CRAZY FOR QUÉBEC
MY CANADA Welcome to Canada is the business
SHARON MASON Director, 1stClass Holidays (Manchester) 0161 877 0433;
www.1stclassholidays.com
For 1stClass Holidays director Sharon Mason, Canada is a destination that draws her back again and again, and not simply because she's been selling it for 20 years!
"MY
many trips to Canada are literally a labour of
love," says 1stClass Holidays director Sharon Mason. “Canada is our core business and
that’s why the country keeps drawing me back. “I have been selling Canada for
20-plus years and during that time I have been on more trips than I can remember to most regions. "For example, I have attended the last
seven or eight Rendez-vous Canada (trade shows) and each time I see products and attractions that are new to me. Mostly it is a show where I tie up discussions and contracts for our coming year’s programme, but from time to time I still come across little gems which get me thinking."
THE YEAR TO DATE “Business has started well this year. There seems to be plenty of demand out there. There are still a lot of people with large budgets who are willing to
spend it on a Canada holiday. I do believe that agents who aren’t selling the country are missing out. "Wildlife is a big seller for us – whether going up to Churchill in Manitoba to see the polar bears, watching black bears in the national parks, orcas and grizzlies off Vancouver Island or whale-watching in Newfoundland and Labrador. "The Canadian Rockies will always be
popular, whether a self-drive tour through the mountains or taking the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff or Jasper through to Vancouver, or vice versa. We also sell a lot of Vancouver Island and, specifically, Tofino. "Vancouver Island is bigger than
England and Tofino is the gateway to the Pacific Rim National Park. Once a timber and fishing town, "Tofino is a pretty fishing village
where you can sign up for First Nations cultural tours, hot springs tours, whale watching and wildlife tours, bike tours, and kayaking tours.
"The Rockies will always be a big seller for us; whether that is a self-drive tour through the Rockies or taking the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff or Jasper through to Vancouver, or vice versa."
PERFECT CLIENTS “The country is a fabulous destination with so much to offer. We can sell it to many different people and travellers. "Getting up close to Canada's varied
wildlife is becoming more and more popular, as are ways to get out and experiences and enjoy its fabulous scenery and jaw-dropping landscapes. "Then there is culture, history and,
for those that want it, the nightlife in its cities, which are all very different and and interesting in their own ways.
FAVOURITE SPOTS “I love the Rockies and they draw me back time and time again. They are always stunning. I came through them on the way to Edmonton on this trip and they were so beautiful they took my breath away. "We saw frozen lakes in Banff and the glacier on the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper. “I flew into Calgary, had a couple of
nights in Banff and then Jasper and down to Edmonton. It’s a great journey through some of the most wonderful scenery and landscapes you will find anywhere. Another great memory is seeing the grizzlie bears in Knight Inlet in British Columbia.
STILL TO DO “The one trip I would like to do is travel up to Churchill from Winnipeg in Manitoba to see the polar bears. It’s so popular now that I need to see just what all the fuss is about! "Also, I’d also like to explore more of
Atlantic Canada. I was there several years ago but would like to return to the area for an extended tour of the region.
FAVOURITE CITIES "A big draw card for all visitors to Canada is that the main cities are very different in what they offer but are all interesting in their own ways. "Vancouver, with its ocean and mountain backdrop, and Stanley Park, is visually stunning, while Toronto is an awesome city; it is so diverse and with so many different cultures and so much to do you could easily spend a week there. "Another favourite of mine is
Québec City, which is pretty in both summer and winter.”
TOP TRIP TIP "Toronto and Niagara Falls and the Niagara wine area make a great combination. Niagara is close to the city and makes for an easy day trip."
SELLING CANADA • SUMMER 2012 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24