SUPER FAM REPORT Special Feature British Columbia
FAM ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS Royal BC Museum and Fairmont Empress, Victoria; Whale watching in the waters of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait; Butchart Gardens; Granville Island; Chinatown and Gaslamp districts, Vancouver; Capilano Suspension Bridge
ALLAN WINTHROP Fourways Travel WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FAM?
I've got family on Vancouver Island so I already knew about the region's appeal. To me Canada is about the coast, so this was an ideal opportunity to experience Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Also, we book a lot of clients to Vancouver onto the Rocky Mountaineer train and cruises out of the city.
HIGHLIGHTS? The whale-watching trip we went on off Victoria and Vancouver Islands was memorable as we saw both Humpbacks and Orcas. I also enjoyed going up Grouse Mountain in Vancouver and the immaculate Butchart Gardens in Victoria. An unexpected highlight was cycling
around Stanley Park in Vancouver. It is a gentle but highly scenic ride that really gives you a feel for the lay-out and geography of the city. The hotels we stayed in were all of a
very high standard but I was impressed by the newly-refurbished and very chic Hotel Georgia in Vancouver. I'll also remember the fact that our
mascot, Monty the Moose (pictured right) enjoyed the trip with us!
WHICH CLIENTS? British Columbia is a destination that really does have something for every type of client. There's plenty to do for younger, more energetic types but older clients will also enjoy the various sightseeing opportunities, like the whale-watching, and attractions like Butchart Gardens and Granville Market.
MICHAEL NEEDHAM Co-Operative Personal Travel Advisor WHY DID YOU
CHOOSE THIS FAM? It's a destination I sell a lot of and one that has plenty of potential to be sold in different ways.
SELLING CANADA • WINTER 2011 19
HIGHLIGHTS? The whale watching off Victoria was an amazing experience. We were lucky to see about 40 Orcas and also had a brief encounter with a massive Humpback! In Vancouver I enjoyed seeing the
Belugas in the superb aquarium, while the Capilano Suspension Bridge was good fun and also informative. Another highlight was visiting the four
hotels in Victoria, including the landmark Fairmont Empress which was stunning both outside and in. The Marriot was also a pleasant surprise as it really exceeded my expectations for its quality offerings. In Vancouver The Wedgewood is an
immaculately presented luxury boutique offering.
Clockwise: A Beluga whale in Vancouver Aquarium; Cycling in Stanley Park, Vancouver; The BC group at Granville Market, Vancouver
"The Canada Specialist Programme is one of the best for agents. I liked the variety of content: pictures, videos, web links, etc, and the back-up provided by the CTC's support team"
WHICH CLIENTS? British Columbia is a great holiday destination and works well in combination with an Alaskan cruise (many clients start and finish in either Vancouver or just across the US border in Seattle), or combining with The Rocky Mountaineer. I'm based in Scotland where Canada
is one of only a handful of long- haul destinations to be served by direct scheduled flights from Glasgow. While these are just to Toronto, there are plenty of internal flights to then get around. This helps make BC a great first-time Canada destination. It also works for an east/west combination trip including, say Toronto and Niagara. BC is a good family recommendation, with plenty of good attractions.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Top Tips... • Whale-watching • Spectacular Pacific coastline • Gateway to the Rockies • City attractions and tours
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