Selling Canada Winter 2016- 2017

Canada Selling

winter 2016/17 | training for the travel trade

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bear necessities: CANADA's Polar experiences

Meet the locals

Get connected

Destination Canada is targetting Millennials and has a digital plan to get them

crowning glory How to sell the Royal Tour – and suggested add-ons

Slippery slopes

Arnie Wilson gets ready for winter by checking out the pistes from BC to QuĂŠbec Plus...wtm news, national parks, fam-tastic ski trip, quebec, air canada, tour operators...and more

Discover the Canadian Rockies Imagine soaking up Canada’s soul-stirring landscape from a glass-dome luxury coach while nibbling on gourmet meals. Sound like a dream come true? It is.

by Rail

A Rocky Mountaineer rail journey through the majestic Canadian Rockies provides unparalleled vantage points to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Indulge all your senses as you wind through awe-inspiring landscapes, complemented by exquisite locally sourced cuisine, captivating storytelling, and impeccable service.

To book, contact your preferred Tour Operator, visit agent.rockymountaineer.com or call free on 00800 0606 7372

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

NEWS 04 Destination Canada update 05 News to use

ALTERNATIVE CANADA

FEATURES

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Canada's parks Royal tour in focus Targeting 'Millennials' Wintersports

QUICK READS

Millennials

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You might need to change your sales technique to sell Canada to this lucrative group of prolific travellers. Find out how on page 18

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08 Tour operator news 12 Introducing Banff & Lake Louise, Alberta 17 Signature Experiences in Atlantic Canada 20 City profile: Montréal 21 Unique activities in Québec 25 Winter festivals 26 Mega fam report: skiing 27 Interview: Margaret Skinner, Air Canada 28 City profile: Kingston 29 Great itineraries 30 Online training: new CSP 31 Destination Canada: Social media and wordsearch

FRONT COVER IMAGE: POLAR BEAR WATCHING IN MANITOBA, COURTESY OF DESTINATION CANADA. PUBLISHED BY BMI PUBLISHING LTD, SUFFOLK HOUSE, GEORGE ST, CROYDON, SURREY, UK, CR9 1SR T: 020 8649 7233 E: ENQUIRIES@BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK W: WWW.BMIPUBLISHING.CO.UK PUBLISHER: SALLY PARKER, EDITOR: STEVE HARTRIDGE: ASSISTANT EDITORS: ANDY HOSKINS AND JULIE BAXTER, JOURNALIST: LAURA GELDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MATT BONNER, DESIGNERS: LOUISA HORTON, ROSS CLIFFORD, MONICA NOTARNICOLA, JUNIOR DESIGNER: ZOE TARRANT, PRODUCTION MANAGER: CLARE HUNTER CIRCULATION MANAGER: CHERYL STANIFORTH, MANAGING DIRECTOR: MARTIN STEADY

DC weLCOMe

Tour de force

DC UPDATE NEWS FROM DESTINATION CANADA

Agents asked to take Canada to heart caNaDa was delighted to have Wills, Kate, George and Charlotte visit British Columbia and the Yukon this September.

It was great for the little ones to take their first overseas trip together and by visiting Canada they carried on a long tradition of the Royals taking the country to their hearts.

Wills and Kate visited Bella Bella, Haida Gwai, Okanagan and Whitehorse and Carcross, a visit that helped to shine a light on some of Canada’s lesser-known tourism areas. To learn more about what these areas have to offer tourists, see the feature starting on page 14.

Our new Canada Specialist Programme is now live and we are inviting agents to take it and Canada to heart! (see story on this page and on page 30).

World Travel Market takes place in early November, so if you are at the show do drop by to see us and catch up with myself and Roger Harris, who runs our dedicated Trade Only Travel Agent support line (0207 389 9984).

Happy Selling – and Keep Exploring. adam hanmer Travel Trade Manager Destination canada

Help desk

Roger Harris Trade Helpline: 020 7389 9984; Email: destinationcanada trade@ gmail.com; Training: canadaspecialist. co.uk; keepexploring.ca

Untitled-1 1 Ad 2016_FINAL.indd 1 Selling Canada

DesTINaTIoN Canada is inviting travel agents to take Canada to heart with the launch of its all-new new Canada Specialist Training Programme (CSP).

Twenty UK travel agents who sign up and complete the revamped training modules before November 30 2016 will be in with a chance to win one of 20 Haribo Heart eart Sweet Trees, which will be shipped direct to their office.

Current CSP agents must register and complete the new programme to qualify.

“Agents could be big hearted and share the sweet tree with their colleagues, divide it among their clients or simply take it home to their sweetheart!" said Adam Hanmer, Travel Trade Manager for Destination Canada.

“Either way, we’d love to have our own heart to heart with travel agents across the UK about what makes Canada tick as the country prepares to celebrate its 150th Birthday in

2017,” added Hanmer.

“Destination Canada has been training UK travel agents for over 30 years and we with one of the longest-running agent training programmes around.

“The programme is regularly refreshed and updated to reflect changing patterns in learning, the increase in access to mobile technology and to ensure agents are motivated to keep looking at Canada.”

To have their name entered in the draw agents should complete the new programme at canadaspecialist. ca co.uk by November 30.

Sweet!

Canada out in force at WTM MaNY of Canada’s provinces and a strong line-up of international-ready products and experiences will be in attendance at this year’s World Travel Market (November 7-9).

Agents dropping into the shows in London will be able to meet with around 30 Canadian ‘partners’ that include the destinations New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Toronto and

Québec, and popular attractions such as Niagara Helicopters, Hornblower Niagara Cruises and One Ocean Expeditions. Airlines signed up to the Canada section are Air Canada, Westjet and Air Transat. Exhibiting at WTM for the first time will be Tourism Ottawa, Tourism Richmond, Fraserway RV and Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada. destinationcanada.com

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news TO USE

Canada's top stories

Bag a Montréal

bagel at WTM

To commemorate Canada turning 150 in 2017 Destination Canada will be laying on 150 smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels at World Travel Market (November 7-9).

Visitors who drop by stand NA400 on the Monday and Tuesday mornings of the show will be invited to learn more about the Canada Specialist training programme, discover about the destination’s news and events for 2017 and watch the Canadian Bagel Wars YouTube video.

Montréal is home to the Montréal Bagel, with city bagel aficionados declaring their allegiance to either St-Viateur or Fairmount.

The major difference between a true Montréal bagel and its New York counterpart is that instead of being just baked it is first boiled then baked. destinationcanada.com

Ottawa aims to get high to celebrate in 2017

Ottawa Tourism will this year make its debut at WTM in order to spread the word that in 2017 Canada's capital will take centre stage for the country's 150th birthday celebrations.

The tourism organisation says it will look to capitalise on a large programme of events – “big, bold, immersive and moving experiences” – scheduled to take place in the city next year to mark the sesquicentennial.

Included in the programme in August will be a ‘Dinner in the Sky’ experience that will see diners hoisted 150 feet above the Ottawa skyline. It works using amusement park technology that pulls a long 22-seat table into the air by crane, then guests are served dinner in the clouds by vertigobeating waiters. Diners are strapped firmly into their seats

and the entire contraption is covered by a canopy to protect against rain and even birds.

Ottawa’s Sky Lounge will be located downtown with guests enjoying views of the capital, including the Ottawa River, Parliament Buildings and historic Rideau Canal. There will be multiple sittings on offer over the course of a week in August, with five dinners and six tapas-cocktail events each day.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Museum of History will open new galleries, the Canada Science and Technology Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary by reopening after an $80.5million renovation and a new permanent Arctic gallery will open at the Canadian Museum of Nature. ottawa201.ca

Song and dance for native products

ABORIGINAL Tourism Association of Canada’s Director of Marketing, Dené Sinclair, is looking forward to discussing at WTM the growing options in Aboriginal tourism.

“ATAC is an association representing around 1500 Aboriginally-owned tourism products in Canada. We are hoping to grow the industry by supporting and helping Aboriginal tourism businesses to develop. We are working with market-ready products to expand their markets and learn more about the international inbound audience, and of course the UK is Canada's number one market,” she said.

“The tourism initiatives we represent include hotels and lodges, guided tours, museums, restaurants and cultural centres.

“There are hundreds of different indigenous nations in Canada and they are as diverse as the country's languages and culture. Many offer tourism experiences to visitors.” aboriginalcanada.ca/en/

Authentic. Unique. Truly Canadian.

The Canadian Dream starts at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa.

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news TO USE

Canada's top stories

One Ocean's CSE cruise

Westjet flying high in 2017 Westjet will be using its fourth appearance at WTM to “review sales from our tour operators and travel agent partners after a year of operating services from Gatwick to routes to several routes in Canada,” says the airline’s Louis Gosselin.

Westjet flies out of Gatwick to St.John’s, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, routes that have been a big success, says Gosselin.

“It was a spectacular year for Westjet, a great success, with the average load factor higher than we expected.”

Gosselin said the ski sector would also be a key focus in the coming year, with WTM meetings planned with specialist ski operators who programme resorts in Alberta and British Columbia. westjet.com

A regular on the Destination Canada WTM stand since 2012, One Ocean Expeditions will be highlighting its newly-designated Canadian Signature Experience (CSE) voyage.

‘Fins and Fiddles’ is an 11- day expedition cruise to Canada’s east coast which takes visitors to remote communities as well as to the country’s wildlife, natural beauty and cultural experiences.

Zodiac excursions, soft adventures and educational seminars take place daily with activities that include sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, on-shore guided hiking, bicycle touring and meetings with locals in remote fishing communities.

Fins and Fiddles highlights include encountering the fabled wild horses of Sable Island,

Parks Canada’s newest natural reserve off the mainland of Nova Scotia; visiting the world’s largest gannet colonies on Bonaventure Island; setting foot on Canada’s birthplace, Charlottetown, on Prince Edward Island and walking on the earth’s crust at Tablelands, a World Heritage Site in Gros Morne National Park.

“WTM is a great show for us to catch up with our UK and European operators…it works well, particularly as we will have team members from our office in Canada over with us," said One Ocean’s Debra Taylor.

The CSEs are a collection of travel experiences designed to introduce visitors to Canada’s most authentic and memorable experiences. oneexpeditionscruise.com

Brewster has news and views Brewster Travel Canada has had a presence at WTM for over 20 years and this years has plenty of news for show visitors.

Brewster’s Sarah Macintyre commented: “We’ve completely rebuilt and redesigned the Upper Terminal of the Banff Gondola. We have created a world-class indoor experience that equals the awe-inspiring ridgetop boardwalk 2,900 ft. above Banff. There are new restaurants and interactive exhibits, a multisensory theatre and a 360-degree rooftop observation deck.”

Also in Banff, Brewster’s Elk + Avenue Hotel (formerly the Banff International Hotel) has been fully-renovated, with allnew guest rooms.

The hotel is a short stroll from boutique shopping and local dining options. brewster.ca

A view to thrill

Niagara Helicopters Flightseeing Tours

Niagara Helicopters

3731 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON

905 357 5672 niagarahelicopters.com

news TO USE

Canada's top stories

Nova Scotia's new food trail NOVA Scotia has launched The Seafood Trail, the province’s second culinary route.

Described as the first of its kind in Canada, the Seafood Trail is designed to elevate Nova Scotia’s reputation as a culinary tourism destination. It features 85 participants offering more than 200 seafood-specific experiences across the province.

These include seaside lobster boils, seafood chowders, freshly

shucked oysters as well as a collection of restaurant, retail and fisheries experiences highlighting the province's seafood products.

A predesssor, The Good Cheer Trail was unveiled in 2015. Now two food trails offer an easy way for visitors and locals to taste Nova Scotia. Both trails are annual culinary tourism initiatives that run from June 1 to October 31. novascotia.com

Rooms with views in Banff THE Moose Hotel and Suites is the first new hotel to open in Banff National Park in nine years. The four-star property features 174 air-conditioned rooms of one- or two-bedroom suites. Amenities include the Meadow Spa and Pools, with 10 treatment rooms, and a rooftop health club. moosehotelandsuites.com

Fredericton gallery draws on history The Fredericton Art Gallery is undergoing a C$28 million expansion. A new pavillion will include a dedicated space for showing the New Brunswick facility's Salvador Dali painting, Santiago el Grande. Also planned is a theatre, an artist-in-residence studio, a cafe and an expanded outdoor sculpture garden with

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open views of the St. John River.

The gallery opened in 1959 and was a gift to the people of New Brunswick from Lord Beaverbrook (Sir Max Aitkin), a prominent and historic New Brunswicker who was a member of Sir Winston Churchill's cabinet during World War II. beaverbroookartgallery.org

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TOUR OPERATOR NEWS

Booking good From polar bears to luxury trains to shopping breaks, there's plenty in the brochures to tempt clients to Canada in 2017

1st class views of polar bears

1stclassholidays has a Polar Bears of Churchill Adventurer's Tour that includes the chance to see the bears up close in their natural environment along the west shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay. The prime viewing times are in October and November, when the bears begin their move from their summer habitat on the tundra back to seal-hunting territory – that's the pack ice that forms every winter over Hudson Bay. You can also see bears during the summer and winter months.

As Churchill is not accessible by road, all packages start and end with an overnight in Winnipeg. Clients can also fly between Winnipeg and Churchil (the cost is included) and the operator offers a package that uses VIA Rail in one direction on some departures.

Clients can either stay in Churchill or, to really get up 'up-close and personal' with the bears, overnight in the Tundra Buggy Lodge where they could wake-up and see the bears in their own playground.

The packages also see guests viewing polar bears from Tundra Buggies. Four days on the Town and Tundra tour start from £1690pp, including teturn flights between Winnipeg and Churchill but not international flights.

1stclassholidays. com

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

Western & Oriental adds Canada to portfolio

Western & Oriental’s brandnew Canada programme features multi-centre city breaks, self-drives, rail journeys, luxury escorted tours and independent tours in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Québec.

David Pointer, the operator’s Senior Product Manager for North America said: “Experiential travel is at the heart of Western & Oriental’s business, so it was a natural choice to add Canada as our newest destination.”

Options include Lakes and Lodges, a 13-day fly-drive around Western Canada, starting in Vancouver and including Whistler, Tyaughton Lake, Lac Le Jeune, Jasper National Park, Moraine Lake, Banff and Calgary. Rates start from £2,595pp, staying in lodge-style accommodation.

The luxury Rockies Highlights Escorted Tour, which includes a Rocky Mountaineer train ride and heli-flightseeing over the Spray Valley and Goat Range, has a lead-in price of £4,970pp.

A seven-day independent tour, Discover Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montréal and Québec City is from £1,875pp. All prices include international flights. westernoriental.com

Canada now on track for Saga Saga’s new 18-night escorted tour, The Great Canadian Train Journey, crosses six provinces and features four days aboard the 'Canadian' sleeper train.

Before clients enjoy one of the country’s most iconic train experinces, they will spend time in Montréal (three nights), Québec City, Ottawa (two nights) and Toronto (two nights). Activities here feature a sightseeing tour that takes in Toronto’s waterfront and the landmark CN Tower and a full-day excursion to Niagara Falls that includes a boat ride to the bottom of the falls.

Then it is all aboard the 'Canadian' and the four-day journey to the west coast. When the train arrives in Winnipeg, there will be time to view the French Quarter, the Legislative Building and the Forks – the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers – the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Assiniboine Park Conservancy Zoo, with its Arctic foxes and polar bears. There's also two nights in Jasper (Alberta) for visits to the Icefields Parkway, the Athabasca Glacier for a ride on the Ice Explorer (left) and The Glacier Skywalk, before ending in Vancouver (two nights).

Prices from £3,699pp.

Departures from Gatwick on May 2 and 23, June 13, September 5 and 26, 2017. saga.co.uk

TOUR OPERATOR NEWS

Titan’s wild times in BC Titan’s standalone Canada brochure offers the opportunity for clients to go salmon fishing and whalewatching in British Columbia.

The 13-day ‘Spirit of British Columbia’ itinerary includes three nights in Vancouver, the year-round resort town of Whistler and rugged Vancouver Island, where guests can go fishing in the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’, Campbell River, or head out to sea on a bracing whale-watching expedition.

Prices start from £2,249pp, based on a May 30 2017 departure (the deal offers a built-in saving of up to £200pp).

The package includes 11 nights in hotels, six excursions and visits, Air Canada flights, the services of an experienced Titan tour manager and the operator’s VIP Home Departure Service, which sees customers collected from their own front door and driven to their departure airport. titantravel.co.uk

Prestige counts down to Canada’s 150th Prestige Holidays is marking the 150th anniversary of Canada’s independence with an agent booking incentive that has a seven-night holiday for two to Canada as its top prize.

Prestige has teamed up with Air Transat, Rocky Mountaineer, Fairmont Hotels and Destination Canada on the ‘Canada 150 Countdown’ incentive, which also offers monthly prizes. The grand holiday prize includes two economy class Air Transat flights, a Rocky Mountaineer journey and a Fairmont hotel stay. Under the incentive, which launched on October 1 and runs until February 28 2017, all bookings that include flights with Air Transat, a Rocky Mountaineer journey and a Fairmont hotel are eligible for the main prize draw. There are also monthly prizes of a Destination Canada giveaway in November, and Fairmont Hotels Air Transat prizes in December and January. prestigeholidays. co.uk

H&J to Toronto Hayes and Jarvis has a winter break in Toronto for those on a pre-Christmas retail mission.

Priced from £499pp, the deal includes three nights at the four-star Chelsea Hotel, plus Simon Shopping Destination vouchers and flights from Heathrow with American Airlines and British Airways. The deal is based on a November 21 2016 departure. Seven nights at the same hotel (January 13 2017) start from £693. hayesandjarvis.co.uk

The Complete way to western Canada Complete North America has a seven-night western Canada Circle package to British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. From £2099pp, the fly-drive deal includes a lake cruise in Banff, the Glacier Skywalk and a stop at historic Hat Creek Ranch in British Columbia for a spot of gold-panning. completenorthamerica.com

CANADA'S PARKS

MAKE THE MOST OF CANADA'S NATIONAL PARKS NEXT YEAR

Time to celebrate!

2017 marks the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and as part of the nationwide celebrations there will be free admission all year to all national parks and areas run by Parks Canada. Here are just a handful to recommend

Did you know...

Parks Canada sites are stunning natural assets but also offer opportunities to hear indigenous stories and gain historic insights; learn to canoe; hike, cycle and camp out; and see Canada's beauty in the raw.

There are more than 200 of these special places across the country, so check which your clients are close to and encourage them to take a closer look.

In some of the most spectacular locations, classic relaxing red chairs have been positioned as part of a #Sharethechair social media campaign, encouraging visitors to seek both a seat and a new perspective.

For those who want to stay overnight in a park, oTENTik tents offer a comfy camping option with beds for up to six people and a campsites ready to go in a number of parks. For more information on these and all the parks and their locations visit Parks Canada at: parkscanada.gc.ca.

Mount Logan is still growing. The tectonic plates beneath it in Kluane NP are constantly moving and are slowly pushing it up

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Saskatchewan

For wilderness experiences check out Prince Albert National Park for activities which range from portaging a canoe between remote lakes to wakeboarding. At its heart is the lakeside town of Waskesiu and beyond are backcountry lakes and, in places, wild bison. The park is about an hour’s drive from Prince Albert, two and a half hours from Saskatoon.

ALBERTA Three out of Alberta’s five National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the best known of these are those surrounding the towns of Banff and Jasper, easily accessed via Calgary or Edmonton.

Banff NP was Canada's first and spans over 2,500 square miles of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, with the Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. Recommend a visit to its natural hot springs. Jasper NP offers nearly 1000km of trails, thousands of campsites, wildlife watching opportunities and the largest Dark Sky Preserve on the planet.

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

Yukon

For extremes in terrain recommend Kluane National Park and Reserve, home to Canada’s highest peak, (Mount Logan), its largest ice field and North America’s most diverse grizzly bear population. Travellers can explore alpine, backcountry passes or raft by calving glaciers.

Access is via Whitehorse served by flights originating in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.

While Vancouver gives access to wildlife and birdwatching trips on Vancouver Island National Park, it is Kootenay NP and Yoho NP in B.C which are the UNESCO ranked gems. The first is near the Alberta border and part of the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage area. There are no towns within Kootenay National Park but the closest towns are Radium Hot Springs, BC, and Banff, Alberta. Head here and your clients find canyons and hiking trails, naturallyheated mineral-rich hot pools and a well-marked 90-minute scenic drive. Yoho NP features towering rock walls, spectacular waterfalls and 28 peaks over 3 000 metres in height. Yoho is a Cree expression of awe and wonder.

MANITOBA Churchill is the gateway town for Manitoba’s Wapusk National Park, one of the largest polar bear denning areas in the world. An expansive wilderness area of remote subarctic terrain, it includes boreal forest and arctic tundra and the area around the Western Hudson Bay area is home to over 900 polar bears, plus arctic foxes, arctic hares, wolves, caribou and wolverine. Access to Wapusk is via authorised commercial tour operators based in Churchill.

CANADA'S PARKS

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest NP and one of the largest in the world. It was established to protect the last remaining herds of bison in northern Canada and is also important for its boreal plains. The park straddles the Northwest Territories-Alberta border, and year-round access is via the MacKenzie Highway. Its a Dark Sky Preserve too so be sure your clients look up!

NOVA SCOTIA

NEW BRUNSWICK Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John are all increasingly featured on Canada itineraries and from each of these the Fundy National Park is the stand-out attraction. Here visitors can experience the world’s highest tides, stay in a yurt, kayak and trail walk, as well join in regular music festivals and explore the regions fascinating maritime history.

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Gros Morne National Park is UNESCO ranked for its ancient landscapes formed by colliding continents and grinding glaciers. It offers a spectacular coastal path, great beachcombing and fjords, mountains, cliffs and forests. Visitors can cruise through the dramatic gorge of Western Brook Pond or set out to spot moose and caribou during alpine hikes. Deer Lake Regional Airport is 35 kilometres from the southern park entrance with flights from Montréal, Toronto, Halifax, and St. John’s.

Did you know...

Canada has the world’s largest beaver dam in Wood Buffalo NP. Its size equals eight football fields long and is visible from space

Québec La Mauricie National Park is easily accessible just an hour and a half from Montréal with hiking trails, lakes, camping and canoeing aplenty. Its lakes and forests appeal to outdoor lovers and make a great contrast to the bustle of the city. Via Rail has regular train services to the nearest station, Shawinigan. Alternatively the fourseason holiday destination and ski resort, Tremblant in the heart of the Laurentians is also popular from Montréal.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is best known for the world-famous Cabot Trail but in fact has 26 scenic trails many following the coastline or through lush, forested river canyons and ancient plateaux. The mountains meet the sea in this park and highlights include spotting moose, whales and bald eagles, cycling, kayaking and fishing. Access is via the Trans-Canada Highway 105, in Nyanza.

NUNAVUT Auyuittuq National Park gives access to a diverse and grand Arctic experience. Remote and untouched, craggy skylines meet icy streams and wildflower meadows. Located on Baffin Island, this park is also home to geese and arctic foxes and the waters are home to narwhal and seals. It is best explored on a tour from Iqaluit by snowmobile, dog team, or boat, depending on the season.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Something of an adventure playground PEI National Park, which runs along the north shore of PEI, combines sandy beaches and red cliffs. Cycling the seashore path is a popular way to explore with picnics by a lighthouse or bird-watching from a marshland boardwalk. There are also woodland hikes and opportunities for marshmallows over a campfires, listening to local tales and songs.

ONTARIO

Ontario has lakes and parks at every turn and just a few hours from Toronto and Ottawa,Algonquin Provincial Park and the Thousand Islands NP are rural escapes the locals highly prize. Algonquin is known as ‘cottage’ country and offers stunning lakeside homes and tranquil canoeing in gorgeous settings; while in the Thousand Island region activities range from paddleboat dinner cruises and watersports to beachside picnics in bays by the lake.

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

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PROVINCIAL PARTNERS

Introducing

Banff & Lake Louise The first snow of the season has already fallen in Alberta turning it into an exciting adventure playground. More accessible than ever this winter, Banff National Park and the mountain towns and attractions that surround it are ready to welcome visitors, says Julie Baxter

T

he relaxed mountain towns of Banff and Lake Louise sit at the heart of the Rockies and offer wintersports fans the opportunity to ski or board within the limits of a UNESCO World Heritage National Park.

Just 90 minutes from Calgary, both are increasingly well served from the UK with Westjet this winter launching a year-round direct flight from Gatwick to the towns' nearest gateway, Calgary. Departing three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) this new route is in addition to existing direct services offered by Air Canada and British Airways throughout the winter and flights with Icelandair and KLM, which operate regional departures via Reykjavik or Amsterdam into Edmonton and Calgary respectively.

BANFF LAKE LOUISE TOURISM/PAUL ZIZKA

MUST SEE

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Both towns have access to three user-friendly ski areas: Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Resort Mountain and bird’s-eye views of six mountain and Sunshine Village. Between them they ranges – plus observation decks and a Summit offer 334 runs set across a combined terrain of Walk great for non-skiers too. almost 8,000 acres. They are all due to open on Heading north from Lake Louise, on the November 10 when visitors can take stunning Icefields Parkway, the Marmot Basin advantage of the dry ‘champagne’ powder the resort offers a further 86 trails covering 1,675 area is famed for as well as a wide range of offacres set within Jasper National Park (open piste activities from dog-sledding to from November 11). ice hikes.

The newly-renovated AUTHENTIC Banff Gondola offers rides EXPERIENCES Top tip... to the top of Sulphur The tri-area lift ticket for the SkiBig3 resorts in Alberta Banff and Jasper National Parks will offer free admission to visitors throughout (covering Mt. Norquay, Lake 2017, so it’s a great time to take advantage Louise Ski Resort and of added value for your customers Sunshine Village) now gives visitors free admission to the historic Banff Hot Springs too.

First discovered in 1883 by railway workers, the natural hot springs, with their healing minerals, have been attracting travellers ever since and make a great way to relax and soothe aching muscles after a day on the slopes. Elsewhere Sunshine Village offers great snowshoeing activities, and dog sledding, tubing and skating on the lake are popular options from Lake Louise. Visitors can also take an ice-walk in Johnston Canyon, and the nearby Jasper National Park is one of the SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

Bird's-eye views from Sulphur Mountain

world's largest dark sky preserves so stargazing is spectacular. The choice of dining options across resorts is impressive too.

WHAT'S NEW

The Moose Hotel & Suites in Banff National Park, Alberta, is open for its first winter season.

The four-star property from the Banff Lodging Company is the first new hotel to open in the park for nine years. Featuring 174 airconditioned one- or two-bedroom suites, it has modern mountain elegance with a moose character painted in each room and beautiful views of the mountains. It has a rooftop health club with two outdoor hot pools and a sauna, as well as an indoor pool.

In downtown Banff, The Elk & Avenue, formely the Banff International, has completed its refurbishment and options include spacious loft rooms great for families and small groups.

BOOK IT Ski Safari - 01273 224060 Ski Safari has an eight-night ski holiday staying at the three-star Mount Royal Hotel in Banff from £759pp on a B&B basis. Departing on January 21 2017, the price includes Heathrow to Calgary return flights, transfers and shuttle to the slopes when booked by Dec 2016. skisafari.com

Route London (LGW) to Calgary Calgary to London (LGW) London (LGW) to Toronto Toronto to London (LGW)

Frequency 3x weekly; 1x Mon Wed Sat 3x weekly; 1x Tue Fri Sun 1x daily 1x daily

Departure 11:35 AM 5:55 PM 12:00 PM 9:15 PM

Arrival 2:00 PM 9:49 AM +1 3:25 PM 9:10 AM +1

Date Oct 24, 2016 - Apr 29, 2017 Oct 24, 2016 - Apr 29, 2017 Aug 08, 2016 - Apr 29, 2017 Aug 08, 2016 - Apr 29, 2017

ROYAL TOUR IN FOCUS

CANADA'S

CROWNING GLORY W

herever the Royals tread you can bet a rush of tourists will follow.

Find out how to re-create this year’s royal itinerary in Canada – and make it even better!

Canada is clearly a favourite of William and Kate. It was only five years ago that the couple undertook their first official Royal tour together there and this year they returned, with children George and Charlotte, for a trip that focused on British Columbia and Yukon, and an itinerary that paid special attention to Canada’s First Nation people and their vibrant cultures.

Victoria

A fitting start to the Royal tour, British Columbia’s capital is immensely proud of its British connections and is invariably touted as North America’s most ‘English city’. It’s the Victorian architecture which lends Victoria such a familiar feel, most notably Craigdarroch Castle, with its imposing turrets and lavish furnishings.

William and Kate laid a wreath at the city’s cenotaph and it’s worth pointing visitors here too as it is close to the Royal BC Museum. One of many fantastic museums in the city, the Royal BC Museum was founded in the late 1800s and contains artefacts and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history.

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

ROYAL TOUR IN FOCUS

Victoria

The island also has a thriving art scene. If Kate and Williams’ schedule had allowed, no doubt they would have visited Tofino, a west coast town seeing a cultural resurgence from the Nuuchah-nulth First Nations and is home to many art galleries.

SELL IT Give your customers the Royal treatment and book them a seaplane transfer between Victoria and the mainland, just as William and Kate did.

Seaplane over Vancouver

Bella Bella

Vancouver

This Heiltsuk First Nation community is set on the east coast of Campbell Island and close to the Great Bear Rainforest which is home to the kermode bear, a sub-species of black bear with white fur that is also known as the spirit bear.

The Duke and Duchess marked the dedication of the rainforest to the Queen’s eco-project Commonwealth Canopy, designed to create a network of forest conservation initiatives.

Unfortunately, they didn’t venture far enough into the rainforest to find the elusive spirit bear.

To ensure your clients do, arrange a stay at the Spirit Bear Lodge, which lies deep in the forest, in the small fishing village of Klemtu. The property offers cultural and wildlife tours in the ancestral lands of the Kitasoo and Xai’xais First Nation people – even the architecture pays homage to the culture as it is based on a First Nation long house.

SELL IT Frontier Travel (frontier-travel.co.uk) offers a three-night package at Spirit Bear Lodge. As well as black and spirit bears, it’s possible to see grizzly bears, wolves, eagles, orcas, dolphins and sea lions.

Your west-coast bound clients will likely fly into Vancouver and B.C’s biggest city should never take much selling to the Brits. After all, there are few cities in the world where you can ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon!

Kate and William spent much of their time in Vancouver exploring social projects for refugees and disadvantaged communities. To incorporate an Aboriginal slant on a city stay, suggest visits to the Museum of Anthropology to see galleries of traditional Aboriginal artwork and towering totems. Stanley Park, too, is home to some famous totem poles and in summer it’s possible to explore Aboriginal culture on a guided kayak tour.

The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in downtown Vancouver is named after a renowned First Nation artist and features his collection of jewellery, carvings, sculptures, prints and drawings, as well as works from other contemporary Aboriginal artists.

TOP TIP Visitors arriving at Vancouver Airport can see Bill Reid’s most famous sculpture, The Jade Canoe, which also featured on Canada’s $20 bill.

"VANCOUVER SHOULDN'T BE A DIFFICULT SELL. AFTER ALL, THERE ARE FEW CITIES IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU CAN SKI IN THE MORNING AND SURF IN THE AFTERNOON"

Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii First Nations dance

This rugged archipelago was known as the Queen Charlotte Islands for many years but its rightful name, which translates as ‘Islands of the People’, was restored in 2010. A two-hour flight from Vancouver, it comprises 400 islands and islets.

Despite an extreme environment with high rainfall and the strongest winds in Canada, the islands have been inhabited for 12,500 years.

Ensure your clients make like the royals and start a Haida Gwaii trip with a visit to the Haida Heritage Centre and SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

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ROYAL TOUR IN FOCUS

which houses First Nation exhibits and art.

Help your clients follow in their footsteps by adding a visit to the MacBride Museum of Yukon History. It’s a place which re-creates the early days of this wild west town - the saloons where gold panners met, the mounted police cabins and the telegraph station which kept this remote settlement in touch with 'civilisation' – and from where Kate and William sent a tweet by telegraph.

SELL IT The ultimate way to soak up gold rush history is a canoe trip on the Yukon River. 1st Class Holidays (1stclassholidays.com) has a fiveday canoe adventure priced from £1,145pp.

With luck, your clients will spot moose, bears and wolves.

Carcross

The Okanagan Valley

Haida Gwaii carver at work

Museum. Here they will learn about the people and their close relationship with this wild land.

You might not be able to arrange for your clients to arrive by canoe, like Kate and William, but you can arrange a canoe tour once they are there.

SELL IT The royals enjoyed a fishing trip in Haida Gwaii but you can go one better! Audley Travel (audleytravel.com) offers a 13-day Haida Gwaii by yacht package on the 68-foot Island Roamer. Naturalists are onboard to point out wildlife and each day reveals new Haida villages and the chance to explore rainforest and beaches.

From £5200pp.

Kelowna

"IF YOUR CLIENTS ARE OENOPHILES, KELOWNA IS A GREAT BOLT-ON TO THEIR ITINERARY BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER 30 WINERIES WITHIN A 20-MINUTE DRIVE OF THE CITY" 16

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This southern B.C city lies in the Okanagan Valley, on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake surrounded by provincial parks, pine forest, vineyards, orchards and mountains.

William and Kate visited Mission Hill Family Estate, described as the ‘Versailles of the Valley’, to taste some award-winning wines.

If your clients are oenophiles, Kelowna, nestled between the snow-capped Coastal Mountains to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east, is a great bolt-on to their itinerary because there are over 30 wineries within a 20-minute drive of the city. There are also five official wine trails, which direct visitors around the area.

TOP TIP The Westside Wine Trail, visited by the Royals, includes the Mission Hill Winery.

The hilltop estate has sweeping views of the vines, lake and mountains and has the awardwinning Terrace Restaurant on-site – perfect for food pairing.

Whitehorse

The capital of Yukon is synonymous with the gold industry that created it and the Royal couple had hardly touched down before they were appreciating the area’s history by watching a performance at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre,

Home to the Carcross and Tagish First Nations, this settlement was once known as ‘Caribou Crossing’ and is a stop on the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad which links to Skagway in Alaska.

Activities on offer here are dependent on the time of the year. The Royal couple experienced local traditions, received an elder’s blessing and met a totem carver, but other options include fishing, dog sledding, bird watching and horse riding.

William and Kate also experienced one of Carcross’ most popular sports: mountain biking.

They saw a demonstration from Single Track to Success, a First Nation programme that has transformed Montana Mountain from silver mining hot spot to a mountain biking paradise by training local youths to create mountain trails and improving the community. It is set in some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery.

SELL IT Mountain Bike Worldwide (mountainbikeworldwide.com) has an eight-day specialist package. The adventure becomes progressively more technical and includes coaching from local guides. It is priced from £1,640pp.

New Canadian Signature Experiences

There are two new Canadian Signature Experiences which cross over with the Royal trail and lend the trip a more immersive quality. The one-week, 76km Wilderness Trail is an epic hike through remote old-growth rainforest, along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island with experienced guides.

If your clients need a bit more comfort, Bones Bay Lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest offers a fourday wildlife eco-tour seeking whales, bears and bald eagles.

Accommodation is a cosy eight-person floating lodge.

PROVINCIAL PARTNERS

Signature Experiences in...

Atlantic Canada J

Help clinch a booking to Atlantic Canada by discovering four of the region’s top Canadian Signature Experiences – authentic adventures guaranteed to make your clients’ trip memorable

ust over five hours' flying time from the UK, Atlantic Canada is closer than you think and is increasingly recognised as such. Accessed by direct flights from Gatwick, Heathrow, Glasgow and Dublin, it offers a coastline brimming with classic Canadian attractions from whale watching to clam digging to trail hikes to lighthouses to maritime history.

The region is comprised of four provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and each offers plenty of reasons to visit. Here's a sample of Canadian Signature Experiences (CSE) on offer. Suggest these to inspire clients to book.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Book a ‘Whales by Zodiac’ tour out of Saint Andrews and your clients will head out into the whale feeding grounds of the Bay of Fundy, finding themselves face-toface with the wild. As they cruise, playful porpoises and curious harbour seals may circle the boat, while bald eagles and puffins soar overhead. Of course sightings cannot be guaranteed but real excitement is certain when a 20-metre finback whale sends a 10-metre-high spout of salty water into the air and cameras go into overdrive.

THE DETAILS: Operated by Fundy Tide Runners from May through October. July and August are the best time for whale-watching, but wildlife is nearly always on view. Tours last two hours. fundytiderunners.com

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR Quirpon Island Lighthouse is set on a remote island off the northernmost tip of Newfoundland where the charming 1922 lightkeeper’s residence is now an inn.

Visitors will experience up close the abundant marine life that is attracted here by the nutrient-rich Labrador current.

Humpback, minke and orca whales find their place among the towering icebergs drifting southward through Iceberg Alley. There is lush tundra to explore on foot and the possibility of viewing Northern Lights awaits.

THE DETAILS: Visitors can stay at the lighthouse from May through September, generally flying into Deer Lake Airport then driving for five scenic hours northwards along the Viking Trail through Gros Morne National Park to Quirpon. linkumtours.com

NOVA SCOTIA The iconic Cabot Trail winds through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and visitors joining the signature 'Skyline Sunset Hike', walk with a guide to a point where the mountains plunge into the sea. The walk leads through thick boreal forest with bald eagles soaring overhead and 1000 resident moose closeby. The final boardwalk

descends 300 gentle steps to where the ocean plunges 400 metres below and the horizon stretches out to infinity as the sun sets. As darkness falls the starry sky adds further interest.

THE DETAILS: The tours run in July and August exclusively, when there are also 50 weekly activities in the park.

Summer also sees abundant music and cultural festivals and events in the region. novascotia.com

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND This experience starts with wetsuits, masks and snorkels and ends with a delicious lunch. First your clients will venture into chest-deep waters in search of clams. When they have gathered sufficient they can explore the beach, swim in the warm waters and explore the island's most famous lighthouse while a seasoned pro cooks their lunch on the beach. They learn about the lobsters, rock crabs and mussels that frequent these waters too and stop off to admire seals and enjoy maritime hospitality and the stories.

THE DETAILS: Tranquility Cove Adventures offers this as a full day adventure from July-September, the clamming season, and is easily accessible from Charlottetown. tcapei.com

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GET CNNECTED Destination Canada is actively targeting Millennials – and has come up with several creative ways to connect them to all the right virtual mediums, says Julie Baxter

M

illennial travellers (18-34) are different. Tourism research shows they think differently about travel and need to be targeted in creative and somewhat subtler ways than an earlier generation of brochureloving bookers. They are tech savvy and keen to ‘share’, they research travel widely online and get inspired by each other’s travel experiences through online photo albums, videos and blogs.

They may not be coming into your agency looking for a traditional brochure or a packaged deal but research suggests many are booking through travel agents and, while you may still think of them as low-revenue backpackers, they are increasingly combining cheaper accommodation and flights with some very lucrative commission-yielding experiences you can actively help them secure.

Destination Canada has made marketing to millennials a priority this year and has upped its online and social media activities, championing bloggers and online influencers and even empowering travel agents to create their own video travel stories while on fam trips to share with clients and colleagues alike.

Millennials are key to future sales and are seen as a pivotal stream of long-term business. Targeting them and the things they value can also help widen perceptions of exactly what Canada can offer 18

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

across all travel groups. By trialing specific online marketing campaigns, developing big data insights and focusing activities around a Connecting Global Customers programme, the Destination Canada team aims to build a wealth of clear opportunities trade partners can tap into and use themselves.

Peer-to-peer recommendation is key in this market and the power of social media offers huge opportunities. Targeted online niche campaigns have already proven that significant bookings can be generated from nothing for a region or product which actively builds profile and followers through interesting and inspirational online activity.

This activity isn’t so much about advertising on the right sites or running direct email campaigns but rather about story telling – showcasing individual experiences of great activities and interactions within the destination – and getting those stories shared.

And by placing Canada as hip and happening in the virtual world, the industry is opening the door to millennials.

Here are a few examples of how to make it happen…

MILLENIALS

“IN MANY WAYS IT’S LIKE THE WILD WEST OUT THERE IN THE DIGITAL WORLD BUT OUR STRATEGY IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE CANADA IS ON TOP OF THE DATA, USES IT TO BEST EFFECT AND HELPS PARTNERS DEVELOP THE BEST POSSIBLE CONTENT” CEO David Goldstein

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AGENTS ON TOUR

Two UK travel agents, Anneka Bones of Southern Cross Travel and Claire Moore of Peakes Travel Elite, took a fam trip with a difference: they were accompanied by film crews to Ontario and British Columbia. The aim of the trip was to create video footage which would become part of the newly-revamped Canada Specialist Programme, bringing the training to life.

But the agents also provided details of their journeys through their own Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, in order that both colleagues and clients could share in their experiences and build knowledge and understanding of what’s on offer in a very direct and informal way.

There will be more to come like this as Destination Canada is also running a big global campaign with STA Travel which will include much digital content and coverage.

FOCUS ON FOOD

This summer Destination Canada supported an online adventure by John Quilter, aka the 'Food Busker', an entrepreneur, broadcaster and chef with a strong following.

Not content with launching an award-winning coffee company and starring in the primetime TV series Food Junkies, Quilter also has his own 100k-strong-subscriber You Tube Channel, Food Busker. A joint venture with Jamie Oliver one of the UK's fastest-growing food channels showcases the best, trending, global street food and shows.

This summer Quilter crossed Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver Island, cooking up dishes using locally-sourced ingredients for locals to try.

The resulting footage went live on the Food Busker You Tube Channel in September with weekly updates posted through to the middle of November.

From tracking down the best bagel in Montreal to fishing for foodie compliments in Tofino, Canada’s surf town, Quilter showcased the best tastes of Canada whilst discovering great places to visit and meeting quirky, local characters along the way. youtube.com/FoodBusker

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VLOGER VALUE

Trek America has worked with three Vlogers (video bloggers) to create informal video stories about its tours in Canada.

Charting small details and big moments experienced along the journey, these You Tube videos have been clicked by over 100,000 viewers.

They help bring the tours to life with personal impressions and commentary that no brochure can easily provide. Check them out by searching Trek America Canada on You Tube and share with your own clients to give them a taste of what a tour to Canada can include.

TrekAmerica has also developed its own reviewsharing site, TrekAmerica Live, a social website that allows those thinking about travelling to North America for the first time or booked and travelling to share their questions, ideas and experiences as they go.

WATCH THE WILD

Canada’s wildlife is a well-established drawcard so direct clients to some expertly-shot wildlife footage!

Wildlife cameraman Bertie Gregory recently spent time on Vancouver Island, interacting with wolves, bears, otters and bald eagles, and his films can be shared through the NatGeo Wild channel, also accessible through You Tube.

Five-minute films show him spotting humpback whales, seeking out elusive coastal wolves, getting mobbed by sea lions and watching bears feed and fight. In early November, BBC 2 spent three days in Churchill filming the Arctic Live programme (over three nights).

Screened as a three-part series exploring the planet’s last undiscovered wilderness, the programmes saw presenters 2Kate Humble, Simon Reeve and Gordon Buchanan visit the edge of the Canadian Arctic and film live from the shores of Hudson Bay. They followed the remarkable journey of hundreds of polar bears as they waited to set off on their winter hunt after months without food.

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GET SOCIAL

Travel Alberta (@ TravelAlberta) is tapping into the growing trend of sharing through photography and is using Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook as channels to build a wide portfolio of instantly accessible ideas and inspirations consumers can share.

From foodie moments to animal encounters, the tourism body's albums are crammed with colourful experiences from the province with brief details of where and when these experiences can be captured.

Share images, video clips and blogs with your clients to bring the destination to life – and clinch that booking.

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CITY PROFILE: MONTRÉAL

Party city

Winter sunshine

Crossing the

divide D

Neither quintessentially French nor wholly Canadian, Montréal is a buzzing, creative city with its own free spirit, says Laura Gelder

cycle, or snowshoe in the winter. For cobbled espite knowing that Montréal is streets and pavement cafes for croissant nibbling, French-speaking it’s something that head to Old Montréal. still surprised me at every turn – I Art galleries and bistros dominate and tourists didn’t expect a ‘bonjour’ with my coffee and can trundle around by horse and cart. But it’s not donut in the ultra-Canadian Tim Hortons! trying too hard to be Continental.

Unlike the quaint capital of the province, Like any great Western city, Montréal Québec City, you can’t see Montréal’s is multi-cultural and proud of it. The French connection at first glance. The wave of immigration is best seen city centre’s gridded streets are from St Laurent Boulevard, which punctuated by towering glass “Shop on St. Catherine Street. You runs north from Old Montréal’s buildings which disappear as the will find international brands and wellriverfront. Historically, it was the streets radiate out into a series of known Canadian names such as the dividing line between the Englishdistinct districts, where narrow Hudson Bay Company and Roots Canada” speaking west and the Frenchtownhouses criss-crossed by metal Frank Kelly, Travelopia speaking east, and the first stop for stairways are the dominating Montréal's ethnic communities, architecture. But look closely and you including Jewish, Arab and Haitian. can see the Roman Catholic influence There's a Chinatown and a Little Italy. from France, in the many domed churches.

At Montréal’s biggest market you can get a taste of The best way to see the city is to climb Montréal’s this diversity. Marche Jean Talon is a visual feast as ‘mountain’. It’s more of a steep hill (don’t tell that to well. Spoils from Québec’s fertile land are piled in the locals mind) and also a park, but Mont Royal technicolour pyramids. You can buy cheeses, maple affords beautiful views of downtown products, fresh bread and organic meat. Or dine on and the surrounding districts, the oysters, sushi, satay chicken or crepes.

St Lawrence River and the A great night in the bars of Crescent Street, derelict docks with their downtown, is still a sure thing and will most likely giant grain silos. end in a plate of greasy poutine (Québec’s answer The park has to cheesy chips). But, as is common in urban areas, manicured Montréal’s cool and creative types have begun to picnic areas sprout in new and previously run-down areas, like as well as Mile End, home of the band, Arcade Fire. Head here silent, wild for hipster record shops, bagel joints and vintage tracks clothes stores. But I did hear that the bearded folk through the are already migrating to neighbouring Mile Ex with trees where its warehouse bars and pop-up food trucks. you can run,

Top tip...

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016

TOP FIVE

VIRTUAL MONTRÉAL: The 360-degree observation deck, Au Sommet Place Ville Marie, offers sweeping views and interactive trip-planning technology.

NATURAL HIGH: Montréal’s Biodome houses an indoor zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in one, showcasing the four ecological systems of the Americas ART ATTACK: Art is inescapable in Montréal. The city’s Museum of Fine Arts has more than 41,000 works, including many Quebecoise and First Nation pieces.

GO TO GROUND: Montréal’s winters are bitterly cold but happily, there is an underground city too, the world's largest and a labyrinth of tunnels connecting shops, offices, museums and the metro.

LACHINE CANAL: This 14.5 kilometrelong canal is no longer an industrial artery but a scenic urban park.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Unique activities

Only found in Québec Québec offers visitors a fascinating culture that blends famously French flavours with that pioneering Canadian spirit. Let your clients know what they could be missing

Ice Canoeing

Originally devised as a means of getting across the frozen St Lawrence River between Québec City and Lévis, this has now evolved into a fun sport – and Québec is the only place in the world that offers it. It’s not for the faint-hearted but certainly entertaining to watch! Crews of five alternate pushing their canoe over the ice and rowing across the watery sections, battling against currents of four knots, tides of over 15 feet and ice blocks blown towards them by the wind. If your clients are hardy souls you can book them an Ice Canoe Excursion with Québec Ice Canoeing and they can have a go themselves. quebecicecanoeing.com Québec is the world’s largest producer of maple syrup, but visit a cabane à sucre, or sugar shack, and you’ll be immersed in a homely, cosy setting.

Also known as a ‘sap house’ or ‘sugar shanty’, they are private houses or farm estates which open their doors to visitors. As well as seeing where maple tree sap is collected and boiled into maple syrup, visitors can see sweet treats being prepared and taste maple products. Sugar shacks are prominent across Eastern Canada but Québec is the only place where it’s remained a family tradition. Sucrerie de la Montagne offers horsedrawn sleigh and wagon rides and a “sugaring-off feast,” with maple syrup as the star! sucreriedelamontagne.com

Discover Québécois French The only province in Canada with French as its official language, Québec is proud of its distinctive French–Canadian culture and unique Québécois French, the origins of which can be traced back to 1534, when explorer Jacques Cartier entered the St Lawrence River. Each year, the people of Québec celebrate the arrival of the first Europeans on American soil with the Fetes de la NouvelleFrance, held every summer in Old Québec. Visitors will enjoy French-inspired foods, such as cheese, pâté and escargot. Recommend your clients travel the Flavour Trail, which criss-crosses the Charlevoix region’s rich farming lands with the chance to sample organic produce and local cider. nouvellefrance.qc.ca; tourisme-charlevoix.com

top tip...

2017 will see Canada celebrate the 150th anniverary of its nationhood and historic Québec City will be key to celebrations. Meanwhile, Montréal will mark its 375th anniversary with a calendar of events

Tourisme Quebec-Andre Quenneville

Visit a genuine ‘sugar shack’

Ice canoeing

Québec’s First Nations Québec is home to 55 Aboriginal communities, including Inuit groups from northern Nunavik.

There are a number of Aboriginal tourism projects in Québec which allow visitors to meet First Nations people, learn about their heritage and experience traditional activities such as ice fishing and medicine gathering. At the Huron-Wendat Reserve visitors can tour a re-constructed village and listen to a First Nations Guide explain the history of dream catchers. Alternatively, book your clients a stay at the unique H�tel Musée Premieres Nations, where they can immerse themselves in the culture of the Huron-Wendat First Nations. huron-wendat.qc.ca; tourismewendake.ca

Taste traditional ‘poutine’ Maple candy at the sugar shack

Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations

Originating in Québec and made by combining chips, cheese curd and gravy, poutine is the province’s most original dish – but the origin of the hearty dish is disputed. One claim is that it comes from Warwick, a small dairy-farming town in Québec where in 1957 a customer asked the chef to throw together cheese curds and French fries into a bag because they were in a rush. The customer then remarked in Québécois French “This is a poutine” – a slang word for ‘mess’. But the nearby city of Drummondville also lays claim to the dish and each summer celebrates it at the Festival de la Poutine de Drummondville. festivaldelapoutine.com

Selling Canada WINTER 2016/17

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WINTERSPORTS

MAKE THE MOST OF CANADA’S

SLIPPERY SLOPES

BANFF LAKE LOUISE TOURISM/PAUL ZIZKA

Get set for the snow and sell, sell, sell. Canada’s great winter season promises fabulous snow conditions and, from west to east, welcoming resorts to suit all fans of the piste. Arnie Wilson pulls on his salopettes and takes a look

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

WINTERSPORTS

Whistler Village

Ride with huskies in Alberta

inter doesn’t get much more wintery than it does in Canada. Generous snowfall, piling deep and crisp and even on the spectacular Canadian Rockies, guarantees all manner of winter delights: great skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, sleigh rides and winter festivals aplenty.

“Super, Natural” British Columbia and Alberta are home to some of the most celebrated ski areas in the world – notably Whistler, BC, (whistlerblackcomb.com) which is regularly voted the best ski area in North America (it was for the third year running this year) and Lake Louise (skilouise.com), Alberta’s pride and joy.

Other highly rated BC ski areas include Sun Peaks (sunpeaksresort.com), now the second-largest in Canada after Whistler; Big White (bigwhite.com),– Canada’s largest ski-in, ski-out resort; Fernie (fernie.com); Kicking Horse (kickinghorseresort. com); and Revelstoke (revelstokemountainresort. com), where, unusually, you can actually heli-ski, cat-ski and ski 'normally' in the same resort.

And then there are the more niche resorts such as Red Mountain (redresort.com) and Whitewater (skiwhitewater.com) which attract dedicated skiers and boarders looking for steep and deep terrain away from the busier resorts.

In Alberta, skiers can combine Lake Louise (57km west of Banff) with neighbouring Sunshine Village (skibanff.com) and Banff’s local ski area, Mount Norquay (banffnorquay. com) – all available on the same 'Big Three ' tri-area list pass, and offering a total of 334 runs spread across Pull on some snow shoes this winter 8,000 acres of

National Park terrain. Marmot Basin (skimarmot. com), the deceptively gentle ski area in picturesque Jasper National Park, has 86 runs and some pretty fierce skiing if you explore, and has introduced a new 'Marmot Escape' card for just $75 plus tax, which gives skiers and boarders 50% off the regular rate for a one-day lift pass, 20% off the cost of a ticket for the card owner’s children, 20% off for high-performance rentals, and 10% off for regular rentals, select lessons, and on-mountain merchandise and food.

Card owners also receive special savings at some hotels, restaurants and a handful of small Alberta ski areas in the Edmonton area.

W

Perfectly groomed

Whistler, which recently joined Colorado’s allpowerful Vail Resorts portfolio, offers truly exceptional skiing on two mountains – Whistler Mountain itself, and Blackcomb peak next door.

As well as being linked at base level, the two mountains share a high PEAK 2 PEAK gondola (a Canadian Signature Experience) link which means you can quickly switch from one mountain to another without skiing all the way down to the base area. With around 200 named runs between them – and plentiful off-piste – there’s more than enough skiing on each mountain to keep your clients happy on either without thinking to themselves 'been there, done that' and rushing off to change peaks.

Every year Whistler opens up its seemingly unlimited coffers to splash out on improvements and this winter is no exception, with £1.4 million spent on the resort’s learning areas, including two new covered carpet lifts and 45 extra snow guns. Another £1.9 million has gone on boosting Whistler-Blackcomb’s grooming fleet.

Its relatively close proximity to Vancouver, a beautiful city, adds further value if your clients can tear themselves away from the skiing for a day – or perhaps visit it on the way home. Likewise, although not on quite the same scale, the town

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WINTERSPORTS

Whistler Blackcomb Mountan in British Columbia

"WINTER DOESN'T GET MUCH MORE WINTRY THAN IT DOES IN CANADA! GENEROUS SNOWFALL, PILING DEEP AND CRISP ON THE CANADIAN R0CKIES, GUARANTEES ALL MANNER OF WINTER DELIGHTS"

of Banff is a colourful, vibrant community to explore without taking time off from skiing. Banff’s night life is pretty full on too!

Don’t underestimate the slopes at Banff’s ski hill, Mt Norquay. It may be on the small size but it certainly packs a black-run punch (if you want it to) although it does have plenty of easy skiing too.

Sunshine Village has some of the highest skiing in Canada, so the snow is invariably excellent. And if your clients are looking for steep and deep you can’t go wrong booking Lake Louise itself, which has masses of off-piste as well as a large network of well-groomed trails.

The skiing in Québec has a different feel. The Laurentian mountains rise to 1,166m (3,825 ft) and are inevitably of a different stature to the mighty Rockies. The main resorts are Tremblant, (tremblant. ca), just over 115 kms north-west of Montréal; Stoneham (skistoneham.com), just half an hour from Québec City; Mont-Sainte Anne (40 minutes away) and Le Massif (lemassif.com). Although Le Massif is almost 100 kms to the north-east of Québec, it’s well worth the journey to enjoy the scenery: dramatic views across the St Lawrence which make you feel you could almost ski right into the river.

including Westin Resort & Spa, Marriott Residence Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Fairmont.

At Le Massif you feel you could almost ski right into the St Lawrence Off the piste, Québec also offers such attractions as ice-canoeing and the chance to visit a genuine sugar shack. It’s the only place in the world where visitors can visit a 'cabane a sucre' - a private house where sap crated from maple trees is collected and boiled into maple syrup.

For the first time in 45 years, the Canyon St Anne, located 30 minutes outside of Québec City, open to visitors this winter. Projet Vertical (projetvertical. com/en) is a mountain sports trail that combines hiking and rock climbing with circuits adapted for all levels. The trail is set up on a rock face equipped with cables, beams, bridges and footpaths to facilitate the hike whilst ensuring safety. Visitors go at their own pace and discover amazing aerial views and spectacular scenery along the way.

BOOK IT Ski Safari –- 01273 224060 Stays at the four-star Aava Whistler, in a central location in Whistler Village, costs from £1,139pp for an 11-night booking including return flights (London to Vancouver) and airport transfers or hire car. Departs March 9 2017. (Bookings made

by November 15 save up to 40%) skisafari.com BOOK IT Frontier Ski – 020 8776 8709 The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is being featured at a 55% discount for a 10-nights minimum stay with a double room upgrade available for selected dates. January departures, including scheduled Air Canada flights and a nine-day lift pass are priced from £1875pp. frontier-ski.co.uk BOOK IT Inghams – 01483 791111 Seven nights, room only, at the Lake Louise Inn, starts from £989pp including flights from Gatwick to Calgary and resort transfers. inghams.co.uk BOOK IT Crystal – 020 8939 0726 Tremblant is featured at £750pp, based on four people sharing at the Holiday Inn B&B for seven nights in January, including schedule flights (to Montréal) and transfers. A similar package at the Aspen Lodge in Banff is priced from £855pp. crystalski.co.uk

SKI Magazine readers have voted Tremblant the top ski resort in Eastern North America for the 19th year in a row, as well as rating it in the top 10 in other highly sought-after categories including lodging, dining, après ski, snow, childfriendliness, service and value. Clearly its 96 allcalibre trails with 14 lifts continue to impress. Some 13 hotels are set around a pedestrian village here, 24

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

Enjoy a horse-pulled ride in Jasper

JEFF BARLETT/TOURISM JASPER

Beast of the East

WINTER FESTIVALS

Snow limits

cold comforts Canadians embrace winter and they celebrate it in style with competitions, festivals and events that add an exciting twist to any snow season visit. Arnie Wilson highlights some ones to watch

BANFF

WinterStart: The Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup is Canada's highest-profile alpine ski race and the first World Cup speed event of the season (November 26-27). The fastest skiers in the world compete in Downhill and Super-G in the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Admission to the Lake Louise WinterStart World Cup is free (no lift ticket required) and offers thechance to watch some of the best ski racing in the world. A special Kids Zone in the finish area provides hot marshmallows, hot chocolate, face painting and games. Children ski free on race days. Each adult lift ticket comes with two free lift-passes for under 12s. The children must be present and say, “Go Canada go!” to get their tickets! banffwinterstart.ca Parade of Lights: Banff’s traditional Santa Claus Parade of Lights takes place along Banff Avenue on November 19. Visitors can catch a candy cane or prize thrown to the crowd by Santa's elves, while Santa himself leads a string of festive floats. banff.ca

top tip...

In Whistler, recommend the Fire and Ice show’s 'afterburn' after-party, with live music, at the Garibaldi Lift Company Grill and Bar

LAKE LOUISE Ice Magic Festival: This event (January 19-29, 2017) is part of Banff National Park's SnowDays programme and includes an ice carving competition (January 22) in Lake Louise. The highlight is the Ice Magic Festival which sees ice carvers sculpt towering one-of-a-kind works of art from 300lb blocks of solid ice over a gruelling 34 hours. banfflakelouise.com

display. And Whistler's best skiers and riders, including Whistler Blackcomb Snow School pros, hit a big-air jump through a blazing ring of fire every Sunday night (and special added dates). whistlerblackcomb.com/events.

Film Festival: Whistler’s Film Festival (its 16th) is scheduled for November 30–December 4. The event, with premieres, star-studded guests, and 'lively celebrations' attracts 10,000 attendees, including more than 550 industry 'insiders'. whistlerfilmfestival.com

MANITOBA

WHISTLER Fire and Ice Show: Free every Sunday evening, performers at this show offer an eclectic mix of music, dance and 'spinning fire'.

Visitors can watch world-class athletes flipping and twisting through a burning ring of fire and finish with a first class fireworks

Yukon Quest

Ice Magic Festival

Le Festival du Voyageur The Festival du Voyageur (February 12-21), is an annual 10-day winter festival celebrating the area’s fur-trade era and French-Canadian heritage in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event, held in Winnipeg's French Quarter, Saint-Boniface, is Western Canada's largest winter festival, featuring snow sculptures, dog-sledding, skating and speciality food. festivalvoyageur.mb.ca/en

YUKON

Festival du Voyageur

Yukon Quest: This annual 1,600km dog sled race runs between Whitehorse, Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska (February 4, 2017). The trail follows old gold-rush and mail-delivery routes. Visitors can watch the mushers and meet the dogs before they race and see the action at checkpoints along the Yukon Quest trail. yukonquest.com SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

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MEGA FAM

Slip sliding away

Fam-tastic ski trip

World class

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estination Canada accompanied eight agents on a dedicated ski fam to Sun Peaks and Whistler in British Columbia, to show them what the two ski areas have to offer and to get them out onto the resorts' pistes.

Selling Canada spoke with two agents on the trip, one an experienced skier and the other at a more intermediate/novice level, for their views on the resorts.

Experienced skier

Paula Boyd from Travelplanners is a keen skier and was excited to hit the slopes in Canada. She said: “I first skied at the age of eight and over the years I have introduced many customers and friends to skiing, including my husband. It is fabulous to be able to ski together as a family."

Paula had skied in many European resorts

Paula Boyd at Whistler

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

A superb snow record, jaw-dropping scenery, family-friendly resorts, welcoming locals, patient guides....A ski holiday in Canada is well worth the transatlantic flight

in Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland but was keen to see how Canada compared.

She said: “I was delighted when I was invited to join Destination Canada's ski fam. The whole experience was great, helped by a very generous amount of the white stuff on well-groomed mountains.

"Sun Peaks has increased its ski area greatly over the last few years and now ranks as Canada’s second-largest ski area, but its wide expanse means it never feels busy. Plus it has retained a very homely feel, almost an Austrian Tyrolean ambience, with enough shops and restaurants to explore after some great dry powder skiing.

"Whistler has a great ski area spread between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, linked by the Peak 2 Peak cable car that whisks you from the top of one mountain to the other in just 11 minutes.

"There are a lot more shops to be tempted by and a buzz that makes you want to explore its lively après ski scene in its many bars, restaurants and clubs.

"The main thing evident in both Whistler and Blackcomb was that Canada’s ski resorts are set up for family and friends to ski together, whatever the age and experience. The child facilities both on and off the slopes are excellent, the ski guides are happy to assist you and the lift attendants are so friendly and very patient,

The UK fam group

always looking out for the young or less experienced.

"The best thing of all is that most of the Canadian mountains have a choice of runs down from the same point, to cater for different grades of skiers. Skiing together in Canada is just a real pleasure."

Returning skier

Amanda Gore from Godalming Travel Company had not strapped on a pair of skis in over a decade but dusted off her ski gear to join the trip.

Amanda said: “I hadn’t skied for about 12 years and after such a long break I was a bit anxious about getting on the slopes again.

Our first stop was Sun Peaks, a pretty ski resort village and a perfect destination to gently break myself back into skiing.

"Whilst the rest of the group, who were more experienced skiers, took to the slopes, I opted for a private one-to-one lesson arranged by Destination Canada.

"It was without a doubt the best thing I could have done and with a bit of encouragement from the instructor I started to get back to where I was all those years ago. I had the same opportunity at Whistler, the final stop on our trip. The resort is much larger, and more daunting, which initially made me a little nervous. But, we had an incredible day there, with beautiful blue skies, great powder snow and amazing views. All in all, a very memorable trip.”

INTERVIEW

Margaret Skinner

Trade pledge

Margaret Skinner heads up European sales for Air Canada and it's leisure airline, Air Canada Rouge, at a time of dramatic growth. Here she explains how the team is rising to the challenge and ranks the UK trade among its strongest partners

"

These are incredibly exciting times for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. We have embarked on a robust schedule of global expansion and as the UK is our largest international market our commitment to the trade here has never been stronger.

Air Canada first started operating from the UK (Prestwick) in 1943 and now has 63 flights a week from here. We have a robust schedule of growth globally and the UK is key to that as our largest, most important international market.

We have tried to be careful and clever about picking our markets and adding new flights and so far this strategy has been successful. The new Air Canada Rouge routes have given us access to routes that would not have been viable before for us and it is exciting to see people are rediscovering Canada and realising it has so much to offer, that it is cosmopolitan and on trend. Canada is, in short, very much back in fashion.

Get onboard

Our programme of product upgrades on the 777 fleet was completed in June so we now have a true Premium Economy cabin and have refurbished the Business cabins to offer an onboard product consistent with that on our new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. Larger seats, extra leg room, two checked bags and priority service have all helped establish Premium Economy as a great value option with both high-end leisure travellers and business travellers. Our goal is to raise awareness of the product and the value it offers.

What's new

Six new destinations will join Air Canada's international network next year: Toronto to Mumbai and Berlin, MontrĂŠal to Algiers and Marseille and Vancouver to Taipei and Nagoya.

These present new opportunities for interesting stopovers in Canada and we'd encourage agents to check them out.

Stopovers are available on RT and OW bookings on AC/AC Rouge flights when itineraries include at least one city outside Canada and the U.S. with a connection of six hours or longer, in MontrĂŠal, Toronto or Vancouver.

In addition, Air Canada Rouge now flies from more airports in the UK than ever before including seasonal services from Glasgow and Gatwick to Toronto. In Ireland we operate year-round services from Dublin to Toronto and a seasonal service to Vancouver.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Toronto Airport hub

Toronto hub

We have invested heavily in Toronto as our key hub. It is a great airport, easy to use and ultra-modern, and the schedules we offer ensure some really good onward connections within Canada or further afield. All connecting flights leave from the same terminal, making a transit quick and smooth, and customers can now fly on to the U.S. without having to re-check their baggage and can pre-clear U.S. Customs and Book it...

Immigration in Canada.

Canadian stopovers start from just C$49 This really helps save time for a one night's hotel stay with a Tango and hassle. or Flex fare and one free night at certain

Trade support

787 Premium Economy

hotels with Latitude, Premium Economy and Executive Class fares. aircanada.com

We have been very successful in the UK market and have a long-established team here supporting agents and operators. We have a dedicated trade page for updates online and produce a regular printed newsletter Check In for the trade too. In addition we run regular fam trips and are always happy to arrange airport visits so the trade can see the seamless service now offered at Terminal 2."

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

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CITY PROFILE: KINGSTON

Fort Henry reenactments

Rideau Canal

Ontario's

historic gem Located equidistant from the visitor magnets of Toronto, Montréal and Ottawa, historic Kingston's new visitor drawcards next year will add to its year-round appeal, says Julie Baxter

C

convert it into a winter wonderland complete anada’s first capital city, Kingston, is with ice palace entrance, sound and light show, probably best known as the gateway fireside meeting points, magical art installations, to Ontario’s 1000 Islands region, but motion-sensored tree lighting and augmented it is now gearing up to play a key role in the reality activities for tourists.

Canada 150 years of nationhood celebrations Launching next winter, the new attraction in 2017. will be part of the Canada150 It is an historic and picturesque spot, celebrations running throughout situated where the Saint Lawrence 2017, and will then be open River meets Lake Ontario and the Recommend a Kingston Food Tour regularly between December and Rideau Canal – a UNESCO World which combines the city's vibrant February to help extend the Heritage site – and has long been downtown sights with tastings at the best city’s visitor season. popular for its historical sites local restaurants, with a local insider Also new to the Kingston and easy access to the endless leading the way attraction portfolio is the Kingston shorelines and boating Penitentiary, built in the 18th opportunities which surround it.

Kingston was home to Canada’s century and run as a maximum first Prime Minister and was once security prison until just three years defended with more ardor and investment ago but now remodeled as a visitor than any other destination in the British Empire, attraction. The prison has unique vaulted thanks to its strategic position at the entry to the ceiling architecture (built by the prisoners) and Great Lakes area. a fascinating past. It is Canada’s oldest and Its position on the Rideau Canal adds another most notorious prison and predates Canadian confederation. dimension. The canal runs through a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and locks extending 202km Visitors to Kingston will note its relaxed vibe, an from Kingston to Ottawa, Canada’s current extensive calendar of festivals and capital. Completed in 1832 by the British, it’s an events and a ancient waterway with 45 locks and 19km of downtown of canal cuts which allows visitors to connect the grand limestone two destinations on a five-day cruise.

At the heart of Kingston's strategic past is Fort buildings, outdoor cafes and pubs, Henry, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a outdoor farmers popular stop for UK tourists each summer thanks market and a to its historical significance and regular battle picturesque reenactments. This winter the fort is extending its reach with an exciting project which will Confederation Park.

Top tip...

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

BOOK IT

ONTARIO WATERWAY CRUISES offers a four-night cruise on the Kawartha Voyager between Kingston and Ottawa.

The fully-inclusive scenic cruise docks each night at scenic locks and dams from where passengers can take leisurely strolls. ontariowaterwaycruises.com THE K-PASS is an all-inclusive ticket to Kingston and the 1000 Islands. It is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours and gives access to cruise and trolley bus tours, plus admission to museums and galleries. Holders also receive discounts at restaurants and a three-hour bicycle rental. Kpass.ca KINGSTON 1000 ISLAND CRUISES runs regular sightseeing and dining cruises from downtown Kingston out into the heart of the 1000 Islands region aboard leisure cruisers and a triple-deck paddle wheeler. 1000islandscruises.ca

ITINERARIES

Road trips

Route planning It's always best to consult the experts before putting together an itinerary. This month we sought advice for a popular trail in Nova Scotia and a route through the valleys of British Columbia

CABOT TRAIL – CAPE BRETON, NOVA SCOTIA Calling Baddeck "On the shores of the Bras d'Or Lake, an inland sea, this bustling town is home to Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and explores the story behind the telephone inventor."

Crafty St Anns

"A centre for culture and the place to buy Cape Breton quilts and crafts. The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts & Craft has a museum exploring everything from dance to bagpipes."

Laura Thomson, Canada Travel Specialist, Barrhead Travel, recommends...

Whale of a time PLEASANT BAY

Cape Breton Highlands National Park INGONISH CHETICAMP

NOVA SCOTIA

"Pleasant Bay is one of the best whale watching areas on the Cabot Trail. Stop here to see pilot, humpback, minke and finback whales, all of which are frequently sighted off the coast!"

Bonjour Cheticamp

"This mainly French-speaking Acadian community is eager to share its culture and history. It also has sandy beaches and is a good place for watersports and horse riding."

MARGAREE

Tee time in Ingonish

Relax in Margaree

ST ANNS

"A fishing village and entry point to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Ingonish is home to the Highlands Links Golf Course."

"Nature lovers relish this area for its canoeing, swimming, hiking and snowmobiling. The Margaree river offers salmon, trout and gaspereaux fishing."

BADDECK

OKANAGAN VALLEY AND KAMLOOPS – B.C. Lakeside life "Spend a few days in Kelowna enjoying the beach, water sports and laid-back lifestyle.

Cycle the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway route."

Local hospitality

Anneka Bones, Southern Cross Travel recommends...

"The Aboriginal-owned Quaaout Lodge and Talking Rock Resort lies on Little Shuswap Lake and offers unique First Nations activities, like experiencing a sweat lodge."

Vine time

"Visit the Mission Hill Winery to taste its award-winning wines and local cuisine and savour the valley views."

Home on the range

BRITISH COLUMBIA SUN PEAKS RESORT

Eat pie in Vernon

"This is the home of fruit growing in Canada. Visit Davison’s Orchards Country Village for a slice of the valley's best apple pie. Stay at Sparkling Hills Resort to enjoy spa treatments and lovely vistas."

CAMPBELL HILLS LITTLE SHUSWAP LAKE

VERNON KELOWNA

MISSION HILL WINERY

"The authentic Campbell Hills Guest Ranch practices natural horsemanship, believing that horses are the best teachers.

Stay a few nights to relax and enjoy rides through lakes, forest and meadows."

Get active

"Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops prides itself on being a four-season destination: ski in the winter and hike or off-road segway in the summer!"

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DESTINATION CANADA: ONLINE TRAINING

CANADASPECIALIST.CO.UK

Sweet succe ss

Sign up and comple te the new CSP programme befor e November 30 and you could be one of 20 who wins a Haribo Heart Sweet Tree, delivered to their office!

TRAINING

The best just got

even better!

The new Canada Specialist Programme is now mobile-friendly and better than ever. Take inspiration from these long-time CSPs....

Paula Boyd, Manager, Travelplanners Waterlooville “I've been a Canada Specialist for 25 years and visited many areas, but with such a large and varied country there is still so much to learn and that's where the CSP really helps!

“Both the training and the fam trips I’ve been rewarded with have taught me so much! On top of that are regular webinars which you can watch live or in your own time. You also receive discounts to use for your own holidays to Canada and you can use the logo on your paperwork and email signatures.

“Overall, the CSP is constantly showing us that Canada is an exciting and varied holiday destination, open to a huge audience. Even my staff who haven't travelled to Canada now share this enthusiasm and are actively selling it, knowing they have a handy resource for help at any time. We wouldn't do without CSP, and neither would our customers!”

Dave Brammer, HolidaysPlease “I’ve been a CSP since 2012 and it's as invaluable now as it was four years ago. I'm currently in the process of re-taking the modules. I've done the compulsory sections, Geography and Travel Information and I'm now looking at doing optional modules in Accommodations, Cruise and Rail Travel and Vibrant Cities. I intend to do every module and reach the Elite level.

“It’s a timely reminder of the range of things Canada has to offer. With so many people shying away from trouble spot destinations elsewhere, Canada is seeing an increasing number of second- and third-time visitors because it’s perceived as safe. They've done Toronto or the Rockies and now they want something else. The knowledge gained through the CSP can make you the point of difference.

After all, who knew you could sell Vancouver and the Yukon as a twin-centre holiday?”

"Destination Canada has been training UK travel agents for over 30 years and we have one of the longest-running training programmes around. Recently, we have changed the content from modules centred on provinces to modules featuring Canadian experiences. We think this will help agents get a better idea of what each part of Canada has to offer.” Adam Hanmer, Travel Trade Manager, Destination Canada

WHY TRAIN NOW? The CSP is an educational tool designed by Destination Canada to provide agents with specialist knowledge and boost their bookings.

Learn online, anytime, anywhere, via fun, interactive tools.

On completion you will be recognised as a Canada Specialist and get access to sales tools, marketing resources and benefits including fams and referrals.

What's new?

The CSP is now mobile and tablet friendly. A new interactive calendar will keep you posted on events and you can now access travel agent window display material. In 2017 there will also be an additional Elite level to work towards.

Ok, I'm a CSP, what now?

Log in at any time to check facts and access tools like the interactive map. New information is always being added, plus webinars covering new product. For more information and sales support, email Roger Harris: destinationcanadatrade@gmail.com

Changes to certification You must now complete five modules within your first year to re-certify as a CSP (including the two core modules) and complete one new module each following year to maintain it.

VISIT CANADASPECIALIST.CO.UK AND REGISTER TODAY TO GAIN ACCESS TO 8 TRAINING MODULES

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SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

DESTINATION CANADA: SOCIAL MEDIA

 @EXPLORECANADA

 EXPLORECANADA

EXPLORECANADA

 EXPLORECANADA

INSTA-WOW

DISCOVERING YEAR-ROUND YUKON IT'S A DOG'S LIFE



BLOGGER Elle Croft from UK-based 'The Travel Hack' found herself in the Yukon this October. Amongst the many activities she sampled, Elle enjoyed dog sledding (once she'd got over her surprise that it was possible without snow).

She said: "The Yukon is like a huge (and I mean enormous) playground for adventureseekers. Whether it’s -40°C and covered in snow or drenched in sunshine, you’ll find something to get your adrenaline pumping." thetravelhack.com

FALL-ING IN LOVE

"Can't stop being amazed by leaves in this place!" At the Huron-Wendat reserve in Québec. @gaddinggelder

OVER THE RAINBOW

ExploreCanada

@ExploreCanada



"During our backcountry camping trip in K-Country, Alberta – a pot of gold." @toqueandcanoe

MODEL BEHAVIOUR

KEEPING IT COOL IN BANFF NICE wheels! This retweet from @ExploreCanada is a teaser for a GQ Magazine feature which sees professional surfer and model Luke Ditella exploring the wilds of Banff.

SMALL TOWN LIFE

Win a travel speaker and charger!

WORDSEARCH

Find the words horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forwards and backwards and send us your answers for your chance to win! The words to find are: Kingston, Manitoba, Goderich, Hudson, Yoho, Banff NAME:

AGENCY:

ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: EMAIL:

ABTA NO:

ABOVE & BEYOND

Explore Canada posted a link to an article from Eyewitness Travel's 'coolest small cities in Canada' list, which included Goderich, Ontario and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (pictured).

POSTCODE:

"Don't forget to #lookup when visiting the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg!" @kderk

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TO ENTER: Post to: BMI Publishing Ltd, Suffolk House, George Street, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR. Put Selling Canada Winter 2016/2017 (Wordsearch) on the back of the envelope.

Or fax this page to: 020 8649 7234 (Feel free to make copies so a colleague can enter too). Closing date is December 31, 2016.

SELLING CANADA WINTER 2016/17

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