There’s an unexpected splash as agents wrap up their famil in British Columbia, with the tourism board putting a number on just how important the trade is.
Destination British Columbia has underlined how crucial agents are at the tail end of its famil, estimating that 70% of its leisure business is being sold through the trade.
The province trade famil educated agents from around the world on destinations Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria and Richmond.
“Canada is a more complex product than Bali or Hawaii therefore consumers are looking to the travel trade for the expertise and knowledge when booking a trip,” Destination British Columbia CEO Marsha Walden said.
The second leg of the famil (see first report here) saw agents from Australia, Germany, England, France, China, Korea, India, and Mexico visit Richmond and Vancouver.
To leave Victoria, they took a scenic hour and a half car ferry journey from Vancouver Island, passing narrow inlets and wood cabins with long jetties along the shore.
The next day included a spot of outlet shopping in Richmond, right next to the airport, so the not-so-keen shoppers, aka men, could partake in planespotting.
Back to Vancouver in time for lunch, Granville Island Public Market was on the agenda, with a foodie tour. Led by passionate foodies the agents whipped around the market to sample clam chowder pot pies, bison salami, six year aged cheddar, white tea lemonade, seasonal fruit and a freshly fried donut.
Despite all that food, dinner was held at Sheraton Vancouver Wall. The hotel for the two nights in Vancouver was the Listel Hotel, which is home to $2 million worth of art and is found in the hub of Robson Street.
From there it was a 20-minute drive across Vancouver’s answer to the Golden Gate bridge – in this case, the green Lions Head bridge – to the Capilano Suspension bridge. This attraction sways in suspension over a gully, surrounded by temperate forest. Clients can do a treetop walk and a cliff walk, both of which will have clients on high.
That afternoon the group donned floatation suits and boarded zodiacs for a tour of the Vancouver shore at speed. What no-one was expecting – not even the guide – was a whale sighting. A gray whale had found its way into Vancouver Harbour and swam right under the zodiacs. Reliably informed that this never happens, the whale made local news.
The finale was dinner at Forage, a restaurant at the Listel Hotel that has a farm to fork philosophy.
The group continues to Nova Scotia, where they will converge for two days with the ten famil groups spread across the Canadian provinces.
