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` 50/-A DDP PUBLICATION Pages: 52 (Excluding cover + 40 Pages Supplement)Vol. XXIV No. 6; March 2nd fortnight issue 2012

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MARCH 2ND FORTNIGHT ISSUE 2012 TRAVTALK 1

“The best sugges-tions come fromthe trade. Unless

you involve trade and the rel-evant stakeholders, it cannotbe done,” says AnandKumar, Joint Secretary,Ministry of Tourism answer-ing a query on the roles ofTourism Promotion Forumsbeing organised by theIndian missions abroad. Theministry is in regular touch

with the Indian embassiesfor forming the TourismPromotion Forums. In oneof these forums in Russia,members from the Indiantravel trade industry havemet their counterparts ofthat country.

These forums are work-ing under the aegis ofembassies. Russia, Ukraine,Kazakhastan, Spain, Brazil,Japan and UK are the coun-tries where these forumshave been set up. The agen-

da is two-fold; collectinginputs from the industry on

Underlining how the trade plays a critical role in generatingideas, Anand Kumar emphasises on the need to engage themwhile informing that the ministry is pushingfor increasing Visa on Arrival facilities.

JUSTIN THOMAS

‘Trade gives us ideas’

Anand Kumar, Joint Secretary, MOT

Contd. on page 6

The Indian RailwayCatering and TourismCorporation (IRCTC)

has identified a few growthareas which include hospital-ity and tourism sector. “Weare moving into areas whichare directly not under rail-

ways. “IRCTC has alreadyestablished 30 units in andaround Delhi. It has signedMoU for hospitality and man-agement with NationalInstitute of Food Technology& Entrepreneur Managementwhich comes under the FoodProcessing Ministry. Further,it is also providing complete

package on services relatedto housekeeping and cater-ing,” says Rakesh Tandon,Managing Director, IRCTC.

The enterprise isalready working with otherorganisations and will sooncome out with more MoUs.Targetting the foreign tourist

arrivals is another area wherethe Company is looking upon.“Recently, we had providedcomplete package to about500 Chinese students visitingIndia. This includes airlines,rail, taxi, hotel, tourism andcatering. This is a huge

Moving aggressively into hospitality and tourism, Indian Railway Catering andTourism Corporation aims at bringing large revenues from Non-Railway Catering.

IRCTC: Reinventing constantly

Contd. on page 6 Rakesh TandonManaging Director, IRCTC

Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourisminaugurated the India pavilion at ITB Berlin, heldfrom March 7–11, 2012. The 46th ITB Berlin sawthe participation of 1,13,006 trade visitors and10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries. The showhad over 150 Indian participants which included6 Indian states. The Karnataka Tourism stall hasbeen rated among the top 16 stalls while KeralaTourism’s ‘Your Moment is Waiting’ won theSilver Prize in the Print Campaign Category, onMarch 8, at the Das Golden Stadttor (GoldenGate) Awards that honour the best creatives ofthe global tourism industry every year.

India rocks at ITB 2012

JUSTIN THOMAS

BULLETIN

GITB in its fifth year ofrunning has received

confirmations from over 55countries and promises ashow bigger and better thanlast year. This show will com-pletely focus on inboundtourism and has structuredand pre-scheduled B2B meet-ings organised between buy-ers and sellers. Over 7,000meetings are expected tomaterialise and 5,590 meet-ings have been fixed till date.

“Due to the huge suc-cess of the previous fourGITBs, we have expanded theexhibition area by an extrahall. 52 extra stalls have beenadded this year. There willalso be the presence of lead-

ing foreign tour operatorsfrom across the globe.Around 80 per cent are

attending GITB for the firsttime and hence there will benew buyers for the sellers,”

says Rahul Chakravarty,Additional Director, FICCI.

A foreign buyer com-mittee for GITB headed byJyotsna Suri, Chairperson,FICCI Tourism Committee,has been formed where thehosted foreign buyers havebeen carefully selected toensure more quality buyersfor this year.

Gujarat is the themestate for GITB’12 and AndhraPradesh, Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Orissa,Karnataka, Uttarakhand arethe partner states. DelhiTourism has also taken a stallat the show.

The Department ofTourism, Government ofRajasthan, the Ministry of

Tourism, Government ofIndia, and Federation ofIndian Chambers ofCommerce and Industry(FICCI), are co-organising theGreat Indian Travel Bazaar2012 at B.M. BirlaConvention Centre, Jaipur,Rajasthan, India.

The Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) scheduled to be held at B.M. Birla Convention Centre, Jaipur, from April 15-17, 2012 is all geared up for serious business with 5,590 B2B meetings fixed till date.

Rahul ChakravartyAdditional DirectorFICCI

250 buyers and 211 sellers at GITB

TT BU R E AU

Andhra Pradesh, MadhyaPradesh, Maharashtra,Orissa, Karnataka,Uttarakhand are thepartner states

Has structured and pre-scheduled B2B meetingsorganised between buyersand sellers

Gearing up

STATISTICS

VIEWPOINT

Portray India as a nation that knows howto work hard and party harder! As a

country we have gone through a visibletransformation... India today is ‘happening’,it’s the IT hotspot of the world, it’s forwardthinking, Indians are hep and happy, theyhave the money and love to spend! It’s ayoung nation, who knows how to live inharmony while being aggressivelyambitious and demanding.

We need to understand today’stravellers. They look for comfort, quiet andfun with familiarity; if they can see somehistory alongside, it’s a bonus! If they arelooking for new experiences we have themaround every corner.

So why can’t we present our country atworld expos and travel marts with adifference? It will require our travelcompanies step out, discover and packagenew destinations. They need to go beyondthe Golden Triangle, Kerala and Ayurveda.We now have beautiful resorts in little townsand excellent highways for that differentexperience. Our adventure camps andwildlife parks dotted around the country areamong the best in the world... And, theyoffer accommodation to suit all pockets. Ourtravel agents need to discover Indiathemselves before displaying it to the world.

Majority of expo participants sell thesame packages and have been doing so foryears. They portray India as a colourfulnation, still living with the Maharajas in alltheir splendour while ‘slumdog’ povertyflourishes in the streets.

The India Pavillion at every travel martlooks beautiful in oranges and pinks withevery kind of drum being played by dancerswith painted faces and exaggeratedhistrionics. We as a nation are not only aplace to spend a comfortable relaxedholiday but also to be looked and marvelledat. We do also have beautiful beaches andcrisp mountain air, along with some of thebest hotels & resorts.

So, let’s start by displaying the modernface of India at travel marts, which also hasrustic beauty, history and culture, where ourguests can relax and unwind in comfort andluxury, with people who epitomise serviceand treat their guests like gods. Let theworld know ‘India is Hot and Happening’!

Modern India

While fares across theboard increased four

per cent last quarter, domes-tic fares within Indiaincreased more than anyother fare type, with fares up18 per cent. Conversely,fares to the EMEA region andAmericas were flat last quar-ter, according to the mostrecent American ExpressBusiness Travel Monitor. Incomparison, in the AsiaPacific region fares overallwere up by two per cent anddomestic fares were up byfour per cent.

Talking about thedevelopment, SandeepShastri, Vice President andGeneral Manager, GlobalBusiness Travel, India,revealed, “High inflationrates and network disruptionnarrowing supply in the mar-ket have increased fare typesacross the board. Economicpressures and supply vari-ance have meant that LCCshave also increased their air-fares, which, has pushed theprice of domestic travel upsignificantly, particularly dur-ing the last quarter.”

Fares from Indiato EMEA sectorremained flat last quar-ter, though has seen asignificant increase infares (nine per cent Y-o-Y in fares compared tothe region’s three percent), which can beattributed to high infla-tion rates, as well aslack of supply and risingfuel costs. TheEurozone economicuncertainties at the endof last year wereresponsible for fares tothis region remainingflat.

Likewise, theweakness of the USeconomy has con-tributed to fares fromIndia to the Americasbeing flat in the lastquarter. Variances infare prices to theAmericas also had aplateau effect on faresto the region in thelast quarter. In India,the airfares toAmericas grew mar-ginally by two per centcompared to the same period in 2010.

Airfare from India toIntra Asia Pacific grew twoper cent Q-o-Q but grew

strongly at 10 percent Y-o-Y. Intra AsiaPacific fares for theregion grew by onlyone per cent Y-o-Y, incomparison. Shastriadded, “Overall, theresults of last quarterhave demonstrated ashift in the way com-panies in India aredoing business –their focus is onexploring domesticand regional oppor-tunities and movingaway from the uncer-tainty associatedwith doing businessin Europe and theUS. In India, with thecurrent situation onsupply and networkthe fares are likely tostay up for domestictravel at least for thequarter.”

“There is a pos-sibility ofInternational westbound fares also

firming up marginally due toconsolidation in the US car-riers. We are witnessing a large number of corporatesin India starting to review their corporate policy vis-a-vis domestic air-lines and review their cur-rent partners and domesticpolicy,” he added.

High inflation rates and network disruption narrowing supply in the market haveincreased fare types across the board. Economic pressures and supply variancemeant that LCCs have also increased airfares, which has pushed the price of domestictravel up significantly, says the recent American Express Business Travel Monitor.

TT BUREAU

Airfares up by 18% in India

Domestic fares in India goup 18% compared to 4%in Asia Pacific

High inflation rates,economic pressure,network disruption pushdomestic fares up

EMEA fares go up 9% Y-o-Y owing to rising fuel costand lack of supply

Economic uncer tainty inthe last quar terresponsible for faresremaining flat

Weak US economy keptfares to US flat last quarter

Business TravelMonitor Key Trendsfor Oct – Dec 2011

TRAVTALK is a publication of Durga Das Publications Private Limited. All information in TRAVTALK is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. The publisher regret that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publica-tion, however caused. Similarly, opinions/views expressed by thirdparties in abstract and/or in interviews are not necessarily shared by TRAVTALK. However, we wish to advice our readers that one or more recognised authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific

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All advertisements must comply with the Indian and InternationalAdvertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication, error or failure of an advertisement to appear.

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The Indian airport regula-tor’s decision on a tariff

hike proposal by the operatorof Delhi’s international airportmay impact infrastructureprojects as well as the civil avi-ation sector, S&P Services saidin a report released recently.

“In our view, higher tar-iffs could negatively affectthe credit quality andresilience of some low-costairlines operating out ofDelhi. Large international fullservice airlines may reducethe number of flights to thecity, but we don’t expectthem to cease operations to Delhi or move their hubs to the lower-cost air-ports,” the report said.

“The potential largeincrease in tariffs atDelhi airportemphasises on theneed for a detailedpublic-private par-ticipation policy andplanning at all levels of the gov-ernment,” thereport highlights.

According to the report, titled - ‘The DelhiAirport Project: A case study of what hinders privateparticipation in India’s infra-structure development’, thedecision is likely to affect pri-vate sector participation in

regulated capital intensiveprojects in India.

Standardisation of pro-curement processes, trans-parency in bidding, properrisk allocation among the par-ties, adequate project prepa-ration and feasibility studies,

are the factors that makeinfrastructure projects moreviable, it said.

The report explains theneed for higher tariffs atDelhi airport and the impactof such an increase on air-lines and passengers. It also

explores the effect of tariff-adjustment delays on theproject sponsor. Private sec-tor participants will be keen-ly watching the outcome,transparency and timeframe of the regulatoryprocess at Delhi airport.

The operator of theIndira Gandhi InternationalAirport in New Delhi had last year demanded an almost nine fold increasein airport charges whereasthe Airports EconomicRegulatory Authority(AERA) of India had proposed a hike of 334% or more than four-fold.

A study by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) supports the increase in airport tariff atDelhi Airport and could potentially influence future similar infrastructure projects in the country.

TT BU R E AU

‘Hike in Airport Tariff to impact Aviation’

AVIATION M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 TRAVTALK 5

Top picks forspring 2012

Helsinki’s World DesignCapital year is well on itsway. Under the runningtheme ‘embedding designin life’, hundreds of proj-ects are centred uponimproving the quality of lifethrough design. Here’s afew top picks for spring 2012:

Restaurant Day on May 19The Chapel of Silenceopens May 10 in thecity centreINDEX: AwardExhibition outdoorevent May 10 - June 10Two Fashion Eventselsinki Fashion Summiton May 24 Näytös 2012 on May 25 It is a fashion show bythe Aalto University ofArt and Design.Visit Arabia Helsinki, anew type of travel destinationFiskars Design VillageA series of events inHelsinki and in thecharming Fiskars vil-lage an hour away. Culture Sauna from June 1

growth area for us,”informs Tandon.

“Corporate travelbusiness is a growingbusiness for IRCTC.For this, we are provid-ing an entire gamut ofcorporate travelincluding air fares,rooms, visa assistance,road travel, etc., on ourportal,” he says.Intensive measuresare being taken onpan-India basis to penetratethe corporate sector includingPSUs and ministries.

On the issue ofBandwidth getting clogged

on IRCTC, “Demand isalways more than availability.The basic constraint whichremains is the availability ofthe number of seats, eventhough we have alreadyincreased the bandwidth to10 times,” he states.

Currently, there are 1.5 lakhseats available everyday onTatkal, out of the total 11 lakhseats. On some trains, there is a high demand onsome particular dates and

since everybody logs insimultaneously, most of thecustomers miss out.

“Late last year, the sys-tems were at its peak andwere doing 1,500 bookingsper minute. This figure has

gone up to 2,500 bookingsper minute. In the first hourof the day, IRCTC is givingout around 50,000 seats.Demand will continue to topat the first hour, whereas the

demand tapers offlater. The situation islike jumping out of thequeue,” describesTandon.

SMS tickets area hit and Tandondescribes himself as a‘green manager’.“This has been ourdream for the pasttwo years as to whyuse paper for ticketsince the onlyrequirement is PNRnumber and an iden-

tity card,” he concludes.Construction work on theExecutive Lounge at theNew Delhi Railway Stationis expected to commencesoon and the proposed completion date is around June-July.

Record 2,500 bookings/min

COVER STORY

Contd. from page 1

how to improve tourism co-operation between the twocountries and to enhanceinbound tourism to India.

He further informedthat the ministry is pushingfor more Visa on Arrival facility. It includes providingthis service at more airports and to increase the list of nationalities so that more countries couldavail this facility.

In this regard, the min-istry has already submitted alist of countries to which this

facility could be provided.Currently, only 11 countriesare applicable. Ministry ofExternal Affairs and Ministryof Home Affairs are in regulartalks with MOT to expeditethe list. The ministry is alsoin the process of developingsynergy with various min-istries as Tourism involvesstakeholders from variousfields and this engagementwill help in pooling in ofresources of various depart-ments. “We did this with I&B,now we are doing this withcivil aviation and further withcommerce, culture andMEA,” informs Kumar.

When asked to com-ment on the sub-committeeformed by Pulok Chatterjee,Prime Minister’s PrincipalSecretary & Chairman ofthe inter-ministerial coordi-nation committee forTourism sector for visarelated issues, he said,“Whenever there is a visaissue and is brought under our notice, this three-member committee gets onthe phone and resolves it.”In this three-member committee, Kumar is joined by Joint Secretariesfrom MHA and MEA at thissub-committee.

Developing synergyContd. from page 1

Source: IRCTC

Source: IRCTC

Tourist Visas on Arrival grow 22.7%During the period January-

February 2012, a total num-ber of 2,618 VoAs were issuedas compared to 1,816 VoAsduring the correspondingperiod of 2011 registering apositive growth of 44.2%. Thenumber of VoAs issued underthis scheme during February2012 for nationals of theeleven countries was Japan

(293), New Zealand (281), Indonesia (231),Philippines (170), Singapore(144), Finland (109), Vietnam (15), Cambodia (5),Luxemburg (5), Myanmar (5)and Laos (1). The number ofVoAs issued, during January-February 2012 were NewZealand (641), Japan (556),Indonesia (451), Philippines

(376), Singapore (317),Finland (204), Vietnam (28),Myanmar (17), Luxemburg(16), Cambodia (10) and Laos(2). During the periodJanuary-February 2012, themaximum number of VoAswere issued at Delhi airport(1,504), followed by Mumbai(635), Chennai (317) and Kolkata (162).

The fourth largest carrierin Sub-Sahara Africa, Air

Mauritius is now expandingits horizons in India with theincreasing popularity ofMauritius as a tourist andbusiness destination in thecountry. Currently operating6 flights a week from India(3 from Mumbai, 2 from NewDelhi and 1 combined fromChennai and Bengaluru), the

carrier is introducing fourthflight out of Mumbai effec-tive April 21 this year. It willalso re-launch its seasonalflights out of New Delhibetween May – July. Thecarrier is focussing more onconsolidating the operationsfrom current served marketsinstead of expanding to newcities. It has a codeshare

with Kingfisher Airlineswherein passengers canbook tickets from over 20cities across India in onestandard fare (Kingfisher +Air Mauritius fare).

Revealing plans andpotential of Indian market,Vinith Gupte, Manager -

India, Air Mauritius, said, “Toenhance the destinationbrand, one needs good con-nectivity to that destination.At Air Mauritius, we areworking towards spreadingthe awareness of Mauritius asa tourist and business desti-nation in European, African

and Indian Ocean regionmarkets. After introducingfourth flight out of Mumbaifrom mid-April, we are looking at adding one more flight out of New Delhisoon. Thus, with the newaddition, we will offer onedaily flight option from India

and about 2,900 seats aweek. India is a price sensitive market and we are offering the best and right pricing level to suit mid-dle and up market travellersas we understand that airfares’ does matter for selling a destination.”

The airline works closelywith travel companies likeKuoni India, Thomas Cook,Cox & Kings India, TravelServices International, SachinTravels; consolidators like Riya Tours & Travels, AkbarTravels India and online travel companies likeCleartrip.com,Makemytrip.comand Yatra.com along withmany mid and small size travel agencies.

Along with introducing third flight from Mumbai effective April 21, Air Mauritius is also going to operate fourth flight as seasonal flight from New Delhi starting May this year.

TT BU R E AU

Seasonal flights to Mauritius from Delhi

AVIATION M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 TRAVTALK 7

Vinith GupteManager - IndiaAir Mauritius

Bahrain toThiruvanan-thapuram Bahrain Air to operate daily

direct flights from Bahrain toThiru-vananthapuram, com-mencing from March 15,2012. Flights will depart fromBahrain at 9.25 p.m. andarrive early morning in ThiruvananthapuramInternational airport at 4.15a.m. The return flight willdepart Thiruvananthapuramat 5.00 a.m. and arrive atBahrain International Airportat 7.30 a.m.

Richard Nuttall, CEO,Bahrain Air was upbeat andstated, “We look forward inboosting our route network tothe Indian Subcontinent. Wehave several other destina-tions in mind and these will beannounced as and when market conditions andapprovals allow.” As perNaeem Mahamoor, MarketingManager, Bahrain Air, “BahrainAir now provides most of theservices of a full service carrierwith affordable fares.” BahrainAir’s goal is to be a favouritefor passengers flying withinthe region.

AVIATION8 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

With India being animportant inbound

market for Singapore andAustralia, a new deal willhelp improve connectivityfor Indian travellers. Flyingto Japan, China, Vietnam,Australia and New Zealandwill now become more con-venient. Jet Airways pas-sengers can book a singlecombined ticket on Jetstar,Jetstar Asia or Jetstar Pacificflights as part of a singleintegrated transaction andtravel itinerary sold on a JetAirways E-ticket.

“India is one of theregion’s strongest travel mar-kets with huge travel needs.The partnership with JetAirways will enable Jetstar tobe able to tap into this marketopportunity - our low faresdelivering a great value for money proposition topotential customers. Withthis interline agreement,Jetstar will be able to cater tothe growing appetite for air travel from India through-out its network across Asia Pacific,” says DavidKoczkar, Chief CommercialOfficer, Jetstar Group.

Travellers may pur-chase combined Jetstar andJet Airways travel via travelagents, online or through JetAirways’ reservations cen-tres. For passengers travel-ling under the new agree-ment, Jetstar will accommo-date the Jet Airways baggageallowance. For passengersconnecting international tointernational flights, bags will be through-tagged.Complimentary on-board

offerings such as meals and comfort packs will beprovided on connectingJetstar long haul services.

“With the growing pas-senger loads between Indiaand the Asia Pacific region,this strategic partnershipwith Jetstar is a win-win sit-uation for both the airlines.Especially since it providesour passengers with goodoptions to reach more EastAsian cities and Australiaseamlessly beyond our pres-ent online points, and vice

versa,” says SudheerRaghavan, Chief CommercialOfficer, Jet Airways.

The Jetstar Group con-sists of Jetstar Airways inAustralia and New Zealand,Jetstar Asia in Singapore,Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam andJetstar Japan. Collectively,Jetstar offers up to 3,000flights a week to almost 60destinations in 17 countriesand territories across the AsiaPacific region.

“India is one of theregion’s strongest travel mar-kets and a top inbound mar-ket for both Singapore and Australia. This innova-tive agreement will allow both airlines to cater for the growing appetite for air travel from the emerging Indian middleclass. By flying throughJetstar’s hub in Singapore,passengers can easily connect to destinations inJapan, China, Vietnam,Australia and New Zealand,”says Koczkar.

A new agreement between Jet Airways and the low cost unit of Qantas Airways,Jetstar, now offers enhanced connectivity and combined ticketing options.

TT BU R E AU

David Koczkar Chief Commercial OfficerJetstar Group

Jetstar will accommodatethe Jet Airways baggageallowance

Both airlines to cater for the growing appetite for air travel from the emerging Indianmiddle class

Flying high

Travelport signs agreementwith SWISS and Lufthansa Travelport, the business

services provider to theglobal travel industry, hasrecently announced a new,multi-year global contentagreement with SwissInternational Air Lines Ltd.(SWISS) and Lufthansa.Through this agreement,Travelport ensured that it’sGalileo and Worldspan trav-el agency customers world-wide have access to the fullpublished content of SWISSand Lufthansa.

As part of the agreement,all GDS surcharges will con-tinue to be waived forTravelport-connected travelagencies who choose to par-ticipate in the SWISSPreferred Fares programmesthat operate in Germany,Austria, Switzerland andLiechtenstein. Outside ofthese countries, Galileo andWorldspan-connected agen-cies will also continue to haveaccess to all of SWISS’s pub-lished fares and inventory.

Oliver Barthelmeh,Head - RevenueManagement, Pricing &Distribution at SWISS said,“We very much value ourcontinuing partnership with

Travelport who offer a majordistribution channel for thesale of SWISS fares throughtheir Galileo, Apollo andWorldspan GDS. Travelportoffers a highly efficientmeans of booking all SWISSflights and fares for travelagencies worldwide.”

According to MarcoGorin, Chief CommercialOfficer (CCO), InterGlobeTechnology Quotient (ITQ),“For India which contributesa large market forSwitzerland as SWISSAirlines home country, it willsurely benefit from thisstrong partnership betweenTravelport and SWISS. Thispartnership reiterates thereliability of GDS given theever increasing travel indus-try whether Indian or inter-national.”

Andreas Haug, Director- Distribution Strategy &Sales Costs for Lufthansacommented, “Our on-goingpartnership withTravelport offer an impor-tant distribution channel for the sale ofLufthansa fares throughtheir Galileo andWorldspan platforms.”

Jet Airways all set to go with Jetstar

1 0 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Starwood Hotels & ResortsWorldwide is raising the

stakes in the hotel loyalty land-scape to win greater sharefrom the world’s most prolifictravellers. The Companyannounced new benefits thatmake its loyalty programme -SPG - the richest elite pro-gramme in the industry. And,with India forming a key driverfor the growth of this interna-tional hotel operator, it hasramped up the global loyaltyprogrammes to get moreIndian guests enrolled.

According to JavierCedillo Espin, Senior Director

- Marketing, Starwood AsiaPacific Hotels & Resorts,while the US is still thelargest market for SPG, itsmembership base is increas-ingly globally. SPG’s non-USelite membership has grown150 per cent since 2007.“Today SPG gets 2.5 newinternational members forevery one internationalmember it welcomed in2007,” he said. Elaboratingon the share being generated

from the rest of the world, headded, “The largest growthis coming from Asia Pacific,Africa and the Middle East.SPG’s membership in AsiaPacific is 330 per cent times larger than five yearsago and membership inAfrica and the Middle East is250 per cent larger.”

Commenting on theimportance of India for itsgrowth, Espin remarked,“Around 30 per cent of therevenue in India for Starwoodcomes from the SPG. Nearly45 per cent of its guests whostay at its hotels in India aremembers of its loyalty pro-gramme, Starwood PreferredGuest (SPG).” The Group has seen a tremendousgrowth in its SPG member-ship in India. Its membershipbase has surged nearly 270 per cent since 2007.Nearly 30 per cent of thehotel chain’s revenue comesfrom SPG members.

To meet the demandgenerated by the increasingnumbers of the Indian cus-tomers, Starwood opened itsfirst Customer ContactCenter (CCC) in India inGurgaon earlier this year.This is Starwood’s 9th globalCustomer Contact Centerglobally and the 4th in Asia-Pacific. Talking about thenew centre, the SeniorDirector commented, “This‘India for India’ contact cen-tre enables Starwood to bet-ter connect with customersin the region, appreciateunique customer preferencesand behaviours and providea level of service that willdrive long-term customerloyalty to Starwood brands.”The Customer ContactCenter initiative is a ‘supernumber’ concept whereincustomers can reach the CCCfor reservations at anyStarwood property aroundthe globe through just onetelephone number.

The Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) membership base in India has surged bynearly 270% since 2007. With India being a key driver for its growth, it hasramped up the global loyalty programmes to get more Indian guests enrolled.

ME G H A PAU L

Starwood banks on SPG in India

Javier Cedillo EspinSenior Director - Marketing, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts

The Customer ContactCenter initiative is a ‘supernumber’ concept whereincustomers can reach theCCC for reservations atany Starwood property

‘CCC’

HOTELS

The Oberoi, Gurgaon hosted a Travel Trade CEODinner on February 25 at Amaranta restaurant tocelebrate the recent announcement that, TheOberoi, Gurgaon hasbeen voted as theWorld’s LeadingLuxury Hotel at theprestigious WorldTravel Awards 2011.

The Oberoi, Gurgaonhosts travel trade

French hospitality majorAccor, which handles

diverse brands such asNovotel, Mercure, Ibis andFormula One, is extremelyupbeat about its future in thecountry. In the process ofrolling out more brands fromits portfolio such as Ibis andFormule One in marketswhere they are not presentnow, the group is also lookingat strengthening its relation-ship with one of its most

important supporters – thetravel trade industry.

Chalking out plans forconsolidating its position in thedistribution segment, NikhilDhodapkar, Regional Director,Sales & Marketing, India, said,“Accor has signed an agree-ment with one of India’s leading general sales agent, Connect-Worldwide tostrengthen its distribution inIndia. Connect-Worldwide will be responsible for increas-ing sales among Retail Travel Agents and Small andMedium Enterprises.”

The hospitality chain isalso working in tandem withthe travel agents. “Accor hasintroduced a call centre num-ber for travel agents, 1860-500-1010 and has optimisedwww.travelagencies.accorho-

tels.com and www.busi-nesstravel.accorhotels.com forease of use. These initiativeswill lend support to the exist-ing booking channel ofaccorhotels.com,” he added.Besides this, the Group hasalso introduced the ‘AccorAmbassador Programme’ with

Connect-Worldwide. It willreach out to the travel agency dedicated websiteaccorhotelsforyou.com andthe Accor call center. “Theexclusive and interactiveonline Accor training pro-gramme is dedicated to travelprofessionals. This will help to

develop their expertise onAccor brands and betteradvise the customers,” heinformed. At the forefront ofAccor’s expansion strategy inIndia with diversified operat-ing model, the chain is shiftingfrom a collection of hotels to atrue network with 6 brands –

Novotel, Sofitel, Pullman,Mercure, Ibis and Formule 1.Commenting on the slew oflaunches this year, Dhodapkarrevealed, “The Group wouldfacilitate the emergence of ibis brand and foster a preference for it with a seriesof openings in the country.With 12 to 15 multi brand hotels scheduled toopen in the coming 12months, these new hotels willadd over 2,500 new rooms to

our current network of almost2,016 rooms (11 hotels) inIndia,” he confirmed.

The hotels that will beopening in India before theclose of 2012 include threenew brands - Sofitel Mumbai,Bandra Kurla Complex (Q42011), Pullman GurgaonCentral Park (Q1 2012) and Formule 1 Greater Noida,the first low-cost hotel forIndia (Q1 2012).

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Nikhil DhodapkarRegional Director - Sales and Marketing India

Buddha Air startsVaranasi flights

Buddha Air commencedoperations onKathmandu-Varanasiroute, starting March 1,2012. The Airline willoperate the route fourtimes a week, onSundays, Tuesdays,Thursdays andSaturdays. Varanasibecomes the secondIndian destinationconnected by Buddha Airafter Lucknow

French hospitality major Accor is looking at strengthening its relationshipwith one of its most important supporters – the travel trade industry.

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TECHNOLOGY1 2 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Travel Partner Network(TPN) combines the glob-

al strength of AmericanExpress Business Travel withthe local knowledge of a part-ner to deliver premium value

and provide a globally consis-tent high quality of serviceand advice to clients.

Through their relation-ship with American Express,the partners are able to lever-age a unique brand of serviceand expertise to enhancetheir profitability and pres-ence. The Company brings in

a host of benefits to the part-nership, including associationwith an established brand,industry expertise and globalexperience & scale. Our goalis to be the premium networkof choice in each of our part-ner’s markets.

The American ExpressTPN consists of 1,600+ locations spread across 140 countries across the world. All partners areindependently owned andoperated travel agencies, andare authorised AmericanExpress Travel ServiceRepresentatives with a focus

on both Business & LeisureTravellers and extensiveMICE activity.

Their participation atSouth Asian Travel &Tourism Expo 2012 held inDelhi this February was an

initiative aimed atgathering interestfrom the travel com-munity for looking atthe AmericanExpress PartnerNetwork as a com-plete solutionsprovider for premiumleisure products and events.

Select partnerscame together to

exhibit under theAmerican Express umbrellato showcase India and thewidth and depth of the net-work’s services to prospec-tive buyers. At the event,the network promoted highquality luxury travel andMICE programmes to dis-cerning overseas anddomestic tour operators.

A division of American Express offers a platform for traveloperators in providing consistent quality and services.

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American Express and TPN

The American Express travel network partners participated in one of the B2B events organisedin Delhi this February

The Indian market isupbeat with technology

and Indian technology firmsare also catering to interna-tional companies. Makingsure that our tourism indus-try does not lag behind, TIInfotech is rolling out the‘Travel Cloud Suite’.

“Travel Cloud Suite is atightly integrated but looselycoupled solution to the indus-try. This will help the bigbrothers and equally to theSME range of the Indian mar-ket who wants to adopt tech-nology to increase their effi-ciency to scale up the busi-ness, even if they plan to gowith selected services andbusiness model. It is ready todeploy solutions with anoption of customisation as perrequirement. The solutionfacilitates travel agents, touroperators, OTAs, consolida-tors to sell, manage and col-laborate with their clients,partners and suppliers. It is a 100 per cent web-based

system, on the latest technology,” says MeenuSachdeva, ManagingDirector, TI Infotech.

Some advantagesoffered by the cloud suiteinclude an integrated config-

urable dynamic virtual onlinetravel platform, blended dis-play of results for multipleinventories, booking enginesfor selected services, optionalselling features for alliedservices, integrated CRM andaccounting, CMS businesslogics and admin control,

internet marketing options,extranet and negotiated farebooking engines and supplierdirect connection.

Hoping to meet theexpectations of the industryand be known as a solutionfulfilling the needs of itsintended users, “TI Infotechalready has their domesticand international B2B part-ners in place. Our focus inthis year is to increase thepresence and enable betterunderstanding of theIndustry requirements andour solution offering,approach and methodologies.We will be marketing oursolutions through direct mar-keting, participating in vari-ous trade shows, partner net-work globally and online mar-keting,” says Sachdeva.

With a launch planned during the Arabian Travel Mart thisyear, TI Infotech is all set to cross geographical boundaries.

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Launching ‘Travel Cloud Suite’

Meenu SachdevaManaging DirectorTI Infotech

The travel industry isbecoming more techno-

logically savvy and theirdemands for making contenteasily available are alsoincreasing. To meet theseexpectations, Quadlabs haslaunched BOOKQ to distrib-ute travel products seamless-ly through the mobile chan-nel. This platform connects tothe central booking engine tofetch travel content and pass-es it on to the mobile inter-face. Users can search, bookand pay for their travel itin-erary with ease. They canalso look at existing flightbookings, view e-tickets anddestination informationthrough this platform.

“Quadlabs tradition toremain ahead of the currenttravel technology industry

trend has prompted thislaunch. Quadlabs has alwaysbeen the front-runner incoming up with solutions fortravel industry, be it inclu-sion of advance features into

the system or be it launch-ing the travel technology oncloud and making it afford-able to small and mediumsized travel agents. To this list, BOOKQ is the latest addition. It has takenthe booking interface ontothe mobile platform thatallows users to make book-ings from their mobilephone itself,” says GauravChiripal, CEO, Quadlabs.

The features of platforminclude, fast and easy book-ing process, availability onmultiple mobile platforms,live content search, cen-tralised connectivity withbooking engines, low band-width usage, rich and inter-active user interface,encrypted data communica-tion and its integration witha payment mechanism.

This mobile distributionplatform can be connected toQuadLabs’ Mid-Office or withany other booking processingsystem in the backend.BOOKQ will fetch contentfrom the underlying backendsystem and show it to the enduser’s mobile screen for theirfurther usage. Payments willbe accepted through the pay-ment gateway integratedwith the backend bookingprocessing system.

Quadlabs is making a mark in mobile technology by launching a unified mobile distribution platform.

‘Dial’ booking info on mobiles

Travel Cloud Suite is atightly integrated butloosely coupled solutionto the industry

Key Facts

BOOKQ hastaken thebookinginterface ontothe mobileplatform thatallows users tomake bookingsfrom theirmobile phone

Gaurav ChiripalCEOQuadlabs

Fast and easy bookingprocess

Rich and interactive userinterface

Live content search

Centralised connectivitywith booking engines

Features

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With more Indians trav-elling on the Cruises, it

has become extremely impor-tant to educate the consumeron the issue of insurance.Talking about the importanceof insurance on a cruise,Nishith Saxena, Director,Cruise Professionals says, “Itis highly recommended thatpassengers travelling over-seas must buy travel/medicalinsurances before they leavethe country. Normally, thetravel insurance packagesoffered in India cover themedical expenses, trip inter-ruption & cancellation, bag-gage damage or loss etc. fromthe date of commencement ofthe journey from India.”

This kind of an insur-ance package is pretty com-prehensive once the travelstarts, but most such pack-ages do not cover the can-cellation charges which arelevied in case the bookingsare cancelled by passengersdue to any reason prior to

their commencement oftravel from India, he adds.

With most of the hospi-tality sector (hotels, cruises,airlines, etc.) trying to max-imise their revenue and pre-vent their losses in case oflate/last minute cancellations,the penalties levied are veryhigh and in most premiumproducts no refund is provid-ed. In such situations, passen-gers end up suffering financialloss, as rarely any insurancecompany covers such penal-ties for non-utilisation of theproduct or services.

Regarding the insur-ance facilities in PrincessCruises, the veteran cruiseprofessional suggests, “AtPrincess Cruises, we have aunique product called‘Cancellation Fee Waiver’programme, popularly knownas CFW. Passengers could buythis at an additional cost ofapprox 10-12 per cent of thecruise/cruise-tour packagecost, at the time of paying

booking deposit amount,when they are outside thepenalty period.”

Once CFW is purchasedand attached to the cruisebooking, passengers have

the privilege of cancellingthe booking up to five work-ing days prior to the sail datewith a 100 per cent waiver ofthe cancellation penalties.There is no need for anypaper work or any medical

certificates etc. to claim therefund as the CFW is offeredby Princess Cruises as a facil-ity to their clients and notthrough a third party/insur-ance company. “It is impor-tant to note that unlike some

other cruise lines which offerFuture Cruise Certificate topassengers in similar cases,Princess Cruises refunds the entire money to thebooking source (passengersor their travel agency). The

CFW programme is uniquein the industry and almost 85 per cent of the cruisebookings done by Indian pas-sengers are booked withCFW,” he adds.

By ensuring that thepassengers are offered thecorrect combination of insur-ance/s & CFW, the travelagencies actually protect pas-sengers’ money and providea value service.

Princess Cruises ensures an insured cruising experience with a unique product called‘Cancellation Fee Waiver’ programme, popularly known as CFW. Passengers can avail thisfeature at an additional cost of approx 10-12% of the cruise/cruise-tour package cost.

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‘Cancellation fee waiver’ at Princess Cruises

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Nishith SaxenaDirectorCruise Professionals

AGENTS1 4 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

The Indian traveller isevolving. He wants to

explore the world and is readyto spend money on his travel.Indian tourists are amongstthe big spenders internation-

ally. Foreign countries are pin-ning for tourists and are offer-ing exciting packages to woothe travellers. From shoppingto culture and heritage and even food; all these fac-tors play an important role.Here is a look at what ourtravel fraternity feel, wouldbe the crowd pulling destina-tions for this summer.

“Europe, especially, UK,Spain, Switzerland; Canada,USA, Australia, South Africa,Kenya, Turkey, Philippines,

Singapore, Macau, HongKong, Dubai, Thailand andMauritius, I feel, are the des-tinations which are thetourist hot spots for this sum-mer. Each country has itsown USP from the OlympicGames in the UK to Macau,

Hong Kong and Thailandbeing popular because ofVisa-on-Arrival, their prox-imity to India, low-budgetand full of fun destinations,”says Guldeep Singh Sahni,President, Outbound TourOperators Association ofIndia & Managing DirectorWeldon Tours and Travels.

While the popularity ofSouth East Asia is increasing,“Europe is still the most pop-ular destination amongstIndians. Switzerland is an all

time favorite but now travellers want somethingdifferent. Spain is gaining popularity and so areCentral European countries.Travellers are now looking fora change and want to discov-er the unknown. They want

something different from the usual Paris and Rome,” says Himanshu Patil,Director, Kesari Tours.

Taking on from discover-ing the unknown in Europe,Ajay Jaipuria, President,Society of Foreign TourOperators India and Founder,Travel Oyster, recommendedEstonia especially Tallinn asthe hotspot for this summer.“Charmingly medieval oramazingly modern, Tallinn isa fairy tale city. On one hand,

the city’s pride and joy is itshistoric Old Town, an enchant-ing neighbourhood of cen-turies-old streets, houses, tow-ers and squares that looks likeit was torn right from thepages of a storybook. Visitorsare also often amazed by thenewness of the place: thegleaming shops, the stylishinteriors, the plush hotels.There are also the high-techsolutions that go hand-in-hand with Tallinn life, like free,wireless Internet is availablepractically everywhere and thecommon practice of paying forparking by mobile phone.”

Bollywood has alsoplayed an important role inpopularising destinations.“Spain has been highlightedbecause of a Bollywood moviewhich showcased the desti-nation in new light and pop-ularised it amongst youngcouples and single travellerswanting to party. CzechRepublic again came into thelimelight because of a superhit bollywood movie especial-

ly for the repeat Europeantraveller. They are alwayslooking for a new destinationand Czech Republic providedthem just that,” says ShravanBhalla, CEO, Highflyer.

Bringing on the radar isanother important factor –Visa – that plays an importantrole in attracting tourists.Riaz Munshi, ManagingDirector, N. Chirag Travelsemphasises on popular des-tinations according to theirvisa policies. “The touristhotspots for this summer willbe Spain, Turkey, Kenya,Philippines, Canada, Dubai,South Africa and Australia.Spain Tourism organised ameeting between few selec-tive tour operators and thevisa counselor for smoothprocess for visas. For Turkey,visas can be issued in 24hours without any hassle.Kenya gives Visa-on-Arrival,whereas The Philippinesvisas are granted in a day. ForCanada, the visa is not aproblem for genuine visitors

and long-term visas can begranted to frequent trav-ellers. South African visastake four to five working daysbut are usually hassle free.Dubai has also simplified thevisa process over the yearsand Australia has the mostprofessional and efficient visateam,” says Munshi.

Help and assistancefrom the India offices of thevarious tourism boards hassimplified the promotion ofthe countries by the travelfraternity. “Yes, if a tourismboard has a representation inIndia, it gives us great bene-fit. We have instant informa-tion which helps in identifyingthe correct operators or venuefor MICE. They also help indestination knowledge andacts as intermediary betweentour operators and embassy.NTO helps in increasingdemand for the destination byways of promotional activityundertaken by them,” saysVineet Gopal, Managingdirector, Engee Holidays.

From the growing fame of the Rockies to the all timefavourite Europe and the surprise entry of Estonia, here is a prediction of the holiday hotspots for this summer.

DE V I KA JE E T

Indian travellers now spoilt for choice

Travellers arenow lookingfor a changeand want todiscover theunknown.They wantsomethingdifferent fromthe usual Parisand Rome

Visitors arealso oftenamazed by thenewness ofthe place: thegleamingshops, thestylishinteriors, theplush hotels,etc.

Each countryhas its own USPfrom theOlympic Gamesin the UK tobeing popularbecause of theirproximity toIndia, low-budget, etc.

Guldeep Singh SahniPresidentOTOAI

Ajay JaipuriaPresident, (SFTOI) and Founder,Travel Oyster

Himanshu PatilDirector, Kesari Tours

NTO helps inincreasingdemand for thedestinationby ways ofpromotionalactivityundertakenby them

South Africanvisas take fourto five workingdays but areusually hasslefree. Dubaihas alsosimplified thevisa processover the years

Spain hasbeenhighlightedbecause of aBollywoodmovie whichshowcasedthedestination innew light

Shravan BhallaCEOHighflyer

Riaz MunshiManaging DirectorN. Chirag Travels

Vineet GopalManaging DirectorEngee Holidays

ASSOCIATIONS

‘They can because theythink they can.’

The quote by Virgil bestdescribes the motive ofTravel Agents Association ofIndia (TAAI) zeroing in on‘Evolve to Involve’ theme forthe 60th Indian TravelCongress & Exhibition inIstanbul, Turkey. This will led its members forwardto innovative business mod-ules, involving in new strate-gies and evolving them in today’s world and age oftourism industry.

According to IqbalMulla, President, TAAI, thetheme for this year wasextremely apt and very topical at this point. He said,

“Over the years, TAAI hasworked towards making trav-el agents believe in positivechange, educate them aboutevolving from ticketingagents to travel consultants.But now it’s time for agentsto involve with global trends and evolve as per the needs of advancing travellers’ demands.”

According to Mulla,from last few years; the association is holding its

annual convention at desti-nations which are popularamong Indian travellers butthis year, it opted for anemerging destination.

Mulla said, “Our mainidea was to make our mem-bers aware of the potentialdestinations and educatethem about its products. Wewere looking at mutualtourist traffic in both Turkeyand India to further enhanceour trade relations.” Theassociation had fruitful busi-ness sessions with worldrenowned speakers givinginsights on the topic to thedelegates. The focus thisyear was on internationaltravel and tourism trends,adapting to technology togrow business and movingahead with new changes.The managing committeewill work on a review reportfor business sessions (lastyear, conclusion documentswere prepared) to bring outthe feedback and action plan for the future.

TAAI, as an associa-tion, is built on transparentand democratic values andthus, it’s trusted by global associations like IATA and other internationaltravel companies operatingout of India.

With support fromtourism ministry and suppliers from national and overseas market, Mulla is positive that TAAIwill celebrate its 100th

anniversary in much bigger way with double thenumber of members.

On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, TAAI establishedthe fact that learning and adopting to new products is the key to evolve and grow in travel business.

speaks to Iqbal Mulla, President, TAAI.

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TAAI: Involving & Evolving

We are looking atmutual tourist traffic in both Turkey andIndia to further enhance ourtrade relations

Iqbal MullaPresidentTAAI

Making travel agentsbelieve in positive change

Educate them aboutevolving from ticketingagents to travelconsultants.

To involve with globaltrends and evol ve as perthe needs of advancingtravellers’ demands

Adapting to technology togrow business andmoving ahead with newchanges

Work on a review repor tfor business sessions tobring out the feedback andaction plan for the future

Objectives

In the growing anddynamic airline industry, theInternational Air TransportAssociation (IATA) recog-nised the importance ofdeveloping a competentindustry workforce throughmanagement training thatfosters global collaboration.To date, more than 820 IATAemployees, staff from mem-ber airlines and employees ofother aviation sectors havetaken advantage of HarvardManageMentor v11 to sharp-en their leadership skills andengage with colleaguesworldwide.

During the summer of2010, IATA launched a pro-gramme unique for itsindustry. 67 individuals, pri-marily drawn from IATA staff

participating in an ongoingmanagement developmentprogramme, registered withHarvard ManageMentor andcompleted 390 modules.Based on the consistentlypositive feedback onHarvard ManageMentor’sease of use, content qualityand delivery flexibility, IATA decided to fully roll outthe programme.

As part of its externalrollout campaign, IATAemailed all target groups andto further raise awareness,IATA worked through itsmore than 350 worldwidetraining partners to featureHarvard ManageMentor atseveral global training con-ferences. Internally, IATA’shuman capital team

introduced the new pro-gramme through regionalworkshops and articles in itsin-house magazine.

With these awareness-building efforts, the profilefor IATA’s managementdevelopment initiatives hasbeen raised significantly.This is especially true forthose working in remotelocations, who give highmarks to the programme’sglobal reach and local feel.

To date, 600 internal staffand 220 employees from theairline industry have usedHarvard ManageMentor andoverall, 70 per cent of thosecompleting courses reportedknowledge gain. IATA’s learn-ers have been enthusiasticcollaborators.

Harvard ManageMentor programme

The series of daily seminarswill provide discussions

focussed on the convergenceof meetings and travel management, how to deliversavings in an upbeat Middle Eastern market, opti-mising travel payment sys-tems in the region and the do’sand dont’s in building and executing travel policies.

Speakers from the primary industry associationsfrom worldwide and the industry’s most senior execu-tives and global authorities ofMICE sector together will leaddifferent sessions at the 6th

Gulf Incentive, BusinessTravel and MeetingsExhibition (GIBTM) runningfrom March 26-28, 2012. The discussions will include thebest practices, current andfuture trends, emerging tech-

nology, social media and professional development.

GIBTM also announcedyet another ‘first’ - a pioneer-ing development for its educa-tional programme. The eventwill also bring the very firstArabic session presented by

Ali Al Saloom of Ask Ali.com.It is a regional website forbusiness travellers and tourists

to ask questions regardingEmirati and Arabic culture -travel tips, history, religion,architecture and even archae-ological news. As a well-recog-nised industry expert and cul-tural tourism consultant atEmbrace Arabia Consultancy,Al Saloom will deliver a highly

anticipated seminar to thelocal community.

The experts will delivera strong educational pro-gramme designed to encour-age interactive, focussed del-egate discussions and examine the industry’s key

trends and topics for global MICE industry professionals. “Education isone of the show’s core elements that will drive thedevelopment of the meetingsindustry forward,” adds LoisHall, REED Travel ExhibitionsManager, GIBTM.

GIBTM has partnered with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) for the first time to launch a seriesof daily seminars providing discussions focussed on the travel trade and everything related to the industry.

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GIBTM 2012 packed with many ‘firsts’

EXHIBITIONS M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 TRAVTALK 1 9

Ali Al Saloom Ask Ali.com

Great Hotels ofthe World The Metropolitan Hotel

is delighted to announcethat it has recently beenselected as a member ofGreat Hotels of the World –Premium Collection. TheMetropolitan has been care-fully selected for its dedication to the higheststandards of luxury, uniquesophistication, attention todetails and innovative cor-porate comforts.

Headquartered in theUK, Great Hotels of theWorld is an alliance of luxuryhotels and resorts that pro-vides global hotel reserva-tion, sales and marketingservices for an exclusiveportfolio of primarily inde-pendent hotels and resortsworldwide in specific nichemarket sectors.

Membership of GreatHotels of the World is byinvitation only and is limitedto exceptional hotels within recognised nichelifestyle markets.

Bhutan has held an international travel

conference for the first time.

With tourism being anew industry in this developing country, it wasobvious that the infrastruc-ture needed to be developed,but the country has manyplus points - clean, scenicenvironment, excellentEnglish-speaking skills,innate sense of hospitality,and interest, in limited,rather than mass tourists.

And, then, of course,there’s Bhutan’s famed‘Gross National Happiness’work-ethic, which is a perfectphilosophy for tourism. Insimple words, it means, toquote the Minister ofEconomic Affairs, whopresided over theConference- “If you want to

be happy, you make othershappy.”

The wide range ofspeakers at the PATAConference, held in theornate Zhiwa Ling Hotel,included keynote speakerAnna Pollock, CEO, DesticorpUK, who said importantly,that the tourism model hadchanged today, and dealtmore with the well-being

than price or profit, whichwas why Bhutan’s GNH the-ory was relevant.

This was reiterated byRick Antonson of VancouverTourism, a country that aimsto be the greenest city of theworld by 2020.

David Wilks of NewZealand’s Conservation Dept informed of his country’s highly successful

‘100% pure N.Zealand’tourism campaign that raised the level of tourists in the country.

Shannon Stowell of theAdventure Travel TradeAssociation, USA, stated that tourism trends had

changed, which was whythere was a big demand

Over 232 delegates from 30 countries participated in PATA’s 3-day Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism Conferenceheld in Paro, Bhutan. These included 51 sellers from 8 countries, including a large contingent from India.

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LEKHA SHANKAR IN PARO

Bhutan’s 1st Travel Mart is a success

(L-R): DG of Bhutan Tourism, Kesang Wangdi, PATA Chairman Hiran Cooray,PATA CEO, Martin Craigs, Bhutan Minister of Economic Affairs,HE Lyonpo Khandu

PATA Responsible Tourism Meet at Bhutan

Contd. on page 30

Most of the Indian sell-ers felt it was ‘high-quality’Mart with very interested‘buyers’, and each of themdid at least 20 appoint-ments, inspite of the cold,open-air conditions.

Ajeet Bajaj of SnowLeopard Travels, NewDelhi, who specialises inadventure sports inNorthern India declared thatthere was a big changeamong tourists in the lastdecade.

“They are now veryinterested in sustainibilty,”

he said, which was why thisMart was important.

Swadesh Kumar of the32-year-old Shikhar Travelsin New Delhi, agreed uponthis fact. “I was surprisedthat they had all heard ofKerala, and were interestedto know more,” said Sam TSamuel of Calyspso Tours,who specialises in adven-ture-tours in Kerala.

“There was a hugeinterest in Ladakh, which issimilar to Bhutan in manyways, but has a higher alti-tude,” said Lotus of

‘Wilderness Experience.’“With the close proxim-

ity to Bhutan, and two airconnections by Druk Air (Guwahati, Bagdora), theNorth-East states of Indiacould do combined pack-ages, and we had manyinterested buyers,” saidArjit Purkayastha of KoyeliTours & Travels.

The last word camefrom Martin Craigs, CEO ofPATA-“We want to help themacro and micro tourismindustries of the region.This is truly a historical,landmark Mart, both for us,and for Bhutan.”

Indian agents speak

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Lama Tours, the Dubai-based Destination

Management Companyensures that they continue toprovide new products fortheir agents. They won theBest Overseas Tour Operatorto India from West Asia &Africa in the National TourismAwards 2010-2011.

In 2011, the traffic fromIndia was over 1,40,000 pas-sengers and this year theCompany is expecting anover 25 per cent growth.“The global industry is going through a tough time and I must say that it has been hard times for many sectors. 2011 was not a year of greatrevival, we have seen atremendous struggle to putup those numbers and it willnot be less challenging thisyear. Our strategy would beto keep expenditures low atthis stage, knock on everydoor and grab as much busi-ness as much we can,” says

Kulwant Singh, ManagingDirector, Lama DesertTourism L.L.C.

With hopes pinned onthe MICE market, Singh adds, “Our focus will be to gain more MICE businessand increase our leisure traffic by providing value for money to the customersand increasing the extravalue add-ons.”

This year they plan toconduct two roadshows inIndia, “Our popular roadshow

in April is almost in shape andwe are targetting one inSeptember as well to gain andretain our market share.”Along with conducting roadshows, they plan to exhibit in many trade exhibitions and organise one-on-one product orienta-tions and presentations.

Lama tours also ensuresthat every time there issomething new for theiragents to sell. “We havemany new products, such asthe hummer safari, newNissan petrol safari, sky div-ing, yacht chattering andexclusive trips beside the reg-ular safari and dhow cruise,”highlights Singh. “TheCompany is in its second yearof operation and by next yearwe hope to achieve at least 50per cent of our investment.Once we have finished ourmonthly installments of ourvehicles we shall be in straightprofit lines, by then we shallalso gain enough experienceto face unforeseen chal-lenges,” explains Singh.

In an attempt to provide new travel products, Lama Tours plans to conduct two roadshows in India.

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New products for travel agents

Kulwant SinghManaging DirectorLama Desert Tourism L.L.C.

In order to promote the dis-cerning Indian travellers

traffic the ‘Grand Resort BadRagaz’, Switzerland, hasappointed OM Tourism as itsSales and Marketing office.OM Tourism will be engagedin the marketing and promo-tion of the brand in the coun-try and will work towardsincreasing sales for the resortfrom the Indian market.

An exclusively dedicat-ed sales manager is in chargeto represent and give face forthe resort within the market.The resort recognises Indiaas a key growth region togenerate business for itsunique combination ofLuxury hotels, Thermal SpaWater, Medical Health, FineFood, Golf, Business and FineFood in Bad Ragaz.

On being appointed asIndia representative for GrandResort Bad Ragaz located inthe Eastern part ofSwitzerland, “We are delight-ed to be associated with a pre-

mium product like GrandResort Bad Ragaz. Switzerlandhas been one of my favouritedestinations and I am nowpleased to bring Europe’sleading & medical healthresort to the Indian travellersfor their enjoyment,” saysSanjay Sondhi, President, OMTourism. “OM Tourism has itsexpertise in the Indian mar-ket and hence our associationwith the organisation willsignificantly help the resortswhich are nestled in scenicnatural surroundings. Thisarea is also unique due to the

thermal water springs withhealing properties which canbe enjoyed in the comfort ofthe resorts” says CarmenHeinrich, Director BusinessDevelopment- India, GrandResort Bad Ragaz.

OM Tourism was set upto handle outsourced sales,marketing and PR for luxuryhotels chains and NationalTourism Boards. Amongst itsclients are Jumeirah HotelsGroup and Ministry oftourism & creative economy,Republic of Indonesia.

The ‘Grand Resort Bad Ragaz’, Switzerland, recognisesIndia as a key growth region to generate business.

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OM representing ‘Grand Ragaz’

Sanjay SondhiPresident, OM Tourism

Carmen HeinrichDirector Business Development - IndiaGrand Resort Bad Ragaz

After becoming a 365-dayholiday destination

among Indians, Goa is esca-lating its position as one ofthe best tourist destinationsin India among internationaltourists. It is participating ateight to ten internationaltrade shows, organising road-shows and brand campaignsin association with Ministryof Tourism in countries likeSwitzerland, Germany,Poland, UK, Canada, USA,France, Scandinavia, Spain,

Russia, Turkey andStockholm. It is also trying toattract tourists from SouthEast Asian countries byshowcasing different aspectsof Goa other than beaches. Ithas also signed an MoU witheight states in India (Kerala,Karnataka, Maharashtra,Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradeshand Odisha) for joint tourismpromotional activities to facil-itate mutual flow of tourists.After recording 2.6 million(domestic and international)tourists in 2010-11, the Stateis optimistic to register threemillion tourists in this fiscalending March 31, 2012.

According to SanjayChodnekar, General Manager- Marketing & Hotels, GoaTourism DevelopmentCorporation Limited, to keepthe repeat travellers and firsttime travellers glued to thedestination, the State isdeveloping many tourist sitesfor eco-tourism, adventuretourism, water sports, cultur-al and heritage tourism, hin-terland tourism, cruise

tourism, etc. Moreover, it isalso developing sites likeBaga (here, GTDC is alsolooking to build an interna-tional standard Ocean Park)and Benaulim for MICE seg-ment for private beach parties and gala dinners. It has also invited EoI for golf courses in South and North Goa to attract golflovers. The department isalso looking at building aConvention centre in Verna in South Goa. It is looking at deploying ten jet-ties for cruising and casinoactivities in Panji along with

creating a helicopter circuitin Northern belt of the state.A Mini Marina along with afive star property is alsoplanned near Mandovi river.

“Goa as a destinationhas built its reputationamong Indians and countrieslike Russia, USA and UK. Weare now expanding our hori-zons by spreading destinationawareness in countries withpotential and emergingeconomies. We have spendclose to ̀ 4.5 crore in market-ing last year and are lookingat close to ` 6 crore for thisfiscal. Apart from organisingconcerts, wine festivals andband festivals, we are alsolooking forward to introduceinnovative festivals for nichesegments. We receive excel-lent support from our travelsuppliers and are expectingsimilar response from over-seas suppliers to increase theinbound tourism. We are pos-itive to cross three milliontourist figures this year andare expecting a 15-20 percent growth in next fiscal,”concludes Chodnekar.

Goa aims at closing this fiscal with over three million tourists from domesticand international markets while escalating its position as one of the besttourist destinations in India. It recorded 2.6 million tourists in 2010-11.

Goa making big on MICE

Himachal Pradesh whichrecently won National

Tourism Award for excellenttourism publicity materialfor 2011 is focussing toincrease domestic touristnumbers. Unlike otherstates, it is focussing moreon domestic tourism as itconsists of over 70 per centof its total tourist share.Over 1.5 crore tourists’ vis-ited Himachal Pradesh in2011, of which 4.85 lakhwere international arrivals.It is now getting active onB2B level by inviting domes-tic tour operators fromstates like Delhi, Gujarat,

Rajasthan, Maharashtra,Uttarakhand, Haryana,Chhattisgarh, MadhyaPradesh, West Bengal,Andhra Pradesh and manymore to showcase and pro-mote tourism and its prod-ucts. The fams not onlyinclude visiting propertiesand regions but also holdeducated seminars aboutschemes like ‘Har Goan KiKahani’ which was launchedin August 2011 for promot-ing Rural Tourism.

Talking about the latestdevelopments in the State,Anil Kapoor, AssistantManager, Himachal PradeshTourism DevelopmentCorporation (HPTDC) said,“There is a lot of potentialfor Himachal in India withpotential from major metrocities. With good road andrail connectivity, we havethree airports in the statewith immense helicopterfacilities. We already havetravellers for segments likeadventure activities, naturetourism, religious tourismand even heritage tourism.However, now we are alsoattracting travellers withBuddhist circuit, fairs & fes-

tivals and rural tourism. We have striking schemesfor film production houses to promote our

state on domestic and inter-national level.”

HPTDC has recentlybrought out a coffee table‘Har ghar kuchh kehta’, abook narrating the historicalanecdotes associated withthe summer capital of theBritish empire. HimachalPradesh is the first state inthe country to launch anelectronic brochure, aninnovative promotionalmaterial. According toKapoor, the tourism infra-structure in the state is alsobeing developed throughsocial employment schemeMNREGA to create variousbasic facilities to thetourists. Presently, there are 17 mega projects in tune of ` 50 crore underdevelopment in the state.

HPTDC is now organising fams for operators from multiple states in India to showcase different facets of Himachal Pradesh. gives details.

AN I TA JA I N

1.5 crore tourists visit HP in 2011

Sanjay Chodnekar, General Manager -Marketing & Hotels, Goa TourismDevelopment Corporation Limited

STATES

The State is developingmany tourist sites for eco-tourism, adventuretourism, water sports,cultural and heritagetourism, hinterland tourism,cruise tourism, etc.

Goa as a destination hasbuilt its reputation amongIndians and countries likeRussia, USA and UK

Key Facts

HPTDC has recentlybrought out a coffee table ‘Har ghar kuchhkehta’, a book narratingthe historical anecdotesassociated with thesummer capital of theBritish empire

Special Feature

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There is a lot ofpotential forHimachal in India withpotential from majormetro cities

Anil KapoorAssistant Manager, Himachal PradeshTourism Development Corporation

Himachal Pradesh haswitnessed a consistentincrease in foreign touristarrivals (FTA) over the lastfive years as from 2.07 lakhin 2007, it has touched 4.85 lakh in 2011. The State expects to attract more than 5 lakh foreign visitors in 2012.

GrowingExpectations

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Britain & Ireland India Mission 2012 The sparkling night of February 21 witnessed a gala dinner event hosted by the Britain & Ireland India Mission 2012 at the Le Meridien, New Delhi. The event witnessed the who's who of the Indian travel trade along with 23 top suppliers from Britain and 8 suppliers from Ireland.

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Ethnic India showcased at AIMEAsia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) took place in Melbourne from February21 – 22, 2012 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Australia’s most versatile convention and exhibition facility. The India pavilion reflected ethnic India and was decked in vibrant colours. Key MICE agents were invited from Mumbai to attend face-to-face appointments with Melbourne suppliers.

for adventure and ‘experien-tial’ tourism.

That was why commu-nity-based tourism projectshad become popular on the6-nation Mekong trail,according to MasonFlorence of the MekongTourism CoordinatingOffice. Moderator Andrew Jones of the SanctuaryResorts, spoke of many charitable projects in his resorts “So that I can usemy vocation to give back tothe community.”

The final word camefrom Costas Christ, thefamed travel writer ofNational Geographic, who after travelling to nearly 130 countries statedsimply that tourism “was nolonger about industry, butabout sustainability.”

The importantBhutanese speakers at theMart were Karma Tshiteem,Secretary of the GrossNational HappinessCommission, who gaveinteresting details of theGNH indicators, indexes,projects, Thuji Dorji Nadik,

Director Plans & Programsof the Bhutan TourismCouncil, who explained thesteady growth of the tourismindustry in the country from1974, when it first openedout to the world.

Dr Karma Tsheringfrom the Ministry ofAgriculture, confessed thatTourism was at a criticalstage in Bhutan-“Let’sthink global, but be local,”he stated.

Bhutan’s Minister forEconomic Affairs , who’salso the Vice Chairman ofthe Bhutan Tourism Council,HE Lyonpo Khandu, activelyparticipated in the Mart. Hewas proud that the PrimeMinister of the countryheaded the tourism department. He was also proud that the lattergave a stirring speech onGNH, to the IndianParliament, last December .

“India is a very impor-tant market for us,” said the Minister.

Agreeing with him,was Karma Lotey ofYangphel, one of the top fivetravel companies in the

country, with an annualturn-over of $ 2 million. The company owned thehost Zhiwa Ling hotel, andLotey said that they hadhired an Indian Chefbecause of the importanceof the Indian market.

However, Langa Dorji of Atlas Tours’ stated frankly that ‘Indiansbargain too much.’

Director General of theTourism Council of Bhutan,Kesang Wangdi informedthat they were keen to target ‘the high-end Indian market’.

Vishal Pradhan of theTaj Tashi Hotel, and JulieBeattie of the AmanResorts, which are the top luxury properties in the country, stated that they were waiting to welcome the high-endIndian tourists to Bhutan. The former has 3-day package from` 46800-90000 (includingfood, transport, sightsee-ing). The latter has 5 prop-erties in Bhutan, and therates average at $ 180/ day(including food etc).

Contd. from page 20

Bhutan gets global credence

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Turkey expects to grow by leaps and bounds,

especially after the TAAIConvention this year. Ayturk says, “After this TAAIConvention in Istanbul, we willsee much higher numbersboth from India to Turkey andvice versa.” In 2011, thegrowth rate was 16.2 per centover 2010. But this is a mini-mal growth as the number ofpeople visiting Turkey is low even now. “Hence, weneed a higher growth rate.Turkey is an emerging desti-nation and we need to pro-mote this not just to the end-customer but to the travelindustry so that they can sellTurkey,” he adds.

According to Ayturk,there are 600 registrationsfor the pre and post conven-tion tours. This shows thatthere will be Indians travel-ling beyond Istanbul andreflects great interest in thedestination. “This conventionwas being considered as a bigfam trip for the travel trade

since most of the delegateshad that first hand experi-ence on the destinationbefore, during and after theconvention,” he informs.

To cash in on the expo-sure that Turkey received dur-ing the TAAI convention, therewill be training programmesfor the Indian travel tradeindustry. Talking about thenew development, the cultureand tourism counselorremarks, “We are closely intouch with the travel tradeassociations both in Turkeyand India and will be givingour full-fledged support inevery possible way to bringthem closer. Therefore, rightafter the TAAI convention, weare planning a training pro-gramme for the Indian traveltrade. We are working on thiswith the Kuoni Academy.”

Except for the annualmedia campaign, it is plan-ning some joint promotionswith the key players of themarket. “Last year we didpromotions with TUI, Cox &

Kings, MakeMyTrip andThomas Cook. Also, since itis a ‘Culture and Tourism’office, we also do culturalevents to showcase our cul-ture to the Indian popula-tion,” he states. TheEmbassy recently organiseda Turkish Film Festival atIndia Habitat Centre. Thenext event will be a 10-dayTurkish Food Festival, whichwill be held at Le MeridienNew Delhi Hotel.

Highlighting the maintargets this year, Ayturkpoints out, “This year, we

will focus on golf and wed-ding segments. We are run-ning joint projects with theprivate sector – DMCs and hoteliers for sponsoringsome golf tournaments and organising events at the golf courses. For the wedding segment, weare planning a FAM trip forwedding planners.”

“The wedding segmenthas a lot of potential. Last year, one wedding group from India comprising 600people went to The MardanPalace Hotel in Antalya. Thisyear a group of 400 people willfly down to the KempinskiHotel in Turkey,” he informs.

In a tete-a-tete with , Özgür Ayturk, Culture and Tourism Counsellor,Turkish Embassy in India talks about expectations from the TAAI Convention.

Post TAAI, Turkey is a new destination

Özgür AyturkCulture & Tourism Counsellor to India,Turkish Embassy

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Planning some jointpromotions with the keyplayers of the market

To focus on golf andwedding segments inassociation with theprivate sector

New Plans

Turkish Airlines,Europe’s fastest growingairline company and AirIndia, the flag carrier airlineof India, have now signed a‘Free Sale Codeshare’ agree-ment after their previousblocked space codeshareagreement. The new agree-ment will allow both the air-lines to market each other’sflights by their own codeand flight numbers on a freesale basis. With effect fromMarch 1, 2012, the revisedagreement allows TurkishAirlines passengers a seam-less connection to Air Indiaoperated flights onHyderabad, Chennai,Ahmedabad, Bengaluru,Kolkata and Amritsar routes.

Speaking on the occasionAdnan Aykac, GeneralManager, Northern andEastern India, TurkishAirlines said,“We aredelighted toenter the ‘FreeSaleCodeshare’agreement andjoin forces withAir India tooffer our cus-tomers world-

class gateway to 6 Indiancities. This partnership withAir India is aligned with ourplans to further expand andstrengthen our presence inthis region. We look forwardto working with Air Indiaand providing even moretravel options for our customers.” Codeshare flights within the scope ofthe renewed agreement areas follows:

Adnan AykacGeneral Manager, Northern andEastern India, Turkish Airlines

‘Free Sale Codeshare’

TK Operated Flights AI Operated FlightsInternational Sectors Domestic SectorsIstanbul - Mumbai v.v. Mumbai - Hyderabad v.v.Istanbul - Delhi v.v. Mumbai - Ahmedabad v.v. Mumbai - Chennai v.v. Mumbai - Kolkata v.v.Domestic Sectors Mumbai - Bangalore v.v. Istanbul - Ankara v.v. Mumbai - Ahmedabad v.v.Istanvul - Izmir v.v. Mumbai - Chennai v.v.Istanbul - Adnan v.v. Mumbai - Kolkata v.v.Istanbul - Dalaman v.v. Mumbai - Amritsar v.v.Istanbul - Antalya v.v. Mumbai - Bangalore v.v.

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OneWorld Travel Mart grows by 18% OneWorld Travel Mart (OTM) recently concluded in Mumbai and Delhi with the promise of ‘Around the World in Three Days’. The event helped in positioning India as a coveted outbound market, which currently has 12 million Indians travelling overseas annually. The country had a growth rateof 12-13 per cent per year projected till 2015. This was reflected in the participation from 27 countries. The domestic sector, the backbone of the Indian tourism industry, also had a big presence, with participation from 22 states.

Delhi

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Despite having toughcompetition from South

East Asian countries likeSingapore, Malaysia andThailand, The Philippines has successfully made its presence felt in India. Tomake it easier for the Indiansto enter the country,Philippines Tourism is in talkswith its Bureau ofImmigration to enableIndians with ‘visa-on-arrival’facility soon.

Verna Covar-Buensuceso, Director &Group Head – Europe, India& Middle East, TourismPlanning & PromotionsSector, Department ofTourism, Philippines said, “Werecorded a growth of 23 per cent from India in 2011 and are expectingclose to 50 per cent growththis year as we are soon goingto introduce visa-on-arrivalfacility for Indians which willboost the tourist numbers.

India stands at 13/14th top tourist markets and considering the growth rate and potential, we aresure that it will be in the top10 by 2013.” Currently, theaverage length of stay ofIndian travellers is 7.62nights and we are targettingto make it 10 nights throughintensive marketing and pro-motional activities.”

Direct connectivity byJet Airways from India to

Manila will also be availablein next few months whichwill further boost the connec-tivity apart from PhilippinesAirlines. For improving des-tination awareness amongthe Indian travellers andtravel trade, the TourismBoard has recently intro-duced its brand new slogan,global campaign – ‘It’s Morefun in the Philippines’ inIndia and will be participatingat national level trade shows, organise multiple cityroadshows and workshopsalong with sales meetingswith trade, informedBuensuceso. The country isfurther focussing on wed-dings, MICE, families, honey-mooners and FITs.

Talking about the potential of Indian market, Buensuceso said,“We offer everything forevery segment of travellersand have the best of nature, nightlife, shopping,adventure, business andeverything else. ”

The destination launched its new slogan ‘It’s more fun inThe Philippines’ in the global market and is positive todeploy the ‘visa-on-arrival’ facility for Indians this year.

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VoA to The Philippines soon

Competitors such asFrance are currently

receiving 20 per cent morevisitors from India than theUK. Hence, to recognise thegrowing importance of Indiaas a source market amongsuppliers from Britain andIreland suppliers, VisitBritainin partnership with TourismIreland, hosted the ‘Britain &Ireland India Mission 2012’ inDelhi and Mumbai recently.

Led by Patricia Yates,Director - Strategy & Communications,VisitBritain, the delegationcomprised 23 key suppliersfrom Britain and 8 key suppli-ers from Ireland. Around 250key Indian buyers met withthe UK trade delegation at var-ious briefing sessions.Elaborating on the importanceof the mission, Yates said,“This B2B workshop was agreat platform for the Indiatravel trade to meet and dobusiness with the British and

Irish suppliers, to learn aboutnew regions and its productsand weave new itineraries tosuit the ever emerging needsof our market. The mission isa reflection of our on-goingsupport to the trade here as werecognise its importance as the prime channel to reach potential travellers inIndia.” Britain and Irelandenjoy a prominent share of theIndian outbound market andthe challenge is to retain andincrease that share as the mar-ket grows and matures. “The

mission aimed at bridgingtogether the best of the British and Irish suppliers withthe best of our trade,” sheadded. According to Yates,Britain accounted for only 3per cent of all outbound trips from India in 2010 yet itgenerated nearly £363 millionfor the UK economy.

VisitBritain has alsokicked off £25-million adver-tising campaign in the coun-try. As part of VisitBritain’sGREAT image campaign,Mumbai and Delhi will besubmerged in GREAT brand-ing, with huge billboardposters being seen by over 16million people. VisitBritain’s60 second TV advert will beexclusively shown just beforeIndian movie goers sit downto watch their latestBollywood blockbustersacross 120 cinemas. Therewill also be 200 taxis withGREAT branding drivingaround the two major citiesin India picking up thousandsof commuters each day.

To increase its penetration in the Country and lure theIndia outbound market, VisitBritain has also kicked offa £25-million advertising campaign in the Country.

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Britain & Ireland on India Mission

Verna Covar-Buensuceso Director & Group Head – Europe, India &Middle East, Tourism Planning &Promotions Sector, Department ofTourism, The Philippines

Patricia YatesDirector - Strategy & CommunicationsVisitBritain

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350 exhibitors make OTM bigger Delhi

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The Country with thehighest density of castles

in the world offers a culturalextravaganza and enthrallingheritage to explore. Last year,Czech Republic saw a growthof 30 per cent on arrivalsfrom India. This year theyhope for a similar increase, “Ifeel we did fabulously welllast year. We have a roughfigure of about 30,000 to35,000 visitors. When weentered this market, CzechRepublic was not a wellknown destination in India.But, now we have noticed ahuge change, not justamongst the travel trade butalso amongst the directclients,” says RadkaNeumannová, Director,Czech Tourist Authority –CzechTourism, India.

A reason for their grow-ing popularity can be creditedto their work with the traveltrade. “We organised a four-

city roadshow and launcheda training programme forB2B agents and operators lastyear. We are also looking atdoing some joint promotionswith selected tour operators,”explains Neumannová.

The roadshow wasorganised in Mumbai,Bengaluru, Chennai andDelhi. Czech Tourism has also expanded their agenttraining programme and isnow capturing Chennai and Bengaluru.

“Mumbai and Delhiare usual sourcemarkets for us butthis year, we wouldalso like to focus onSouth India espe-cially Bengaluru and Chennai.

I see huge potentialthere as we saw many MICEgroups from South India trav-elling to the country lastyear,” adds Neumannová.

MICE Tourism is animportant segment and isgaining popularity in Prague. The division betweenMICE travel and leisure travelis nearly the same with aratio of 45:55.

Further highlighting thepopularity of destination, shesays, “Prague is one of themost beautiful cities in theworld and it will always bethere on a travellers map.Apart from Prague, the

Country offers 12 UNESCOsites to enjoy, making cultureand heritage a big USP. Spaand wellness is definitelyanother appealing feature. Weare also promoting beer toursand wine tours. CzechRepublic is one of the highestproducers of beer and we havesome famous brands such asoriginal Budweiser and PilsnerUrquell.” Air connectivity tothe region is trouble-free asmany airlines, such as,Emirates, Lufthansa, Austrian,fly from the main metros inIndia to the Central Europe.

Another factor creditedfor the increase in popularityof the destination isBollywood. “We were lucky aswe were selected by the pro-duction house to shoot themovie ‘Rockstar’. People noweasily connect with the desti-nation as the movie, facilitat-ed major awareness about thedestination not only amongthe travel trade but alsoamongst the travellers.”

Czech Tourism opened its India office in 2010. Ever since, there has been atremendous growth and Bollywood has also helped promote the destination.Here is a look at their marketing plans for India especially the Southern part.

South India gets ‘Czeched out’

Radka NeumannováDirector, Czech Tourist Authority –CzechTourism, India

DE V I KA JE E T

‘Ayurveda: Wellness orMedicine’ in Munich

Organised by KeralaTourism, leading figures fromthe health sector of Germanytook part in a workshop, titled‘Ayurveda: Wellness orMedicine’, in Munich.

The workshop wasaimed at helping the peopleof Germany understandmore about treatment andtherapy under theAyurveda. Experts inAyurveda spoke to delegatesfrom media as well as tour

operators and travel agen-cies focussing on health andwellness. The participantsalso included representa-tives from health and fitnessclubs and associations.

As part of the Ayurvedapromotion, Kerala Tourismwill also participate in twointernational wellness fairsin Germany next month andtie-up with online shops ina marketing campaign toreach customers.

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27 countries 22 states make OTM betterMumbai

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Outbound gets new equations at OTMe-Learningfor travelagents

Munich has launched ane-learning programme fortravel agents to increasearrivals.

There are many ele-ments that make Munichpopular. There are out-standing museums, world-famous theatres andorchestras, magnificentchurches and palaces, greatopportunities for designer’sshopping and lovely parksand gardens and all ofthem, together, account forits charm. The clear greenmountain stream, the riverIsar, runs through the cityanother delight for visitors.

Additionally, there arehigh-calibre sports events,superb gastronomy fromelegant food palaces todown to earth beer gardens,excellent conference andconvention facilities and afirst rate tourism infrastruc-ture. Not to mentionMunich beer, BMW and FCBayern Munchen. Have youvisited all the museums?Shopped till you dropped?Walked the parks? Signedyour business deals? Thendon’t miss out on Munich’ssurroundings.

Mumbai

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With airline competitionfierce, savvy air trav-

ellers want full value and the

very best for their money.This makes in-flight servicea vital ingredient and the keyto airlines branding andimage building.

Axel Hilgers, South AsiaDirector, Lufthansa, feelstravellers want to reach theirdestination safely and com-fortably and so they’vedesigned their in-flight serv-ices keeping passengersenjoyment in mind.Regionalised on-board serv-ices are particularly impor-tant as they allow airlines toform personal relationshipswith passengers. India is agood case in point. Having operated here for over five decades, Lufthansaunderstands the specificneeds and preferences ofIndian customers.

Quality Indian cuisinecreated by Indian celebritychefs under their ‘Star Chef’programme is an example.This is served to Indianflights First and BusinessClass passengers. Passengersrequiring special food forhealth, nutritional or reli-gious reasons have a choiceof 19 different meals, includ-ing pure Indian vegetarianmeals. Lufthansa’s in-flightentertainment channels offera choice of the latest Indian

movies as well as Indianmusic. And there are at leasttwo flight attendants fluent in local languages on all Indian routes.

This year, they’ll introducethe high-speed on-boardinternet service, Flynet, onkey Indian routes.

Jean-Philippe Benoit,General Manager – India,Swiss International Airlines,feels in-flight service is avital part of any airline. Theirservices offer Swiss hospital-ity and representSwitzerland’s classic values.They’re one of the few air-lines in the world where thecaptain personally welcomesall passengers.

Their award-winningculinary programme ‘SwissTaste of Switzerland’,enables them to regularlytreat their passengers to cui-sine from different parts ofSwitzerland. Every threemonths, a renowned cheffrom a particular regiondevelops local specialties.Special wines are carefullyselected to accompany eachcuisine. They’ve also intro-duced Indian dishes on boththeir direct flights from Delhiand Mumbai to Zurich. Theirstate-of-art in-flight enter-tainment system includes avast range of recent cinemareleases, over 40 TV pro-grammes, and over 300music CDs, including inIndian languages.

Pieter De Man, GeneralManager, Indian Sub-Continent, Air France – KLM,feels in-flight services are ofparamount importance for

Indian passengers as theyreflect the passengers satis-faction levels, continued fly-ing intentions,and help tobuild an image of the airlinein their minds. The common

ties with India have led AirFrance – KLM to become pro-foundly attached to this coun-try, and made them deter-mined to adapt their productsin line with Indian passen-gers’ expectations.

Air France’s moderninternational outlook whichinvolves paying special atten-tion to different culturesincluding passengers’ tastesand preferences, is a greatplus for them. A warm andfriendly attitude, a smile andcourteous behavior togetherwith attentive service to eld-erly passengers helps. While offering a truly French gastronomic experi-ence, Air France focuses onits Indian passengers culturalhabits and tastes.

Air France and KLM alsoserve vegetarian dishes on allflights to Indian destinations.With a food tie up with TheOberoi and fine wines chosenby Olivier Poussier, theybelieve they serve top quality.A latest addition in in-flightentertainment system pro-vides a choice of over 80films including Hindi movies.

KLM passengers canenjoy a special dinner servedon tableware created bydesigner Marcel Wanders. One

can create his own dinner fromthe options available. Indianroute flights feature exquisiteIndian meals. They’ve alsointroduced special A’ la’ Cartemeals service.

Orhan Abbas, VicePresident – India & Nepal,Emirates Airline, feels thattoday air travel isn’t justabout travelling, but abouttravelling in comfort. Withgrowing competition, Indiantravellers evaluate airlineson aspects such as pricing,punctuality, and the qualityof the travelling experiencewhich is primarily dependanton in-flight services. Airlines

continuously work at improv-ing their in-flight offerings.Emirates has been the bestin in-flight entertainment,and awarded for seven consecutive years bySkyTrax. First and BusinessClass passengers can nowlook forward to a new rangeof white Royal Doulton finebone china and elegantRobert Welsh cutlery.

MS Chawla, ManagingDirector, Siddharth Travels,feels airlines must deliverwhat they promise. For pre-mium class travellers, in-flight service is a very big fac-tor in their choice of an air-line. A few rupees differencein pricing will not deter themfrom choosing an airline withreliable and better in-flightservice. However, it isn’t easyfor the full service carriers tomaintain high service qualitywith rising costs. Reducingstandards results in com-plaints and moans. It isupsetting when you expect apyjama suit on a 10 – hourflight, and don’t get it. It

would have been better to start selling such services and products asoptionals at a price. After allsome of the low-cost, no frill carriers sell excellent food at a price. The motto forairlines should be to deliverwhat they promise, and whatpassengers have come toexpect from them. Once abrand equity is damaged, itisn’t easy to get it back.

Lajpat Rai, President,Lotus Trans Travels, feels that since in-flight service makes passengerscomfortable during flyinghours, it is an important aspect of airline working.Some airlines are offeringservice as a mere formality,but the fact is that service has to be up to the mark. For Indians, the most important thing is ‘servicewith a smile’. This is the key factor. So airlines that are friendly and flexible, and have the right attitude are going to do well.

Cdr CP Sharma,Managing Director, NeptuneTravco, feels in-flight serviceis a very crucial part of airlines’ functioning, and the aspect with which passengers are mostinvolved. This makes it a significant factor in airlinechoice. For Indian travellers,food is the most importantelement in flying, followed byservice by friendly and smil-ing flight attendants.

Shower spas located in First Class cabins for your exclusive use, Champagne and choicest of spirits in constantflow, Anchovy bell peppers and fresh Parmesan, cream of carrot and coriander soup, a choice of sorbets andfresh fruit, aromatic Masala Chai; It’s the good life, every day and every night on-board all around the world.

INDER RAJ AHLUWALIA

Travel easy with airline in-flight services

The commonties with Indiahave led AirFrance – KLMto adapt theirproducts inline with Indianpassengers’expectations

We have alsointroducedIndian dishes onboth directflights from Delhi and Mumbaito Zurich

Operatinghere for overfive decades,Lufthansaunderstandsthe specificneeds andpreferencesof the Indiancustomers

Axel HilgersSouth Asia DirectorLufthansa

Jean-Philippe BenoitGeneral Manager – IndiaSwiss International Airlines

Pieter De ManGeneral Manager, Indian Sub-Continent, Air France – KLM

The motto forairlines shouldbe to deliverwhat theypromise, andwhatpassengershave come toexpect fromthem

With growingcompetition,Indiantravelersevaluateairlines onaspects suchas pricing,punctuality,etc.

Orhan AbbasVice President – India & NepalEmirates Airline

MS ChawlaManaging DirectorSiddharth Travels

For Indiantravellers, foodis the mostimportantelement inflying,followed byservice bysmiling flightattendants

For Indians,the mostimportantthing is ‘service with a smile’. This is thekey factor

Lajpat RaiPresidentLotus Trans Travels

Cdr CP SharmaManaging DirectorNeptune Travco

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Displaying the 7,107 exotic islands in full galore, Philippines Tourism Marketing Office participated in the Oneworld Travel Mart (OTM) held from February 17-19, 2012 in Mumbai and from February 24-26, 2012 in Delhi. Highlighting the brand under its new slogan, ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’, the pavilion hadspecial performances from a Filipino band and bartender. Winning the admiration from those present at the mart, Philippines was awarded the Best Design &Decoration award in International Pavilion category in both Mumbai and Delhi. They were also awarded for the Best Print & Promotional material in Delhi.

Philippines exhibit their fun spirit at OTM

The Filipino fun continues with a feast

DELHI MUMBAI

A dinner was hosted by the Philippines Tourism Marketing Office for the travel fraternity in New Delhi. Wooing the hearts of the Indian agents werelocal performers from the Philippines who made every one dance to their rhythm with foot-tapping numbers. The guests also enjoyed special cocktailsmixed by an award winning Filipino bartender. Ronald B. Allarey, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippinesalong with members of the department of tourism mingled with Indian travel trade partners.

FAMILY ALBUM4 6 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Presenting NationalTourism Awards The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away theNational Tourism Awards on February 29, 2012 at Vigyan Bhawan,New Delhi. The Event was well-organised while witnessing a fullhouse. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, annually presents National Tourism Awards to various segments of the travel,tourism and hospitality industry. The Ministry of Tourism has introduced three new categories of Awards from this year as part ofthe National Tourism Awards.

FAMILY ALBUM4 8 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Ministry of Tourism recognises excellence

FAMILY ALBUM M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 TRAVTALK 4 9

Rewarding performers of the travel trade

EXHIBITIONS5 0 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 OPPORTUNITY

As a clear indicator thatthe Indian tourism

industry is on a path of con-solidation and steady growth,OneWorld Travel Mart (OTM)just concluded in Mumbaiand later on in Delhi with thepromise of ‘Around the Worldin Three Days’. India is a cov-eted outbound market, cur-rently with 12 million Indianstravelling overseas annuallyand a growth rate of 12-13

per cent per year projectedtill 2015. This was reflectedin the participation from 27countries. The domestic sec-tor, the backbone of theIndian tourism industry, alsohad a big presence, with par-ticipation from 22 states.

With over 350exhibitors and participantsfrom 27 countries and 22states, OTM this year regis-tered an 18 per cent growthover last year, necessitating

the move from Ashok Hotelto Pragati Maidan. The three-day travel show with a clearfocus on outbound travelprovided an annual opportu-nity for organisations fromaround the world to show-case their products to a largecross-section of travel tradeindustry and consumers, inall major outbound marketsin India. With a large partic-ipation from China, SriLanka, and Turkey, the part-ner countries, the OTM was

a much-larger event thisyear. Philippines, Zimbabweand Syria also made sizeablepresence as feature coun-tries. From India, partnerstates like Jammu andKashmir, Himachal Pradesh,Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,Rajasthan, Karnataka andKerala participated with large private delegations.Jharkhand and Punjab werethe feature states this time while Delhi was the host state.

With over 350 exhibitors and participants from 27 countries and 22 states, OTM this year registered an 18 per cent growth over last year.

TT BU R E AU

Travel industry converges at OTM

With over 100exhibitors, the exhibi-

tion was attended by over200 buyers from over 30countries and over 800domestic and local buyers.The three day exhibition notonly showcased variety oftravel products to domesticand international buyers butalso was a learning experi-ence for Gujarat Tourism tomake it bigger and betternext year. Inaugurated byVipul Mittra, PrincipalSecretary, Tourism and CivilAviation, Government ofGujarat and Sanjay Kaul –IAS, Managing Director,Tourism Corporation ofGujarat Limited (TCGL), all the delegates were entertained by different local cultural performanceson the inaugural evening.During the 3-day event, del-egates also got an opportu-nity to indulge in authenticGujarati cuisine and relishthe variety of deserts.

The second edition of Gujarat Travel Mart 2012 was recently concludedat Mahatma GandhiConvention & ExhibitionCentre in Gandhi Nagar on asuccessful note.

Supported by associa-tions like IATO, ATOAI,ADTOI and GITOA (GujaratInbound Tour OperatorsAssociation), the exhibitionwitnessed participation fromevery segment of travel andtourism industry. Talkingabout Gujarat tourism, Mittra

said, “This year at GTM, wehave roped in exhibitors fromevery segment of travel andtourism including MedicalTourism which is one of thebooming sectors. I assureyou that GTM will prove tobe a fruitful exhibition for the

business of both buyers and sellers and also prove tobe an excellent networkingground. Through pre and post tours in and aroundGujarat, delegates will also get a first hand opportunity to experience the destination

and products which they aregoing to sell. Next year, weplan to make it much bigger,better and grander.”

Adding further on thefocus on TCGL, Kaul said,“Over last few years, Gujarathas successfully attained thelimelight as an emergingtourism destination in India.By roping in AmitabhBachchan for our global cam-paigns, we have furtherincreased the visibility indomestic and internationalmarkets featuring the uniqueofferings of our state fromevery segment of traveller.GTM is one initiative whereinwe provide a platform for oursuppliers to network withdomestic and overseas buy-ers. Moving forward, we arefocussing on potential markets in Europe, USA,Canada, Far East and Asia who would also be participating at domestic andinternational travel tradefairs and organise educationaltours for travel agents.”

The second edition of Gujarat Travel Mart (GTM) 2012 was recently concluded in Gandhi Nagar on a successful note.

Gujarat showcased on global map

AN I TA JA I N

Vipul MittraPrincipal Secretary, Tourism and CivilAviation, Government of Gujarat

Sanjay Kaul IAS, MDTourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited

Sudhir SobtiManager – PR & Publications, DelhiTourism & TransportationDevelopment Corporation Limited

TheExhibition waswell organised andhave exhibitorsfrom well estab-lished and poten-tial internationalmarkets. Delhibeing popular in

international markets, we are receiv-ing buyers with keen interest to knowmore about our state and tourismfacilities. However, exhibitors couldhave had bigger stalls.

Vineet GopalJoint Secretary, OTOAI (OutboundTour Operators Association of India)

Good num-ber of exhibitorswith quality ofproducts and serv-ices to offer.Medical Tourism isgiven a lot of focuswith four leadinghospital chainsparticipating. Also, the evening cul-tural function provided a wider ideaof fairs, festivals and culture inGujarat. We are going to support GTMin coming years and are expectingmore number of buyers from domesticand international markets.

Gaurish DharwadkerProprietor, Travel Shop

I would liketo congratulateGujarat Tourismfor organising anevent of interna-tional standards injust the secondyear. The Event iswell organised butneeds to have more sellers and hote-liers from every star category. Sellersfor unique experiences and innovativeproducts are also missing which I’msure will be present next year. Overall,I would like to give a ‘thumbs up’ tothe Tourism Board and the exhibition.

Speak Out

OPPORTUNITY / CLIPBOARD M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2 TRAVTALK 5 1

MOVEMENTS5 2 TRAVTALK M A R C H 2 N D F O R T N I G H T I S S U E 2 0 1 2

Jaipur Marriott JaipurPranay Verdia joined Jaipur Marriott as the new Director ofOperations. In his new role, he will be responsible for daily operations including rooms, housekeep-ing, front office, banqueting and F&Boperation. Verdia brings over 13 yearsof solid experience in the industry, mostof which were spent with the MarriottGroup of hotels. He possesses aDiploma in Hotel Management from theInstitute of Hotel Management CateringTechnology and AppliedNutrition, Pusa, New Delhi.

The Travel CorporationMumbaiDarshan Maheshwari is the new Country Manager – Indiaof The Travel Corporation. He will be in charge of the Indian out-bound sales and will be responsible forservicing the general and preferredsales agents of Insight Vacations,Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays andUniworld Boutique River Cruises.Maheshwari has 15 years of crossfunctional experience in the travelindustry. Prior to joining this, he hasworked in Kuoni Travel India –SOTC as the SeniorGeneral Manager.

Kiran Mansharamani is a tour operator based out of Barcelona. Mansharamani’sfather is an Indian and hence, she visits India often, especially during Diwali everyyear. Her father who has been residing in Spain for the last 30 years has been promotingDestination India to the Spaniards. Joining the bandwagon last year, Mansharamani,a budding tour operator, is looking at taking Indians to Spain. Buoyed by the successof Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, she says Indians want to take more road trips and expe-rience the La Tomatina Festival. “Apart from doing business, I love to cook variousSpanish delicacies.” The only Indian thing that she can make is ‘chai’, she says with asmile. She further plans to learn cooking the Indian food.

Kiran MansharamaniBusiness DevelopmentManager, Warq Events

Vijai Pande has spent more than three decades in the hospitality industry andhas always raised issues pertaining to hospitality, smaller hotels in particular. Havingno godfather in this industry, he traversed many paths and now is representing HRANIas its executive committee member. He takes keen interest in highlighting core issuesthat impedes the sector growth and highlights strongly. Based in Kanpur, Pande nowwants to expand his business to other cities. In his pastime, he enjoys playing golf andkeenly follows new emerging trends.

Pande has a knack for Hindi language. “I love speaking our national language andfeel pride in promoting it across the globe.” He also loves travelling.

Vijai PandeManaging DirectorHotel Pandit, Kanpur

Runjuan TongrutOffice Director - New DelhiTAT

Courtyard by Marriott Pune CityCentrePuneVineet Mishra is appointed as the GeneralManager for Courtyard by Marriott PuneCity Centre. In his new role, he will bespearheading various specialised functions of the hotel and will beresponsible for steering the manage-ment team of the hotel. Mishra carrieswith him a rich experience of more thantwo decades in the hospitality domain.Prior to this, he was the Director ofOperations at the JW MarriottMumbai and was also associatedwith The Oberoi, New Delhi.

Lemon Tree PremierGurgaonMurlidhar Rao Viswavasu is appointed as the ChiefOperating Officer of Lemon Tree Premier. He has over 25 yearsof hotel experience and in his previous stinthe was the Vice President - Operationsof Alila Hotels and Resor ts, based inSingapore. He is an IHM MumbaiGraduate and began his career as amanagement trainee with the Leela Kempinski, Mumbai, where he rose to be senior sous chef and later F&B Manager.

Travel Tours GroupBengaluruSrikant Kalayansundaram has been newly appointed as theHead - Outbound Leisure division, Travel Tours Group (TTG). Hehas joined TTG after spending 3 yearswith Cox & Kings as the GeneralManager for Karnataka region. In this new and expanded role,Kalayansundaram assumes fullresponsibility for all aspects of theCompany. He has spent 16 years in thetourism industry. Armed with a Diplomain Sales & Marketing from Xavier Instituteof Management, he has workedwith the top brands of travels &tourism industry.

Thai Airways International MumbaiPichest Laeietpiboon has taken over as the new GeneralManager of Thai Airways International PCL for the Mumbai branch.In his new role, he is responsible for theoverall administering & market/salesmatters of the Maharashtra Area.Laeietpiboon brings over 28 years ofexperience in the Airline Industry.Prior to this, he was the GeneralManager in Laos, China and now hislatest stint is in Mumbai.

Minar Travels New DelhiMadan Kak has been promoted as the Chief Operating Officer- Tours Division of Minar Travels (India). Widely travelled in Indiaand abroad, Kak brings with him over4 decades of wide ranging experi-ence in Tourism. In his presentprofile, he will be responsibletowards the achievement of objec-tives & operational goals for Minar.Prior to joining Minar, he was asso-ciated for 38 years with TCI. Heholds a M.sc. (Hons) degree fromKashmir University.

The Leela GroupNew DelhiDavinder Singh has been appointed as the Vice President -Development of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Prior tojoining The Leela, he was the VicePresident, Development with The OberoiGroup of Hotels. Singh has nearly 35years of extensive business experi-ence and specialised knowledge in thehospitality industry. In his new role,Singh will be involved in all aspects ofdevelopment. He holds an honoursdegree in Economics fromPunjab University,Chandigarh.

Talking People is a special dedicated corner, created as a sounding board for who’s who of the Indian and International travel industry. With Talking People, it is our endeavour to bring you face-to-face with people.

Contributed by: Megha Paul and Sanjeev Bhar

Runjuan Tongrut has visited India severaltimes to attend the TAT meetings and has beenrecently posted in Delhi. “I love shopping and ambusy discovering the various shopping delights atthe Basant Lok market,” she says. Tongrut alsolikes to go for spa treatments occasionally. Sheloves exploring various options for spa treatmentsin the vicinity of her residence. She loves travel-ling to Jaipur. “I am also planning to visit Varanasiand Bodh Gaya to experience the Buddhist her-itage in the region.” Her motive in India is to pro-mote outbound travel. Interestingly, she is alsoendorsing India and thus, promoting ‘two-waytraffic’ as she rightly puts it. The lady just recom-mended her ex-boss from Thailand to take a tripto the fascinating Jaipur.

Le Meridien Kochi KochiSreekumar Sekhar has been appointed as the Director ofSales and Marketing at Le Meridien Kochi. He comes with over20 years of experience in the hospitalityindustry. In his new role, he will beresponsible for directing all salesefforts towards achieving the oper-ational goals for the hotel property.Prior to joining Le Meridien Kochi,Sekhar worked at the Regant LakePalace Hotel and Resorts, Kollam.

HIGHLIGHT

Postal Reg. No.: DL(ND)-11/6044/2012-13-14; WPP No.: U(C)-178/2012-14 for posting on 1st-2nd and 15th-16th

of the same month at New Delhi P.S.O., RNI No.: 53492/91Date of Publication:14-03-2012

Since your recentarrival, what is yourimpression of India?

India is a fascinatingcountry and is growing veryfast. It’s full of opportunityespecially for people whowork very hard. The busi-ness environment here isvery positive and dynamicand I am looking forward toan exciting 2012. EveryoneI meet, inside or outside theindustry, is hugely welcom-ing and full of genuinewarmth.

Does Virgin Atlantichave any expansionplans to India or otherparts of this region?

We fly from India’sNational Capital and operatefrom other major economiccentre’s in China, Japan,Hong Kong and Australia. Ineach of these territories wehave strong relationships andgood market share. Being apoint to point to airline, hasworked well for us, howeverwe continue to look foropportunities to furtherstrengthen our presence.

Is MICE and businesstravel seen as a potentialmarket from India todayor does the Airline stilldepend on leisure andethnic travel?

We have witnessed astrong growth in the MICEsector and it’s great to seethat companies continue toinvest in incentive travel.Our on-board product is per-fect for group travel and weare keen to grow in this area.Though the slowdown inEurope is impacting on con-fidence, we are seeing busi-

ness travel grow fromstrength to strength.Whether it’s SMEs expandingin the UK or US or largeMNCs. Corporate travellerslove our Premium Economyand Upper Class cabins andwe’ve seen more of themchoose Virgin Atlantic thisyear.

What is your impressionon the proposed changeson the FDI ruling? Doyou think Virgin Atlanticwould want to buy stakein a domestic carrier?

We are focussed ongrowing our business out of Delhi to London Heathrowand New York but we are notcurrently looking at investingin India’s domestic carriers.

Are low-cost carrierseating into VirginAtlantic’s business glob-ally? Do you see it as athreat in this part of theworld also?

Being a full service car-rier, only operating long haul flights, our USP has always been our uniqueproduct and service and weremain focussed on customer

service and innovation. This is across cabins from Upper Class to PremiumEconomy to Economy Classpassenger.

For example, knowinghow important baggage is for Indian travellers, we are the only Airline on Delhi-London route that offers two bags of 23 kgseach in Economy. For passen-gers flying our unique cabinPremium Economy, we againhave a very generous bag-gage allowance of three bagsof 23 kgs each.

We recently announceda £100million investment tofurther enhance our UpperClass offering. From July,we’ll be bringing our brandnew A330s to Delhi withamazing on-board entertain-ment and enhanced seats.Our business class passen-gers will be some of the firstin the world to experienceand enjoy our fantastic newUpper Class suite.

Low cost carriers arenot having an impact on ourbusiness because we alreadydeliver best value throughgood fares and a great prod-uct and in fact, there aren’tany true low-cost carrierscompeting against us on ourroutes.

Is the Airline take anygreen steps towardsenvironment safety? Tellus about them.

Virgin Atlantic was thefirst Airline to test a bio-fuelflight back in 2008. Theintention was to provoke theindustry to change, provethat there is a greener alter-native to jet fuel and not justignore the problem.Following our ground break-

ing initiative many other air-lines have tested bio-fuels.

Continuing our leader-ship in this field, weannounced last October abreakthrough in aviationfuel technology through ourpartnership with LanzaTech.This will see waste gasesfrom industrial steel produc-tion being captured, fer-mented and chemically con-verted for use as a jet fuel.The revolutionary fuel pro-duction process recycleswaste gases that would oth-erwise be burnt into theatmosphere as carbon diox-ide. We are hopeful of hav-ing a facility ready by early2014 and within 3 years ourflights to London from Delhi should be running onthe new fuel.

Virgin Atlantic brings their brand new A330s to Delhi for an amazing on-board entertainment and enhanced seats. Stephen King,General Manager, India, Virgin Atlantic Airways, talks about their expansion plans in India, in an exclusive interaction with .

Strengthening presence

Growing the business outof Delhi to LondonHeathrow and New York

A £100million investmentto fur ther enhance theUpper Class offering

To provide our businessclass passengers some ofthe first in the world toexperience and enjoy thefantastic new Upper Class suite

Hardcore focus oncustomer service andinnovation

Virgin Atlantic is the onlyAirline on Delhi-Londonroute that offers two bagsof 23 kgs each to Londonin Economy, forpassengers flyingPremium Economy gains a baggageallowance of three bags of23 kgs each

Offering Best Deals

Stephen KingGeneral Manager, IndiaVirgin Atlantic Airways

DE E PA SE T H I & DE V I KA JE E T

1

CanadaSupplement of March 2nd Issue 2012 | TRAVTALK | 1

Explore CanadaThe perfect destination

for a perfect holiday

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2

Unity in Diversity Canada has something for everyone – from mutli cultural yet cosmopolitan

cities stretching out to lofty craggy mountain ranges with lush wilderness

between. Its area of 9,093,507 square kilometres and a water area of

891,163 square kilometres, makes it the second largest country in the

world. Water surrounds Canada, making up 152,100 miles of coastline.

From the lush coast of British Columbia, the Rockies in Alberta, the extensive

grasslands, the Five Great Lakes Region and the hometown of maple syrup

along Saint Lawrence River and picturesque coastal areas near Atlantic,

Canada is full of natural landscapes. In the heart of all this are 15 world

heritage sites, 43 national parks, 850 national historical sites, over 1,000

provincial parks, around 50 regional parks and more than 31,000 lakes all

over the country. In short Canada is huge – really huge. Canada welcomes

the world and we welcome you to keep exploring our beautiful country.

Becoming CanadaIn 1497, John Cabot, an Italian explorer, arrived on a British ship in the

‘Newfoundland’. He was followed through the Saint Lawrence Bay by Jacques

Cartier from France. French immigrants arrived in Québec in 1608, closely

followed by the British immigrants. In 1840, Upper Canada (Ontario) and the

Lower Canada (Québec) united to form a federal government. Prince Edward

Island, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick came together to set up

the British Canada Commonwealth. On July 1st, 1867, this new land joined

the Commonwealth of Britain. Thus, a new country ‘Canada’ was created.

Today, Canada is a land of prosperous cities, enchanting landscapes and

rich cultures. With six time zones Canada has diverse climates, including

white winters and lush summers and the gorgeous Fall, making Canada a

preferred destination of international visitors.

Political Canada Capital: The Parliament and seat of power is in Ottawa

10 Provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,

Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island,

Newfoundland and Labrador

3 Regions: Yukon, NorthWest Territories and Nunavut

Language: Canada has two official languages -English and French

National Flag: Canada National Flag has a white background in the centre,

decorated by a piece of red maple with two stripes in red on both sides.

National Song: O Canada, was officially announced to be the national song

of Canada in July 1st, 1980.

Population: Canada’s population is around 33,000,000, with a growth rate

of 1%, mostly made up of immigrants. The earliest dwellers here are known

as the peoples of the First nations.

Getting to CanadaThere are currently no direct non-stop flights between India and Canada.

India’s National Carrier Air India operates flights to Toronto from Amritsar

via London thrice a week. Jet Airways flies daily from Delhi, Mumbai and

Chennai via Brussels into Toronto. It connects over London daily with Air

Canada flights into Vancouver and other major cities. All European airlines

have convenient connections over the Atlantic into the Gateway cities of

Toronto and Vancouver through their European hub cities. Middle East

airlines, like Emirates and Etihad Airways have connections at least thrice

a week into Toronto. Qatar Airways flies into Montreal from Doha thrice a

week. Over the Pacific route, Cathay Pacific connects conveniently daily into

Toronto and Vancouver, while Korean Air connects thrice a week over Seoul.

Japan Airlines and China Airlines have thrice weekly flights.

Visa ProceduresCitizens of India require a visa to enter Canada.All applications are

assessed at The Canadian High Commission, New Delhi or the Consulate

General in Chandigarh. Documents can be submitted through the VFS in

any of its 9 offices.

Greg Klassen

Senior Vice President

Marketing Strategy and Communications

Canadian Tourism Commission

Canada is an amazing country and we are very happy to show it to

our guests when they arrive. The world has understood that we make

up for the cold climate with the warmth in our hearts; that is why our

friends in India call it ‘Jannat’ or Paradise. There is a shift in perception

now of the Canadian winter, which can be seen from the fact that FTAs

from India grew by 25 per cent in the month of November, compared

to November in the previious year. And now with spring and summer

round the corner, Canada will be at her beautiful best and we are

sure these numbers will only rise. There is so much to experience in

Canada... come and share it with us!

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Supplement of March 2nd Issue 2012 | TRAVTALK | 3

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Documents for Visitor Visa

• Passport with at least six-month validity. There must be at least one blank

page in the passport. The Canadian High Commission does not accept

additional pages inserted in passports.

• Relevant fee in the form of a bank draft

• Fully completed application – in three parts- including family information

with passport size recent photographs. Digital photographs are not

acceptable.

• The form has to be completed and submitted online, the copy then signed

and submitted with supporting documents through the nearest VFS

collection centre. For further information please visit : www.vfs-canada.

co.in/visaapplication.html

• The portion of the application form for spouse or common-law partner

and children regardless of whether they are accompanying or not, has to

be completed

• Children under 18, traveling without one or both parents or without a legal

guardian must provide a notarized authorization for travel as well as proof

of their identity/signature for verification.

• Children of 18 years of age and older must submit their own application form

• Proof of employment confirming salary and length of employment.

• Salary statements for the last three months

• Income Tax Returns for the past two years

• Bank Statements / bank books for last three months

Visiting a relative/friend

• Letter of invitation and/or statutory declaration (affidavit) of support.

• Proof of residence / immigration status of inviter.

• Financial documentation of inviter such as Notice of Assessment (Income

tax documents - T4) and proof of his or her employment

• Proof of inviter’s existing funds (bank statements, bank books)

www.canadainternational.gc.ca/india-inde/

Now that you are in CanadaCanada is a wonderful country and we want you to get the most out of your

time here. Getting here and around is all part of the fun and adventure.

Flying around Canada

Many parts of Canada are remote but almost all are linked to Canada’s

nine international airports by a comprehensive network of regional services.

Air Canada operates large domestic aircraft to over 100 cities. Its low cost

subsidiary, Jazz and West Jet also provide domestic air services.

Many US and Canadian airlines also have trans-border services

Air Canada: www.aircanada.com

West Jet: www.westjet.com

Leading Partners in CanadaA2Z Travel www.a2z.travel

Across Travel & Tours Ltd. BC: Vancouver www.acrosstravel.com

Alta-Can Aurora Tours AB: Edmonton www.altacan.ab.ca

Brewster Inc. AB: Banff www.brewster.ca

CAL Travel International Ltd. BC: Richmond www.calworld.com

Discover Holidays www.discoverholidays.ca

Discover Banff Tours www.banfftours.com

DMCi - Destination Management Canada Inc www.dmci.ca

Harvest Tours BC: Richmond www.harvestours.ca

Jac Travel Canada BC: Vancouver www.jactravel.bc.ca

Jonview Canada ON: Toronto www.jonview.com

Mazda Travels BC: Vancouver www.mazdatravel.com

MISA Tours International www.misatours.ca

Prince Edward Inc. PE: Charlottetown www.princeedwardtours.com

TPI Travel (Canada) Ltd. BC: Richmond www.tpitravel.ca

XCANADA Tours & Travel Inc. BC: Vancouver www.xcanada.biz

Derek Galpin

Managing Director, CTC-India & China

Canada launches a multimedia consumer campaign in IndiaCanadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has recently launched a consumer

campaign with www.jannat.canada.travel as its web address for the

Indian consumers. The latest addition to CTC’s destination marketing

initiatives in India will help build awareness of Canada.

Derek Galpin, Managing Director, CTC-India & China, says, “This is

the first time that we are going to consumers directly. It’s a two-fold

campaign. The first phase is aimed at creating awareness about Canada

and its unique experiences like heli tours, heli-hiking, winter products

etc. that Indian consumers are still not aware of. The second phase will

witness the campaign being relaunched with new additions during the

prime buying periods in India. The campaign website will be promoted

through various media including print, radio, online etc,” he added.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who is also the brand ambassador

of CTC in India is leading the campaign and welcomes visitors talking

about Canada as, “This is my Jannat. This is our Canada.”

Galpin says that in the last two years, CTC has closely engaged with

the Indian travel trade through various marketing activities to build

awareness of the destination. “Over the last two years, we have

conducted training programmes for agencies, organised trade and

media familiarisation tours, done co-opt advertising with tour operators,

conducted B2B events and launched Canada Agents Specialist

Programme etc to generate awareness of Canadian travel products. We

will continue to undertake these activities in future and engage closely

with the travel trade.”

Exploring by road

Exploring and discovering Canada at your own pace by road is highly

recommended. But there’s an awful lot to see, so allow plenty of time. A

valid international driving license and travel insurance are all you need to

take on a self –drive tour.

Here are some other things you should know:

VIA Rail

VIA Rail is Canada’s national passenger railroad; it operates an extensive

network of passenger rail services throughout Canada. The smart thing to

do is to purchase a Canrail Pass which allows travel on VIA Rail services

system-wide or a Corridor Pass for travel in Ontario and Québec.

www.viarail.ca

Rocky Mountaineer vacations

Rocky Mountaineer is the way to go if you don’t want to miss any of the

spectacular Canadian scenery. Their rail tours, all take place in daylight with

trains travelling between Vancouver and Banff or Calgary, and between

Vancouver and Jasper. Or take the Sea to Sky trip from Vancouver to Whistler.

www.rockymountaineer.com

Travelling by bus

Greyhound Canada covers the main highway routes from the west coast of

Canada to as far east as Ottawa.

There are two main types of Greyhound Canada Pass:

1. Canada coach pass

2. Canada coach pass plus

www.greyhound.ca

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BC Ferries

BC Ferries operates the largest fleet of car ferries on Canada’s Pacific coast

as well as waterways of the British Columbia coast. BC Ferries also conduct

tours along the inside passage and waterways to Prince Rupert and the

Northern points of Western Canada.

www.bcferries.com

The Dynamic CountrysideThe magnificent Rockies, the authentic national parks, the comfortable Spa

resorts and the snow-capped ski resorts are only part of Canada’s inviting

countryside. Stay in one of the countless top resorts and boutique hotels or

backpack your way through. Take a helicopter tour across the mountains,

stop for picnic lunches enroute or enjoy a candlelit dinner in a romantic

Michelin starred restaurant. With seafood harvested in the Pacific and

Atlantic coasts, fresh beef purchased from Alberta and juicy fruits picked in

Ontario, Canada will meet your gourmet needs.

The grapes grown in the warm climate of the Okanagan and Niagara

regions turn into world famous wines, which are the best choice of

banquets or the preferred gifts for your family and friends. When frozen on

the vines, it creates the renowned Icewine.

A land of Heritage

Canada’s 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a diverse collection, both

cultural and natural. Stroll through national parks, stay at chateau-styled

hotels or rest by the largest non-polar icefield in the world. See thick moss

blanket abandoned longhouses, visit rainforest islands, or hike the parched

desert-like Badlands in search of dinosaur bones. Finish off a day of

exploring with a soak in hot springs beneath Northern Lights. Or, relax at a

très chic sidewalk café or in a cozy, British-style pub.

Akshay Kumar – Olympic Torchbearer, ‘Khiladi’ and Tourism Ambassador

The Vancouver Organizing

Committee for the 2010

Olympic and Paralympic

Winter Games (VANOC),

in collaboration with

the Canadian Tourism

Commission (CTC), had

selected 15 international

torchbearers to participate

in the Vancouver 2010

Olympic Torch Relay

International Media

Program. Chosen as one

of them was – Bollywood

hero and the ‘original

khiladi” Akshay Kumar

got a chance to don the

official torchbearer uniform

and was presented with

a prototype of the torch

by the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper during his visit to India in

November 2009.

After successfully carrying the Olympic Flame in Toronto, Kumar returned

home to a rousing welcome, and declared that being the first Indian to carry

the Olympic torch was the best experience of his life and a huge honour.

Immediately after this and in open acknowledgement of his close ties with

Canada, Akshay Kumar happily agreed to become Canada’s Tourism

Ambassador in India. Fully aware of the huge responsibility, Akshay Kumar

continued to strengthen his ties and even produced a movie – Speedy

UNESCO Heritage SitesCanada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cultural

• Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

(1981)

• Historic District of Old Québec

(1985)

• L’Anse aux Meadows National

Historic Site (1978)

• Old Town Lunenburg (1995)

• Rideau Canal (2007)

• SGang Gwaay (1981)

Natural

• Canadian Rocky Mountain

Parks (1984)

• Dinosaur Provincial Park (1979)

• Gros Morne National Park

(1987)

• Joggins Fossil Cliffs (2008)

• Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias /

Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek

(1979)

• Miguasha National Park (1999)

• Nahanni National Park (1978)

• Waterton Glacier International

Peace Park (1995)

• Wood Buffalo National Park

(1983)

Singh, a story revolving around the life of many a Indian immigrant family

and the national sport of Ice Hockey. The India release of this movie was at

the High Commission in New Delhi.

As an extension of his commitment Akshay Kumar played a significant role

in Canadian Tourism’s first Consumer Campaign in India in Dec 2011. The

catch phrase is one coined by him. Visitors to the Consumer site : jannat.

canada.travel are greeted by a beaming Akshay Kumar welcoming them to

visit ‘My Jannat: Our Canada’. He appears in all ads as well, inviting people

to join in the interactive game – a virtual flight to Canada.

Become a Canada SpecialistWith a host of plans and initiatives for the discerning tourist, the Canadian

Tourism Commission (CTC) has come up with an innovative concept in

the form of Canada Specialist Program (CSP). We have created this online

educational tool to help you become an expert in Canadian experiences.

By completing this program, you’ll learn about travel in Canada interactively,

earn an exclusive sales accreditation, have access to bespoke sales tools

and reduced travel rates etc.

Easy learning

We’ve organized this program by traditional touring regions. You can sell

just one province for in-depth visits, plan a longer trip through two or three

provinces or suggest cross-Canada travel itineraries for your clients who

have more time. We are, after all, the second biggest nation in the world.

By concentrating on touring regions, you’ll learn the locations of gateway

airports that connect your clients with Canadian experiences. We’ve

organized the program into 8 learning modules covering the length and

breadth of this vast country, enlightening you about the places to visit and

the experiences awaiting.

Benefits for Canada Specialists

When you complete all eight modules successfully, you will have earned

your Canada Specialist Level accreditation and certificate from the

Canadian Tourism Commission. You’ll also have online access to print

signage for your agency as well as logos for your business cards. You will

be the first to hear of our roadshows and training sessions. You can avail of

special discounts on travel on your personal visit to Canada, discounted air,

rail travel and hotel stays.

Canadian Tourism Commission in India has several additional promotions

for agents. Last year two lucky winners of a draw were taken on a week

-long fam tour of Ontario and attended the glittering IIFA Awards event in

Toronto. Enrol for the programme on and avail of the benefit of knowledge

of Canada. Maybe you get lucky as well and visit this fabulous country.

Enrol on : csp-in.canada.travel

British ColumbiaWith the Pacifi c to the West and Rockies to the East, British Columbia has a

winding coastline of 27,000 km. Being on the warmer Pacifi c Coast its mild

climate and beautiful landscape has 75% of the land covered by forest. The

towering mountains, shimmering lakes, tree-covered islands, dense forests

and kilometres of vast coastline make it Canada’s most scenic province.

Cosmopolitan Vancouver is a fascinating blend of European and Asian cultures

and cuisines. The province’s seven mountain ranges are home to a plethora of

world-renowned ski resorts, quaint towns, luxury lodges and wineries.

Natural landscapes and diversifi ed geographies make it one of the most desirable

destinations. Alfred Creek Falls in British Columbia is recorded as one of the

tallest in Canada at a height of 700 metres (2,297 ft). Osoyoos is the only desert

in Canada and its in BC too. It has the lowest rainfall, the highest temperatures,

the warmest lakes in all of Canada and is located in the middle of the Southern

Okanagan wine country.

British Columbia is also known for its rich cultures, world-class exhibitions,

numerous shops and delicate cuisines, representing the perfect balance between

splendid city and peaceful nature. It is known as a world-class destination for

leisure and business travellers.

Visit HelloBC.com for more information

Victoria

QUEENCHARLOTTE

ISLANDS

VANCOUVERISLAND

Lillooet

Prince George

Port Hardy

Whistler

Fort St. John

Mt. Robson

Fort Nelson

Skagway (Alaska)

Atlin

Prince Rupert

Vancouver

KamloopsRevelstoke

RadiumHot Springs

Cranbrook

Penticton

KelownaVernon

Williston Lake

Campbell River

Pacific Rim National Park

NanaimoTofino

Stewart

Nelson TrailNelson

Smithers

Hazelton

Williams Lake100 Mile House

85, 24, 0, 0 - land 60, 10, 0, 0 - roads

35, 0, 0, 0 - lakes

65, 15, 0, 0 - alternate land (where nec)

55, 5, 0, 0 - mountains/parks

Thompson Okanagan

Cariboo

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VancouverA delight for travellers seeking outdoor pursuits

with a little urban exploration. Don’t miss a walk

along the seawall at Stanley Park or explore the

endless rows of stalls featuring fresh produce,

gourmet foods, baked goods, seafood and

numerous local artisan vendors at Granville Island

Public Market.

Vancouver City

Named “Top City of the Americas” in Condé

Nast Traveler magazine’s 2009 Readers’ Choice

Awards,Vancouver was also named as one of

ten Best Family Vacations in Canada in the 2011

Travelers’ Choice awards. Vancouver has been

chosen as the world’s “Most Liveable City” in

2011 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a

title it has been awarded eight times since 2002.

www.tourismvancouver.com

Stanley Park

Step aboard one of our old-fashioned horse-

drawn vehicles and meander in comfort through

the natural beauty of Stanley Park, Vancouver’s

thousand acre wonderland. Or take a bike ride

on the 9km long Sea Wall path. This 22 km

paved way is used daily by million pedestrians,

cyclists, and inline skaters, making it the world’s

longest uninterrupted waterfront walkway. It

starts at Canada Place in the downtown core,

runs around Stanley Park, along English Bay

beach, around False Creek, and finally ends

at Kitsilano Beach. Along the way it passes by

Prospect Point and the totem poles displayed

at Brockton Point. These totems are the

most-visited tourist attraction in all of BC and

are pieces of BC First Nations artistry and an

eyeopener into the ethnic history of Vancouver.

Most of the park remains overgrown with an

estimated half million trees, some of which

stand as tall as 76 metres (249 ft) and are up to

hundreds of years old.

Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium, houses over 50,000

animals and some of the world’s most elusive

creatures. It is located in the heart of beautiful

Stanley Park, in downtown Vancouver.

www.vanaqua.org

Capilano Suspension Bridge

A reception deck 300 feet above the rushing

Capilano River amid lush forest greenery gives

your guests a dramatic taste of the city’s pristine

natural setting. Just minutes from Downtown, the

Capilano Suspension Bridge is suspended 450

feet (135m) across and 230 feet (70m) above

Capilano River. Cross over to Treetops Adventure

and walk from one magnificent Douglas fir

to another via a series of seven elevated

suspension bridges, some reaching as high as

100 feet (30m) above the forest floor.

The newly opened Cliffwalk takes you through

rainforest vegetation on a series of unobtrusive

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cantilevered and suspended walkways jutting

out from the granite cliff face. Not for the faint

of heart, it is high and narrow and, in some

sections, glass is all that separates guests from

the canyon far below.

www.capbridge.com

Grouse Mountain

Literally one of the loftiest experiences

Vancouver has to offer, getting to Grouse

Mountain top is half the fun. You are whisked

to a mountaintop hideaway via a mile-long

aerial tramway, gives a view of the city and

waterways below. High above towering

Douglas firs, breath taking views of the city

of Vancouver, sparkling Pacific Ocean, Gulf

Islands, and snowy peaks in North America’s

largest aerial tramway system to The Peak of

Vancouver.

Be in close distance to Coola and Grinder, the

two orphan bears who have been rescued

and have made the Mountain top their home

– sharing it with you and camera buffs with

a nonchalant air. You could take a dual-line,

five-line circuit zip line tour that gets you an

adrenaline-pumping tour across the peaks and

canyons of Grouse and Dam Mountains. The

tour lasts about two hours.

www.grousemountain.com

Granville Island

Imagine an island in the middle of a city.

Surrounded by marinas and with fascinating

views, Granville Island is located on the south

shore of False Creek, in Downtown Vancouver.

Connected to the city by a causeway, Granville

Island is a thriving warren of shops, artists’

studios, restaurants, theatres, nightclubs and

galleries by day or night.

Take the rainbow coloured Aqua-Bus to

Granville Island. The daily public market has a

fascinating assortment of colourful stalls, selling

homemade products and the very finest in

gastronomic delights, all fresh from the ocean,

the oven or the field.

www.granvilleisland.com

Yaletown

One of the most chic places to be is in Yaletown.

Also known as Little SoHo, Yaletown is made

up of reconverted warehouses, it has become

Vancouver’s trendiest residential neighbourhood for

urban professionals, terribly hip, and with a choice

of quality restaurants, boutiques, and galleries.

The Opus Bar of Yaletown’s Opus Hotel was voted

Vancouver’s most popular nightspot recently.

Vancouver Island and VictoriaThanks to the warming currents of the Pacific

Ocean and the protection of the Coast

Mountains, the Vancouver Island region has the

mildest climate in Canada. Many of the British

traditions are still the influence. Provincial Capital,

Victoria is a picture-postcard city and is famous

for its British traditions like leisurely tradition

of afternoon Tea with scones and jam. Rising

regally on Victoria’s spectacular Inner Harbour,

The Fairmont Empress captures the turn-of-

the-century grandeur and elegance of a bygone

era. Victoria is large enough to be genuinely

cosmopolitan, yet small enough to be explored

easily on foot with most attractions within easy

walking distance of each other.

With perfectly-groomed grounds and over 1,000

signature flower baskets that grace downtown

lamp posts in the summer months, Victoria is a

perfect place to be in, round the year.

The Butchart Gardens

Benvenuto, Italian for ‘welcome’, is the name

the Butcharts used for their original estate,

now a National Historic Site of Canada. This

is one of the many private gardens continuing

the Victorians passion for gardening. The 22

hectares of reclaimed limestone quarry land

ensures every summer is magnificent with bursts

of colour everywhere, Rose Gardens, Japanese

layout and over 300,000 bulbs. All through the

year our 50 gardeners are hard at work, tending

the gardens and the hot houses, ensuring the

outside floral display changes seasonally.

Summer evenings have night illuminations

flowing into fireworks over Christmas making the

Butchart Gardens a must visit spot for all tourists

to Vancouver Island. Take a cup of English tea at

the Blue Poppy restaurant or shop in the Seed

and gift store.

www.butchartgardens.com

Whale watching

The highlight of the visit to Vancouver and

Vancouver Island will most probably be a Whale

watching tour. The warm waters of the Pacific

just out of the harbour are a haven for families

of orca – killer whales. They are the largest

animals in the dolphin family and roam around

in family ‘pods’. A major whale migration occurs

in mid winter, but is at its peak in March and

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April at which time up to 20,000 whales swim

through the waters. The most popular departure

point is Victoria, where you can set off on a 3

hour tour aboard a zodiac or boat right from

the Inner Harbour, just steps from The Fairmont

Empress Hotel.

Enjoy the thrill of the ride, the abundance of wildlife,

close up views of the whales, all set against the

picture perfect backdrop of the Coast Mountains.

Taking a zodiac trip is the most exciting way to

get close to the orca- Don a bright body suit,

pull on your life vest and protective shoes and

get whisked away into the bay Captains of your

zodiac or ship will give you interesting titbits

about the whales and seals in the area, keeping

an eye out to point them out to you.

WhistlerConsistently ranked the number one mountain

resort in North America, The pedestrian-friendly

village of Whistler is nestled at the base of

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain. Located

in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British

Columbia, and just two hours north of Vancouver,

it is Canada’s premier, year-round destination.

Getting here is easy, take the smooth, yet

ruggedly scenic Sea to Sky Highway or take a

seat on the Rocky Mountaineer Sea to Sky train.

You could even take a floatplane and land in the

Green Lake in Whistler.

With numerous skiing and snowboarding

options, four championship golf courses, 3000

hectares and 200 ski trails, more than 200

shops, 90 restaurants and bars, visitors to

Whistler are spoilt for choice. Whistler was the

Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and

Paralympic Winter Games.

In summer Whistler’s spectacular landscape

blossoms into a vibrant display of colour and a

new season of adventure. There are numerous

ways to enjoy golden summer days as well.

Mountain biking, hiking and ziplining are just a

few more examples of Whistler’s many summer

activity options. Explore the mountain by ATV

- ride a twisty trail up Whistler or Blackcomb

Mountain, or rip along old logging roads - these

tours are the perfect way to see a different side

of Whistler. Whistler is home to one of the largest

black bear habitats, its very possible you catch

sigh of some on the way.

Let Whistler wrap you in its inclusive welcome.

You’ll cherish the beauty of this incredible place.

Come experience Whistler.

www.tourismwhistler.com

Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Take to the skies and experience Whistler’s

alpine via the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. This

gondola, opened in fall of 2009, spans the

distance between Whistler and Blackcomb

mountain. It is record breaking and breathtaking

at the same time. The Longest ride on

unsupported span of 3.024 kilometres is at a

height of 435 metre above he base takes just

11 minutes with a cabin departing every 49

seconds. Interspersed between these are silver

coloured gondolas. Whats different about them?

They are glass bottomed, a thrilling experience

like no other.

The gondola operates in the Winter for avid

skiers and snowboarders to take advantage of

2 mountains. In the Summer the ride up is for

those looking for a alpine hiking experience or a

rush of mountain biking.

www.whistlerblackcomb.com/p2pg

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Thompson OkanaganThe Thompson Okanagan region, known as

Canada’s Napa Valley, is home to 150+ wineries,

whose vines soak up some of Canada’s sunniest

weather and are surrounded by lakes, mountains

and world-class golf courses. Explore the region

the local way, cycling through the idyllic valley

or picnicking at a vineyard overlooking Osoyoos

Lake. Feast on wild salmon and bannock while

sipping a glass of gold medal winning Pinot

Blanc., Riesling or Chardonnay.

Head to the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market.

Apart from fruits, this market offers a huge variety

of farm products and organic produce like jams,

meat, body products, flowers, ethnic foods, soaps,

plants and much more. Follow your nose, take a

walk into the Okanagan Lavender Farm and walk

through 60 different kinds of blooms or have a

cup of Lavender Tea. Literally next door are acres

and acres of fruit farms, trees laden with luscious

cherries, nectarines, peaches and apples; it will be

correct to say that you are in Canada’s ‘Fruit bowl’.

It’s easy to take a bucket and pick your own fruits,

fresh off the trees. You can even dare to bite into a

few while ‘toiling’ over it.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

BC’s Most Visited Winery. Since 1986,

Summerhill is now Canada’s largest certified

organic winery.The word Py-ra-mid means

“fire in the middle”. “We all have this fire in

the middle. It is our hearts, our souls”. This is

the core of the Summerhill Pyramid Vintners,

making it one of the most unique wineries

in the Okanagan region. They follow organic

growing practices and their pyramid is part of

their wine making process. The wine is placed

strategically under the pyramid structure

for clarification, an integral step in its aging

process.

They also have an organic bistro right on site to

give any visitor a complete winery experience.

www.summerhill.bc.ca

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Experiences of a different kind

Inside Passage Cruising

Take a BC Ferries cruise into the northern

reaches of Vancouver Island, through the

famed Inside Passage. Explore the remote

mountain towns that dot the Skeena and

Bulkley river systems and the expansive high

plains of the Caribou region. Keep an eye out

for wildlife along the shoreline, orca whales

and porpoises in the channel, and great bald

eagles circling overhead. Watch for remote

First Nations villages that are tucked into

several of the bays along the route. Travel to

the famed Khutzeymateen, Valley of the Grizzly,

and view grizzly and black bear in their natural

environment. Your destination is Prince Rupert.

the cultural centre of the Tsimshian-speaking

First Nations people.

www.bcferriesvacations.com/packages/

package-details03041101.php

Mail- Run Seaplane Ride

Embark on a 90-minute scenic Seaplane flight

giving you spectacular aerial views of Vancouver

and the Gulf Islands. Depart Vancouver Coal

Harbour and explore the rugged fjordland and

picturesque villages of the beautiful Gulf Islands

from the air. You will see all the major downtown

sights and experience spectacular views of

Grouse Mountain before the tour concludes

with a thrilling landing back on the water. Its

such an exhilarating ride, few can boast of

having done it.

www.dosomethingdifferent.com/

experiences/the_mail_run_seaplane_tour_

Whistler Ziptreck Tours

Glide over Fitzsimons Creek the untouched

ancient coastal rainforest that divides Whistler

and the Blackcomb Mountains. The two hour

trail consists of five zip lines and four treetop

suspension bridges and promises wonderful

views of the surrounding rainforest. Feel the

adrenaline pump through your veins as you soar

along ziplines up to 2,000’ long and 200’ above

the forest floor. You could reach speeds of up to

80 km/hr on your trip. In between each of these

ziplines you will be doing some walking on tree

platforms, suspension bridges, stairs, as well as

some trails and boardwalks throughout the old

growth rainforest. It is an experience to relive

again and again.

Eye of the Wind

For the thrill of a lifetime, take the trip up to the

Grouse Mountain Summit. Ride an elevator 20

storeys and step into the Eye of the Wind, the

world’s only glass ViewPOD at the top of the

wind turbine. You get as close as three meters

(10 ft) from the turbine’s giant rotating blades,

each 38 m (125 ft) long. Inside the 36-person

ViewPOD, you will be higher than the Grouse

Mountain summit, feeling on top of the world

surrounded by sky as living life to the fullest

standing in the Eye of the Wind.

in.canada.travel/experience/Grouse-

Mountain

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HotelsSonora Resort

Imagine acres and acres of verdant forests,

meandering rivers, limpid lakes and a spectacular

resort nestled amidst it. A resort that offers both

relaxation and adventure, where you can spoil

yourself with a massage in front of a fireplace,

soak in a heated pool with a view or go beaver

and bear watching. On the seashore of a

road-free private island, is Sonora Resort -an

all-inclusive retreat in the wilderness. Though

remote, it can be easily reached by helicopter

from Vancouver airport or by water taxi from

Campbell River. Live a life of luxury, soak in a

hot tub with a rainforest and ocean view in the

privacy of your own private oceanfront luxury

lodge. How about you hop on a helicopter for

a glacier tour complete with a picnic lunch and

epic view. After dinner, drift off to sleep to the

sound of gentle waves and the wind through

cedars.

www.sonoraresort.com

King Pacific Lodge - A Rosewood Resort

King Pacific Lodge is located in the heart of

the Great Bear Rainforest on the West Coast

of British Columbia and offers floating Luxury

Wildlife Adventure. Your welcome starts with

a scenic round-trip flights from Vancouver to

the wilderness lodge for a special champagne

welcome. Only the best produce, meats and

wines from British Columbia are served. Daily

guided activities include whale watching and

wildlife watching tours, ocean fishing, hiking,

kayaking,helitours and the opportunity to see the

elusive Kermode or Spirit Bear.

King Pacific Lodge was selected as the Best

Resort in Canada by Condé Nast Readers’

Choice Awards in 2008, 2009 and 2010

www.kingpacificlodge.com

The Wickaninnish Inn

While most of Canada lives winter under a

blanket of white, the West Coast of Vancouver

Island grows green, green, green as it witnesses

the fury of howling gales, 20-foot breakers, and

enough rainfall to keep our pristine temperate

rainforest alive and well. All this drama is courtesy

of the Gulf of Alaska’s Aleutian Low, formed from

the growing contrast between the warm air over

the North Pacific and the cooler landmasses of

Asia and America. The Wickaninnish Inn was

designed so that every single room, suite and

public space would allow for a view of the ocean

– and that all guests would live the excitement of

viewing BCs legendary West Coast winter storms

in luxurious comfort. But Tofino winters also bring

days of brilliant sunshine - sunshine peeking in

between winter storms!

www.wickinn.com/stormwatching.html

Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge

Tsa-Kwa-Luten is an Oceanfront Resort at

Cape Mudge. Surrounded by stunning scenery,

the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge offers privacy and

seclusion within a 1100 acre forest located on

Quadra Island, only a 10 minute ferry ride from

downtown Campbell River.

Being surrounded by stunning scenery the island

provides numerous soft adventure experiences

ies including: sea kayak tours, marine tours,

hiking, sport fishing, diving, and even grizzly

tours in the fall. All rooms feature ocean views of

the historic Discovery Passage and have private

sauna and hot tub.

www.capemudgeresort.bc.ca/index.html

Fairmont Empress, Victoria

The Fairmont Empress sits majestically at the

cornerstone of Victoria’s sparkling Inner Harbour.

Turn of the century architecture and classic beauty

complement the quintessential Victoria experience

in this hotel. Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont

Empress has been served since the hotel opened

in 1908. Afternoon Tea has been enjoyed by

kings, queens and celebrities who have stayed

at the Fairmont Empress. The City of Victoria is

celebrating its 150th birthday in 2012, and the

Fairmont Empress will be in the centre of all eyes.

www.fairmont.com/empress

Sutton Place – Vancouver

Few hotels can rival the elegance, European charm

and hospitality of Vancouver’s Sutton Place. Set

against a majestic backdrop of mountains it brings

a taste of Europe to one of North America’s most

beautiful cities. Lavishly appointed guest rooms,

innovative French continental cuisine and the Vida

Wellness Spa, the Sutton Place Hotel is a perennial

Conde Nast Traveler Gold List favourite and one

of Travel and Leisure’s Top 500 list. It is located in

the heart of the city, just steps from the arts and

entertainment districts, and within walking distance

of the chic boutiques.

www.vancouver.suttonplace.com

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QuebecNot only is Québec the pristine green of pasture and forest, sprinkled with bronze

church spires and picture-perfect sidewalk cafés, it is also très chic, filled with

fabulous places to dine and beautiful people. The sun shines on cobblestone

streets and everywhere you turn activities abound, from cross-country skiing

through forest trails in the winter to witnessing the magical transformation of

maple trees turning to red, yellow and orange in the autumn, not to mention

indulging in delectable wines and authentic French cuisine all year long.

Montréal and Québec City are bustling metropolises with a perfect mix of

sophistication and playfulness, and the added bonus of history-soaked and

preserved neighbourhoods. From the picturesque Eastern Townships to

breathtaking Charlevoix to the soaring Laurentians Mountains, Québec is simply

extraordinary. Both English and French are spoken here, and you’ll be delighted

to discover the Québécois are a vibrant and inviting people.

Kuujjuaq

MontTremblant

Mont Ste-Anne

Amos

Baie-Comeau

Sherbrooke

Labrador City

Sept-iles

Inukjuak

GaspéPerce

Trois-Riviéres

ReservoirRobert-

Bourassa

85, 24, 0, 0 - land 60, 10, 0, 0 - roads

35, 0, 0, 0 - lakes

65, 15, 0, 0 - alternate land (where nec)

55, 5, 0, 0 - mountains/parks

Charlevoix

Laurentians

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Quebec CityQuébec City is North America’s only walled

city north of Mexico City. Over the centuries,

the old town’s lanes and squares have

seen the continent’s first parish church, first

museum, first girls’ school, first business

district, first newspaper, first hospital and

first French-speaking university. UNESCO

proclaimed the entire old town a World

Heritage Site, and the city celebrated its 400th

birthday in 2008. This provincial capital has

as much ambience, romance, melancholy,

eccentricity and intrigue as any European

city. Soak up the historical atmosphere of the

Citadel ramparts and follow the walkway to

Dufferin Terrace below Château Frontenac for

great views of the St. Lawrence River.

The cable car to the top of the 83m (272ft.)

Montmorency Falls—higher than Niagara Falls—

promises superb views of the river. Visit at twilight

and witness the fireworks display in summer. Go

to neighbouring Sainte Anne and take a quick

zipline across the gorge, trying not to look at

the river below. Keep an eye out for the wildlife

at Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier as you

canoe down its magnificent river or simply relax

in the shade of its trees. Watch the watercolour

artists at work and buy their pieces on Rue

Sainte-Anne, or browse Amerindian crafts, local

designer fashions and decorative objects on Rue

Petit-Champlain. You’ll love the antique shops of

Rue Saint-Paul and the Old Port Farmers Market,

too. For foodies, Québec City is heaven, serving

up everything from fine French cuisine to hearty

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stews and traditional steak frites. Be sure to

spend a lazy afternoon or magical evening on a

charming patio!

For a winter experience beyond compare, spend

a night or two at the Hôtel de Glace, built from

ice each year near Lac Saint-Joseph!

www.quebecregion.com

Attractions

Fortifications: Discover the impressive ramparts

encircling Old Québec. These fortifications,

erected under the French and British regimes,

bear witness to the evolution of Québec’s

defence system from the 17th to the 19th

century, stretching over 4.6 km (2.8 mi.). At the

heart of the fortifications stands the Citadel,

which was the ultimate recourse for the British

garrison. A World Heritage Site, Québec is the

only city in North America to have conserved a

major part of its defence system.

www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/fortifications/

index.aspx

Place-Royale: The point of land now occupied

by the historic site of Place-Royale was once

the original fur trading post, used even before

the Europeans arrived. In the early days of

New France, Samuel de Champlain had begun

construction on a fortified post, which was

destroyed in a fire in 1682. The new buildings

were constructed of stone, and the marketplace

became what is now known as Place Royale. The

Musée de la civilisation is located in the heart of

an historic district, mere steps from where Samuel

de Champlain founded Québec. The interpretation

centre takes visitors on a trip back through 400

years of Place-Royale’s history.

Quartier Petit Champlain – Set at the foot

of the cliff below Château Frontenac, this

neighbourhood is a must-see when visiting

Québec. It is magical in the winter, with

thousands of lights illuminating its narrow streets.

Lined with quaint shops and warm bistros, Petit

Champlain claims to be the oldest commercial

district in North America. Make your way to the

100-square-metre mural, a full wall that depicts

the area through the ages, from 1759 to the

present day. You don’t have to be an expert to

appreciate the beauty of this outdoor work of art.

www.quartierpetitchamplain.com/en/

about#Mural

MontréalA city set in the middle of the St. Lawrence River

with one of the largest inland harbours in the

world, Montréal is synonymous with romance

and hospitality. With an energetic night scene,

cool European vibes and a seemingly never-

ending string of stellar summer festivals, Montréal

is irresistible. The largest French-speaking city

outside of Paris, Montréal is one of the most

dynamic cities in the world.

Montréal is also a shopper’s paradise. The

hardcore will inevitably check out Rue Sainte-

Catherine Ouest, which is filled with department,

chain and one of a-kind stores. For those with

an epicurean bent, the city boasts over 6,000

restaurants to choose from.

Montréal’s downtown bustles with life at the foot

of its “mountain,” while history is rooted in the

old quarters near the river. With its year-round

party atmosphere, Montréal beats to the rhythm

of its festivals: jazz, comedy, cinema, fireworks

and more! The city beckons you to discover its

fashionable boutiques and famed cuisine, over 30

km (18 mi.) of indoor pedestrian walkways, and

its lively casino. Stroll through its colourful streets

or take a ride along one of its many bicycle paths

(over 660 km / 400 mi. in the region). Oh, and

party in Montréal? Oui, s’il vous plaît!

www.tourisme-montreal.org

Notre Dame Basilica

The vast Basilica, reflecting the Gothic

revival style, astounds with its extraordinary

craftsmanship, the artistic polish of its fittings, its

many fine works of religious art and the interior

of its chapel, which was inspired by the Sainte

Chapelle in Paris. Indeed, it is one of the most

fascinating pieces of architecture in Montréal.

Dedicated to Our Lady the Blessed Virgin—

“Notre Dame”—the small original chapel was

initially operated by the Jesuits. With its dazzling

combination of blue and gold, the Basilica is

a place like no other in Montréal—once seen,

never forgotten.

www.notredamebasilica.ca/en/

Pointe à Callière Museum

Designated a National Historic Site, Pointe-

à-Callière is a spectacular museum built atop

an authentic archaeological site located at

Montréal’s birthplace. The multimedia show

projected above the actual ruins of the city take

you on a captivating historical tour of Montréal.

It showcases major archaeological discoveries

made on this site, bearing witness to over 1,000

years of human activity at the very spot where

Montréal was founded.

pacmusee.qc.ca/en/about-pointe-a-calliere

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Underground City

The “Underground City” refers to the vast

network of pedestrian walkways located

beneath the downtown core. With a total of

33 km (20 mi.) of connecting passageways,

the Underground City also leads to the

metro (subway), commuter trains and buses.

What’s more, the passageways serve a more

leisurely purpose as they provide access to 40

entertainment venues and attractions, particularly

handy during the bitterly cold winter months. The

concept began in 1962 with construction of the

lower level shopping mall in Place Ville Marie.

Look for the metro signs (they have a blue arrow)

and follow them underground. At certain points

the Underground City is many storeys beneath

the surface—it’s a whole new world!

www.tourisme-montreal.org/What-To-Do/

Shopping/underground-pedestrian-network

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the magnificent golf course elegantly overlooking

the river.

www.tourisme-charlevoix.com

Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant is the crown jewel of the

Laurentian Mountains, as majestic in summer as

it is in winter, with amazing views of the lake and

surrounding area. Each day in Mont Tremblant

village is filled with excitement, from skiing to

golfing, from dogsledding to rafting. From the

beginning of January to the end of December,

Mont Tremblant is a charming destination of

choice whose unique geography makes it ideal

for virtually any event.

Walk to the main areas of the pedestrian

village, shop at a number of specialty stores,

or savour a variety of wines and foods in

nearby restaurants and clubs. Depending on

the day, you may be entertained by musicians

in the open-air theatre. Take the gondola up

the mountain and “luge” it back down. For a

relaxed evening, try your luck at the casino just

up the hill.

www.tremblant.ca

Charlevoix

In Charlevoix, mountain and sea combine

to form a setting that can only be described

as spellbinding. A succession of capes and

outcroppings flank the coast like sentinels

guarding the river. Villages nestle cosily at the

foot of the mountains or in peaceful coves.

Beyond the road, fertile fields are interspersed

with stunning glimpses of backcountry peaks.

Charlevoix owes its geography to a meteorite

that fell to Earth some 350 million years ago

on what is today the site of the village of

Les Éboulements. The region is home to the

famous Le Massif ski hill, which boasts the

highest vertical drop east of the Canadian

Rockies.

Baie-Saint

Paul, a heritage town nestled in a valley with

over 85 century-old homes, was a favourite

of Canada’s Group of Seven painters and the

birthplace of the celebrated Cirque du Soleil.

From Saint-Siméon or Baie-Sainte-Catherine,

head out for a little whale watching in the

Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park. Enjoy the

open sea air, have some fun at the casino, or visit

Attraction

Jet boating on the Lachine Rapids: Summer in

the city is also about rafting, jet boating, canoeing

or kayaking on the Lachine Rapids, pedal boating

on city ponds and parasailing off the beaches.

Nothing can match the thrill of jet boating in a

zodiac on the Lachine Rapids. The St. Lawrence

Seaway was built to allow ships heading west

from the Atlantic Ocean and Maritime provinces

to circumvent the strong whitewater rapids

around the city of Montréal. Known as the

Lachine Rapids, they are fed by water from all five

Great Lakes, cascading over large rock ledges

and giant mid-river boulders to create 15-foot

waves, ferocious boils and swirling whirlpools.

www.whirlpooljet.com

Signature ExperiencesHôtel de Glace

Located just 10 minutes from downtown Québec

City, this “ice hotel” is a must-see attraction to

discover each winter. Unique in America, the

Hôtel de Glace has seduced over half a million

people from around the world since its opening in

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you initially past Parc de la Chute Montmorency,

followed by Île d’Orléans—considered by some

to be Québec City’s “garden”—then on to the

Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area on the

St. Lawrence sandbanks, and through to La

Malbaie. This romantic rail excursion is one of a

kind, in summer as well as winter, when skiing

vacations are the order of the day.

www.lemassif.com/en/train

Cirque du Soleil

In the early 1980s in Baie-Saint-Paul, a charming

village nestled on the north shore of the St.

Lawrence River, a theatre troupe founded by

Gilles Ste Croix walked on stilts, juggled, danced,

breathed fire and played music. These young

entertainers, which included Cirque du Soleil

founder Guy Laliberté, constantly impressed and

intrigued Baie-Saint-Paul’s residents. In 1984,

during the celebrations surrounding Québec’s

450th anniversary and Jacques Cartier’s

discovery of Canada, Guy Laliberté introduced

Cirque du Soleil to the world. Since then, Cirque

du Soleil has mesmerized spectators around

the globe. While Cirque du Soleil’s international

headquarters remain in Québec, the company’s

shows enthral audiences the world over.

www.cirquedusoleil.com

Cruise the St. Lawrence

Nature and culture are at the heart of the St.

Lawrence cruising experience, which includes

nine different ports of call. You will discover

typical coastal villages, towns bustling with

activities, historic sites, a vibrant Innuit culture

and so much more. Over the past few years,

several major international cruise lines have made

the St. Lawrence a preferred destination. Sailing

the St. Lawrence means reliving the odyssey of

the hardy souls who explored New France, while

also falling for the alluring charms of Montréal

and Québec City. These two cities are departure

points for cruises to Boston, New York and Fort

Lauderdale and for round trip itineraries.

www.cruisesaintlawrence.com

2001. The hotel impresses with its dazzling décor

that includes huge snow vaults and crystalline ice

sculptures. Open each year from the first week

of January to the end March, the hotel promises

visitors an incredible experience. The thick

snow walls serve as a windshield, keeping the

Hôtel de Glace well insulated. The temperature

varies by only a few degrees, from -3°C to -5°C,

regardless of the outside temperature. Spend

the night, or better yet, tie the knot in the Ice

Chapel… There’s nothing quite like raising a toast

in glasses fashioned from ice!

www.hoteldeglace-canada.com

Île Notre-Dame and Île Sainte-Hélène

Visit Parc Jean-Drapeau, spend the day at

Québec’s largest amusement park or take an

afternoon off to visit the Biosphère, located in

the former U.S. pavilion at Expo ‘67. Ride the

funicular up the inclined tower at Olympic Park—

site of the 1976 Olympic Games—or visit the

Biodôme, a magical place that is home to four

ecosystems. Montréal’s Grand Prix du Canada

takes place on Île Notre-Dame, which boasts

the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a 4.5 km (2.8 mi.)

track that is Canada’s Formula One holy ground.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the

island to watch the gods of motor racing. All this

and more takes place on Montréal’s twin islands.

www.parcjeandrapeau.com

Festival International de Jazz

Ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival by

Guinness World Records, Montréal’s jazzfest has

been a hub for jazz lovers for the past 30 years.

For 11 days in summer, the festival hosts some

3,000 musicians and public entertainers from 30

countries who put on 800 concerts, two-thirds of

which are free. Each year, 15 concert halls and 8

outdoor stages welcome 2.5 million visitors, from

noon to midnight! For those 11 days, Montréal is

without a doubt the true heartbeat of “Planet Jazz”!

www.montrealjazzfest.com

Le Massif’s rail cruise

Travelling between mountains and sea, along

140 km (87 mi.) of breathtaking riverside scenery

between Québec City and La Malbaie, the Train

du Massif de Charlevoix carries passengers

on a singular rail cruise experience featuring

Charlevoix’s gastronomy and the region’s

countless hidden treasures. The journey takes

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Hotels Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Standing high on a bluff overlooking the mighty

St. Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Château

Frontenac is not merely a hotel located in the

heart of Old Québec—it is the heart of Old

Québec. With its castle-like architecture and

turrets, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is truly a

dream experience! This stately hotel towers over

historic Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage

Site. A stay at the chateau means easy access on

foot to all of the wonderful sites and experiences

that Old Québec has to offer. Take the funicular to

Quartier Petit Champlain or walk across the street

through the ‘artists lane,’ near Place Royale. The

hotel puts you at the heart of the action!

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac owes its name to

a flamboyant French governor, Louis de Buade,

Count of Frontenac. The Frontenac coat of arms

can be seen on the outside wall of the entry arch

and in many other parts of the hotel. The Château

Frontenac has a canine ambassador, Santol,

who regularly lounges in the lobby, ready to greet

guests and eager to receive a pat on the head!

www.fairmont.com/frontenac

Ritz Carlton Montréal

Perfectly located in the heart of Montréal’s

Golden Square Mile, the Ritz-Carlton Montréal

has been the most elegant address in town since

its opening in 1912. As the only Canadian hotel

of its era still in existence, “La Grande Dame” has

become a legend in her own time.

This luxury hotel is within walking distance of

numerous high end boutiques, galleries and

museums. Undergoing refurbishment and

adding residences, the Ritz Carlton is slated

to reopen in spring 2012 with 130 rooms and

suites and 46 luxury apartments, just in time

for its 100th anniversary. In addition, celebrated

French chef Daniel Boulud is opening a

signature restaurant at the hotel to the delight of

Montréal’s taste buds.

www.ritzmontreal.com

Sacacomie

Only 90 minutes from Montréal and two hours

from Québec City, Hôtel Sacacomie is like a

jewel in the wilderness. Located in the heart

of the forest and bordering the Mastigouche

wildlife reserve, it overlooks a majestic lake

whose shore extends for more than 40 km

(25 mi). In this enchanting site where nature

reigns supreme, the log-constructed Maison

du Lac blends in harmoniously with the

scenery. The hotel’s private beach is reserved

exclusively for in-house guests. Take a kayak

or paddle boat and head out on the lake, or

try a hiking excursion on the 65 km (40 mi)

of magnificent mapped trails surrounding the

Maison du Lac.

The hotel is also home to Geos Spa, a new

type of environment-friendly and energy efficient

spa. It offers rejuvenating body treatments

and therapeutic baths in a natural setting. The

concept is based on the responsible use of

natural resources, promising guests an authentic

experience.

www.sacacomie.com

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AlbertaNatural, pure and picturesque, this will be your first impression of Alberta. The

province is home to the Canadian Rockies and the iconic Banff and Jasper

national parks. Step onto any peak of the Canadian Rockies and overlook

the flowing rivers, incredible green lakes and wild blossoms in the grassland.

Navigate the glacier rivers, look for dinosaur fossils in Badlands and visit five

UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Play at one of hundreds of golf courses, go

fishing by small aircraft or ski on powder snow...From peaks to plains, Alberta

has some of the most beautiful scenery of any province in Canada.

All across Alberta, you can experience breathtaking scenery and exciting

adventure: shimmering wheat fields, the Northern Lights, the Calgary Stampede,

West Edmonton Mall, guest ranches, sunny skies, Canadian Badlands and

powder-perfect ski resorts.

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Banff National Park

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park’s first superintendent, George Stewart, even

oriented the town’s First Street in such a way that

it would offer the best possible views of Cascade

Mountain in the background.The history of this

mountain town is well-preserved at a number of

museums and heritage sites. The allure of the

Town is its close proximity to the park’s incredible

attractions and best-kept wilderness secrets.

Banff National Park : The first national park

established in Canada 125 years ago and a

UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff National

Park is a vast, unspoiled wild terrain and home

to the Town of Banff. With 1,600 km of trails,

two gondolas, three ski areas, exciting heritage

and more dining options and activities than you

have time for, Banff National Park is a premier

destination on every visit to the Canadian

Rockies. Whether by car, bicycle, hiking boots,

skis, snowshoes or canoe, you can explore the

6,641 sq km of magnificent Banff National Park

all year-round.

Regions and attractionsCalgary is the fastest-growing city in Canada.

Its a place where prairie meets mountains and

heritage meets innovation. It is the gateway to

the Canadian Rockies where the world comes, to

be swept off its feet, by the sheer majesty of the

landscape. There’s the Calgary Stampede in the

summer, sites from the 1988 Olympic Games to

check out, a dynamic arts scene, great nightlife

and a youthful energy pulsing throughout the city.

Get a really close encounter with grizzly bears

at the Calgary Zoo Botanical Garden and Pre-

historic Park. Take a ride up to the glass floor

observation deck or the revolving restaurant in

the iconic Calgary Tower. The views from the top

are fantastic.

Canadian Rockies

Banff Town : Once ‘Siding 29’ on the Canadian

Pacific Railway, the town of Banff was intended

to be a tourist town from its very inception. The

Something differentLive the ‘wild west’ staying on a working

cattle ranch, looking after your own

exclusively allocated horse and enjoying

tours of the superb local countryside plus

plenty of other outdoor activities.

Self-drive is a great way to get around

Alberta too, staying in delightful B&Bs and

exploring extraordinary archaeological areas

like Dinosaur Provincial Park.

www.travelalberta.com

Home of National ParksAlberta is a treasure trove of parks and protected

spaces; five national Parks including Canada’s

oldest, Banff National Park. It was established

in 1885 and is home to towering mountains,

glittering glaciers and icefields, lush alpine

meadows and natural mineral hot springs.

Jasper National Park offers visitors a laidback

experience, with equal options for adventure,

discovery and relaxation. Wood Buffalo National

Park, Canada’s largest national park and one of

the largest in the world, was established in 1922

to protect the last remaining herds of bison in

northern Canada.

Waterton National Park offers a spectacular

setting with dry rolling prairie hills soaring to icy

peaks. Spotting wildlife is common and you will

find more than 800 species of wildflowers.

Elk Island National Park is located 48 km east of

Edmonton and is home to herds of free roaming

plain bison, wood bison, moose, deer and elk.

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Banff Gondola and Hot Springs: Catch the quick

eight-minute gondola ride to the top of Sulphur

Mountain and one of the most spectacular

panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, the

Town of Banff and the Bow Valley. At the summit

there are a number of viewing decks as well as

a kilometre-long elevated board-walk that leads

you along the ridge of the mountain. Experience

a bird’s eye view of six mountain ranges. Relax

at the legendary and recently refurbished, Banff

Upper Hot Springs where we’ve been enjoying

the soothing waters for generations. The Banff

Upper Hot Springs, located at the end of

Mountain Avenue remain the only hot springs

in Banff that can be enjoyed by the public. The

hot springs elsewhere are the habitat of an

endangered snail and are no longer open for

public use. This is the heart of Banff.

www.banfflakelouise.com

Lake Louise: Lake Louise has become symbolic

of the quintessentially Canadian mountain scene.

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This alpine lake, known for its sparkling blue

waters, is situated at the base of the impressive

Victoria glacier-clad peaks. At about 2.5

kilometres long and 90 metres deep, the lake

offers a surreal paddling experience in the warm

summer months and one of the most scenic

skating rinks in the world in winter.

The hamlet of Lake Louise is astonishingly

accessible and one of the most scenic and

picturesque areas of Banff National Park. Located

nearby are Moraine Lake and Peyto Lakes

surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Stop

at any of the scenic lookouts and marvel at the

unusual blue and green colours of the lakes water.

Icefields Parkway: Journey along the spectacular

Icefields Parkway, widely considered one of the

most scenic highways in the world. The Icefields

Parkway stretches 230 km between Lake

Louise and the town of Jasper past massive

glaciers, mountains that straddle the Continental

Divide and waterfalls. Home to bears, coyotes,

mountain goats, big horn sheep and cougars;

the region is one of the most protected natural

habitats on Earth.

Jasper: Nestled in the heart of Canada’s largest

Rocky Mountain Park, the town of Jasper offers

visitors unparalleled access to one of the most

breathtaking and pristine wilderness areas of

the Canadian Rockies. Covering 6,976 miles,

Jasper National Park, is listed as one of only

15 UNESCO sites. It’s shimmering glaciers,

abundant wildlife, crystal clear lakes, thundering

waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forest, all

surrounded by towering, rugged mountain peaks

are some of the most fascinating sights on earth.

Located in Jasper national Park, the Maligne

Lake is the second largest glacier-fed lake in the

world, stretching 14 miles. Take the Maligne Lake

cruise past glacier-studded mountain peaks to

the world-famous Spirit Island in summer. One

of the most spectacular gorges in the Canadian

Rockies, is the Maligne Gorge. Sheer limestone

walls plunge to depths of over 165 ft in a

spectacular Canyon Walk experience.

www.jasper.travel

Edmonton: The capital of Alberta and the

gateway at the north end of Canadian Rockies,

Edmonton is host to dozens of festivals

and events every year. Infact it is called

Canada’s Festival City and even voted as one

of Canada’s ‘coolest neighbourhoods’. Old

Strathcona is the heart of the entertainment

and festival scene in Edmonton and home to

a vibrant theatre community with intriguing

shops, happening bars and cafés. For 10 days

in August, the world-renowned International

Fringe Theatre Festival transforms the

area into a cultural nirvana. The Edmonton

International Fringe Festival attracts 500,000

visitors each year to more than 1,000 theatrical

performances.

www.edmonton.com

West Edmonton Mall: At 5.3 million square

feet, the Mall is the size of a small city and is

accredited as a zoo. It is home to more than 800

stores and services, including nine world-class

attractions, two hotels, over 100 dining venues.

This includes the world’s largest indoor water

park, the world’s biggest indoor amusement

park, an ice arena, frolicking sea lions, numerous

cinemas, casinos and so much more.

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Signature ExperiencesCalgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede in every July is a grand

event and known now as the ‘Greatest Outdoor

Show on Earth’. Join the Stampede Parade

and dance to country music while the floats

pass in front of you, enter the tent of aboriginal

drummers and be part of their party. Witness

the world’s top rodeo compete in events like

bareback, bull riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc,

steer wrestling and tiedown roping. There’s

also the thrill of the chuckwagon races – with 4

wagons, 32 horses and 128 thundering hooves

racing to the finish line. And, to add to the fun,

there’s pancakes and bacon breakfast served by

the locals absolutely free.

2012 is the centenary year and the plans all veer

towards making it the most memorable event.

It’s time to be in Alberta and Calgary in particular.

The Calgary Stampede is the most authentic and

unforgettable western experience you could ever

pack into a single holiday.

www.calgarystampede.com

The Columbia Icefields

The Columbia Icefields is one of the largest

accumulations of ice and snow south of the

Arctic Circle, it covers an area of nearly 325

sq km, sometimes reaching a depth of 300-

360 metres- the height of the Eiffel Tower.

The continuous accumulation of snow feeds

eight major glaciers, including the Athabasca,

Dome, and Stutfield, all visible from the

Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefield is a

true ‘hydrological apex,’ for its meltwater feed

streams and rivers that pour into the Arctic,

Atlantic, and Pacific oceans.

www.explorerockies.com/columbia-icefield

Glacier Walk

Take a guided tour on the Athabasca Glacier,

North America’s most accessible glacier. Take a

ride onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier

on the massive Brewster Ice Explorers, specially

designed for glacial travel. It will take you right

onto the glacier ice. Feel the thrill of walking

on 400 year old snow, stoop down and gather

some ice-melt water. It’s a never to live down

experience.

Minnewanka Lake Cruise

Explore the largest lake in Banff National Park on

a magnificent one hour interpretive cruise. Travel

on a modern Lake Cruiser, as an experienced

captain and entertaining guide, introduce

the rugged paradise richly steeped in history,

native folklore and geology. Learn about the

tremendous forces that created the surrounding

mountains and stay on the lookout for wildlife

on the waters’ edge and explore the ‘water

of the spirits’.The Stoney First Nations people

traditional legends talk of creatures living in the

rivers and lakes and preying upon unsuspecting

boaters. Lake Minnewanka or ‘Lake of the Evil

Water Spirits’ came to receive its name from one

such myth of a half-human, half creature.

Every year in August, teams from Kelowna,

Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Banff meet

for the annual Dragon Boat Festival on the

waters of Lake Minnewanka. Ever thought you’d

be scuba diving in the Rockies? For a unique

adventure, dive beneath Lake Minnewanka to

explore the drowned mountain mining town.

Heli Sightseeing Adventure

See the Canadian Rockies from a different

perspective! Only from above can you truly

appreciate the sheer size and beauty of the

mountains. Experience glaciers, high alpine

lakes, waterfalls and breathtaking mountain

vistas on an exhilarating helicopter sightseeing

flight. Flying 7,000 ft above sea level, this tour will

give you a taste of the glorious Rocky Mountains.

The deeper you go into Kananaskis and the Bow

Valley the more fascinating the scenery becomes!

www.icefieldheli.com

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Iconic HotelsFairmont Banff Springs and Spa

Resting at the foot of Alberta’s majestic Rocky

Mountains in Banff National Park, The Fairmont

Banff Springs may be in the middle of the

wilderness but it’s far from rustic. The Fairmont

Banff Springs is styled after a Scottish Baronial

Castle in picture perfect surroundings- snow

covered pine trees, imposing mountain ranges

and pristine lakes. Awaken to crisp mountain air

and sweeping views. Enjoy a leisurely brunch

before a day of hiking, ice skating, or skiing and

return in time for a fireside cocktail.

No trip to the Banff Springs would be complete

without a visit to Willow Stream Spa to sooth

sore muscles in the mineral bath or a lazy swim

beneath the mountains. The Willow Stream spa

is reminiscent of the hot springs that beckoned

travellers over 100 years ago, the pulsating

waterfalls and the mineral pool in the heart of

the spa. Willow Stream brings to life the unique

healing powers of the alpine air, the sacred

waters and mountain magic.

www.fairmont.com/banff

Fairmont Lake Louise

From a rustic one-storey log cabin constructed

on the shore of Lake Louise in 1890, Fairmont

Chateau Lake Louise is today known as ‘The

Diamond in the Wilderness.’ The original

Chalet Lake Louise hosted visitors from along

the railway line as well as day visitors from

its elegant sister, the Banff Springs Hotel.

Fronted by large windows facing the lake and

a verandah, curved architectural lines, carved

wood and whimsical details and so much more,

the Chateau is the only place to stay on a visit

to Lake Louise. Nowhere can you get a better

glimpse of the hanging glacier and expanse

of placid water than from the lakeside guest

rooms.

Come winter the lake freezes over and

becomes a beautiful skating area. This is

the venue of the annual Ice Magic Festival

and the Ice carving Competition. Hosted

by The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 24

internationally recognized professional ice

carvers sculpt works of art from imposing

blocks of solid ice.

www.fairmont.com/lakelouise

Moraine Lake Lodge

Moraine Lake Lodge is a spectacular log and

glass mountain hideaway tucked up amidst

evergreen forests in a rustic spot perched on

the shores of Moraine Lake. It is ideal for a

secluded romantic weekend, or a vacation

filled with adventurous outdoor pursuits and

crisp mountain air. Inside, it has all the comforts

and trappings of a wilderness cabin; stone

fireplaces, hand-crafted furniture hewn from

logs, and a soaker tub in every room. Take a

romantic paddle around the glassy lake, a hike

in search of the park’s abundant elk, deer and

black bears or enjoy a gourmet dinner on a

deck overlooking the water. Maybe the best

choice is doing them all.

www.morainelake.com

Rimrock Hotel

Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rocky

Mountains, surrounded by some of North

America’s best ski resorts and some of the most

breathtaking mountain vistas is The Rimrock

Resort Hotel. It is carved from the side of Mt.

Sulphur, so that almost all of the rooms face

town of Banff and the stunning backdrop of the

mountains beyond. From the massive cherry-

paneled lobby to the spacious rooms with their

heartily oversized furniture, most rooms have

balconies for a sweeping view of the majestic

Rockies.

www.rimrockresort.com

Emerald Lake Lodge

B.C.’s exquisite Emerald Lake is located in the

heart of Yoho National Park. Legendary guide

Tom Wilson first stumbled across this small gem

of a lake – famed for its jade-coloured waters – in

1882 during the construction of the Canadian

Pacific Railway. Today, the area remains one of

North America’s most outstanding and year-

round accessible wilderness settings.

Built of hand-hewn timber and featuring massive

stone fireplaces, the lodge includes an elegant

dining room and a lounge made up of an oak bar

salvaged from an 1890’s-era Yukon saloon. From

the upper and lower verandas and rooms, vistas

of surrounding mountainscapes are breathtaking.

Few destinations in Canada offer this unique mix

of luxury.

www.crmr.com/emerald

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OntarioKnown as the ‘Heart of Canada’, Ontario includes a number of major cities,

such as Toronto, the largest city in Canada and Ottawa, the capital of the

country. It also dominates the economy and politics in Canada. There are

over 1 million square kilometres of land, 400,000 lakes, rivers and streams,

270 provincial parks, 6 national parks, 80 cultures, thousands of years of

history and countless natural wonders in this province. The magnificent

Niagara Falls, the winding Rideau Canal, the wilderness in Northern Ontario,

vibrant hues of maple leaves and world-class cities- are all signatures of

Ontario. representing its diversity.

SaultSte. Marie

Niagara Falls

Niagara on the Lake

Lake Superior

Lake Nipigon

Lake Huron

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Moosonee

Timmins

Sudbury

Stratford

Thunder Bay

North Bay

Hamilton

Windsor

Kingston

Toronto

OttawaGeorgian Bay

Algonquin Park

85, 24, 0, 0 - land 60, 10, 0, 0 - roads

35, 0, 0, 0 - lakes

65, 15, 0, 0 - alternate land (where nec)

55, 5, 0, 0 - mountains/parks

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TorontoToronto brims with energy and excitement. It

is home to distinct cultures, delectable dining,

world-class shopping and scores of attractions.

Toronto’s many immigrants have transformed the

city into a patchwork of distinct neighbourhoods.

From iconic architecture, fascinating museums

and galleries, exciting nightlife and luxury hotels –

this city is always an exciting place to be. Tommy

Thompson Park, a wildlife oasis, juts abstractly

into Lake Ontario, while the car-free Toronto

Islands are visible from the city. Shops dot every

part of the city,and the Distillery District, with

design shops, art galleries and craft studios.

Nowhere is Toronto’s multiculturalism more

potent and thrilling than on the plates of its

restaurants. Eating here is a delight, with

everything global and local, served everywhere

from the classy restaurants to funky eateries. The

fun doesn’t stop when the sun sets. Take in a

big Broadway-style show or a small independent

theatre production. See the ballet, treat yourself

to a sports evening with professional hockey,

baseball, football, basketball and lacrosse teams!

For the kids, Ontario Place, a 100-acre fun park

including a water park and Cinesphere is built on

three artificial islands.

www.seetorontonow.com

CN Tower

The CN Tower is an Icon of not just Toronto but

Canada as well. Riding the great glass elevators

is one of those things in life you just have to do.

Dine at the 360 degree Restaurant and look out

at the awesome view while sipping a glass of

wine from the highest ‘cellar’ in the world. Take

a walk on the observation deck Glass floor or

hold your breath…take a walk outside the pod,

1150 feet above the ground in Canada’s newest

adventure – the Edgewalk.

www.cntower.ca

Royal Ontario Museum

Museum and history aficionado’s must visit Royal

Ontario Museum (ROM). Explore an exceptional

array of themed galleries spanning both, world

cultures and natural history. With six million

objects in the ROM’s collections, the range is

from original Ming Dynasty temple art to original

paintings depicting France’s loss to Britain’s

army in 1759 on the Plains of Abraham. There’s

something new to discover around every corner.

www.rom.on.ca

Bata Shoe Museum

Curious about kamiks? Perplexed by paduka?

Take a stroll down history at the Bata Shoe

Museum, home to a collection of more than

12,500 items in a building built in the shape

of a shoebox. See footwear as it has evolved

through the ages. 1000 pieces of footwear on

display ranges from Chinese bound foot shoes

and ancient Egyptian sandals, chestnut-crushing

clogs, Siberian reindeer boots to Elton John’s

platform boots.

www.batashoemuseum.ca

Casa Loma

Step back in time and into Toronto’s most

romantic historic mansion. A turn-of-the-century

castle in the heart of the city. Explore elegantly

decorated suites, secret passageways, stately

towers, an 800 foot underground tunnel linking

to luxurious stables and beautiful 5 acre estate

gardens. Casa Loma, the former estate of Sir

Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier,

industrialist and military man, is today known

for its immaculate gardens. The gardens were

modeled after an English Gentlemen’s Garden

containing a series of parterres with gravel

paths, vegetable gardens, flowers and fruit

trees. Today the castle and gardens are used

extensively for movie shootings depicting the

historic Romantic era.

www.casaloma.org

Toronto Zoo

Toronto Zoo has over 5,000 animals representing

over 500 species. Visit the incredible 10-acre

Tundra Trek featuring an amazing 5-acre Polar

bear habitat, complete with underwater viewing

area and newest addition “Kumar’ the zoo-

born Bactrian Camel. Trek through the award

winning 30-acre “African Savannah” or the

“Gorilla Rainforest” with the largest indoor gorilla

exhibit in North America. There are over 10 km of

walking trails spread over 287 hectares, one of

the largest zoos in the world.

www.torontozoo.com

The Distillery District

The Distillery District is the transformation of a

derelict collection of Victorian Industrial buildings

that had been pronounced a national historic site

into a vibrant pedestrian family place; completely

dedicated to arts, culture and entertainment. The

Stone Distillery is the oldest remaining building on

site. It was constructed between 1859-1860 and

by 1877, The Gooderham and Worts Distillery

had become the largest distillery in the world.

World War I had a ruinous effect on the distillery

and close to its heels came the Prohibition era.

What you will find now is a dramatic fusion of old

and new. An inspired blend of Victorian Industrial

architecture transformed into an internationally

acclaimed village of one-of-a-kind stores, shops,

galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, theatres

and more.

www.thedistillerydistrict.com

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Niagara RegionNiagara Falls

Wonder of the World, ‘Niagara Falls’ is only two

hours’ drive from Toronto. There are dozens of

taller waterfalls in the world, but in terms of sheer

volume these falls are unbeatable.More than a

million bathtubs of water plummet over the edge

every second. Even in winter when the flow is

partially hidden and the edges freeze solid, the

watery extravaganza is undiminished. Niagara

Falls has been a saucy honeymoon destination

ever since Napoleon’sbrother brought his bride

here.

Enjoying the Niagara Falls themselves is a

bombardment of the senses. Stand by the

edge at Table Rock and hear the thundering,

feel the sheer power close at arm’s length. Don

the recognizable blue ponchos and brave the

exhilarating spray under the 13-storey drop in

a Maid of the Mist Cruise. This ride has been

the highlight of every Niagara’s visitor from

1846. Or take an elevator behind the water on

a Journey Behind the Falls tour. Observation

decks lurk on the backside of the water curtain

to offer unparalleled views. The feeling is rivalled

only by a White Water Walk on the very edge

of the Niagara whitewaters. At night-time, the

magnificent Niagara Falls are lit spectacularly,

and seasonal fireworks ignite the dark sky.

Learn about the history and myth in an interactive

IMAX experience and the Niagara Fury. If that

is not enough, take a thrilling 9 minute ride

and see the sheer majesty of the Falls from the

Niagara Helicopter Ride. Still want more Niagara

adventure ? Take a Jetboating ride into the

Niagara gorge, into the Devil’s Hole rapidsand

back.

Having experienced it from all directions and with

all the senses, leave the Falls and take a ride into

the Victorian Niagara on the Lake. Or try your

luck in the Fallsview Casino Resort, one of the

largest entertainment centres in Canada.

www.niagarafallstourism.com

Niagara Wines

And then there are wines. Explore the Vineyards

and taste the magical flavour of Internationally

acclaimed wines and the famous Canadian

Icewine. A prime grape-growing location thanks

to mineral soils and a moderate ‘Mediterranean’

climate perfect for winemaking, the Niagara

Peninsula is home to more than 60 wineries,

some with their own restaurants.

Now in its 60th Year the Niagara Wine Festival

is an annual mecca for vintners from across the

Globe. This annual September Festival is only

rivalled by the Niagara Icewine festival for three

weeks in January when the Niagara Region turns

into a wintry wonderland and celebrates. A must

for wine tasters and lovers alike.

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Ottawa As Canada’s capital, Ottawa offers visitors

a diverse selection of experiences, year-

round and is recognized as one of the most

attractive capitals in the world. For first-time

visitors exploring the many landmark historic

sites is a must. Parliament Hill, The neo-

Gothic seat of the Federal Government and

site of the summer changing of the Guards

daily ritual is ideal to start with. Many take a

360 degree look at the surroundings from the

Peace Tower. The Parliament Hill also hosts

the biggest Canada Day celebrations in the

country.

Others visit for the city’s unparalleled lineup

of national museums, galleries and festivals.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization, The War

Museum and the National Gallery and the local

ByWard Market are integral on all tours of the

city. Ottawa city is nestled at the junction of three

rivers and the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World

Heritage Site, is the main focus in Summer. In

Winter it freezes over to become the largest

natural skating rink in the world. Ottawa is

also ideal for sports, recreation, and outdoor

pursuits, thanks to its beautiful natural setting of

waterways, parks and pathways.

www.ottawatourism.com

Kingston

Nestled where the Rideau Canal and St.

Lawrence River meet Lake Ontario, Kingston is

a city built on a grand heritage. Nicknamed the

‘Limestone City’ because of the many buildings

built from this sturdy local stone, Kingston lures

visitors to stroll about the enchanting small city

and admire the architecture, meander along the

spectacular waterfront and browse charming

shops. Witness history brought to life at Fort

Henry, with colourfully uniformed guards trained

in military drills, artillery exercises and the fife-and-

drum music of the 1800s. Take the Confederation

Tour Trolley and learn of the contribution Kingston

has made in Canada’s history.

www.tourism.kingstoncanada.com

1000 Islands

Here Ontario and the United States meet… their

cultures blending in the waters of the mighty St.

Lawrence and Great Lake Ontario. The native

peoples called this region the “Garden of the

Great Spirit.” Today, many people still remark

that this gorgeous garden of woods and waters

that is the 1000 Islands is truly one of the most

beautiful places on the planet.

Explore the exquisite beauty of the mighty St

Lawrence River on a cruise that winds past

tree-clad isles, palatial waterfront homes and

quaint island cottages. Stop at the 120-room

Rhineland-style Boldt Castle and yacht house

built at the turn of the 20th century.

www.rockportcruises.com and www.

ganboatline.com

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Blue Mountain

A world of recreation and rejuvenation awaits

you just 2 hours north of Toronto at the beautiful

Blue Mountain Resort. Situated on the Niagara

Escarpment, the resort overlooks shimmering

Georgian Bay. Nestled at the foot of the slopes,

the Village is the lively centre of the Resort where

there is always something happening! Lounge

beside the fire pit and enjoy buskers, concerts

and a host of winter events. Enjoy a horse-drawn

carriage ride, stroll down the cobblestone streets

visiting unique shops, or stop into one of the many

restaurants for a gourmet meal or quick treat.

Indulge in golf, tennis, mountain biking, gondola

rides, eco adventures and more. Pamper yourself

at Le Scandinave Spa and savour fresh local

cuisine. Take a scenic ride to the top of the

Escarpment in the open air Gondola accessible

from the Village Events Plaza. For some retail

therapy, the pedestrian village is home to unique

boutiques, featuring fine sportswear, edgy

fashion and Canadian gifts.

www.bluemountain.ca

Attractions

Parliament Hill: The seat of Government is one

of the most Iconic building on the River bank in

Ottawa. The massive stone buildings are set on

the cliffs of Parliament Hill overlooking the Ottawa

River and are described as one of the most

beautiful government buildings in the world.

The original structure, except for the wooden

library, burned to the ground in a tragic fire in

1918. Guided tours take visitors through public

galleries, to the Senate and House of Commons

and to the top of the Peace Tower, where an

observation deck provides the most dramatic

360º view of the Capital.

Each morning during summer months, the front

lawn of Parliament Hill is the setting of the daily,

‘Changing the Guard’ ceremony; while each

evening the public gather again to witness the

awe-inspiring Sound and Light show projected

on the Parliament Buildings. Parliament Hill is

the focal point for Canada Day celebrations

each July 1, with hundreds of thousands

gathering for great entertainment and the

massive fireworks finale.

Tulip Festival: Canada’s capital is a riot of colours

every May with the Canadian Tulip Festival.

It is the world’s largest, with more than three

million tulips blooming attracting some 600,000

visitors. Ottawa’s tulip heritage is the result of

a 1945 gift to Ottawa from Princess Juliana of

the Netherlands in thanks for the safe haven the

city provided the Dutch Royal Family during the

Second World War. The Tulip Route, including

Major’s Hill Park, Festival Plaza at Ottawa City

Hall, Lansdowne Park and Commissioners’ Park

is ablaze with millions of colourful flowers bloom

in parks and gardens.

www.ottawatourism.ca/en/visitors/top-

attractions/parliament-hill

Rideau Canal: The Rideau Canal stretches from

Ottawa and the Ottawa River 202 kilometres

south to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence

River at Kingston, connecting beautiful lakes

and rivers through a series of 45 locks. These

locks are still in the original form, being manually

opened to allow traffic up or downstream.It is

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flanked on each side by scenic parkways, cycling

paths and gardens.

Built in 1832 the Canal is the oldest continuously

operated canal in North America and is both a

National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO

World Heritage Site.In summer, the Canal is open

to sightseeing cruises, pleasure craft, canoeist,

and kayakers while in the cold winter months

the Ottawa portion of the Canal is turned into

the Rideau Canal Skateway, the largest naturally

frozen skating rink in the world.

www.rideauheritageroute.ca

Canadian Museum of Civilization: Located on

the shores of the Ottawa River directly across

from Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of

Civilization is a stunning landmark building and

is Canada’s most visited museum. Home to the

world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, the

First Peoples Hall highlights the cultural, historic

and artistic achievements of Canada’s First People.

Visitors walk through 1000 years of Canadian

history, including townscapes and environments

from across the country, from pre-European

settlement to the present day in an interactive way.

www.civilization.ca

Festivals

Winterlude: Come celebrate winter in the

Capital during three fun-filled weekends in

February. Grab your skates and glide along the

Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest

naturally frozen ice skating rink. Visit the ice

sculptures, and the Snowflake Kingdom,the

largest children’s snow playground at Jacques

Cartier Park in downtown Gatineau. Meet the

Winterlude mascots, the Ice Hogs family -who

are reputed to live under the ice of the frozen

Rideau Canal Skateway.

www.winterlude.ca

Caribana Festival: North America’s Largest

Street Festival takes place every July in Toronto.

The streets are ablaze with the excitement of

calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade

costumes during the annual Caribbean

carnival. Thousands of brilliantly costumed

masqueraders and dozens of trucks carrying

live soca, calypso, steel pan, reggae and

salsa artists jam the 1.5 km parade route all

day, to the delight of hundreds of thousands

of onlookers. The Festival celebrates its 45th

anniversary in 2012.

Toronto International Film Festival: Every

September, see the stars of international,

Hollywood, Canadian and now even Bollywood

movie congregate. TIFF began in 1976 as the

“Festival of Festivals”, collecting the best films

from other film festivals around the world and

showing them to eager audiences in Toronto.

Today it is recognized as the most important film

festival after Cannes.

www.tiff.net

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Signature ExperiencesEdgeWalk at the CN Tower

EdgeWalk is CN Tower’s most thrilling attraction

in its 35 year history, and the first of its kind in

North America. It is the world’s highest full circle

hands-free walk on a 1.5 meter wide ledge

encircling the top of the Tower’s main pod, 116

storeys above the ground. Visitors walk in groups

of six, while attached to an overhead safety rail

via a trolley and harness system.Lean back over

Toronto with nothing but air and breathtaking

views of Lake Ontario beneath you. EdgeWalk

will operate May through October.

www.cntower.ca/en-CA/Plan-Your-Visit/

Attractions/EdgeWalk.html

Icewine making

Icewine is a rare gift from a magical Canadian

winter. Picked at the coldest moment of a

winter’s night, each frozen grape creates just

one drop of Icewine. One smooth rich, luxurious

drop at a time is collected to create Canada’s

most treasured export. Ideally suited to the

Canadian winter season in both the Niagara

Peninsula and the Okanagan Valley, the magical

process of crafting Icewine is guided by nature

— the harvest can’t begin until temperatures

drop below minus eight degrees Celsius for a

sustained period of time.

www.inniskillin.com/en/ice/default.asp

Flightseeing the Niagara

Take a Helicopter Tour on the Niagara Falls,

combine adventure and spectacular views for

memories to last a lifetime. As the helicopter

gently lifts off from our Victoria Avenue location,

enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the Niagara

Region below. The helicopter passes by the

American Falls and the Skylon Tower and

suddenly begins to change direction following the

curve of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Rainbows

appear and disappear from all directions. This 9

minute ride is a thrill of a lifetime

www.niagarahelicopters.com

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the Downtown Toronto’s financial district, The

Trump Tower has been designed to showcase

the city and Lake Ontario views. Further

distinguishing this icon of opulence from other

hotels in Toronto, are two levels devoted to

Toronto’s most luxurious spa and wellness facility.

The Spa at Trump. The 261 hotel rooms and

suites are exquisitely furnished in an elegant,

cosmopolitan style. From the spectacularly

designed lobby and high-speed elevators, to the

vibrant signature restaurant located on the 31st

floor–this is luxury unsurpassed by other hotels in

Toronto.

www.trumptorontohotel.com/

Prince of Wales

Niagara on the Lake - Located in the heart of

historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Prince of

Wales is an oasis of Victorian elegance filled with

21st century comforts. The hotel was named

in honour of a royal visit in 1901, when the

future George V stayed here. Today, every guest

experiences the sophistication and refinement of

that bygone age. All the rooms are individually

decorated in the authentic style of the Victorian

age, each room a unique and intimate hideaway

furnished with elegant antiques and lush

traditional brocades and tapestries. The Secret

Garden Spa is an oasis of serenity in a setting

unlike any other. Sommelier Fred Gamula guides

you through a collection of wine, thoughtfully

selected from the most prestigious vineyards in

the Niagara Region and around the world.

www.vintage-hotels.com/princeofwales/

default.htm

Iconic HotelsThe Lord Elgin Hotel

One of the Ottawa’s finest hotels and ideally

located in the heart of downtown Ottawa -

directly across from Confederation Park and

the National Arts Centre. The Lord Elgin Hotel

is steps away from the Rideau Canal, Ottawa

Convention Centre, Parliament Buildings

and the Ottawa Rideau Centre. Lord Elgin’s

Guestrooms reflect Ottawa’s elegance. From the

tall picture windows, bold tulip inspired artwork,

to Biedermeier style luxury furnishings. Guests of

the Lord Elgin Hotel enjoy skating on the Rideau

Canal during the winter and jogging alongside

the canal in the other seasons.

Ritz Carlton - Toronto

The Ritz-Carlton opened their first Canadian

property, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto in Feb 2011.

Featuring 267 guestrooms, the new hotel is a 53

story addition to the city skyline. With a stunning

wrap-around panorama of Toronto’s magnificent

downtown skyline on one side and sparkling

lake views on the other. The Residences, an

elitist portion soars thirty floors atop. A legendary

location at the very heart of Canada’s largest

city, The Ritz Carlton is perfectly situated among

world class shopping, entertainment and dining

in Toronto.

www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Toronto

Windsor Arms

The building dates back to 1927 when the

University of Toronto, with its neo-Gothic

buildings and distinctive piers, porches,

and crests were architectural marvels of the

burgeoning metropolis. The Windsor Arms

embodies the elegance of a bygone era: a

grand hotel, recently re-opened as a dazzling,

contemporary boutique hotel. Located in the

heart of Toronto’s fashionable Yorkville district,

the Windsor Arms is very much part of this scene

but tucked away in a haven of calm. The lively

and dynamic neighbourhood is brimming with

designer boutiques, sophisticated and trendy

restaurants, art galleries and museums. But the

Windsor Arms is privately secluded thirty yards

from the Golden Strip, shrouded in genteel quiet.

Enjoy traditional afternoon tea in the Tea Room,

which is transformed to become Toronto’s only

champagne and caviar bar in the evenings.

www.windsorarmshotel.com

Trump Towers Toronto

Crowned by an articulated spire 900-feet above

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Calgary StampedeIn 1884, Calgary was a burgeoning town of some 500 people nestled between the Bow

and Elbow Rivers and surrounded by vast ranches, farmland and traditional Treaty 7

First Nations territories. Calgary today has a very different look. It’s one of the fastest

growing metros in Canada. And come July, the picture changes totally.

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The Calgary Stampede is an annual ten-day

rodeo event and festival held every July in

Calgary, Alberta. It is known as ‘The Greatest

Outdoor Show on Earth’, and attracts over one

million visitors every year .

The event can be traced to 1886 when the

Calgary and District Agricultural Society held its

first fair. Guy Weadick launched his first rodeo and

festival in 1912 and returned in 1919 to organise

the Victory Stampede in honour of soldiers

returning from World War I. The first Stampede

parade held in 1912 was attended by 75,000

people. It became an annual event in 1923 and is

known as the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

Calgary or ‘Stampede City’ carries the informal

nickname of ‘Cowtown’ and the local Canadian

Football League team is called the ‘Stampeders’.

For these 10 days, the city takes on a party

atmosphere; office buildings and storefronts

are painted in cowboy themes, everybody gets

into western wear and the residents and visitors

treated to hundreds of pancake breakfasts and

barbecues. Four hundred volunteers are required

to feed over 60,000 people who attend the one-

day Calgary Stampede Breakfast Caravan event.

At each Stampede, the five nations of the Treaty

7 – the Tsuu T’ina, Piikani, Stoney, Kainai and

Siksika – create an ‘Indian Village’ on the bank

of the Elbow River in the southern section of

Stampede Park. They erect tipis, organize

pow wows, offer arts and crafts and re-enact

elements of their traditional lifestyle. Each year,

an Indian Princess is selected from one of the

five nations to represent the Treaty 7 as part of

the Stampede’s royalty.

Celebrity attendance

At least seven movies were filmed at the

Stampede by 1950. The most profitable is the

1925 silent film The Calgary Stampede. Queen

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made their first visit to

the event in their 1959 tour of Canada. The Queen

also opened the 1973 Stampede. Prince William

and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

attended the 2011 parade as part of their Tour

of Canada. The attendance brought on a record

estimate of 425,000 people. What a honeymoon!

Parade

The Stampede officially starts with the Parade.

Shortly before 9 am on the first Friday of the

event, dozens of marching bands, over 150

floats, hundreds of horses, First Nations dancers

and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted

Police in their red serges join in.

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Each year features a different parade marshal;

politicians, athletes, actors and other dignitaries

have led the event over the years. Bob Hope

and Bill Crosby each served as parade marshals

during the 1950s.

Every year, a queen and two princesses

are selected as Stampede royalty. The first

Stampede Queen, Patsy Rodgers, was selected

in 1946 while the princesses were first chosen

the following year. Any woman between the

ages of 19 and 24 who resides in Alberta

can participate. An emphasis is placed on

horsemanship skills and ability to serve as

ambassadors for both the Stampede and the

city for a full year, attending fundraisers and

events and organizations that work with special

needs children.

The Stampede Park requires over 2,000 year-

round volunteers and over 1,200 year-round

employees. A staggering additional 3,500

seasonal workers are hired for the Stampede

itself with hundreds of volunteers, half having

served for more than 10 years, and some as

long as 60.

The festival spirit during Stampede extends

throughout the city. Parade day serves as an

unofficial holiday as many companies give

employees half or full days off to attend. People

of all walks of life, from executives to students,

discard formal attire for casual western dress,

typically represented by Wrangler jeans and

cowboy hats.

Midway

The Calgary Stampede Midway has been

operated since 1976 and is an essential

component of the Stampede. The Midway opens

on ‘sneak-a-peek’ night , the Thursday before

other events begin. In addition to the traditional

rides and carnival games, the Calgary Stampede

is one of Canada’s largest music events,

featuring music’s hottest stars performing rock/

pop and country music nightly on the Coca Cola

Stage and at Nashville North. And the best part,

it’s all free with admission!

Chuckwagon racing

Called the Rangeland Derby, and nicknamed

the ‘half-mile of hell’ chuckwagon racing

proved immediately popular and quickly

became the event’s largest attraction.

While only six teams raced in 1923, today’s

Rangeland Derby consists of 36 teams

competing for $1.15 million in prize money. Joe

Carbury was the voice of the Rangeland Derby

for 45 years, until 2008. His distinctive voice

and signature phrase of “and they’re offfffffff!”

to announce the start of a race made him a

local legend and earned him induction into the

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. At the

starting blast of the klaxon horn, four wagons,

24 horses and 96 thundering hooves take off

with a rumble so intense it shakes 20,000 fans

right out of their seats. You don’t just see the

race, you actually feel it.

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Chuckwagon racing is the heart and soul of the

Calgary Stampede. It is a team event where

three or four teams vie against each other. Each

team is led by a driver who commands a team of

horses pulling the chuckwagon and is supported

by two or four outriders.

The race begins with the outriders ‘breaking

camp’, tossing two tent poles and a barrel

(representing a camp stove) into the back of their

wagon before mounting their horses and following

the wagons as they complete a figure eight around

circling the race track. The first wagon to cross

the finish line wins. Adding to that are various time

penalties for a barrel being knocked over, a tent

pole or stove is not loaded, wagon interference

and even an outrider crossing the finish line too far

behind his wagon driver. You have to keep up.

The first time chuckwagon races were held

as a spectator sport was at the 1923 Calgary

Stampede with eleven ranchers participating.

The prize money was a princely sum of $275.

In 2009, the total purse available to racers was

$1.15 million and 2011 it was $1 million for just

the Chuckwagon race.

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The Calgary Stampede Historical Highlights

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1884Calgary was incorporated as a town, and the Calgary & District Agricultural Society was formed by a group of local citizens

to promote the region’s agricultural potential.

1886 The first fall fair was held in October, attended by about 500 people.

1889 The Society purchased 94 acres of Crown land for use as an exhibition ground.

1891 Horse racing began, continuing until 2008.

1899

After defaulting on their mortgage, the Agricultural Society was reorganised as the Inter-Western Pacific Exhibition Company.

The exhibition land passed to R.B. Bennett and in 1901 to the City, which began leasing ‘Victoria Park’ back to the

Exhibition Company.

1901 The first Bull Sale was held, as well as a spring Horse Show.

1903The Calgary Board of Trade and the Exhibition Co. hired a joint manager (C.W. Peterson), and an assistant manager (E.L.

Richardson). Richardson became General Manager in 1906, retiring in 1940.

1908

Calgary hosted the Dominion Exhibition. Attendance was just over 100,000 (Calgary’s population was then about 25,000),

and attractions included parades, vaudeville shows, Strobel’s airship and performances by the Miller Brothers Ranch 101

Wild West Show (of which Guy Weadick was a part). New infrastructure was built for the exhibition including a roofed

grandstand, an industrial exhibits building, and an art pavilion.

1910 The name of the organisation changed to the Calgary Industrial Exhibition Co.

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1912

Guy Weadick returned to Calgary to promote his idea of a huge frontier day’s celebration and cowboy championship

contest. H.C. McMullen, livestock agent for the CPR, arranged a meeting with Pat Burns, George Lane, and A.E. Cross to

discuss financing the event. The “Big Four” (also including Archie McLean) guaranteed a total of $100,000. They pledged

that any profits would go to charity (modest donations were made to local hospitals) and also arranged for the use of

Victoria Park.

Sept.

2-7, 1912

The first Stampede was held, following the summer exhibition. It opened with a parade attended by about 80,000 people.

The best cowboys and cowgirls from across North America competed in the 17 daily Rodeo events. Tom Three Persons

became the only Canadian champion riding the outlaw Cyclone to a standstill in the Bucking Horse Riding Championship.

About 1,800 First Nations took part in the parade and the first Indian Village.

1919 Guy Weadick, put on a second Victory Stampede, which was again sponsored by the Big Four.

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1923Ernie Richardson invited Guy Weadick to join the annual exhibition and in 1923, the Exhibition and the Stampede merged.

Chuckwagon racing was added as a new event.

1925 A box-office hit, ‘The Calgary Stampede’, was shot in Calgary starring Hoot Gibson.

1932Guy Weadick’s contract was not renewed; he did not return until 1952, when he was invited back as a special guest.

Weadick passed away in 1953 and was laid to rest in High River.

1933 The name of the organization was again changed to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Co.

1944The Calgary Stampede took over the Calgary Artificial Ice Company and formed a rink committee. The Calgary Stampeders

Hockey Club won the Allan Cup in 1946.

1946 The first Stampede Queen, Patsy Rodgers, was crowned.

1950The Stampede Corral was opened as home ice for the Stampeders, an exhibits building and a venue for large entertainment

events in Calgary.

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The Calgary Stampede Historical Highlights

1950s

The 1950s was a decade of growth, Hollywood cowboys, royal visits, and celebrities. Highlights included two visits by

Queen Elizabeth II (1951, 1959), the first Stampede Lotteries car raffle and the inaugural honorary Parade Marshal selection

(1956).

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1959 The Big Four Building opened as an exhibits building and curling rink.

1961The Stampede Ranch was established to ensure a supply of quality bucking stock for the Rodeo through its ‘Born to Buck’

breeding program.

1964The Board invited Randy Avery to put together a locally produced grandstand show that included the Calgary Kidettes. By

1968, the group evolved into The Young Canadians.

1966A group of Calgary oilmen staged the first International Oil Exposition at the Stampede. ‘Flare Square’ was kept as an

installation for future Stampedes.

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1974 Indian Village was moved south of the Elbow River and a new Grandstand was opened.

1970sThe focus on year-round activities increased with new events like rock concerts, an annual indoor rodeo (Rodeo Royal),

night harness racing, a Dinner Theatre, and Oktoberfest.

1976 Attendance broke the 1,000,000 mark for the first time.

1981 The Roundup Centre was opened.

1983The Saddle dome was completed as home ice for the Calgary Flames and as the first Olympics venue for the 1988 Winter

Olympics.

1994 The Stampede Foundation was formed, with a focus on youth education and leadership.

Map

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2001Calgary Stampede invested $7 million in a state-of-the-art Grandstand Stage and more than $1 million in Park and Elbow

River bank beautification.

2006 The Stampede unveiled its plans for the redevelopment of Stampede Park north to 12th Avenue SE.

2007The Calgary Stampede launched its new brand, representing the commitment to preserve and promote the unique values of

the Stampede and our community: western hospitality, integrity, commitment to the community and pride of place.

2008The Stampede’s Public Art program was launched with a mandate to create heroic sized bronze sculptures on Stampede

Park and other locations in the city.

2009 A new expansion of the Roundup Centre was opened and the entire facility was renamed the BMO Centre.

2012The Calgary Stampede celebrates its 100th anniversary with a community-wide celebration of The Greatest Outdoor Show

on Earth.

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