News

After a busy summer back, we had our first members meeting. Held at the YWCA, our guest was MacArthur Glen Outlet Mall detailing their time post COVID and how it can affect us in the Tourism World. Many Thanks to Cindy Wang for providing that information.

Members also discussed how their summer went as well as some basic discussion of what to expect from the next few members meetings.

Many thanks to the Board for their help in conducting the meeting, as two members, President Matthew and Treasurer Vincent were off exploring Europe on separate ventures.

Presidents Address - Please click to view

Members gathered in April to explore the Rocky Mountaineer station and trains in Vancouver. We were onsite to ask questions and get ready for our trips with guests this summer.

Special thanks to Rocky Mountaineer for hosting and allowing members to explore and ask questions about the train and the station.

What a wonderful welcome we had from FlyOver Canada as we experienced their new Windborne flight over the Rocky Mountains! Check it out! It's only happening during the month of September (but should be back)!

Sales Manager Blair Hirtle invited members of the CTGA visit and experience Windborne, Call of the Canadian Rockies

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are looking for unique experiences, or a custom time for your guests to be able to appreciate the attraction

On May 19th, 15 members, with the help of Cantrail Coachlines took off from Canada Place (Cordova Street) to explore the Vancouver to Squamish route and gather a few stamps for the Passport Challenge from the Vancouver Attractions.

A quick jaunt through Stanley Park to check the accessibility of the lanes for a motor coach and a failed attempt to visit the Trestle bridge did not deter the group from exploring! Spoiler alert, while the bridge is finished, the neighbourhood is not, and there will NOT be any parking for full size tour vehicles (sadly)

The first stop was at Sea to Sky Gondola. Group Sales Coordinator Fabiola Riske led us through the process of booking, picking up and getting our guests up the gondola. Please note, it does not look like they will be utilizing the bracelet system this year for tour groups (they aren't expecting as many groups), so if you are bringing a group, there is not currently a system to skip the line and come down as in years past. Please plan accordingly for your timings.

3 members initially signed up for a flight with Sea to Sky Air, however upon arrival the pull of the propellor enticed 3 more to join. The skies were clear and beautiful, and warmly welcomed after the wetter then normal year we have this last few months. Many thanks to David and his team of pilots for getting them aloft! While you can receive the stamps for this flight, you will also, after redemption of your passport a 15% Discount for all their products.

A brief stop in downtown Squamish for lunch along Cleveland Avenue preceded our visit to the Britannia Mining Museum.

Many thanks to Tamsyn Jenkins (Sales and Marketing Manager) and Derek Hang (Manager of Interpretive Delivery) for hosting us. Derek was an excellent host, informative, articulate and enthusiastic. He knew how to tailor the experience for industry professionals and maintain the balance. We even received a behind the scenes look at their newest exhibit, opening today. More Than A Mine examines the recreational lifestyle for residents of the townsite supporting the mine and is in the old welding and machine shop. Well worth a stop!

A few more minutes on the road allowed a brief photo stop at Porteau Cove Provincial Park before heading back to the city with passports in hand and a little more complete!

A full album of photos can be found HERE

Hello All

May 10th saw nearly 30 members join Steveston resident and Member Shirley Hartwell on a fam of the town, the operations, business and even a couple of stamps. We had a great time catching up, seeing some of the industry partners in action and filling out the passports.

The Cannery, The Shipyard as well as the businesses are offering stamps for those that need to fill out there booklets. By visiting a number of businesses, you can get the neighbourhood stamps, and, hopefully get to experience the local business.

Steveston Whale Watching is offering discount rates for you as an industry member (not for your guests or significant others) as well as commission for those guests that you do bring. If you wish to have those details, please click the link HERE

Thank you to all that came out, and those businesses that provided the information and time to get us up to date!

There are some photos in the attached album HERE

Of special note, if you are in Steveston, local business Juvelisto is a Ukrainian owned shop that is collecting donations for those in Ukraine affected and displaced by the ongoing war. If you are able, anything you can contribute would be appreciated.

Hello!

The books are in our hands, and they are being prepared. In advance of you receiving them, please check out this map that lays out the FREE attractions you can participate in. There are more attractions listed that give stamps, with a small fee, and many neighbourhood and hotel listings as well.

Please see the map HERE

Thanks again to member Bob Sung, who, with his company A Wok Around Chinatown provided members an up close look at both his services, but worked to dispel some of the myths regarding Chinatown in its modern day.

It was a cooler day, but fortunately the rain (and hail!) held off until later. Members enjoyed the new Chinatown Storytelling Centre, apple tarts at Newtown Bakery, tea at The Chinese Tea Shop and more!

A full album of the event can be see HERE

Current President Matthew Paugh led a group of members on a Photowalk around Canada Place. Not simply a leisurely stroll, this event was designed to familiarize members with the features of their phones' camera. 

"The best camera, is the one that you have with you!" (Chase Jarvis)

With this in mind, the next couple of hours were spent learning the technicalities, the tricks and ways to use that device to improve the guest experience.

A full photoset can be found HERE

Notice something off with this pic? Comment below when you find it

Hello Members

We had an industry meeting with the City of Vancouver regarding Tour Vehicle access around the city. There is a copy of the presentation available HERE for you to look at. 

A Quick Summary

• Beach Avenue access is not changing for the foreseeable future. It is both City of Vancouver and The Parks Board that has control of Beach Avenue. While we may have inroads with CoV, The PB was not present and attempts to reach them have been less successful 
• Multiple points regarding access, safety and efficiency getting around the city were brought up by multiple representatives including the concerns of members of CTGA of BC
• There is not supposed to be any NET LOSS of parking spaces for tour vehicles in the city, minus what was lost on Beach Avenue. Their Tour Bus Zone map is not currently updated on their website, but should be soon. There are some zones that we await feedback on their current state (1600 block of Alberni for example) as well as potentially adding more on Waterfront Road near the SeaBus Terminal and below the convention centre.
• There will still be parking available, OFF Granville Island at the entrance for 2 coaches at a time. Granville Island (which is not part of CoV) is still continuing their no parking on the island policy for 2022.

A large thanks goes to ISL for getting us use of their coach, and their driver Joseph today! 

After checking in, it was off to explore the quirks and challenges that a city tour day trip will bring us, and to ask questions of the company and their equipment.

Some Notes

• There are lots of new buildings and designs to be aware of and update your commentary with
• Highly suggest those wishing to provide the best view of Chinatown for your guests in a coach travel NORTH on Carrall Street to provide the best view for the passengers
• Consider leaving Canada Place and heading UNDER the convention centre and taking Waterfront Road to enter the east end of downtown. It provides a wonderful view while taking the railway overpass and allows you to bypass some of the construction in downtown before heading into Chinatown / Gastown
• Gastown is very rough and tall vehicles swing a lot, caution passengers not to have their heads too close to the windows then
• • There is no statue of Gassy Jack
  • There is bus parking and drop off zones that are being reactivated
• Stanley Park is very slow. With no changes to Beach Avenue from the Parks Board, and no parking available or buses at Prospect Point, reasons to move along the west side of the park are diminished. It is VERY slow to maneuver a coach in areas, with no choice to run curbs in areas like the Big Tree / Hill. There is no chance to enter and loop around the Hollow Tree in the current set up. Other than the lookout on the bridge from Lord Stanley's Proclamation Spot, choose the rest of the park at your own discretion. As departing via Pipeline Road (which allows you to loop the Pavilion and The Rose Garden) brings you to the same exit onto Georgia Street as continuing all along the west side of the park (albeit saving a good 20 minutes while doing so) you may want to seriously consider adding that as your exit and only doing the Brockton Point Section
• The only way to access the west end is heading South on Denman from Georgia, or continuing to Thurlow/Burrard and going to either Robson or Davie and heading back towards the park from there. You can enter Beach Avenue from the Amazing Laughter Statues either way. If you do Denman, be warned it is slow in a full sized coach.
• Granville Island is as 2019, with no parking on the island, and a fee to drop off. Coach and Bus parking is available (or shortly will be) just off the island and is an option to start/stop a GI tour segment
• LOTS of parking and open space at Queen Elizabeth Park. Consider using this for longer stops and taking in the sunken gardens. Parking for QE Park and Stanley Park for buses is valid for all day, and for both parks. Be sure to keep the receipt, but leave it in the window of the bus/coach when you are driving around (roughly $60 for a full sized coach now)
• YVR has lots of space, and no issues with pick ups and drop offs. Anyone needing COVID testing can get it at the departures level, beside the US check in counters and under the Farimont

We ended the trip at Bridgeport Skytrain Station. ISL is based out of Richmond, and operates MCI Motor-coaches up to 54 pax. They are a smaller operation then others, but they have top notch equipment and drivers that many tour operators use.

Big thanks to ISL for giving our members the opportunity to explore the city and get familiar with their operations and equipment