A Flight Centre Cherrybrook travel advisor has returned from an incentive trip to Vancouver with more than just new destination knowledge – he came home engaged.
Sam Stratten, a Vancouver Specialist at Flight Centre Cherrybrook, won the trip after completing Destination Vancouver and Air Canada’s Vancouver Specialist Program (VSP) and Air Canada’s University Training as part of a March 2025 incentive for Australian travel advisors. He travelled to British Columbia in March 2026 with his partner Andrea Quon and their two-year-old son, Wyatt.
The prize included return airfare, six nights’ accommodation and a range of Vancouver experiences.
It wasn’t the family’s first trip to the destination. Sam and Andrea first visited Canada together after COVID, touring Vancouver, Whistler, Squamish and Alberta for two weeks, and returned the following year with Sam’s two children. The family now describes Vancouver as their “second home”.
On this visit, they spent six days in Vancouver and two in Squamish, taking in a Granville Island Market Tour with Vancouver Foodie Tours and a Vancouver Canucks game among the included experiences.
Experiencing a destination
“We like to experience a destination as if we live there,” Sam said. “That meant wandering through Granville Island markets, exploring quieter neighbourhoods, and taking the time to soak everything in. It’s that easy, everyday lifestyle combined with incredible surroundings that really stands out.”
The trip’s highlight came aboard the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler, where Sam proposed to Andrea after carrying the ring for six days. He said the couple’s history in the region made the moment feel right – though nerves got the better of his planned speech, prompting him to later write Andrea a song instead.
Sam said the personal connection carries into his work. Canada is the second-most-booked international destination at his Flight Centre store, and completing the VSP has lifted his confidence in recommending Vancouver to clients.
“The training I completed has also empowered me in my role to become more confident when creating itineraries for my clients,” he said. “Not only do I come across as more confident, but also more passionate. Vancouver will also be top of my list of recommendations for holidays to Canada.”
Sam’s prize – supported by Destination Vancouver, Air Canada and participating hotel and experience partners – included two nights each at Pan Pacific Vancouver, Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown and the DOUGLAS, a Discover Canada Tours adventure, the Granville Island Market Tour, and a Destination Experience Pass covering entry to a range of Vancouver attractions.
