lifetime! Aboard each trip is a Resource Guide with qualifications in biology, education, zoology, anthropology or ornithology. Our guides are not only experts in their field, but truly enjoy communicating their enthusiasm to others. Down below in the salon, our wonderful cooks serve gourmet meals and beautiful buffets.

Claude-Jean Harel, MA MAHI
Founder and Manager of Great Excursions
http://www.greatexcursions.travel

An applied anthropologist by training, Claude-Jean crafts "behind the scenes" vacations using a variety of techniques. He brings to the travel industry 25 years of broadcast media experience in the fields of culture, heritage and science, generating national and international attention for the distinctive qualities of the North American Plains region. Claude-Jean not only presents tourism products as “reportages” intended to be lived by guests, he is also a regular contributor to CBC Radio and Television programs. When not leading a tour, he delivers tourism workshops for private and public sector tourism organizations across Canada, as well as in Colorado, North Dakota, Nebraska and Alaska.

Claude-Jean's work has won numerous awards including: the Canadian Ethnic Journalists' and Writers' Club award. He is a former Commonwealth Relations Trust bursar. His work was nominated for a UNESCO Award; and in 2004, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology and Heritage with Distinction at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. Claude-Jean's company recently joined the CAA Saskatchewan group of companies, and Great Excursions’ future has never looked brighter since.

It'll be an opportunity for discovery and great fun!

Coffee, tea and cookies will be served.

Why sweat? Why not? Learn about Canadian Aboriginal culture the traditional way—in a sweat lodge

2009-09-18T13:07:00.004-06:00

These are sacred, often life-changing, rituals. If you’re lucky enough to get the chance to join, take it. A Winnipeg, MB downtown lodge invites outsiders into its steamy circle.

It’s as dark and close as the womb in here, hotter than a sauna. I’m hunkered down in a sweat lodge with half a dozen other people at the Circle of Life Thunderbird House in downtown Winnipeg, MB. Beneath chanting and drumming, I hear traffic buzzing around one of Winnipeg’s historic intersections, Higgins and Main. With every cupful of water the sweat conductor dashes onto fire-heated “grandfather” stones in the central pit, the lodge—made of tarps and blankets piled thick on a willow frame—gets steamier and more surreal. I follow the drumbeat with my rattle, considering life in general and the heat in particular.

This isn’t something just any tourist can buy a ticket to attend; sweat ceremonies are sacred, often life-changing rituals, deeply respected by those who do it. But some Canadian tribes and native organizations now offer sweats to outsiders—as educational experiences about traditional beliefs.

Sweats at Thunderbird House can be arranged through Winnipeg-based Heartland Travel or Ô Tours. Elsewhere in Manitoba, Northern Soul Wilderness Adventures’ Bloodvein River multi-day paddling journey includes a sweat and feast at an Ojibwa village.

In British Columbia, you can sweat at Talking Rock Resort and Quaaout Lodge on Little Shuswap Lake, a one-hour drive east of Kamloops; Talking Totem Tours’ multi-day journeys along the Sunshine Coast include a sweat.

In Morley, AB, a sweat is part of the Stoney tribe’s four-day Cultural Camp at Nakoda Lodge & Conference Centre. Thirty minutes east of Edmonton, Elk Island Retreat has sweats, too. And just west of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, some Eagle’s Nest Indian Village cultural packages come with building a sweat lodge and participating in a sweat.

Sweats aren’t for the claustrophobic or the frivolous. But if you’re genuinely interested, along with a good, sweaty glow you’ll get some bona fide insight into the complex cultures and belief systems of North American native peoples.

Wilderness Guide School in British Columbia

2009-09-17T10:21:00.003-06:00

This is a pick of our Wilderness Guide School participants before they left for the bush yesterday. You will notice that a couple of them are leading pack horses. Don't they look like a fine bunch of adventurers!

New earth-friendly bike n'barge in Quebec riffs on Dutch tradition

2009-04-14T12:09:00.004-06:00

Latitude 45 Nord lures ‘zoomers’ from May to October with ‘comfort deluxe’ from the seat of a hybrid bike and off-the-beaten-path charm of rural Quebec hamlets.

We just came across a cool, new slow-travel option based out of Valleyfield, QC that borrows a page from Holland’s bike-and-barge songbook—but improves on the formula.

It’s called Latitude 45 Nord, and it’s getting big buzz with zoomers—which is to say, boomers who aren’t quite yet ready to permanently install themselves in the recliner with a bowl of saturated-fat-whatever and a set of Blu-ray Rolling Stones concerts.

Latitude combines river and canal cruising with guided bicycle touring through the small towns around Montréal and along the banks of the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, the Ottawa and Richelieu rivers. Pedal between 35 and 65 km (22 and 40 mi) a day on comfy hybrid bikes, pass tiny très authentique rural villages along the way, then return to your ship, the Latitude Amsterdam, for a dinner of regionally-sourced artisanal food and wine, followed by a deep slumber in your cabin.

Repeat the next day, unless you need what competitive cyclists like to call a “recovery day,” in which case you can chill out on deck while the boat changes position to rendezvous with the rest of the group, which BTW is never larger than 16 people.

“We wanted to replicate the gourmet experience that you get with the ‘comfort deluxe’ barges in Holland in a place that is just as authentic, but very close to the Eastern Seaboard,” says Ronald Houde, the company’s president. “Most of our ports of call are smaller towns all-too-often forgotten on major tourist-driven circuits.”

courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission

A streetcar named desirable

2009-02-20T14:06:00.001-06:00

Environmentally friendly trams return to Vancouver in 2010

Was it 2009, or 1959? For a moment there it was hard to tell, as we watched an excavator erase what remained of a once-bustling Vancouver streetcar line. A half-century back, the same scene was unspooling all over the city, as diesel buses replaced an extensive network of trams, tracks and overhead wires in the name of, ah, progress.

But this present-day deconstruction project, near the entrance to Granville Island, will have a happier ending. Turns out the City of Vancouver is working with Canadian tram-builder Bombardier to bring streetcars back to the city—well, at least a tiny piece of it—for the 60 days of the 2010 Winter Games. The company supplies cool "low-floor" electrified trains to Euro-cities such as Milan and Marseille and, come next year, will run a couple of the new trams on a rebuilt 1.8-km (1.12-m) line between Granville Island and the new Canada Line Olympic Village SkyTrain rapid-transit line station.

Which is where the digger comes in. Until recently, the right-of-way in question was a decrepit and crumbling Canadian Pacific Railway branch line; in recent years, the Downtown Historic Railway ran a restored streetcar over the tracks for summer visitors. Vancouver is kicking in $8.5 million to rebuild it for Bombardier's Uber-Trams, then will hand it back to the historians after the athletes head home.

The line has been a whisper of what once was—and come next year, with newly up-to-snuff railbed, track and stations, it will prove itself a glimpse of what, inevitably, the city will be again.

Source: Canadian Tourism Commission

Canadians give travel advice to US President Barack Obama. Catch it on video!

2009-02-20T13:59:00.002-06:00

Canadians give travel advice to US President Barack Obama. Catch it on video!

President Obama marked his first international visit to Canada Feb. 19. The CTC and Ottawa Tourism were onsite with video cameras in Ottawa, ON last weekend asking people for personalized welcome messages for the president- what he should experience in Ottawa and what he needs to know about Canada.

Source: Canadian Tourism Commission

Become a Canada explorer

2009-02-11T09:33:00.004-06:00

Here is an interesting new tactic by the Canadian Tourism Commission to entice international tour operators to sell more Canada...

Become a Canada explorer

Welcome to Canada! Did you know that more people are visiting us than ever before? In fact, it's high on their list of must-see places. That's why we've developed a program for you to become an official Canada Explorer! It will only take about 15 minutes, and the more you know about Canada, the better you can sell this popular vacation destination.

Let's get started. Watch a video then start your guided tour and then take the qualifying quiz. You'll be an official Canada Explorer in no time!

Endangered sites see boom in 'tourism of doom'

2009-02-04T17:08:00.002-06:00

French agency AFP reports that tracking endangered wildlife in politically troubled, impoverished Zimbabwe might not seem the ideal holiday spot but it's in hot demand in the travel industry's latest niche market -- "tourism of doom".

The term was coined by sector specialists for the growing number of travellers flocking to far-flung corners of the planet to see endangered natural wonders before they disappear.

Ken Shapiro, the editor of TravelAge West, a magazine for travel agents, said the destinations can be melting glaciers, shrinking tropical rain forests or other places these travellers believe will be destroyed in a generation due to climate change, overbuilding or other threats to the environment.

"People are travelling to places because they really are convinced that it is going to change and they want to see it before that change happens," he told AFP, saying the trend was first spotted about two years ago.

"We see that a lot now, it has actually become much more mainstream."

Shapiro said travel agents report that clients are increasingly requesting trips to see the melting glaciers of the Antarctic, the threatened coral of Australia's Great Barrier Reef or Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro before it loses its ice cap.

Ross Kennedy, the president of Africa Albida Tourism which took part in the five-day FITUR travel fair that wrapped up on Sunday in Madrid, says the trend towards environmental awareness in travel is boosting business.

"The changing environment that the world is facing does have some relevancy and some people think: 'We have to get this done'," he said.

This logic is partly responsible for a rise in the number of foreign visitors to Africa Albida's safari lodges in Zimbabwe, where the firm operates properties near Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. The site is well suited as a starting point for safaris along the Zambezi River on Zimbabwe's northern border to see endangered wildlife.

Despite concerns over political unrest, staggering inflation, shortages and a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, the company posted a four percent rise in visitors in 2008, Kennedy said.

The US market -- Africa Albida Tourism's main source of overseas guests -- accounted for 4,035 room stays at its properties last year, a nearly three-fold increase over 2004, he added.

The popularity of visits to the melting glaciers in the Antarctic has also soared so much that cruises must now be reserved well in advance, Shapiro said.

According to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, slightly more than 46,000 tourists visited the continent during the 2007-08 tourist season -- more than double the number five seasons ago.

About a third came from the United States while the second largest contingent -- one in six visitors -- travelled from Britain, according to data posted on the body's website.

Juan Kratzmaier, a Barcelona-based Argentinian who has accompanied tourists on more than 30 visits to the southernmost continent, said cruise ship operators have increased the number of their trips to Antarctica in response to the demand."

Antarctica blows your mind with its vastness, its isolation, its pureness and its unique wildlife of countless penguins, seals, birds and whales," the 38-year-old said.

The safaris and Antarctic cruises are not for everyone, however, with price tags that can up to thousands of dollars per person."

Tourism of doom" is even bringing travellers to remote corners like the town of Churchill in northern Canada, the so-called "Polar Bear Capital of the World", in significant numbers for the first time ever, said Shapiro.

Scores of tour operators have sprung up in recent years in the town to guide visitors on trips to view polar bears -- now considered endangered because of shrinking sea ice -- in the wild from the safety of specially modified buses known as "tundra buggies".

"The only reason why Churchill is on the tourist map is because of polar bears," said Shapiro.

Responsible tour operators and hotels against Heathrow expansion

2009-01-16T08:40:00.004-06:00

When I was asked to participate in a Responsibletravel.com member online survey yesterday about the Heathrow expansion project, I had a hunch this might be the outcome.

MEDIA RELEASE: 15 January 2009

Responsible tour operators and hotels against Heathrow expansion

A survey of over 900 of responsibletravel.com members - made up of tour operators and accommodations from around the world - has found that 75% are against plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

The green light given by the British Government has been met with disapproval from responsibletravel.com's member organisations, as well as by the MD of this leading ethical travel company, Justin Francis:

"Whilst most of the members that we work with are dependent on aviation to generate business the majority of them are against the third runway. It's a myth that everyone in the tourism industry backs an expansion. We should be focussing on flying less, and improving the benefits of existing international tourism to local communities and conservation, not on flying more"

Here’s what some members of responsibletravel.com have said…

“This is typical of the 'Business as Usual' attitude of the government in the middle of a climate and energy (not to mention economic) crisis. They'd be thinking of redecorating the banqueting suite on the Titanic, AFTER someone had shouted 'Iceberg Ahoy'.... .”

“We are all doing enough already to destroy our wonderful planet without making conscious decisions to cause more damage!"

“Effective measures must be taken to combat climate change, and approving an expansion of aircraft capacity sends the wrong message and will have an impact far into the future.”

“Whilst there may be economic benefits which would emanate from the construction, operation and increased traffic resulting from a third runway I am concerned at the impact on not only the environment in the "green" sense but particularly about the infrastructure, both road and rail."

"I'm strongly against the idea of UK airport expansion, and would favour a rapid cessation of all internal flights with a correlating expansion of rail capacity."

Notes to editors

About responsibletravel.com:
responsibletravel.com is the world's leading online ethical travel company, selling over 3,000 holidays from over 270 specialist operators and 550 accommodations. All the holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines and aim to create better places for people to live and to visit. Launched in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick, the website is for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. The organisation - based in Brighton, England - also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.

Contact:
Krissy Pentland
press@responsibletravel.com
07717 348 368

People flying in the face of green concerns

2008-11-17T15:39:00.000-06:00

Phil Davies reports in TravelMole that concerns over aviation’s affect on the environment are doing little to discourage people from flying, a new study shows.

While green issues, such as climate change, noise and air pollution, worry almost three quarters of people (74%), only 22% admitted that these concerns had affected the number of flights they take.

More than half (54%) of the 2,023 adults questioned were unconcerned by the proposed third runway expansion at Heathrow and other UK airports.

In fact, 41% felt that more capacity was required to meet flight demands, according to the research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Camcon Technology, the UK developer of the digital valve.

For the 46% of adults that remained more apprehensive about airport development plans, key causes for concern are:

*Noise pollution (67%)
*Climate change (65%)
*Air quality (60%)
*House prices in the surrounding area (30%)

While the research revealed people’s hesitance to reduce their air travel, the majority of those surveyed were more than happy to embrace technology designed to make aircraft more environmentally friendly.

Of those concerned about airport expansion plans, more than three quarters (77%) would feel more comfortable if they knew that airlines and air manufacturers were investing money into the development of environmentally friendly aircraft that burn less fuel and produce less noise.

Camcon CEO Danny Chapchal said: “The majority of the UK population is evidently concerned about the environment but, rather than altering their travelling habits, people expect airline operators and aircraft manufacturers to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.

“To protect the environment, the aviation industry needs to examine the technologies that are now available to reduce carbon emissions and help decrease the noise from engine jets, fans and landing gear.

“With European Union regulations placing pressure on airlines to cut emissions by three per cent in 2012 and airport expansions set to be rolled out across the UK, it’s time that a new generation of quieter and more environmentally friendly planes was developed.”

Rail disruption causes WTM chaos

2008-11-10T09:17:00.001-06:00

Bev Fearis reports in the TravelMole that major disruption on the Docklands Light Railway this morning caused chaos for visitors to World Travel Market in London.

On the opening day of the show, hundreds of exhibitors and visitors from around the world experienced the British capital’s transport system at its absolute worst.

DLR staff were unable to explain the reasons for the problems, which saw hundreds of people stranded at Canning Town. A later announcement on the DLR website blamed a faulty train at Royal Albert.

While many were unable to board trains due to severe over crowding, those that braved it had to suffer being crammed in like cattle.

On arrival at Canning Town, they were unable to disembark due to over crowding on the platforms. Doors remained closed until DLR staff had cleared enough space on the platforms to allow passengers to leave the trains.

Eventually a replacement bus service was put into operation, taking visitors slowly through rush hour traffic, and the rain, to Excel.

Many visitors complained that they had been forced to make five or six changes at different stations because of various other problems across the London underground network.

“It doesn’t look good for London,” said one visitor from Cyprus. "It's always bad, but this is the worst I have known it. Next year I will not make any appointments before midday."

Other disgruntled visitors to WTM described the transport chaos as a "farce" and questioned the message it gave to those from overseas about the ability of London to effectively host the 2012 Olympics.

Travel companies failing to track online customers

2008-11-07T09:15:00.002-06:00

Bev Fearis reports in TravelMole that nearly half of travel companies don’t know if customers using their website achieve what they set out to do.

And according to a survey by digital market research specialists, eDigitalResearch, 33% don’t actively track the opinion of their online customers.

“For a sector hampered by rising fuel costs and with the economic slowdown increasing the demand for online bookings, these results show a lack of online customer knowledge,” said head of research Derek Eccleston.

“With more people turning to the internet to research and book their holidays, finding out how customers like to interact is the cornerstone in helping travel companies to achieve customer loyalty and sustain competitive advantage.”

Companies should be using online polls, panel surveys and rating systems to better understand their online customers, he added.

AAA & Partners Announce 'Best and Biggest' Vacation Bargains to Kick-Start Economy

2008-11-04T12:00:00.002-06:00

AAA, North America's largest leisure travel agency network is partnering with domestic and international travel industry leaders to offer special savings on an unprecedented set of travel experiences, TravelMole reports.

The effort,which runs Nov. 8 - 22 is intended to boost the number of Americans traveling this fall and winter, and spur an increase in overall economic activity in the process.

"At AAA's request, many of the world's leading travel providers have come forward with outstanding, special promotional discounts, extras and upgrades to help get America moving again," said Amy Nicholas, managing director of Tour, Cruise and Product Development for AAA. "World-class cruise lines, tour operators, hoteliers, theme parks and other special destinations have agreed to work with AAA in bringing consumers the widest-possible menu of incredible travel opportunities over the next few months. We are positive new and experienced travelers will like what they see," she said.

An estimated $700 billion is spent on travel annually and the travel industry directly or indirectly employs 7.5 million Americans. It contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to global trade and enriches our collective understanding and appreciation of other people and places.

To access AAA's "Best and Biggest" travel promotion, consumers will be directed through a series of media and AAA club advertisements to: www.AAA.com/SavingsEvent. Savings are available to members and the non-members, but there are additional exclusive benefits for members.

The complete list of travel industry participants and their special offers will be available via the website Oct. 31. The promotional portion of AAA's "Best and Biggest" campaign begins with a virtual travel show on Nov. 12 which will guide consumers through the various experiences and elements that are available or on sale. Consumers will be invited to attend the virtual show via advertising on web banners, regional promotions, and postcard and email campaigns.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.

Airlines Set to Turn Profits

2008-11-04T11:52:00.005-06:00

TravelMole reports that even though the troubled economy has dimmed the 2009 outlook for most sectors, airlines are poised to equal their most profitable year this decade, according to a veteran airline industry analyst.

FTN Midwest analyst Mike Derchin said he expects carriers to produce net income of $5 billion next year, equaling the 2007 level, assuming oil is at $80 a barrel, revenue per available seat mile grows at 8% to 9%, and domestic capacity is reduced by 8% to 9%.

With similar metrics currently in place, Derchin also expects the industry to report a small profit for the fourth quarter.

"Consolidation has begun, resulting in a sharp reduction in capacity and higher average fares," he wrote in a research report. "Managements are focusing on core operations, eliminating noncore flights and grounding inefficient fleets."

Ironically, the U.S. airline industry is in a strong position because it began to reduce capacity early this year in response to high oil prices. Capacity showed slight declines in the first three quarters, but in the fourth quarter, growth by the three principal low-fare carriers slowed to zero, resulting in an industrywide decline of 9%. Now fuel prices are falling, as is demand, but reduced capacity means current booking load factors are generally flat.

Additional favorable trends include the merger between Delta(DAL Quote - Cramer on DAL - Stock Picks) and Northwest, which was approved by regulators last week. It "is expected to result in additional capacity removed in 2009," Derchin said.

The five remaining legacy carriers have formed alliances with foreign carriers, with antitrust immunity likely, enabling coordinated pricing and scheduling. And "numerous marginal carriers have gone into liquidation," further reducing capacity.

"There may be worst cases, but most airlines have done what needs to be done to get back to profitability," said US Airways CEO Doug Parker in a recent interview.

After posting net income of $2.5 billion in 2000, the industry lost $35 billion in the next five years, then made $3.1 billion in 2006 and $5 billion in 2007, according to the Air Transport Association. Through the first three quarters of 2008, airlines lost about $4.8 billion, the ATA said.

A recent report by Avondale Partners analyst Bob McAdoo says airlines still trade at the same prices as they did when oil cost $120 to $125 a barrel, even though it now sells for half that.

"Investors seem convinced that the recession will outweigh the positives from lesser capacity and $65 oil," McAdoo wrote. "Looking back, recessionary airline revenues have only dropped about 1.2%, even during the most severe economic downturn of the last couple of decades. Combining today's jet fuel costs with capacity cuts, even with an assumed recessionary revenue shortfall of 2.0%, still leaves the airlines with near record profits.

Source: TheStreet.com

Sun salutation meets single-track

2008-10-22T22:23:00.003-06:00

by Kathryn Harley
courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission

Nova Scotia cycling-yoga trip is chick-trip nirvana. Freewheeling Adventures customizes tours for every woman’s taste, but the gorgeous scenery stays the same.

Two things I really like: riding my bike and yoga. But together? Downward Dog over the handlebars? Warrior pose on pedals? Silly thought, sure, but that’s what crossed my mind when I heard about Freewheeling Adventures’ Bicycle and Yoga Getaway, launched in 2006. Turns out the real thing is much smarter. No two-wheel acrobatics, just the strength and focus-enhancing benefits of yoga applied to biking, as you tour the rural seaside roads near Nova Scotia’s south shore, Freewheeling Adventures’ home base.

It’s what every woman needs—what Freewheeling co-founder Cathy Guest calls “a relaxed excursion into mindfulness.” Talk about a perfect tune-up, and a perfect tuning-in to the health/wellness vacation trend.

Freewheeling Adventures also leads international cycling tours and tours elsewhere in Canada. But it’s at home where Guest dishes up this flexible (in every sense) trip. Every tour is different, she says, because “people come with different expectations of the yoga.” Some add blow-out lunches at LaHave Bakery and a nighttime feast of fresh-from-the-sea lobster. For others, it’s vegan and silent meditation over dinner. What never varies: the beauty of the routes and the magic of saluting the sun looking across St. Margaret’s Bay to famed Peggy’s Cove (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8wuUyHSzBQ&feature=related), and stretching beside the surf at Blue Rocks.

www.freewheeling.ca
http://novascotia.com

Emirates pitches Calgary flights

2008-10-22T22:01:00.001-06:00

The Calgary Herald's Gina Teel reports that in a perfect world, Emirates Airline would be able to offer a daily flight to Calgary in about six months' time.

"But with little success thus far in convincing Transport Canada to expand the Dubai-based airline's presence in Canada beyond the three flights per week currently permitted -- which all go to Toronto -- Emirates instead took its business case to a blue-chip crowd at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce."

Andrew Parker, Emirates' senior vice-president for public and environmental affairs, said the inability to increase the carrier's flights to Canada, particularly to the desired Calgary and Vancouver markets, is frustrating and hampers trade, tourism and economic development opportunities here.

Three flights per week are all that's allowed under the current air transport agreement between Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Teel writes.

"That's an extremely restrictive environment," Parker said.

However, Transport Canada said there's no need to renegotiate the agreement, signed in 2001.

"At this time, we feel that the agreement is OK, it meets the needs of the current market," said department spokesman Patrick Charette.

Parker disagreed, noting Alberta exports to the UAE are $173 million, while Canadian exports there hit $1.12 billion in 2007, a 43 per cent year over year increase.

That's more trade than other countries with which Canada has reached "open skies" type agreements, he suggested.

Teel notes that Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who met with the Emirates team earlier in the day to discuss "the importance of a direct air connection between Dubai and Calgary," seemed to be on board. He white-hatted Parker prior to lunch.

"Let me assure you that as a customer who has flown with Emirates, if you ever want to fly and have a nice rest, Emirates air is it," Bronconnier said.

Aboriginal tourism: Responding to market segmentation trends

2008-06-06T16:29:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

He may not be of Aboriginal ancestry, but tourism planner Jacques Drapeau’s well-weighed comments make him the perfect ambassador for the soon-to-be-open Huron Wendat Nation Hotel-Museum, at Wendake, on the outskirts of Québec City. With its 55 rooms, this new 4-star facility on the Saint-Charles River draws both from the Huron Wendat culture, and from the relationship the Huron Wendat are keeping with the rest of the world through nature, spirituality and mythology.

“When we arrive here, we get a sense that the facility is composed of two parts: a tepee‑shaped structure houses the museum, and another connected structure – inspired by a traditional longhouse – where the accommodations, restaurant, and reception area are located. The restaurant can welcome 120 guests and will serve many dishes influenced by Aboriginal culinary traditions. There are also meeting rooms, various foyer areas for special functions and even massage facilities.”

Wood was used extensively as a building material, both inside and outside the establishment. All the facades of the museum and hotel are wood‑clad; the organic material is used decoratively and – as a clearly visible structural feature of the building – tree trunks act as pillars in many instances. There is much stonework as well, integrated with the exterior foundation and used strategically in public areas inside, as well as in floor systems in the bedrooms.

“The natural environment in which we are located permeates all aspects of the hotel experience,” notes Drapeau, whose consultancy was hired to help guide the project. “Instead of being confined to a hotel room, there is a living environment all around for guests to enjoy. Plus, the hotel is adjacent to the “Corridor des Cheminaux”, a former railway bed converted into the longest bike route in the Québec City region. On the grounds, there will be medicine‑themed and other types of gardens, hiking trails throughout the woods, and a pond filled with fish for guests to discover.”

The Huron Wendat Nation Hotel‑Museum proudly displays symbols unique to the First Nation, such as the turtle and the snake which are visible in various forms. Even the longhouse‑shaped accommodations complex meanders slightly, to mimic the snake’s movement.

Exactly who is the target market for this evocative new establishment? A clever mix of market segments, explains Jacques Drapeau: “Being a capital city, Québec is home to a good number of head offices, beside federal and provincial government institutions. We believe they will be interested by what is offered here, because we are a little off the beaten path. The advantage of holding meetings and events at Wendake is substantial when one realizes that once they are here, meeting participants are somewhat captive. Yes, people will be able to walk around Wendake, but we are some distance away from the recreational opportunities available in Québec city. Nowadays, organizations aim to rein in meeting participants, because it gets more and more expensive to hold meetings. Instead of hitting downtown at lunch, our guests will be able to go for a short walk in the forest or along the river. This is a competitive advantage that we will highlight when we approach clients in the MC&IT sector,” quips Drapeau.

Because the hotel is on the outskirts of Québec City, the market study demonstrated that in order to succeed, it had to be a higher‑end hotel. Current trends indicated that additional lure was needed, in the form of a minimum four‑star rating.

“We have already started to approach multipliers like wholesalers who are active on the European market, because there are clearly affinities there with the experiences we will offer. Latin America is an emerging market which we believe will yield positive outcomes. In the US, we believe our clients will be interested in a hotel like this for their Québec capital region events. And of particular interest will be the First Nations market. Up until now, First Nations meetings occurred mostly downtown Québec.” Because the Huron‑Wendat Nation is the local host nation, he explains, it would make sense for First Nations to gather at a hotel located on their territory.

“Yet, for our local clients, not only in the corporate sector but also for schools and seniors’ markets, the Hotel‑Museum will be an ideal excursion destination, given that the community‑owned establishment has joint museum‑hotel functions, something which is unique in Canada, and which imparts an innovative character to the operation.”

Because of its mid‑sized capacity, the weddings and family reunions sector is also an attractive one for the property, Drapeau points out. He notes that the hotel‑museum project raised a few eyebrows among its owners at various stages of development: “It is a major undertaking. That was to be expected from the Huron Nation, as it would be of Québec City citizens in general if put in a similar situation. Many questions were asked, but now that the project is completed, and the population is much more aware of the reasons why the hotel is a valid project, the focus turns more to the additional visitors it will generate for local businesses, retailers, restaurants, and other services.”

Drapeau predicts there will be unparalleled growth in the community as a result, because up until now, visitors only came to Wendake on a round‑trip from Québec city. From now on, visitors will be able to stay in Wendake.

Wendake Hotel‑Museum: responding to market segmentation trends

2008-05-14T07:23:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

He may not be of Aboriginal ancestry, but tourism planner Jacques Drapeau’s well-weighed comments make him the perfect ambassador for the soon-to-be-open Huron Wendat Nation Hotel-Museum, at Wendake, on the outskirts of Québec City. With its 55 rooms, this new 4-star facility on the Saint-Charles River draws both from the Huron Wendat culture, and from the relationship the Huron Wendat are keeping with the rest of the world through nature, spirituality and mythology.

“When we arrive here, we get a sense that the facility is composed of two parts: a tepee‑shaped structure houses the museum, and another connected structure – inspired by a traditional longhouse – where the accommodations, restaurant, and reception area are located. The restaurant can welcome 120 guests and will serve many dishes influenced by Aboriginal culinary traditions. There are also meeting rooms, various foyer areas for special functions and even massage facilities.”

Wood was used extensively as a building material, both inside and outside the establishment. All the facades of the museum and hotel are wood‑clad; the organic material is used decoratively and – as a clearly visible structural feature of the building – tree trunks act as pillars in many instances. There is much stonework as well, integrated with the exterior foundation and used strategically in public areas inside, as well as in floor systems in the bedrooms.

“The natural environment in which we are located permeates all aspects of the hotel experience,” notes Drapeau, whose consultancy was hired to help guide the project. “Instead of being confined to a hotel room, there is a living environment all around for guests to enjoy. Plus, the hotel is adjacent to the “Corridor des Cheminots”, a former railway bed converted into the longest bike route in the Québec City region. On the grounds, there will be medicine‑themed and other types of gardens, hiking trails throughout the woods, and a pond filled with fish for guests to discover.”

The Huron Wendat Nation Hotel‑Museum proudly displays symbols unique to the First Nation, such as the turtle and the snake which are visible in various forms. Even the longhouse‑shaped accommodations complex meanders slightly, to mimic the snake’s movement.

Exactly who is the target market for this evocative new establishment? A clever mix of market segments, explains Jacques Drapeau: “Being a capital city, Québec is home to a good number of head offices, beside federal and provincial government institutions. We believe they will be interested by what is offered here, because we are a little off the beaten path. The advantage of holding meetings and events at Wendake is substantial when one realizes that once they are here, meeting participants are somewhat captive. Yes, people will be able to walk around Wendake, but we are some distance away from the recreational opportunities available in Québec city. Nowadays, organizations aim to rein in meeting participants, because it gets more and more expensive to hold meetings. Instead of hitting downtown at lunch, our guests will be able to go for a short walk in the forest or along the river. This is a competitive advantage that we will highlight when we approach clients in the MC&IT sector,” quips Drapeau.

Because the hotel is on the outskirts of Québec City, the market study demonstrated that in order to succeed, it had to be a higher‑end hotel. Current trends indicated that additional lure was needed, in the form of a minimum four‑star rating.

“We have already started to approach multipliers like wholesalers who are active on the European market, because there are clearly affinities there with the experiences we will offer. Latin America is an emerging market which we believe will yield positive outcomes. In the US, we believe our clients will be interested in a hotel like this for their Québec capital region events. And of particular interest will be the First Nations market. Up until now, First Nations meetings occurred mostly downtown Québec.” Because the Huron‑Wendat Nation is the local host nation, he explains, it would make sense for First Nations to gather at a hotel located on their territory.

“Yet, for our local clients, not only in the corporate sector but also for schools and seniors’ markets, the Hotel‑Museum will be an ideal excursion destination, given that the community‑owned establishment has joint museum‑hotel functions, something which is unique in Canada, and which imparts an innovative character to the operation.”

Because of its mid‑sized capacity, the weddings and family reunions sector is also an attractive one for the property, Drapeau points out. He notes that the hotel‑museum project raised a few eyebrows among its owners at various stages of development: “It is a major undertaking. That was to be expected from the Huron Nation, as it would be of Québec City citizens in general if put in a similar situation. Many questions were asked, but now that the project is completed, and the population is much more aware of the reasons why the hotel is valid project, the focus turns more to the additional visitors it will generate for local businesses, retailers, restaurants, and other services.”

Drapeau predicts there will be unparalleled growth in the community as a result, because up until now, visitors only came to Wendake on a round‑trip from Québec city. From now on, visitors will be able to stay in Wendake.

MC&IT offers opportunities for destinations of all sizes

2008-05-14T07:21:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The Canadian Tourism Commission’s Dan Melesurgo is the executive director of meetings, conventions and incentive travel sales in the US. TOURISM reached him in Washington to find out how Canadian destinations might take advantage of the in‑market opportunities which are generated through his program, and he notes that the most fundamental task Canada faces in the MC&IT sector is the need to create greater awareness of the country as a meetings destination.

“That always comes up as one of our biggest challenges," he says. "It is something the new brand is certainly addressing, but there is still a perception that Canada is cold and boring, that we are so similar to the US, and that Canada lacks the exotic appeal to make a destination attractive. There is no shortage of positive impressions about us, but these are not at the forefront of our planners’ minds. We are addressing this through all of our national partnerships, effectively bringing out who we are and what we can offer from a meetings perspective.”

Melesurgo notes that one of our strengths is the quality of facilities and services found in Canada. “I know a lot of people and destinations will say that, but I think this is really where we have a competitive advantage. Our research confirms this, and it is something we can definitely pride ourselves on.”

He goes on to set the record straight on Canada’s value for the money in the US: “Even if the dollar is pretty much on par, hotel rates have not increased as they have in the US, so there is still a value attached to meeting in Canada, and this doesn’t even take into account the tax rebate program for foreign meetings and conventions, which is still in place. Another important consideration is the need to drive home the message that attendance tends to be very high (and record‑breaking in many cases) when an organization does choose to hold a meeting in Canada.”

Melesurgo paints an attractive portrait of Canada as a country where there is “a proximity of our large cosmopolitan urban centres to nature and the great outdoors. Vancouver is just one example. If they meet in Vancouver, Stanley Park is at their doorsteps and they are only an hour and a half away from one of the world’s best winter destinations”.

“In the US market, it’s all about awareness, unless you are dealing with an incentive group wanting to be cutting edge and going to a destination no‑one has heard of, thereby earning bragging rights (a small board meeting at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort for example, or around polar bears in Churchill, which are a small but lucrative part of our business.”

But there being only one Vancouver, one Montréal and one Toronto in Canada, Melesurgo believes other lesser‑known destinations have much to gain by understanding where their competitive advantages lie. “If we are talking about Winnipeg, Regina or some of the smaller destinations, you are not going to get the large city‑wide events because you don’t have the required infrastructure in many cases. However, regional or association meetings, or sporting events if you have the sporting facilities, may represent a market you should focus on. It is really important for any destination to take stock of what it can offer; and really match that with segments of the market which make sense for them. You can’t be all things to all people.”

There are the big three or four cities that get a lot of attention in Canada, he goes on, “and we are very mindful of that. Our main goal is getting people to think of the entire country of Canada as a quality alternative to US and other international destinations. We strongly believe that getting somebody to book a meeting in Vancouver or Montreal, initially, is a very positive development because if they enjoy a positive experience, then perhaps we can steer them toward one of our second‑ and third‑tier cities.”

"These smaller cities may not be suited for a 10,000 delegate event, but a place like Halifax could certainly host a smaller committee, board or corporate meeting," he continues. "For this to happen there has to be an investment on the destination’s part.

"Halifax would indeed be a good example," Melesurgo points out. "The city has committed to supporting an organization called the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) which held its annual meeting in Halifax this past summer. It was a record‑breaking meeting in terms of attendance and participating Canadian partners, and there was a logical tie‑in. It was identified that a good number of their member societies might be interested in meeting in Halifax, partly because of the local connection with education, engineering and the scientific communities. So, if there is a strong industry in certain destinations, trying to align yourself with organizations which complement that makes sense.”

Interestingly enough, Saskatoon was a partner with Melesurgo’s group to attend the annual meeting in Halifax. “They saw an opportunity, which they seized. Hopefully, they have done their follow up to see if they can attract business to their destination. It is a definitely a two‑way street in terms of the educational process a destination can undertake to help educate the in‑market sellers on their product and what they have to offer."

“We have to have these conversations and the relationships have to be nurtured between the CTC and the destination, in much the same way these conversations would take place between the destination and the client. And there has to be a commitment to the market, which can be very hard to keep. Our national strategic partnerships with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), ASAE (American Society of Association Executives), the Center for Association Leadership, MPI (Meeting Professional International), FICP (Financial Insurance Conference Planners) and Experient are all long‑term relationships. We don’t go into a partnership unless we really see long‑term potential and it must be aligned with our strategy, because you have to be able to build it year after year. If you are in and out of a market, and in and out of a relationship, there will be very little equity, and you will be wasting your financial resources in the end.”

Melesurgo likes to use his own personal experience as an example. “When I first started in this position, I’d never been to Winnipeg. I knew where it was located, but I didn’t know much about the city. I was invited to spend three days in Winnipeg, and my hosts really tried to educate me about the personality of the city and the facilities it has to offer. We talked about our logical connections with our in‑market directors, so they have tried to build their relationship with our mid‑west office and the people based out of Chicago because that was one of the main markets they had identified."

“So the more knowledge we have about these destinations, the better we can influence our clients when we meet with them," he continues. "We can say: ‘hey… did you ever think about taking this out to Moncton, Halifax or Regina, because they have facilities that will meet your needs, and there are some logical tie‑ins with some local industries that fit with your interests.’”

The key is to be realistic, Melesurgo advises. “There are many factors at play; things like air lift and costs will affect whether Québec City or Banff is the right place for a client to hold its meeting. It also depends on the market: Québec City and Banff may be more attractive incentive destinations than Toronto, because of the nature of the destinations and the nature of what clients are looking for when they plan the incentives. On the other hand, Toronto is a large cosmopolitan city which is suited to handling city‑wides or larger type meetings because of the available infrastructure.”

With the Olympics coming up, Melesurgo’s team is planning renewed vigour on the sports tourism front: “We see a wealth of opportunities within the Canadian sports federations community. We are looking at strengthening those relationships so that we can form partnerships and go after some of these sports groups together. The 2010 Games will create great awareness for Canada, therefore we plan to identify the top 50 non‑Olympic organizers and really target them in hopes of bringing their events to Canada. Our eyes are wide open.”

A reader on the business of incentive travel

2008-05-14T07:20:00.005-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

“True incentive travel is reward travel,” according to the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Michele Saran. Incentive travel sales is the area Saran looks after out of the Chicago office. “A classic example would be a corporation wanting to entice their top salespeople to achieve sales benchmarks in a given year. So what we try to do at the CTC is make Canada one of the prizes they can win for achieving those benchmarks.”

These prizes can be merchandise and the like, but travel is usually one of the most motivating things to get people to achieve their goals, Saran explains. “So we compete against pretty much the entire world. Our biggest competition is probably places that are sun and sand and perceived as glamourous like Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico. But Canada holds its own, and we do pretty well.”

When asked about trends in the incentive travel market, Saran identifies family programs as an emerging product. “People don’t get to spend a lot of time with their spouses and children; The reward then becomes being able to spend more time with the people you care about.”

Saran also notices increasing interest in winter incentives, so there are opportunities for Canada in terms of ski vacations. The hottest activities right now are fishing, by a landslide she says: “I get more calls for fishing than golf and everything else combined. CEOs love to go to the places where no one has gone before – unique lodges that are more difficult to access and are really high end. Spas are super‑hot because spouses are going to go along, and golf probably rounds up in third place.”

It is important to be seen as an attractive incentive locale; to be seen as “unique”, notes Saran: “Examples of this might be Vancouver Island resorts where you go grizzly bear watching and take float planes. This is an area where Canada has a lot to offer; it is about going off the beaten track, and because the Euro is so strong against the US dollar now, Canada – even though Canadian and US dollars are on par – still looks a lot better than Europe. And we are offering them new places they have never heard of before, like Newfoundland and Yukon. Even if it is not 5‑star, it is still exotic enough to make people want to achieve those benchmarks.”

Saran describes her business sector as a bit of a hybrid between leisure and meetings business. “Often, specifically for tax benefits, clients will have the meetings in conjunction with the incentive. Usually they will require a meeting room for half a day in conjunction with the trip. For the most part, it is the (smaller destinations) which benefit from what I do, places like Banff, Victoria, Whistler; those types of places I deal with probably more frequently than the big cities.”

What about places in Canada that are even more off the beaten track? “There has to be a little sex appeal on paper to be able to sell it. If there was a 5‑star fishing lodge in Saskatchewan, absolutely, we could market that way. The fishing places tend to be the 5‑star ones in BC — King Pacific Lodge or Clayoquot wilderness resorts, the Four Seasons of the fishing lodges. Usually, money is not as big an issue. I really don’t have people complaining about rates that much, unlike what some of my colleagues would experience in other markets. They are really looking for the experience.”

How does Saran go about building her end of the incentives business? “I have really great relationships. First and foremost, I deal with companies that are "incentive houses". They are third parties which deal with corporations to put these full incentive programs together. There are incentive houses working with IBM’s salespeople for example, and they will ask them ‘what do you want to achieve during the course of a year?’”

They will put together a whole campaign to inspire these people to achieve those benchmarks, she notes: "Potentially, for example, if they achieve the first benchmark, they will get a little plaque. If they achieve the next one they’ll get their picture in the company newsletter. They’ll put together charts on the wall, so people can monitor their progress; they’ll have computer systems to monitor; they’ll put together a whole package to monitor these people during the course of the year and hopefully Canada will be the Grand Prize. So it is my job to have those great relationships with the incentive houses to keep pushing Canada as that prize.”

Saran developed her knowledge about the incentive sector when she worked with Tourism Toronto “a million years ago,” she says. “I have been doing it for nine years now at the CTC. People don’t tend to move around that much in this business. Some of these incentive houses have been around during my entire career, so you get to know these people really well. Hopefully, when they think of Canada, they think of me! The idea is to always keep Canada top‑of‑mind, so we always get the chance to bid.”

Saran emphasizes that “seeing is believing; initially clients might think Canada is not that sexy, but 85% of the time, when I get them up on a site inspection to see what we are proposing, they tend to book the business.”

Third of Brits spend over 10 hours researching annual holiday

2008-04-06T12:57:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Here is a bit of insight on how consumers in one of Canada’s key markets go about making their holiday decisions: according to TravelMole’s Bev Fearis, Brits spend almost twice as long planning their annual holiday as they do considering a mortgage.

Fresh data from research which polled over 2,000 UK adults found 36% of Brits spend at least 10 hours selecting their ideal holiday, but only 21% would put the same time into choosing a mortgage. Just 11% would show the same level of commitment when selecting a bank loan.

The research was commissioned by independent personal finance website Fool.co.uk. "Who can blame people for wanting to spend more time planning their holiday than pouring over financial products?" said David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk. "But while a good holiday will recharge your energy levels for a few weeks, healthy finances can boost your bank balance for a lifetime."

A Canadian tourism pioneer

2008-04-06T12:54:00.004-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

As Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) since 2002, the Honourable Charles Lapointe has made his mark on the organization in charge of selling Canada as a tourist destination to the rest of the world. During his five-year term, he has charted a positive course through the challenges facing the CTC and Canada's tourism industry. TOURISM discussed some of these challenges during a recent interview with Lapointe, whose term of office ended December 1, 2007:

TOURISM: The challenges Canadian tourism industry stakeholders face today, whether in terms of the funding of projects, marketing or human resources, seem to indicate that the industry has a less‑than‑favourable profile. Do you agree with this view?

Lapointe: It is always an uphill battle to convince the private sector to invest in this industry, which creates substantial spin‑offs. At the same time, it is always difficult to convince public players of the significance of tourism as a key industry in terms of revenue generation and job creation in Canada.

Recently, Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Diane Ablonczy announced an additional $26 million to promote Canada for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. That is a victory. The Government of Canada has also injected funds into promoting the French presence in Canada for the 400th anniversary of Québec City.

I think that, with good projects, sustained efforts should allow us to forge alliances with more private players which will bolster the interest of the authorities in increasing their commitment to the tourism industry. The Massif project in Charlevoix is a very good example with regard to Quebec; the governments of Canada and Quebec are both investing in it, together with a private investor, who is providing over $200 million. As soon as there is a major private investment, projects seem to move forward; this is what happened at Mont Tremblant and Whistler.

TOURISM: Now, let’s talk about CTC achievements during your term. Which ones do you consider particularly noteworthy?

Lapointe: I think our greatest accomplishment was to create a new brand image for Canada. What was exciting was that the exercise took place in a framework that allowed us to consult with all regions of the country from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and with some of our key markets. It was very useful for consolidating the ties between the CTC and Canada’s tourism industry. Canada. Keep exploring is a slogan that permeates the CTC's whole strategic approach to supporting the industry, and increasingly all the parties are getting onboard.

The second achievement worth noting is the CTC’s new strategic direction. At the beginning of the second year of my term, the board of directors and all of our committees started carefully reviewing each of our target markets. After long, and sometimes agonizing, discussions, we agreed to cut the number of markets targeted by the CTC from 15 to 8. It was a very difficult decision, because we had established ties with Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. But this turned out to be the right decision in terms of strategy because it gave us a greater impact on the markets that provided the best returns.

The same year, we also made a firm decision to adopt internet communications. This decision does not seem very original at first glance, but it was a decision which had to be made. The fact that strategies could be developed to build a direct relationship with consumers on the internet led us to change course so that the CTC no longer depends solely on the conventional range of print, radio and TV advertising media.

The third achievement, which demands constant effort, is the strengthening of the CTC’s leadership role. We had a number of opportunities to demonstrate our importance during the last five years in the wake of September 11, 2001 and SARS in Toronto, which threatened the prosperity of the tourism industry across the country. During those two crises, I think that the CTC successfully played its unifying role.

TOURISM: Which key element do you consider as basic to this leadership role?

Lapointe: There’s not much wizardry about leadership. It takes a modicum of listening skills and the ability to seek the best from our partners. Leadership also means being able to inspire confidence and encourage people working for you to be the best they can be.

TOURISM: What, in your opinion, are the most urgent challenges facing the CTC at present?

Lapointe: The first challenge, which concerns the entire Canadian industry, is obviously the steady decline in the number of tourists from the US, a phenomenon which may be observed in all regions of Canada. Our largest volume of foreign visitors is from the US, so we are trying a number of things with our partners, focusing on the largest cities because we have realized that the decline is much less for Americans travelling by airplane from California, Washington, Texas, Florida and New York.

In those cases, there was even a slight increase in 2007. We have not found the formula for attracting all of the border areas. However, I believe the CTC’s decision to cease activities in border areas was wise, because Vancouver is already active in Seattle; Toronto and Niagara Falls are active in Buffalo. They are neighbouring destinations: Windsor will be active in Detroit; and Montréal invests in Montpelier, Plattsburgh and Burlington.

Moreover, this allows us to turn our attention to other markets, such as Mexico, France and England, which perform well. The number of visitors from China is increasing. However, China represents another challenge, and I must say that the fact we did not obtain approved destination status in 2007 leaves me very perplexed. It is all the more frustrating because the US has just obtained this highly sought‑after status.

On another level, we are facing much fiercer international competition than before. New tourist destinations are being created. There is currently strong interest in Croatia and Eastern Europe in general. Laos is beginning to open up. These new destinations mean that the tourism pie is being divided into ever‑smaller slices. We must maintain our market shares and showcase Canada’s advantages as a tourist destination. By appealing to the consumer’s imagination and sense of adventure, we may have found the right tool with Canada’s new brand image; however, this will only be confirmed after testing it for around 10 years.

TOURISM: How can the tourism industry prepare itself better for the challenges ahead?

Lapointe: I am not pessimistic at all. There is definitely more work to be done to make the industry more uniform. We are a long way behind the agriculture sector, which has a much stronger lobby than we do. We are all working hard on this. The Hotel Association of Canada, regional hotel associations and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada are involved. But we still have work to do so we can eventually speak with one voice. By that I also mean being able to go into markets – not in a piecemeal way – but as a part of Canada as a whole.

Does adversity encourage us to form alliances? We have already included the importance of the role of non‑traditional partnerships in our priorities for the 2008‑2012 strategy. We would like to focus on them more. I am convinced that, of all the resources at our disposal at this time, non‑traditional partnerships constitute the best means for internationalizing the Canadian tourism industry. It is up to us to build those partnerships..

TOURISM: Thank you, Mr. Lapointe.

Mexico is becoming a high yield market for Canada

2008-03-30T17:44:00.001-06:00

We heard recently that the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Mexico office earned a “Best tourism marketing campaign” award in Latin America from Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). The campaign (deployed in February 2007) included elements like internet banners, clickable ad words on Google and a CTC website where visitors could enter their name for a chance to win a trip to Canada. What may have gone unnoticed is just how significant a market Mexico is becoming for Canada.

Jorge Morfín is the CTC’s managing director in Mexico. “Canada is becoming a trendy destination,” he says. “There are reports of double‑digit increases every month in the number of passengers coming to Canada. Mexicans really appreciate the landscape, the friendliness and the people of Canada. Mexicans do not require a visa to enter Canada, and the country is perceived as friendlier towards Mexicans than other countries such as the US.”

Hence, Mexicans have been seeing a lot more “Sigue Explorando” (Keep Exploring) lately on billboards, fences and bus wraps. The CTC’s winning campaign in Mexico was inspired by a clever play on contrasts: “Canada: Hotter than you think; Canada: Cooler than you think”.

“Mexicans’ perception is that Canada is cool because of the snow," says Morfín. "We wanted to play with the ‘cool’ and ‘hot’ words to let them know that Canada is hot full of thrills with its indoor activities like shopping, the nightlife of Canadian cities and the fine dining; yet it is equally cool when it comes to activities like the soft adventures visitors can participate in north of the 49th parallel."

For Mexicans, culture, soft adventure, icons such as Niagara Falls or the CN tower and other Canadian icons – like the Canadian Rockies – are important, Morfín continues. Mexicans also enjoy major Canadian cities for the shopping opportunities they offer; they may not come to Canada specifically for shopping, but it is an activity they enjoy once they are here. "Canada is a good place to shop, and Mexicans, on average, spend more than Europeans when they come to Canada; we are good tourists to have over!” quips the CTC's man in Mexico.

Kanata 2007 makes a splash!

2008-03-30T17:42:00.001-06:00

The 2007 edition of the Canadian Tourism Commission's Kanata media event and marketplace achieved every objective it set out to accomplish, according to CTC Japan's managing director Simon Pitt: “We had some great feedback, and two things stand out: the media event with over 200 members of the media attending (we had seven partners join us for ‘Come to Canada Night’), and we had a great venue which allowed us to showcase different experiences from around our five focus regions.”

Pitt says the event featured blended teas and hand massages from BC, Anne of Green Gables, shrimp and a quilting experience from PEI, wine from Ontario, maple desserts from Quebec, and country music and Alberta beef for the Icefields Parkway.

“We also had musicians from Northwest Territories and a whole range of experiences along with the new branding of Canada. We shocked a few people in terms of giving a new face to Canada. It wasn’t what they were expecting; Canada is famous for its red and white flag and great nature landscapes which are very important to us, but in terms of creating some excitement about Canada, this new approach and branding is really helping.”

Pitt points out that people can still see the Rockies and Niagara in most of the CTC’s Japanese market promotions, “but the vibrant colours, people, faces and expressions aim to make people look again. Come to Canada Night was also used to launch the ‘Clever Woman’ campaign in Japan, and just from that night alone, we had five offers from members of the media wanting to get involved with the project.”

For a moment that day, Pitt confides, his team wondered if the event would be able to accommodate all the guests because more attended than were anticipated. “We found a venue in a Tokyo’s Roppongi neighbourhood: Honey’s Garden. It is a mixed indoor‑outdoor environment with different floor levels, well‑suited for the Keep Exploring theme. People could work their way around the venue, the stage, different lighting and music and we were able to showcase our new brand and experiential video along with the different components.”

Kanata is CTC Japan’s flagship event for the whole year: two days in Tokyo, one day in Nagoya and two days in Osaka. “About 50 Canadian organizations joined us; we probably met about 120 travel agents and tour operators through the week."

“People like the opportunity to meet people in an efficient way," says Pitt. "The business environment Kanata provides is conducive to that efficiency because doing sales calls in Japan can be arduous work. Giving a high profile to Canada for one week in the year is an efficient model for tour operators and Canadian sellers to do business, while backing that up with good networking events,” explains Pitt.

This was the 18th edition of Kanata, he continues: “Every year it evolves further. One of the things we have concentrated on in the last couple of years is flexibility. We have different accommodation options and different participation levels so we can accommodate as wide an audience as possible, because coming to Japan to do business can be expensive. For first‑time organizations, we still offer a $500 dollar discount, so we really do want to be as inclusive as possible for people promoting Canada in the Japanese marketplace.

CTC‑US launches campaign to promote ski and snowboarding

2008-03-30T17:41:00.001-06:00

With the Canadian ski season fast approaching, the Canadian Tourism Commission is kicking off a campaign to entice Americans to stunning Canadian destinations for their next ski and snowboard holiday. Developed by DDB Canada, Tribal DDB Canada, the CTC, and in partnership with the Canadian Destination Ski Consortium, the campaign includes national US print and online advertising and various out-of-home elements in San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. markets.

“The new campaign communicates that skiing and boarding in Canada is not just one thing, it’s the sum of parts – the hospitality of the people, the amenities at the resorts, the contrast and variety of activities, the culture, the amazing terrain and the abundance of snow – that make Canada the ultimate ski experience,” says Yolaine Dupont, marketing specialist US Leisure Marketing at the CTC.

The creative online ads first reveal snow‑covered peaks and entices users with the line, “See why everyone comes back. Then comes back again. And again.” The ad expands to expose a mountain and trail map that prompts the viewer to fold it up. Once folded, the trails converge and form one of five shapes on the mountain, each representing a different element that makes the Canadian ski or snowboard holiday experience fabulous. A snowflake signifies the excellent snow conditions, a snowman for family fun, a martini glass for the après activities and more.

“The trail map is a creative and interactive way to connect with skiers and encourage them to start planning their next ski vacation to Canada,” says Cosmo Campbell, Creative Director, Tribal DDB Canada, Vancouver. “Not only does the piece communicate the message of amazing ski runs and conditions, but the folded trail map reveals an additional element to the Canadian ski experience for skiers to look forward to in an intriguing way.”

The out‑of‑home and print executions also create intrigue by highlighting various elements of the Canada ski experience by showing arresting images accompanied by questions. For instance in one ad, an inviting outdoor hot tub is shown with the question, “what’s a black diamond run without a hot tub to finish?” In another, a photo of an idyllic cabin blanketed in powder snow with question, “ever experience 5‑star living under 6 feet of snow?”

Targeting avid American skiers and snowboarders, both online and offline elements communicate the positioning statement, “you haven’t skied, until you’ve skied Canada” and direct them to experience a Canadian ski adventure by visiting www.canada.travel/skinow. Developed by the CTC, the site explores ski destinations from the powdery slopes of BC and the pristine high alpine of Alberta's Rocky Mountains to the majestic hills of Québec. Ski travel packages are also available on the site as well helpful travel tips and a ski newsletter. Skiers and boarders can also enter the "Canada Ski Experience of a Lifetime Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a free 12‑night/13‑day Canadian ski vacation for six people at three ski resorts (one in Québec, one in Alberta and one in British Columbia).

The online ads will appear on OnTheSnow.com, TripAdvisor.com and Travelocity.com. The print campaign will appear in Outside Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Departures, Food & Wine and in‑room Fairmont Hotel publications. Both online and offline elements launch in November and will run until April with OMD Vancouver and the CTC responsible for the media buy.

CTC Japan launches its own version of Clever Woman

2008-03-30T17:39:00.001-06:00

Tourism marketers draw many of their ideas from successful practices elsewhere in the world. That is precisely what CTC Japan did when it launched its own version of the Clever Woman campaign recently, according to managing director Simon Pitt:

“When we were doing our planning for 2007, the importance of media in our promotions – and the importance of celebrity recommendation – emerged as key considerations. CTC Germany had been running a very successful promotion for some time. We looked at the components of what we understood the Clever Woman promotion to be, and we believed they would meet the needs of the Japanese market if we could find the right way of executing a similar campaign.”

Pitt says his team set about creating its own version of Clever Woman in Japan last spring. Elements like design became very important, getting the right web platform with interlocking components that allowed for the integration of partnerships.

Who would be the right media partners to work with? Which airline and trade partners might benefit from it? Which Japanese celebrity should be brought on board? All these considerations mattered.

“(It all came together) in a trip to Alberta’s Icefields Parkway at the end of August with TV personality Mitsuyo Kusano. After that, the crew went up to Yukon to capture another story. Between early September and October 15, we did all the hard work of incorporating and lighting up the materials, and editing the videos for the launch of the websites.”

In an attempt to leverage media partnerships, Pitt says Clever Woman also brought on board Sotokoto, a leading lifestyle magazine in Japan. “So when we launched on October 15, the December edition of Sotokoto featured six pages of articles and photographs of Mitsuyo Kusano in Alberta. Getting all these integrated components to come together can be a real challenge. For instance, we have HIS, a Japan‑based travel agent partner, working with us; as a result, visitors are drawn to the website, where they can learn about the original tour taken by our featured celebrity. They may book the trip though HIS’s website (which is linked with Clever Woman). Visitors can also take the information and book the trip through retail outlets.”

CTC Japan is working on a number of media projects at the moment, and Simon Pitt is quick to point out that getting more TV exposure matters. “We are working on developing a TV drama and it was through our connections that we were introduced to Mitsuyo Kusano. Her enthusiasm for Canada was contagious; she had been to Banff on a previous Christmas holiday, and she found the experience rewarding. So helping us and coming back during the summer was an attractive proposition for her. She gave us many ideas in terms of the design of the website, and she did write all of her blogging pieces herself.”

The challenge for a project like this is getting introduced to the right celebrity, and for them to find time slots in their diaries to make it all come together. “We were fortunate with Mitsuyo Kusano,” Pitt gleefully acknowledges. “We wanted people in Japan to be surprised about Canada. Clever Woman is all about lifestyles because there is much interest in healthy lifestyles in Japan. It has allowed us to deliver this program in a market that has been declining for 10 years. We need to try new things and take risks; this is one of the ways we are doing this.”

CTC‑Germany’s Canada Whale Night partnership to close with panache

2008-03-30T17:38:00.000-06:00

The Canadian Tourism Commission office in Germany has been working with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and other partners to promote sustainable whale watching in Canada for the last five years. It is time to move on to new initiatives, according to managing director Karl-Heinz Limberg, but not before one last “whale” of a celebration: “We are planning a fundraising event which will take place November 25 at one of Germany’s most impressive outdoor clothing and equipment stores, Globetrotter," says Limberg. "It is perhaps the equivalent of Tilley in Canada, but with tents and backpacks as well; it caters to a very high-end clientele. They have a huge store in Cologne with a water basin and a climbing wall, and this is where our last Whale Night will take place.”

Limberg expects about 800 people to attend, including many print and TV media representatives, celebrities and VIPs. The intent is to raise funds for the organization while also promoting Canada as a whale watching destination which abides by ethical considerations, through practices that minimize the impact of this activity on the whales themselves.

“We want to ensure that people know, if they go to Canada, these principles will not be taken lightly. Whale watching is a very popular product here in Germany. Thanks to Globetrotter and many sponsors who provided prizes for the auction and raffle, the night will be a memorable event indeed.”

These partners include natural cosmetics products maker Logona, an organic food chain, department stores, and even two famous German chefs who will be doing an outdoor cooking show. “Singer Katja Ebstein will be performing with her band for free, which will be a major lure for people," says Limberg. "We are selling tickets for 60 Euros, which could be perceived as expensive, but will ensure we have the audience we are looking for. Most of our Canadian destination partners offering whale watching have bought into the initiative, which means we will be featuring them prominently. There will even be whale scientists from Canada on hand to ensure the evening is as rich as can be for all participants."

CTC‑Germany masters the art of the celeb and media FAM

2008-03-30T17:37:00.000-06:00

The cult around celebrities can be a very powerful resource, especially with the right star. The Canadian Tourism Commission’s team in Germany certainly hit the jackpot when it approached well-known singer and actress Katja Ebstein with the idea of using her as a representative of those “best-agers” (she is in her early 60s) who might just find Canada an ideal all-around destination for them.

“We travelled with Katja Ebstein to Nova Scotia last year for 7 days to stage and photograph different experiences in the province,” explains managing director Karl‑Heinz Limberg. “Katja wrote a blog about her journey. As a result the whole initiative was quite successful because FTI (our partner tour operator for this promotion) generated 14 bookings for a brand new best‑ager product.”

This year Katja Ebstein and her husband were taken to Alberta and BC, along with a photographer who closely documented their journey. “When we came back, the photographer sent out a press release with his pictures. So far, we have had six articles published in the German press and many more will follow," says Limberg. "And again, Katja will be writing a blog on this website: www.generationkanada.de. She is an extremely credible celebrity in Germany.”

Limberg notes that 92% of Germans are familiar with her name. An accomplished singer, she is regarded not only as a model, but also as a serious artist. “She has become our tourism ambassador for Canada. Wherever she goes, she promotes Canada. She is really an influence‑multiplier for us.”

He estimates this press trip (just for the photographer) will generate a media value of roughly $300,000. “On top of that, we had a media FAM going to Alberta, with seven journalists who met and interviewed Katja in Calgary; they will also be writing a number of articles about Alberta,” Limberg explains.

In light of its success, Limberg expects this program to continue with other provinces next year. “The province to be featured is either going to be Quebec or Ontario; this depends on the provinces’ willingness to come on board as funding partners,” Limberg quips with a smile, “because we need their support.”

The Rock: sense of place rings true for Canadians

2007-12-08T10:51:00.002-06:00

Claude-Jean Harel takes in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Charlotte Jewczyk, manager of market development and travel trade at Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, confesses enthusiastically that the domestic market has always been the highest producer for her province. “It is the Maritimes and Ontario, mainly. Lately, however, we have seen growth from Quebec and Western Canada.” More importantly perhaps, Jewczyk has witnessed an increase in expenditure from those markets. “Visitors are coming in and they are seduced by experiences which are a little higher-end. Because there has been significant investment in our accommodations infrastructure at that level, we are getting a higher return from those visitors. We are meeting the demand of sophisticated travellers who want the comforts — hard days and soft nights.”

Jewczyk also notes a sustained increase in cruise activity. “The cruise sector is a promising one for Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly for circumnavigation, because we have 27 ports of call. So cruise itineraries include communities where visitors wouldn’t otherwise be able to get accommodations on land. These are expedition cruises; I know cruise tour operators whose packages for 2008 are already sold out.”

So, why are consumers attracted to these types of experiences? Jewczyk says much of it has to do with the destination’s brand. “Our branding continues to serve travellers who seek enriching, soul-finding experiences. For a number of reasons, Newfoundland and Labrador delivers that in spades. Whether it is an encounter with a taxi driver or the home-made bread, or the fresh air, it is all of those multi-layered experiences they don’t get in the big city which seem to lure them.”

The other thing that speaks to Canadians in particular, according to Jewczyk, is the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador. “It is reflected in our music, artwork and literature. Our books are read more, our artwork is seen more, all of which helps to promote the destination.”

Is there something exotic about Newfoundland and Labrador for Canadian consumers? “Absolutely,” answers Jewczyk. “I think we have come into our own as a mature destination that is off the beaten track. Our research says many clients come because they have always wanted to see Newfoundland and Labrador. Through our meetings and conventions, they are sometimes given an opportunity (through pre- and post-convention tours) to bring additional economic impact to our province.”

She explains how much of this success has to do with being authentic and experiential: “These are things which were given to us by nature, by geography, and by archaeology; (things like) our marine environment, our natural history, our people and our sense of place. There is a wonderful synergy about what Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer; it is a natural progression for us to inspire ourselves from that opportunity.”

And visitors seem to appreciate it. Jewczyk says the average length of stay in the province is between 10 and 12 days. “So we have a good return once somebody decides to come to Newfoundland and Labrador. There is no such thing as an accidental tourist here. Coming here takes a deliberate decision; you don’t just 'drop in' to visit Newfoundland.”

Nova Scotia looks to Ontario and the west for domestic visitors

2007-12-08T10:51:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Like other Canadian destinations, Nova Scotia is feeling the downturn in the US market. According to John Somers, director of marketing in the tourism division at the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, “the main culprits include the dollar and the continued reluctance of Americans to travel outside their own country and to Canada.”

He says it has been a year for domestic tourism: “The biggest increases we have seen have been mostly out of Ontario; I believe in the month of July we have seen a 19% increase in road traffic. That is kind of counter-intuitive to us, but we created profile with the “Ceilidh in the Capital” promotion we did in the Ottawa area this year.”

Somers believes the strength of these marketing efforts lies in identifying a target audience aligned with the CTC’s concept of the cultural explorer. “In conversations with our customers, the type of people who are interested in coming to Nova Scotia (particularly from a medium to long-haul market) are people who are genuinely interested in engaging with the destination to which they travel, experiencing the local culture. This is strongly wrapped up in a more conventional view of Nova Scotia’s great outdoor experience; it is that kind of combination which wins the day for us.”

Somers says research results show that a lot of medium-haul travellers still see Nova Scotia very much as a ‘drive’ destination. However, his department is working with a ‘gateway strategy’ to focus on growing air travel to Nova Scotia. He says his destination doesn't have huge budgets, but continue to put “a fair amount of money” in the US market because it still represents 11% to 12 % of overall non-resident visitors. “No matter what we do,” he says, “at the moment that market seems to be declining for most of Canada. We are trying to fill beds and get people here while exploring the idea of new markets like Western Canada. Of course, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes have always been important markets for us, so we are applying efforts there as well.”

Overall numbers are encouraging for Nova Scotia. A year-to-date comparison reveals a 1% increase in visitors for the period between the beginning of January and the end of August, largely attributable to an increase in domestic travellers. Numbers from the US are down 8%, and down 9% from overseas countries, but up 6% from Canada. The three Atlantic Provinces make up more than half the number of visitors to Nova Scotia and 10% of domestic visitors originate from Ontario.

Fourteen per cent of visitors come from Western Canada. “Certainly the economy in Alberta is booming to the extent there is going to be huge disposable income there,” Somers recognizes. “With Alberta's economic boom, there are a lot of people moving back and forth between the Maritimes and Western Canada.”

Bienvenue Québec adjusts to the future

2007-12-08T10:49:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Organizations which ask themselves which directions they might choose in the future are often well on the way to ensuring their own sustainability. All indications are that Bienvenue Québec and The Association des propriétaires d’autobus du Québec (APAQ) are thriving as a result of this probing approach; this year’s edition of the marketplace included a session where buyers and sellers were asked a series of questions designed by François Chevrier from the École des sciences de la gestion (ESG) at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM):

“There is a will at the APAQ organization (Bienvenue Québec's owner) to allow the event’s formula to evolve,” according to Chevrier. He says APAQ is reviewing the event’s structure and is currently assessing the potential value of implementing additional components. “They have identified through their research the emerging interest in providing an even greater number of networking and knowledge-delivery opportunities for participants.”

APAQ was certainly keen on experimenting at Bienvenue Québec 2007 in Saguenay: it introduced a dynamic new roundtable concept which proved very popular, according to Marilyn Désy, the marketplace’s development and promotion coordinator. “This roundtable activity between sellers and buyers stems from sellers’ need to find out more about who the buyers are. Bienvenue Québec draws some big players, like hotel sector representatives, who know the buyers well. However, what often makes a difference in destination appeal are the small players and attractions that impart flavour to tour operators’ programs.”

During the Francophone Culture Tourism Carrefour, buyers moved around in pairs to 9 roundtables lasting 11 minutes each. Désy says many sellers in the past simply couldn’t afford to participate at Bienvenue Québec. “With this formula, the first day is devoted to francophone product, networking and market knowledge acquisition for marketplace participants in different sessions, while days two and three are regular marketplace days.”

The participating sellers certainly felt there was great value for them in this format. Pierre Derouin is executive director of Le Village Québécois d’Antan in Drummondville: “Because there were several buyers and sellers at the table, there seemed to be more ideas emerging and we received better answers to our questions. I certainly found the exercise useful.”

Julie Bouliane looks after customer service at the Parc national du Saguenay: “This is my first participation at Bienvenue Québec. I have attended other marketplaces in the past where we met our clients one-on-one, and I found it is easier to break the ice in this kind of a format. It prepares us for upcoming appointments; each participant benefited from a bit of time to introduce their activities, and we quickly moved on to asking relevant questions about what buyers are looking for. Within minutes, we had useful answers about offering potentially successful products.”

This sentiment was echoed by Catherine Boulay of ManiganSes, an international puppetry arts festival in Jonquière, who felt this was a less intimidating introduction to the tourism marketplace environment.

As APAQ’s Marilyn Désy notes, without a thorough understanding of buyer needs it is difficult for the sellers to maximize marketplace opportunities. “This type of activity encourages sellers to listen, so they gain a better appreciation for buyers’ business realities.”

Holistic approach to development at Charlevoix

2007-12-08T10:47:00.001-06:00

Photo: Marc Archambault / Le Massif

When Daniel Gauthier (of Cirque du Soleil fame) bought the Le Massif ski resort at Charlevoix’s Petite-Rivière-Saint-François in 2002, he soon realized an elaborate development project would be needed to ensure its long-term prosperity. He wanted something that would transform the ski facility into a world-class four-season tourism operation, while preserving the landscape, the regional sense of place and the fabric of surrounding communities.

Diane Laberge is director of communications for Groupe Le Massif: “The concept evolved to include the planned development of a 150-room hotel at historic Filbaie farm, 20 kilometers away at Baie-Saint-Paul, along with a train station at the site providing rail service to shuttle hotel residents back and forth between the ski facility and the hotel.”

The rail shuttle is part of a grander tourist train plan linking downtown Québec City and La Malbaie (home to the Fairmont Manoir Richelieu). “At Baie-Saint-Paul, we plan to create a public plaza, a public market and a 500-seat show lounge,” says Laberge. She says the project will follow principles of sustainability which include the social aspects of development, aiming to provide quality, permanent employment opportunities for local residents: “We hope to bring about the kind of economic renewal that will convince the younger generation which has moved away to study or work, to come back to the region. We are working with local municipalities to create programs to give these people access to home ownership; it is more than a tourism project; it is a project with a genuine mission, a truly humanistic vision.”

The main elements of the project are scheduled to be functional by the summer of 2009, says Laberge, including the development of an aerial lift to take passengers disembarking from the train up to the base of the ski resort.

The project has caught the eye of many investors who have already launched their own development plans compatible with those of Groupe Le Massif. Olivier Lerun, executive director of Villa Marvic (owned by a France-based investment corporation), explains: "We have about 7-million square feet around Le Massif and we are seeking joint ventures to build hotels or hospitality establishments such as spas." The company's first creation is a 7,000 square feet luxury rental home with 200,000 square feet of yard space overlooking the St. Lawrence. Its heating system is geothermal, with windows designed to filter sunlight to minimize the use of air conditioning in the summer.

The Groupe Le Massif is well aware of just how compelling its project is for other developers, given how much the principles of sustainability upon which it is based resonate in consumers’ mind today, says Diane Laberge: “We don’t have all the answers yet. Sustainable development is central to our business model, but it will take us a few years to get there. Like many, we are still learning how it is done.”

Laberge hopes this approach will position Charlevoix as a model of beneficial practices for world tourism, an approach which is music to the ears of François Gariépy of Tourisme Charlevoix. “What is important about this project for the Charlevoix region and the province is that Mr. Gauthier is committed to respecting the fact that Charlevoix is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. He is committed to not changing the Charlevoix landscape and he agrees all new construction must not be higher than the tree tops at Le Massif.” Gariépy notes the project even includes using Le Massif as a scientific research park where Canadian advanced technology companies in the fields of sustainable energy will be invited to relocate at Le Massif.

Tourism at Charlevoix is, in itself, a heritage industry, and the new developments reflect that. The tourist train will provide an unparalleled panorama for travellers along the St. Lawrence. It will stop at villages like Les Éboulements and Ste-Irénée along the way, and will go all the way to the Pointe-au-Pic pier where the legendary steam-powered “floating palaces” called White Ships used to come, carrying high society members from New York, Toronto and Montréal at the turn of the last century.

“The project aims to attract Europeans in particular,” Gariépy confides. “We have started to send out feelers, and I am pleased to report we are getting positive responses from Canada as well. People are much more attuned to the spirit of this project than one might have believed initially.”

Canadian product needs refreshing

2007-12-08T10:44:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Jonview’s Claire Bessette looks after the group travel segment for Canada, and both group and FIT products for Atlantic Canada. She has gained some valuable insight into what's “in” and what’s “out” in the motorcoach and group sectors, where that which is fashionable always seems to win the day.

“For Europeans, coming to Québec seems not so much in vogue these days, while Asia and Eastern Europe are more alluring. The fact Eastern European countries have opened up is very tempting for European travellers considering a multitude of factors like proximity, jet lag and price competitiveness (especially on air fare), says Bessette. “When we look at Thailand, which suffered as a destination following the tsunami, we see they are doing everything they can to bring tourists back home. This includes offering hard-to-resist products and high quality experiences.”

However Bessette notes that, as destinations go, Quebec is in a bit of a unique situation because of the linguistic dimension which is so rich in opportunities for motorcoach tour operators and suppliers: “I look after the francophone European group market, which includes France, Belgium and Luxembourg. My sense is that suppliers today must be extremely imaginative and inventive. We have to instil in people abroad a longing to come here. We must create the need to visit Québec and Canada now,” she says.

“We are not what we could refer to as an ‘at risk’ destination. There is no rush to come here; 10 years from now, Canada will still be there, as stable as it has ever been,” Bessette continues. “That’s the picture in people’s mind. Whereas in the case of places like China, people might think: ‘I should go to China before things change.’”

Bessette believes Canada is not perceived as exotic at the moment. “This is a perception we must change. We must become exotic, and we need everybody’s help in doing that. The tourism industry is in constant evolution; we must follow market trends. If we don’t, we will die.”

A bright future predicted for Canada’s motor coach sector

2007-12-08T10:43:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Motor Coach Canada president Brian Crow writes in the November issue of Bus Ride Magazine (to a mainly American audience) that despite many challenges, Canada’s motor coach industry will keep growing.

“Coach operators in Canada face many, if not all, of the same issues US carriers face: low rates; subsidized competition; lack of awareness of the value bus companies add to the transportation system; image in the eyes of the public and government decision makers; taxes and permits; level of ridership; unfair competition from a minority of unsafe operators; operational issues such as congestion in major cities, fuel costs, seat belts, hours of service, CVSA inspections, fires, anti-idling laws; new technology such as GPS, EOBR, onboard cameras, engines, maintenance, parking and access to certain cities and parks. The list is endless.”

The majority of Canadian bus companies are family owned and operate with strong local roots, says Crow, and many began years ago by first providing school bus services, and passing the business down from generation to generation. Several older Canadian bus companies began with a four-horse stagecoach and five family generations later are operating fleets of 400-horsepower motorcoaches. However, the consolidation of the 1990s through today has greatly reduced the number of these family-owned enterprises. The industry is moving from family-owned to corporate-owned.

“While no statistics exist, Motor Coach Canada (MCC) estimates approximately 275 companies operate an estimated 3,000 motorcoaches throughout the Canadian provinces. Scheduled inter-city coach services in Canada had revenues of just under $400 million (Canada), with charter and contract at just over $550 million,” Crow writes.

“Canada experienced a decline in scheduled passenger services similar to the US over the past two to three decades, as low airfares and the love of the car absconded with many former motorcoach passengers.

“Greyhound is the dominant scheduled service carrier in western Canada and Ontario. Coach Canada also operates major scheduled services in Ontario, Quebec and into New York along with charter operations. Orleans Express is the major scheduled carrier in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. In the areas around major cities the scheduled carriers serve a large commuter base as well. Expanding city and regional transit authorities turned many short distance inter-city movements into a transit operation, displacing private carriers to more distant city pairs.”

Crow notes that Japanese tourists discovered Canada in the 1990s and created very significant business for coach operators, but with the devaluing of the Yen in the late 1990s, that business peaked and dropped slightly. He predicts that emerging markets such as China and India may lead to a growth in Canada’s inbound tourism. “If so, this will increase business for coach operators and receptive operators. Mexico and Brazil are growing markets as well but are still showing relatively low numbers. Many indicators suggest the US tour market to Canada will remain flat and well below the levels enjoyed in 2000 and 2001.”

From a charter, perspective growth is inevitable, Crow believes. “Canada just needs all its carriers to adhere to compensable rates to improve their return so they can invest in new coaches and services.

He believes the Canadian bus and tour industry is going to get better. “Canadian operators foresee a renaissance of coach travel as the result of highway and street congestion, cost of fuel, environmental sensitivity, expansion and development of more bus-only lanes, changing demographics, immigration (immigrants generally come from countries where bus travel is preferred and more acceptable), fewer taxpayer dollars available to subsidize rail and public-owned transit, technology (with the coaches themselves, with internet ability to show more people what today’s coaches are like and with how we reach more customers) and owners that will not settle for meager returns on investment.”

Are online agencies losing competitive edge?

2007-12-02T19:38:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

TravelMole's Bev Fearis reports that the balance of power in the online travel market is shifting from online agencies to suppliers, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

The consultancy group says over the past 12 months, online travel agents have lost their competitive edge while suppliers have been able to take control of their inventory and make use of high speed broadband internet connections. Airlines and hotels are in a strong position in a market where price and convenience are still the crucial differentiators, the group believes.

Malcolm Preston, partner and travel sector leader explained: "Suppliers are now providing the lowest-cost bookings available on the internet. Those suppliers which have sufficient scale will continue to see more and more bookings made through their own sites. It's the smaller operators that will become the key clients of the aggregators."

Preston says loyalty schemes for hoteliers and reward points for airlines are proving to be very successful and provide the online supplier with another advantage over aggregators. "Aggregators struggle to provide anything significant to ensure customer loyalty. Discounts are one option but this comes directly off the bottom line. If they want to give a free flight, they have to first purchase it from the supplier."

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP believes all online travel players will need to be more creative in the future, for example expanding into theatre tickets, restaurant bookings and theme park entry for example.

Its findings are published in a new report, called "The Distribution Revolution: the growth of supplier-only sites has been at the expense of the online aggregators".

2008 Business Travel Outlook predicts increase in Canada's travel spend

2007-12-02T19:35:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Hospitality Trends reports Canadian companies will increase their travel spends by a solid 4.2% next year, while placing greater emphasis on green programs and expressing a stronger interest in the video options of demand management, according to the 2008 Business Travel Outlook.

This analytical white paper was produced jointly by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and the Conference Board of Canada (CBOC). It formed the basis of a keynote presentation by Alexander Fritsche, Economist for the CBOC, on November 20, 2007, the final day of the ACTE Canada Education Conference in Calgary.

The top three reasons cited for higher travel spending were: a greater number of international trips to destinations other than the US, rising travel prices, and growth in domestic travel. Based on survey responses from 43 major Canadian companies, the report predicted travel managers will face tougher negotiations in 2008 over higher hotel room rates, and to a lesser extent, rental car rates. Corporate airfares for domestic travel and trans-border travel to the US are each expected to edge up by an average of 1.2% over 2007.

"The survey also revealed the growing influence of corporate social responsibility and environmental issues in shaping corporate travel policies. Nearly all the companies interviewed for the report said their organization had embraced corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a corporate goal. This is a remarkable increase from a similar survey conducted two years ago. CSR has been a key ACTE initiative since 2005," notes Hospitality Trends.

"The idea of using video teleconferencing as a travel alternative is also gaining traction in Canada. The motivating factors driving this concept are savings, better technology, and a higher quality of life from the increase in personal time not spent travelling."

The study did confirm that the majority of Canadian organizations continue to recognize the critical role of face-to-face meetings in the way they conduct their business.

Study says gays and lesbians are a "dream market" for tourism

2007-12-02T19:32:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

According to the results of a survey reported in TravelDailyNews (November 20, 2007), lesbians and gay men are a dream market for the tourism industry.

The report says 94.1% of over 6,700 American survey respondents to Community Marketing's 12th Annual LGBT Tourism Study stayed in a hotel at least one night in the last twelve months, with the median respondent staying 14 nights in hotels during that period. A hotel's reputations for gay-friendliness was cited as the top influence for choosing a hotel, followed by location near tourist attractions, location near a gay neighborhood, and free high-speed internet access.

77% of respondents said they shop for hotels and book online, while 29% said they book accommodations by phone or in person through a travel agent or directly with the supplier. 86% of respondents took at least one flight (up slightly from 2006) with a median of six flights in the last 12 months. 81% said they shop and book their flights online.

Other key findings from the study include gay and lesbian interest in adventure travel (41.8%), spa vacations (36.1% ), educational tours (31.6%), culinary trips (29.7%), eco-travel (26.2%) and casinos (22.8%). 25% attended a Gay Pride celebration where they stayed overnight, making it one of the most prominent "gay motivators" for taking a trip.

65% of respondents are gay men, 28% are lesbians, and the remaining 7% identify as bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex. The median age of respondents is 46.

Meeting planners find smaller is more productive

2007-12-01T20:07:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

A report published in TravelMole by David Wilkening finds a majority of meeting planners think small groups are far more productive than larger-scale gatherings, according to a recent poll.

"More than 55% said they believed the biggest advantage of small meetings over large groups is that they are more productive. Second in the poll at 22% was the idea that small meetings are easier to plan with fewer people to keep track of," notes Wilkening.

Small meetings offer other benefits, according to Laurie Sharp, president of California-based Sharp Events. These include the level of creativity, personalization and interaction among attendees.

The survey came out of a webcast themed "Bigger Isn't Always Better: Learn How and Where to do Small to Midsize Meetings Right."

Online leisure and unmanaged business travel continues to grow in USA

2007-12-01T19:57:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

According to PhoCusWright's U.S. Online Travel Overview Seventh Edition, the US online leisure/unmanaged business travel market continues to grow at a pace that far outstrips the overall travel market's rate of growth. The online leisure/unmanaged business travel market will surpass US$94 billion in 2007, over one-third of the total travel market (which includes offline leisure/unmanaged business and on-and offline corporate travel). PhoCusWright expects growth rates will continue to be at or near triple the rate of growth of the entire travel market through 2009. However, growth has slowed, especially at online travel agencies, which have seen their packaging sales come to a near standstill in some cases.

Quebec ski sector faces challenges

2007-12-01T19:55:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

A report by Jean-François Gagnon published in La Tribune says Quebec's ski sector faces serious challenges. A document obtained by Gagnon outlined a presentation to members of a Station Mont-Orford visioning committee by Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Tourism Chair Michel Archambeault, calling attention to the decrease in the number of ski operations in Quebec since the beginning of the 1980s.

Gagnon writes: "There were 116 ski operations during the winter of 1981-1982, and only 99 ten years later. Today, there are only 80 left. There are more cooperatives, municipalities and non-profit organizations running ski operations than there ever were. These account for 50% of facilities still in operation, and that percentage is likely to increase in coming years."

Meanwhile, the number of users of those facilities has not dropped in the last 10 years: "For instance, during 1996-1997, there were 5.9 million cumulative ski/days reported, which is about 500,000 less than there were last winter," Gagnon also notes.

Gagnon reports that Archambeault's presentation explained how factors like aging and climate change might affect the use of ski operations in the future, as will a predicted shorter ski season. To compensate, the organizations which run ski operations will need to look at new snow condition enhancement systems that can perform in higher temperature environments.

"It is estimated that around $80-million will be required to improve Quebec's snow-making systems, and about $100-million are needed to improve the mechanical lift infrastructure," Gagnon writes. "The problem is that current ski operation revenues make this prohibitive."

On a brighter note, Gagnon writes that Quebeckers' environmental consciousness may favour those ski operations which put sustainable operational practices to the forefront. This would have the potential to lure new client segments.

Revisit how you approach the youth market

2007-11-22T09:04:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Martin Cash of the Winnipeg Free Press writes: "The first clue that you're not cool is when you try to tell young prospective customers that you or your product is cool," and "The next clue is when you try to figure out what's not cool about it."

Cash's article (October 12, 2007; Don't say it's cool; ask them) refers to an address by Doyle Buehler, founder of Winnipeg's myTEGO Inc, given at a meeting of the Advertising Association of Winnipeg. He says many companies have to throw out what they thought they knew about

marketing and go for an emotional approach: "You have to immerse yourself in the youth culture. Get them to describe your product or your service. Listen to what they have to say about your company." Buehler stresses that young people are not impressed by who you are or where you're coming from; they care about how your product will affect them.

Get 'em while they're young

2007-11-19T20:28:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

World Youth Student and Exchange (WYSE) director general David Jones says young travellers of today are the trendsetters of tomorrow.

Quoted by Joachim Fischer in eTurboNews, Jones comments, "we have an opportunity to enrich the value of their travel experiences and promote responsible and sustainable travel habits."

The WYSE met this year in Istanbul for the World Youth and Student Exchange Travel Conference to share market and Industry knowledge, strengthen long-term business relationships, and plan for the future, and network with peers. With a network of over 5,000 locations in 118 countries, WYSE members provide international travel and educational experience for more than 10 million youth and students each year.

According to the eTurboNews article, WYSE unveiled its forecast for this niche market drawiong on survey responses from more than 8,500 young travelers. The study revealed that young independent travelers today average more than seven trips in their lifetime, spending an average of 1,915 euros. The average spending rose to 40% percent since the first research in 2002.

The study also revealed that youth travelers use the internet to book their trips (surged from 10 percent in 2002 to 50 percent in 2007), and that 80 percent use the internet to search for information about their trips.

For young people travel is a way of life, the study revealed. "Very few are deterred by terrorism, natural disasters or epidemics." Australia, the United States and France are the most popular destinations for young travelers, while Thailand, New Zealand and Australia are the most popular destinations for backpackers.

Managing on the heels of crisis: tourism stakeholders move on after tragedy

2007-11-18T16:22:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Ten years ago, a bus transporting 48 passengers came down the big hill at Les Éboulements in Québec's Charlevoix region. Forty-four people (mostly members of a seniors' club) lost their lives on Thanksgiving Day in 1997 when their vehicle crashed into a ravine. In a recent report published by Québec daily Le Soleil, Sylvain Desmeules describes how 10 years later, this picturesque community which relies on tourism is trying to move on.

This was the deadliest road accident in Canada. It deeply affected not only the local population, but also the tourism industry. Before October 13 1997, group tours accounted for 50% of visitors to nearby Isle-aux-Coudres on the St. Lawrence River, welcoming 800 motorcoaches annually. Today, Desmeules writes, a good year brings in about 400 coaches.

He quotes president of the Société des établissements touristiques de l'Isle-aux-Coudres Pierre Mazière: "The accident on the hill has only heightened the current heavy trend towards a decrease in motorcoach travel."

Desmeules also talked with Éric Fournier who used to run the Charlevoix tourism association. He remembers the panic triggered by the tragedy:

"We were just recovering from Saguenay flood of 1996, and all of a sudden, new negative perceptions about the state of our roads emerged." He recalls there was a wave of booking cancellations. Government authorities went ahead with a controversial road modification plan to alleviate further risks (in that instance a breaking system malfunction was eventually identified as the culprit). Mazière estimates that if the hill roadway hadn't been rebuilt, many businesses would have closed.

For the motorcoach industry, notes Desmeules in his article, it was a wake-up call. Explains Romain Girard of the Association des propriétaires d'autobus du Québec: "We suddenly became aware of just how precious and important the safety factor is in our industry. We have undertaken an in-depth reform focusing as much around safety as on recruitment of new clients."

Desmeules notes there has been a significant recovery since. It is estimated that group travel is a $1.3 billion market for Quebec, a third of whom are Quebeckers travelling within their own province, as were the passengers from the Beauce region who had boarded the ill-fated charter 10 years ago.

Out-of-country students are a growth market

2007-11-17T20:57:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The number of tertiary students enrolled outside their country of citizenship has grown from 0.61 million worldwide in 1975 to 2.73 million in 2005, mirroring the growing globalization of economies and societies, according to a report issued by the Paris-based Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and quoted in Travel Impact Newswire on September 27, 2007.

The report says that freely circulating capital, goods and services - along with greater openness of labour markets - have increased the demand for new kinds of education in OECD countries. Higher education is playing an important role in broadening the horizons of students and allowing them to better understand the multiplicity of languages, cultures and business methods in the world. Several OECD governments - especially in the European Union (EU) countries - have set up student mobility schemes to foster intercultural contacts and build social networks for the future.

The report says that other driving factors include decreasing transportation costs, the spread of new technologies, and faster, cheaper communication which have resulted in a growing interdependence of economies and societies in the 1980s and even more so in the 1990s. This tendency was particularly strong in the high technology sector and labour market.

In 2005, the US received 22% of the total of all foreign students worldwide, followed by the UK (12%), Germany (10%) and France (9%). Altogether, these four major destinations account for 52% of all tertiary students pursuing their studies abroad. Significant numbers of foreign students were enrolled in Australia (6%), Japan (5%), Canada (3%), New Zealand (3%) and the partner economy the Russian Federation (3%).

Asian students form the largest group of international students enrolled in countries reporting data to the OECD or the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, followed by Europeans (24.9%), in particular citizens of the European Union (16.9%). Students from Africa account for 11.0% of all international students, while those from North America account for only 3.7%; students from South America represent 5.7% of the total.

Canada presents new image at WTM

2007-11-16T16:04:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) will present itself in a new light at this year's World Travel Market (WTM), with a revamped display representing the CTC's new brand identity. Québec City Tourism and Tourisme Quebec are among the exhibitors who will be in attendance in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City.

Maggie Davison, UK managing director of the CTC, says, "we are looking forward to WTM this year with our new corner position for the Canada stand. Our 27 participants have so much to tell the world about Canada's innovative, diverse and authentic travel experiences."

Last year more than 18 million people travelled to Canada from all over the world, over 866,000 of whom came from the UK. The first half of 2007 saw travel between Britain and Canada rise by 4.5%, compared to the same period last year.

Small business dealing well with current challenges

2007-11-15T21:08:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Jean-Rene Halde, president and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada, says smaller companies tend to face the same challenges as larger ones, whether it be the strong dollar or domestic labour shortages, and so far it appears that, as a group, they've been dealing with those challenges. Halde was quoted October 16, 2007 in an article by Eric Beauchesne of CanWestNews Service, in which he points out this sector is innovative and agile, important because they make up the vast majority of businesses in Canada.

"We're a nation of basically, small and medium-sized businesses," he said in the CanWest article, noting that of the one million businesses with at least one employee in Canada, 97.7 per cent are small firms with less than 100 employees, and two per cent are medium-sized businesses with between 100 and 500. Halde is optimistic they will continue to meet the challenges as long as they don't get blindsided by the unexpected.

Interestingly, Halde thinks the biggest challenges facing small and medium-size firms are ones which have been around longer: labour shortages (which are especially acute in western Canada) and the strong dollar, which has been particularly challenging for smaller manufacturers who export to the US. "If you happen to an exporter, even a smaller one, obviously the rise in the loonie has been a problem," he said. "The rate at which the Canadian dollar has gone up, has made it tough to adjust."

Tourism is considered an export industry, although the sector is not directly identified in the CanWestNews report, which was published in the Vancouver Sun here.

Dollar parity an opportunity for Canada to reposition itself to US MC&IT travellers

2007-11-14T11:05:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Multi-million dollar expansion is the name of the game this year for meeting space in Canada. Casino Windsor in Ontario, soon to be known as Caesars Windsor, is currently undergoing a $373 million expansion and renovation that will see it gain 100,000 square feet of convention space. Northward, the Toronto Congress Centre is adding 500,000 square feet, and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in turn, is constructing a conference centre with more than 58,000 square feet of ballroom space.

On the west coast, the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion project is expected to triple the centre's current capacity. The project's website notes that "the expansion will increase the number of delegate days each year from the current 150,000 to nearly 370,000 within the first five years after opening. On average, a delegate will spend about $350 per day during their visit to Vancouver, with about one-third of convention delegates traveling to other parts of the province as part of their stay."

Even in light of the strong Canadian dollar? "The parity is definitely affecting our value perception. But when compared to other destinations like Europe, we're still extremely competitive. And the high demand and pricing for US destinations position us as value alternative," said the Canadian Tourism Commission's (CTC) Dan Melesurgo, executive director of meetings & incentive travel sales.

Melesurgo added that today's economics in fact give Canada an opportunity to "change the way we sell - in the past we relied too much on the dollar value versus the true value of the destination: quality service and facilities and proximity of urban and outdoors activities, among other things."

"When groups do meet in Canada they usually have record attendance, which speaks to the overall appeal of our destinations. Canada's state of the art facilities, high service levels, diverse destinations, and distinctive niche product experiences also continue to make us attractive to the US market."

New Brunswick tourism feels impact of strong Canadian dollar

2007-11-13T11:35:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Radio-Canada reports that the strength of the Canadian dollar is having a negative impact on the New Brunswick tourism industry, where the number of American tourists has dropped 2.6% since the beginning of 2007.

The industry hopes to make up for the loss by luring more visitors from Ontario and Quebec: "We need to gain a greater understanding of what appeals to Quebeckers besides beaches, in order to acquire a larger share of that market," deputy minister of tourism Ronald Durelle told Radio-Canada.

Ten years ago, the Village historique acadien drew 125,000 visitors annually, but only 65,000 people took in the attraction this year. 2008 could prove to be another challenging year for tourism in the province, because of the anticipated popularity of Québec's 400th anniversary celebrations. However, notes Radio-Canada, New Brunswick may look forward to being in the spotlight again in 2009, when the province hosts the 4th Congrès mondial acadien throughout the Acadian Peninsula.

Students are spending more while travelling

2007-11-12T20:18:00.000-06:00

A fall afternoon on Mount St-Hilaire, Quebec
Photo: Claude-Jean Harel

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Travelmole's David Wilkening reports that a new survey shows the average spent by young people on a trip abroad is now $2,600, a 39% rise since 2002. That's an 8% growth, which is more than inflation and slightly higher than the growth in travel expenditures across the population, says the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE).

"Overall, the global youth travel market will be worth US$154 billion this year," the group says. The report also shows young travellers are early adopters of new travel technology, with more than 80% now using the internet to search for information before departing on their trip, up from 70% in 2002.

When asked what were the most valuable features of travel websites, respondents noted the ability to compare prices and the availability of information about destinations, both of which were cited by over 80%. Less than 60% identified the ability to book their entire trip on the same website or the ability to save their enquiry on the site as valuable.

Gaspé has high hopes for the cruise sector

2007-11-12T20:15:00.000-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

Radio-Canada reports that by 2010, the town of Gaspé hopes to welcome cruise ships with a capacity of between 1500 and 3000 passengers. The ships currently making Gaspé a port of call rarely carry more that 400 to 500 passengers.

The Gaspé region harbours a number of potential draws for tourists who go on cruises, according to the executive director of Gaspé's visitors and conventions bureau Stéphane Sainte-Croix: "Our national parks are major assets in our tourism offering, as is the presence of the Port of Gaspé, which is open year-round and provides berthing space for sizeable ships."

The report mentions how the quality of port infrastructure could be a determinant in Tourisme Québec's upcoming choice of ports of call for the province. The intent, according to Gaspé Chamber of Commerce director Julie Bouffard, "is to be able to provide a variety of suitable programs, towns and ports that are market-ready for the cruise sector."

Canadian hotel construction booms

2007-11-12T20:14:00.001-06:00

(Originally published in TOURISM)

An astounding 2000 more hotel rooms are being created in Montréal over the next two years. Two international hotel companies, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood Hotel's, are investing $100 million dollar each into their respective properties, and another big spend on property is an $80 million dollar investment in the Crystal de la Montagne, located in the heart of Montréal's downtown shopping area, according to an article published in eTurboNews. The report says the project with the biggest budget is the $400-million redevelopment project for Montréal's historic former Viger Station Hotel.

The article states that a brand new concept for cheap-chic hotels, offering affordable accommodation without compromising on design and comfort, has been introduced in Montréal by ALT Hotels; in addition to the leisure market, ALT Hotels will also target business, meetings and convention market. To serve this clientele, the hotel will have more than 5,000 square feet of space for business meetings including a main conference room located on the top floor, with breath-taking views of Montreal.

The luxury-hotel boom is well underway with close to 1,000 luxury hotel rooms opening up across Toronto. In August 2007, Toronto saw the opening of The Hazelton Hotel, the first five-star hotel in the city. According to eTurboNews, by 2010 Toronto will have four new 5-star hotels with major players such as Trump, the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Shangri-La. And, existing hotels have stepped it up a notch by undergoing extensive refurbishments in 2007.

Luxury boutique hotels are also opening up in Canada, with properties like the Montréal Buddha Bar Hotel which will have 106 rooms and will be located in the former building of the Provincial Bank. In Vancouver, the Melville area is fast becoming a hotbed of upscale boutique hotels, including the 127-room Ritz-Carlton, the 77-room Loden Vancouver, the Shangri-La Hotel, and the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel will be a four-star hotel offering a range of accommodation for business and leisure travellers.