This year’s Spotlight Canada show, organised by the Canadian Tourism Commission and 85 trade partners, is being held at The Brewery, London on March 11 and 12.
The annual marketplace event features two days of pre-scheduled appointments and networking functions. Here’s an overview of how your time might best be spent at this year’s show.
1. Niagara’s Fury
Niagara Falls this year welcomes a new £16.3 million attraction: Niagara’s Fury, the exact details of which have been kept under wraps.
The Niagara Parks Commission promises the feature will be unique, extreme and situated at the edge of Horseshoe Falls. Its tagline is: ‘Will You Survive?’
More will have been disclosed by the time Spotlight Canada comes round, so grill Niagara Falls Tourism for a clearer picture.
2. Winter Games 2010
Sporting eyes might now be looking east to Beijing, but in early 2010 the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games come to Vancouver.
With the opening ceremony two years away, now’s the time to swot up on new hotels, ticket policies, event dates and fresh infrastructure.
This year’s show features suppliers from Whistler Blackcomb, Tourism British Columbia and Tourism Vancouver itself – all three of which are key stakeholders in the games – which means there’ll be no shortage of information on hand.
3. Arctic tourism
In travel trend terms, the Arctic’s never been hotter.
The promise of the Northern Lights, husky driving and Inuit culture is attracting much interest, and whether visitors are following in the tracks of Yukon gold prospectors or enjoying for a a luxury winter holiday, there’s lots to discover.
Yukon Tourism and Culture, Northwest Territories Tourism and Nunavut Tourism will be present.
4. Adventure sports
Research shows that many potential Canada customers think that there isn’t much to do there.
They’re wrong, so make sure you find out more about the mountain biking, heli-skiing, kayaking, snowboarding, white-water rafting, trekking, mountaineering, surfing and ice-climbing on offer.
5. Wildlife watching
Canadian flora and fauna consists of more than just moose, beavers and maple trees.
Two of the country’s biggest wildlife draws are polar bears and whales, and suppliers at the show can give information on how to go about admiring them at close quarters.
Frontiers North Adventures and Nunavut Tourism are among the best to approach.
6. New hotels
You could never accuse Canada’s high-end hotel scene of being afraid of progress.
December saw the opening of the 27-storey Le Crystal de la Montagne in Montreal, while boutique property Loden Vancouver opens its doors this year, which will soon to be followed by a new Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La.
It’s in Toronto, however, that things are really moving – the city welcomed the five-star Hazelton in August and by 2010 it will have 1,000 new luxury guest rooms.
7. Unusual accommodation
Canada’s stock of quirky accommodation boasts everything from tree-houses and Arctic hideaways to lighthouses and tundra-buggy lodges.
Find out more from Travel Manitoba and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.
8. BC’s new ski resort
British Columbia’s new billion-dollar Revelstoke Mountain Resort is more than just another ski centre – the Daily Telegraph called it “the biggest news in the sport for 20 years”.
The resort, formerly the sole domain of heli-skiers, began a fresh lease of life in December. It offers only two lifts, but more are due to open next season and the 27 marked runs down the gargantuan Mount Mackenzie hint at a bright future.
Visit the Tourism British Columbia stand for a full lowdown.
9. The Alberta lounge
The lounge at Spotlight Canada will be sponsored by Travel Alberta. Fresh from providing the backdrop to Brad Pitt’s The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, the western province has a packed events calendar over the next 12 months.
This includes the Beethoven in the Badlands festival, champ car Grand Prix in Edmonton and country music celebration the Big Valley Jamboree.
10. Quebec’s birthday celebrations
Suppliers from Quebec Tourism and Quebec City Tourism will have more reason than most to be in celebratory mood at this year’s show – July sees the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding.
It’s a chance for buyers to find out more about the year-round festivities, which peak over the summer with a giant sound and light show. The party’s being tipped for entry into the Guinness Book Of Records, so expect great things.
