August 2024 E-Newsletter

President’s Message

Dear CITAP+ Members,

Almost at the end of August, we can feel the breath of Autumn. I hope everyone had a fulfilling summer!

The profound effects of global climate change have significantly impacted Canada, renowned for its rich natural environment. In addition to the flooding that has affected Quebec and Ontario, Western Canada has suffered severe damage from wildfires. This past July, a wildfire in Jasper, along with the previous year’s fires in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories, has profoundly impacted local communities, the economy, and tourism. As our 2017 AGM venue was held at the Jasper Park Lodge, we extend our heartfelt condolences for the loss of Jasper, a cherished destination filled with personal memories. Our deepest appreciation goes to the first responders, firefighters, RCMP, and the many volunteers for their dedicated efforts during this challenging period. We remain confident that through resilience and solidarity, Jasper will recover and once again become a premier destination in Western Canada.

As per tradition, our Hidi Nishi Classic Golf Tournament, as well as a non-golfer educational FAM, was held on July 17th. We hosted around 32 golfers and more than 100 participants for the dinner this year, in addition to the brave individuals that attended our FAM trip to the depths of our backyard, Squamish! We would like to extend our gratitude to Tourism Squamish and their partners at the Vancouver Coast Mountains tourism for helping us set up this fantastic trip that involved sailing the Howe Sound fjord, brewery tastings, and local sightseeing. We would also like to give a huge thanks to the transportation members that kept the day running smoothly!

As we move into the final quarter of 2024, we would like to remind everyone of our annual Winter Function, which will be held on December 3rd at the River Rock Casino Resort. We warmly welcome all members to attend this event. We will be hosting our usual marketplace and dinner, but don’t miss our Morning Education Seminar with a global market analysis and a future overlook. We are proud to announce that Destinations Canada will be attending the Morning Education Seminar. On top of that, we are working with TIAC on their attendance at the Winter Function too!

Stepping into Autumn, it is a crazy time for RTO running their programs to receptors and their guests from international countries to visit Canada. Many of our CUS, DMO and PMO partners are preparing for their trips to foreign countries to promote Canada. I wish all members safe travels and a bright future!

We will see you again in December!

Warm regards,

Alice Lin

President, CITAP+

Interview with CITAP+ RTO Member: James Ma, Concord Tours & Travel

CITAP+ is pleased to introduce James Ma, Concord Tours & Travel. James shares with us some professional insights from his own business, as well as a few tidbits from his personal life…

1.  What made you start your own company, Concord Tours and Travel?

I was President of former Chinese Students and Scholars Association in Montreal and I had to organize activities for the association and found that the Chinese community needs this kind of service and also myself was very interesting to be involved in tour industry.

2. What is your favourite part of working in the travel industry?

Travel industry is like doing research, you have to be creative and also face challenges all the time. Never do the same itinerary and must be changed every year since travellers need new things to discover yearly.

3. What is the most challenging part of being in the business? Inbound tours?

The most challenging part is you have great products and many of your competitors will just follow with a small change. For inbound tours, a lot of players just follow you to do the same things with no license and no office staff, but to offer a cheaper price. This kind of competitor will never lose but make the market full of noises.

4. Where would you promote a winter destination in Canada? (for this upcoming season)

Quebec city (Winter Carnival and ice hotel) and Toronto/Niagara Falls for bus tour.

5. What is your next step with the company and the industry?

We will try to have more packages for FIT services, which is a forever topic for tour industry. And also we will market more in remote areas and small towns in different regions of Quebec province.

6. What are your favourite things to do outside of work? (Hobbies, etc.)

To play golf, to walk, to swim and Sauna, and to eat fine cuisines.

2024 CITAP+ Membership- Renew Now!

We come to you with a friendly reminder that if you have not renewed your CITAP+ membership for 2024, please do so promptly to ensure you do not miss any updates from us! We understand how difficult these last few years have been, but we want to ask for your support as we move forward in our industry’s recovery.

To renew your membership, simply follow these steps:

-Log in to your account on our website: https://citap.ca/my-account/.
If you have forgotten your password, please use the “lost your password” link to retrieve access to your account.
If there has been a change in personnel in your organization, please create a new profile online with your credentials when completing the checkout process.

-Once logged in, go to the “Become a Member” page, and add your respective membership to your cart to prompt the checkout process.

-Complete payment information.

Save the Dates! Upcoming CITAP+ Events 2024

As we head into the final months of 2024, we are excited about our annual Winter Function, which will be held Tuesday, December 3rd! Mark your calendars for this much-anticipated event as we come together to celebrate the season and connect with colleagues and industry partners.

This year’s Winter Function will feature all the beloved elements you’ve come to expect, including our vibrant marketplace and a delectable dinner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore a variety of exhibitors and enjoy an evening of fine dining and networking.

Additionally, we are pleased to highlight a special component of the event: our morning educational seminars. This year’s seminar will feature insights from Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). Join us to gain valuable knowledge and updates from leading experts in the tourism industry, ensuring you stay informed and engaged with current trends and developments.

Keep an eye on your inbox for the registration email, which will be sent in early Fall. This will include all the details you need to secure your spot and make the most of this exciting event.

We look forward to seeing you there for a day of learning, networking, and celebration. Save the date and stay tuned for more information!

CITAP+’s Statement on Jasper Wildfires

We are deeply saddened by the recent wildfire in Jasper, which has inflicted significant damage on this beloved community and its surrounding natural beauty. Our hearts go out to the residents of Jasper who are facing the aftermath of this devastating event. We offer our sincerest condolences and send our full support to everyone affected.

At this challenging time, we are committed to supporting Jasper in every way possible to aid in its recovery. We are exploring various avenues to provide assistance and resources to help rebuild and restore what has been lost. Our goal is to work closely with local authorities and organizations to ensure that Jasper emerges from this crisis stronger and more resilient.

Together, we will strive to help Jasper reclaim its status as one of Western Canada’s premier destinations. Our thoughts are with you, and we are here to support you every step of the way.

Please find a letter that was sent to Mayor Richard Ireland of Jasper on behalf of our President and Executive Director, Alice Lin and Joe Volk.

CITAP+’s Letter to Mayor Ireland

CITAP+ 2024 Hidi Nishi Golf Tournament and FAM Trip

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in our annual Hidi Nishi Golf Tournament this past July. From the golfers to the FAM trip attendees, your enthusiasm and support made the event a resounding success!

A special note of gratitude goes to our generous sponsors. Your contributions played a crucial role in making the tournament a memorable experience for all involved. We couldn’t have done it without you!

We would also like to express our love and gratitude to our gracious photographer Brad Kasselman, who is always ready with a camera and a smile! He has collected photos from both events and has posted them here:

https://www.kasselmancreative.com/CITAP-event-July2024

Password: fun time 2024

We appreciate everyone’s dedication and look forward to seeing you at our future events. Thank you once again for your support and for helping make our golf tournament a great success!

RTO Market Reports

Market updates are written by Receptive Tour Operator members and in this issue we have updates from the following markets: US, Mexico, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. Enjoy their anecdotal assessment of each of our markets with a combination of overview, economy, and forecast. Read the full report on our Reports and Presentations page.

Members’ Corner

In this Members’ corner, our members have shared their latest updates with us. Click below to read!

Chelsea Hotel Toronto

Grouse Mountain Resort

Heritage Park

Rockport Cruises

Royal BC Museum

Tourism Calgary

Victoria Cougars

Viel Marketing

Westin Bayshore Vancouver

Wilson’s Transportation