Keeping it Local!
As we start to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and thoughts turn to travelling again, there is renewed interest for Canadian incentive travel destinations. If, like us, you are in Canada presently, staying close to home is appealing— assuming that restrictions within our home borders will be lifted before global borders. The beauty of our vast country is that each of its five regions has so much to offer and highly unique incentive programs are easily created to showcase the hidden treasures.
1. Atlantic Provinces
The Atlantic Provinces; consisting of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, offer coastal shorelines and incredibly fresh seafood. In Nova Scotia, you can visit the famous Peggy’s Cove lighthouse that has welcomed visitors for over a hundred years, or spend a day on the North Shore visiting the luxurious Fox Harb’r Resort offering golf, spa and clay shooting.
In New Brunswick your group can experience the excitement of white water rafting on the highest tides in North America or enjoy a peaceful stay at the iconic Algonquin hotel in Saint-Andrews-by-the-Sea where you might spy a whale!
Prince Edward Island offers a quaint island experience with world class golf, mouth-watering lobster dinners and the colourful history of Anne of Green Gables, and also boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Atlantic Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador will allow you to take in the most easterly settlements of Canada. Whales, moose and puffins are just some of the amazing wildlife you can experience in this area, either on land or on popular boat tours. Signal Hill, rich in history, boasts sprawling views of St John’s including the colorful homes of Jellybean Row.
2. Central Canada
Quebec and Ontario make up Central Canada and are also the two largest provinces in Canada. Quebec offers a unique French Canadian flare as the only French-language-first province, echoed in the influences of France in its culture and gastronomy. Programs in Quebec can take advantage of the amazing Parliament building to hold a lavish dinner, visiting the Island of Orleans for a craft beer and wine tour or a visit to Montmorency Falls.
Ontario incentive programs can take advantage of the many big city attractions including the CN Tower, Rogers Stadium for world class concerts or a Major League baseball game. If your incentive group would prefer a more nature forward trip we can travel to picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake prevalent with boutique wineries and artisan shops, as well as the 8th Natural Wonder of The World, Niagara Falls.
3. Prairie Provinces
The Prairie Provinces consisting of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta offer wide open spaces and rugged farmland boasting an abundance of agriculture. Manitoba allows for a very unique experience for guests to interact with the majestic polar bears in Churchill or to host a group dinner in the Human Rights Museum in the Red River Valley.
Visiting Saskatchewan, your incentive group can “saddle up” and experience life as a cowboy on a cattle drive in the Cypress Hills or learn about the history of the Royal Mounted Police at the RCMP Heritage Center in Regina.
Incentive programs in Alberta can take advantage of the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” with the annual Calgary Stampede or enjoy the majestic mountains of Banff and Lake Louise with a special dinner at the Cave and Basin Historic site – the birthplace of Canada’s National Parks, complete with an indigenous folklore dance performance.
4. West Coast
The West Coast is home to beautiful British Columbia which boasts an amazing coastline along the Pacific Ocean as well as impressive mountain ranges. Programs in B.C. can include chartering float planes to transport your group to the gorgeous Butchart Gardens for a picnic lunch or a gala dinner in the Totem Hall of the Royal BC Museum.
Guests can also journey along the Sea to Sky Highway to the ever popular ski town of Whistler for an immersive village experience and travel up Blackcomb Mountain to enjoy jaw dropping views from Canada’s only permanent sub-zero vodka room at Bearfoot Bistro.
5. Northern Territories
The Northern Territories consist of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Although much of the Canadian North is uninhabited and untouched, incentive travel programs are starting to look at this area as a real gem for those very reasons.
The Yukon in particular has much to offer with its roots in the gold rush era. A visit to Dawson City is a great group excursion and so is a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad that follows the Klondike Trail to Alaska. An incredible group dinner can be held at a local farm where guest can interact with the husky dogs being trained for dog sledding.
This is just a snapshot of the many opportunities that an Incentive Travel Program in Canada can offer. Reach out to us at Fraser & Hoyt Incentives and we will be happy to outline how we can develop a highly unique, exciting, and memorable program to any of these amazing destinations for your teams, dealers, franchisees, and more!